Taproot Edmonton Logo

Headlines: Oct. 26, 2022

· The Pulse
By and
Comments
  • The city has wrapped up its 2022 capital construction season, calling it "one of the most ambitious capital seasons in history." This year, Integrated Infrastructure Services worked on 302 projects, 70% of which are on schedule and 92% on budget. The city also expects to complete three neighbourhood renewal projects by the end of the year. More details are available on the city's fact sheet.
  • Mayor Amarjeet Sohi met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Edmonton Centre MP Randy Boissonnault on Oct. 24 to "discuss key areas for cooperation" including reconciliation, housing, emission reduction, and international investment. Trudeau mentioned recent federal support for Edmonton including funding for zero-emission busses, investments in the hydrogen sector, and help for affordable housing through the Rapid Housing Initiative.
  • Today, Explained, a daily podcast from Vox, released an episode on Oct. 25 about the recent use of DNA phenotyping by the Edmonton Police Service. CBC journalist Taylor Lambert said the case has raised questions internationally about how police view the Black community. "Another big question it raises is: what does it mean that the police are turning to unscientific means in their police work ... and do the police understand that forensic DNA phenotyping is not considered valid science?" (13:11)
  • Edmonton is the one of the most affordable major cities in Western Canada to buy a home, according to the real estate firm Zoocasa. The average home price in September was $382,610, with an income of at least $62,213 needed to purchase an average home. The median household income in Edmonton was $107,450. The most affordable city on the prairies was Regina.
  • Chris Jones, head coach and general manager of the Edmonton Elks, thinks the team's awful 4-14 record this year was partly due to an operations cap the CFL implemented in 2019 to equalize spending across the league. In an interview on TSN 1260, he said the cap means Elks staff have taken a "backseat money-wise." However, Jones said the team is "very confident" about next season thanks to the quarterbacking duo of Taylor Cornelius and Tre Ford.
  • Duncan Kinney — who regularly publishes reporting critical of Edmonton police — has been charged with mischief after a statue of a controversial figure outside an Edmonton Ukrainian centre was vandalized, Postmedia reports. The statue of Roman Shukhevych was spray-painted with the words 'Actual Nazi' in the summer of 2021. Kinney reported on the incident for The Progress Report. His first court date is scheduled for Nov. 10.
  • Const. Samuel Sanson with the Edmonton Police Service has been convicted of sexual assaulting another officer at a police headquarters gym on Jan. 20, 2021. Sanson's sentencing is scheduled for Apr. 14. His lawyer told the court his client should undergo a forensic assessment before sentencing because he has a PTSD diagnosis.