- The City of Edmonton has surpassed the affordable housing targets it set for itself four years ago when city council committed to developing 2,500 new affordable homes by 2022. Executive committee approved funding of $17.6 million for four new projects on Sept. 7, bringing the total to 2,670 units. Three of the new projects will be in Griesbach, run by HomeEd, Tribal Chiefs Ventures, and Métis Capital Housing Corporation. One will be in Glenwood, run by Paul Band Property Management.
- After hearing plans for the first phase of the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Service Commission's service plan — which are significantly scaled back from what the 2020 business case proposed — executive committee chose not to offer a recommendation. City council is expected to vote on the required $7.2 million in funding on Sept. 12.
- Edmonton police arrested 25-year-old Clarence Lawrence just before 6pm on Sept. 7, a few hours after he allegedly stabbed several people in the Homesteader neighbourhood, leaving one person dead and two seriously injured. Police said they believe the assaults were random in nature.
- Earlier this week, several patients waited on the floor for seven hours in the emergency department of the Misericordia Community Hospital after being triaged. One woman, who arrived with extreme back pain, described the space as "a dirty makeshift garage." Covenant Health, which runs the west Edmonton hospital, said it continues to experience high volumes and staff pressures first exacerbated by the pandemic. The Misericordia and several other hospitals in the Edmonton area were reporting emergency room wait times of more than five hours on Sept. 7.
- On Aug. 31, Edmonton police issued 1,485 traffic violations during another Operation 24 Hours campaign, which aims to reduce collisions by setting up automated enforcement on select days. Of these violations, 1,286 were related to speeding.
- Ellerslie Rugby Park, which was created in the 1970s to act as a regional rugby hub for large meets, is winding down for its last ever season. Owners are preparing to sell the park, which has only made a profit once since 2010, and put the money into local rugby clubs and schools. A last-hurrah rugby weekend is scheduled for the first week of October.
- The Edmonton Oilers have launched the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame, which will honour contributions to the club from players, coaches, staff, executives, and more. The first round of inductees includes Oilers legends like Wayne Gretzky, Al Hamilton, and Jari Kurri. Starting in 2023, fans will also be able to nominate potential members.
- Daryl Katz, who owns the Oilers, increased his net worth by almost a billion dollars over the past year and is now ranked #637 on Forbes Magazine's list of billionaires. Katz reaps his profit from pharmaceuticals and other industries, but Forbes notes the value of the Oilers franchise also rose 147% over the past five years.
- This year marks the first time Albertans will face the cold, the flu, and COVID-19 at the same time with no public health restrictions. Doctors are expecting a rise in influenza cases, which fell during the pandemic but have already surged above pre-pandemic levels in countries with earlier flu seasons like Australia. Dr. Deena Hinshaw encouraged Albertans to continue wearing masks in high-transmission areas, getting vaccinated, and staying home when sick.
Headlines: Sept. 8, 2022
By Kevin Holowack and Mack Male