- The city's extreme heat response has been extended until 8am on June 14. The city also activated its poor air quality response until at least June 14 with the possibility of extension if smoky conditions persist. People needing respite from the smoke can access any open city facilities such as recreation centres, pools, and libraries.
- Bylaw enforcement officers issued 2,875 tickets during a two-week residential parking ban from Jan. 24 to Feb. 8 this year, although 144 were cancelled after the city discovered an error. The number is more than double the 1,081 tickets issued during a nearly month-long parking ban in 2022, representing a 150% year-over-year increase. A report going to council's community and public services committee on June 19 at the request of Coun. Erin Rutherford explains that the 144 cancellations were mostly due to a "notification date error" that resulted from crews starting work before residents were notified. It also shows that most tickets were issued in neighbourhoods outside central Edmonton. Rutherford, who questioned administration after receiving concerns from northwest residents about how enforcement was being carried out, told CBC that administration determined priority areas based on compliance.
- Judy Yawney with Edmonton's Food Bank said the organization has seen growing support from community gardens since the COVID-19 pandemic as people began to see the impact of high grocery store prices. One initiative, Growing Goodness, was started by three Grade 4 girls who won $600 through a Rotary Club business pitch competition, which they used to launch an online store selling seeds and asked buyers to donate a portion of the yield. Food Banks Canada's 2022 Hunger Count report shows food bank use in Alberta rose 73% from 2019 to 2022. Also in 2022, CANADALAND reporter Cherise Seucharan explained how the first food bank in Canada opened in Edmonton in 1981 as a "band-aid solution" to recessionary pressures and suggested Canada is unique in "venerating" food banks rather than seeing them as a "policy failure."
- The body of a missing 14-year-old who was swept away by the North Saskatchewan River on June 4 was recovered near Smoky Lake, about 120 kilometres from Edmonton, the Edmonton Police Service announced. "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the young boy during this difficult time," police in a release.
- A Chevy Spark was nearly swallowed by a sinkhole that appeared in an alley in downtown Edmonton just south of 108 Avenue on June 11. Photos from CTV News show the front end of the vehicle submerged in the sinkhole, which was filled with water. EPCOR staff said the extent of the damage would not be known until the water was removed. The driver was not injured, according to police.
- Blyss Ward, an Edmonton Stingers fan, won free beer for a year after she successfully sunk a half-court shot on June 10 as part of an in-game contest organized by the Stingers and Polar Park Brewing. The contest, which is in its second year, had only one winner last season. It is usually open to fans wearing Stingers merchandise, and on June 10 only women were chosen to compete because it was Women in Basketball Celebration Night. Ward herself is a former basketball player who used to play for the NAIT Ooks until experiencing an injury.
- The Edmonton Elks reported an attendance of 32,233 fans for their game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 11, which was the highest count for a home opener in 10 years. However, the Elks' 17-13 defeat represented the 18th consecutive home game loss for the team, which is a CFL record. Elks president and CEO Victor Cui said that delivering a winning team is "one piece of the puzzle," while the other is addressing how to "continually deliver value to our fans" regardless of the team's performance.
- As of June 12, there was no timeline for re-entry into Edson and parts of Yellowhead County that have been evacuated due to a wildfire close to populated areas. Officials said the fire continued to grow on June 12 but remained about 1.5 kilometres from Edson's southern border. Across the province, around 1,385,000 hectares of forest have been burned, breaking the previous record of 1,357,000 set during the entire wildfire season in 1981, although officials note that the number for this season is still an estimate.
Headlines: June 13, 2023
By Kevin Holowack and Mariam Ibrahim
