Headlines: July 10, 2023

· The Pulse
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  • The organizers of the Edmonton Heritage Festival have decided not to include a Russian pavilion this year due to safety concerns, threats, and objections from the Ukrainian community in the city. The decision was made after attempts to find a solution between the Russian and Ukrainian pavilions failed. Last year, the organizers of the Russian pavilion voluntarily withdrew from the festival.
  • The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has concluded that Edmonton Police Service officers should have been more careful when arresting a man who was having a diabetic episode prior to a traffic stop in January 2019, but did not commit a crime. Officers struck the man in the head with the butt end of a gun and restrained him with a boot, resulting in two facial fractures. "More care should have been given by the officers around uses of force to the head area of the (suspect)," wrote Matthew Block, ASIRT's assistant executive director.
  • The Edmonton Police Service said 97 shootings have been reported so far in 2023, which is a 26% increase over the same time last year.
  • Of the record-breaking 339 opioid-related incidents that Alberta emergency services responded to during the week of June 26, 170 were in Edmonton, the most of any municipality. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says the rise in drug poisonings is putting a strain on the entire healthcare system, resulting in long EMS wait times.
  • According to John Carter of RE/MAX River City, the 15-minute district concept is popular among Edmonton buyers and across the country, with 72% of respondents to a recent survey agreeing that such communities would improve their quality of life. "The awareness of the 15-minute concept is further adding to demand for homes in neighbourhoods with mixed use elements," Carter said. The goal of 15-minute districts is to make it possible to access daily necessities within 15 minutes of home, ideally without a car.
  • Flair has launched service between Edmonton and Quebec City, which it says is the first-ever direct flight between the two cities. "Quebec City is a vibrant Canadian destination and we believe this new non-stop route from YEG will open doors for increased tourism and business connections between the two regions," said Myron Keehn, CEO of the Edmonton International Airport.
  • The Edmonton Elks have acquired defensive lineman Sam Acheampong from the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft and Negotiation List rights to wide receiver Xavier Gipson. The next Elks game is Thursday, July 13 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Commonwealth Stadium.
  • Four sets of triplets have been born in Edmonton so far this year, according to Alberta Health Services. The Borchuk triplets were born on Father's Day at the Misericordia Community Hospital, the first set of triplets born there since the late 1990s. The hospital has only helped deliver three sets of triplets ever, Global News reports.
  • The Edmonton Community Foundation has launched the Rebuilding Northern Alberta Fund to support long-term rebuilding efforts following wildfires and floods in Northern Alberta, focusing on areas including Drayton Valley, the County of Grande Prairie, the Municipal District of Greenview, and surrounding communities. ECF will match all donations up to $50,000.