Headlines: March 17, 2023

March 17, 2023 · The Pulse
By Kevin Holowack

Const. Travis Jordan and Const. Brett Ryan of the Edmonton Police Service were shot and killed while responding to a family dispute call at an apartment complex in the Inglewood area at around 12:47am on March 16. Police said a "young male" who shot the officers is dead, and a woman was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Postmedia, citing an unnamed source, said the shooter was a 16-year-old boy and the female victim his mother. A visibly emotional Chief Dale McFee described the event as "unthinkable and a horrific tragedy" while speaking at police headquarters in front of more than 100 EPS officers, staff, and media. McFee did not take questions but said more information would be released later.
Consolation and sympathy came from across Canada and flags were lowered to half-mast following the killing of two Edmonton Police Service officers. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi issued a statement on behalf of council and administration calling March 16 a "very difficult and sad day." Premier Danielle Smith and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis extended sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of the officers, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also sent his condolences to their loved ones and colleagues.
In the history of Edmonton, 10 police officers have died while on duty, including Const. Travis Jordan and Const. Brett Ryan. In 2015, Const. Daniel Woodall was killed while executing a warrant for a hate crimes charge. In 1990, Const. Ezio Faraone was killed while attempting to arrest armed robbery suspects and later memorialized in the naming of Ezio Faraone Park at the north end of the High Level Bridge. Two officers were killed more than 100 years ago, and four died in other types of tragedies. Since September 2022, eight police officers have been killed while on duty across Canada.
Some Edmontonians felt rumbling the morning of March 16 that was the result of a 4.6-magnitude earthquake in the Peace River area. Earthquakes Canada said the quake struck near the hamlet of Reno, which is about 461 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. The same area was the site of 5.8-magnitude earthquake in November 2022, which broke the record for the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Alberta.
Council voted to ratify the city's collective agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1007. Union members voted to ratify the terms on March 6. The three-year agreement includes a 1% general wage adjustment for 2022, 2% for 2023, and 2% for 2024.
Leigh Ann de Ruiter, the wife of self-proclaimed spiritual leader and Oasis Group founder John de Ruiter, was granted bail by a provincial court with several conditions including no longer arranging sex for her husband. The de Ruiters are co-accused in three counts of sexual assault. Meanwhile, some residents of Woodlands County attended an unofficial town hall to express concerns about the arrival of dozens of Oasis Group members into their community northwest of Edmonton, including John de Ruiter.