Headlines

June 15, 2022 · The Pulse
By Kevin Holowack and Mack Male

Despite heavy rainfall in the Edmonton area, EPCOR reported only minor flooding on June 14, including on the Quesnell Bridge caused by a blocked catch basin and on Yellowhead Trail due to construction. Some parts of southern Alberta are expecting up to 150 mm of rain by June 15, prompting Calgary to declare a state of local emergency on June 13, that city's rainiest day of the year so far.
City council's urban planning committee decided to delay pursuing a bylaw to regulate the removal of trees on private property and instead asked for more information about how the City Plan's goal of planting two million trees by 2050 will be accomplished. A report with options — including a potential private tree bylaw — is due back early next year. The city's most recent estimates suggest that 56% of Edmonton's urban forest is located on private residential property.
Tina Thomas has been named the new CEO of the Edmonton Community Foundation, effective August 2022. Thomas, who also shared the news on Twitter, spent 13 years with the Edmonton Public Library where she led the library's award-winning rebranding project. "We are fortunate to have Tina bring her experience and skills to the table to help shape ECF as we look toward a bright future of strengthening Edmonton," said ECF board chair Monelle Sturko. Thomas takes over for Martin Garber-Conrad, who retires this month after 17 years at the helm.
Edmonton will celebrate Waste Collector Appreciation Day on June 17 to recognize curbside collectors, apartment and condo collectors, and staff at recycling depots and Eco Stations. The city suggests showing gratitude by attaching a "thank you" note to your bins, thanking collectors in person, and following Edmonton's waste collection safety tips.
Matthew Wood (a.k.a. Creesian), Edmonton's Indigenous Artist-in-Residence, is holding a final showcase for his 2021-2022 residency from June 16-18 at the ATB Financial Arts Barns. The IDENTITY showcase will feature live DJs and interactive exhibitions involving Cree syllabics and finger drumming.
The Alberta Basketball Association is hosting the International Basketball Federation's 3x3 basketball tournaments this summer. The women's and men's series will take place in Hawrelak Park in conjunction with the Edmonton Heritage Festival. Played on a half-court with one hoop and a 12-second possession time limit, 3x3 basketball is a faster alternative to traditional basketball.
The province said it has now axed one-third of the 631,000 "unnecessary requirements" it identified in 2019 as part of its red tape reduction initiative, which the government claims will save Albertans "countless hours and more than $1.2 billion."
The Alberta UCP's election committee has confirmed that a new leader will be elected on Oct. 6 following in-person and mail-in voting from Sept. 2 to Oct. 3. Eight candidates have entered the race so far, most recently Calgary-Shaw MLA Rebecca Schulz after she stepped down as minister of children's services.