- The Edmonton Police Commission announced on July 11 that it has decided to seek "an external independent third party with a strong legal background" to help review the circumstances that led to the arrival of Justin Bone, the man accused of fatally beating two men in Chinatown in May. The review will also look at applicable Edmonton Police Service policies and will assess how and when police interacted with Bone. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi tweeted that he was glad to see the review. "By working with a qualified professional to conduct this review, the EPC provides the oversight that Edmontonians are asking for," he said.
- The Edmonton Police Service has hired a third-party investigator to look into workplace harassment claims in its recruit training section. Spokesperson Cheryl Voordenhout told Postmedia that one officer "has been moved to a different position within the service while these allegations are investigated." EPS recruitment numbers are currently at their lowest in a decade, with 410 applicants in 2021, less than half the 2002 figure.
- The temperature in Edmonton had reached 25°C just twice by July 10 this year, the fewest number of warm summer days since 1996, reports Edmonton weather nerdery. The temperature hit 27°C on July 11 and is expected to surpass 30°C today.
- EPCOR has turned off the power for about 200 Edmontonians since April 15 when the provincial winter disconnection ban ended. Load limiters which restrict usage are allowed year-round, and EPCOR said approximately 1,300 were installed on Edmonton homes as of mid-April this year. "Disconnection is always a last resort and is never entered into until we've exhausted all other attempts at resolving outstanding balances," the company said in a statement.
- Another 10,000 free tickets to the Pope's mass at Commonwealth Stadium were claimed in less than ten minutes after being released on July 11. The third round of tickets will be made available on July 18. Organizers have warned of scalped and counterfeit tickets selling for up to $200.
- The city installed protected bike lanes along Victoria Promenade in Oliver over the weekend, keeping the two-bike-lane design and removing street parking. The pilot project, located between 116 Street and 121 Street, will be reviewed in the fall.
- Evander Kane's agent said the Edmonton Oilers gave the winger permission to speak with other teams but said he is "still hopeful to have a deal in place with Edmonton." General Manager Ken Holland said last month he hopes to re-sign Kane but was unsure how his ongoing grievance with the San Jose Sharks would impact the deal.
- While hosting his last Calgary Stampede pancake breakfast on July 11, Premier Jason Kenney declared Sept. 1 to be Alberta Day. The day will recognize the province's founding with the Alberta Act in 1905 and is not a stat holiday.
Headlines
By Kevin Holowack and Mack Male