Headlines: Oct. 3, 2023

Oct. 3, 2023 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

Provincial data shows that 313 people have died of drug-poisoning deaths in Edmonton in the first sixth months this year, a slight drop from 320 who died during the same period in 2022. Of the 2023 deaths, 290 were opioid-related, according to Alberta's substance use surveillance data. Across the province, 937 people died of opioid poisonings, a 16% increase over the 808 who died during the same time last year. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta is calling for more harm reduction services from the provincial government in response to the opioid crisis. The UCP government is currently pursuing a recovery-oriented care model and has indicated it intends to propose legislation that would allow family members, police, or doctors to ask the courts to enforce mandatory addiction treatment if someone is considered a threat to themselves or others.
The Crown has stayed the proceedings in the private prosecution launched against an Edmonton Police Service officer who kicked an Indigenous teenager in the head in 2020. Pacey Dumas had filed a charge of aggravated assault against Const. Ben Todd, but the Crown declined to prosecute the case. The incident was initially investigated by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, which determined there was "reasonable grounds" to believe Todd committed a criminal offence, but the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service declined to prosecute because it did not believe there was a reasonable likelihood of conviction. The cancellation of the Oct. 13 private prosecution hearing has left Dumas looking for other options to pursue justice. He has also filed a lawsuit against Todd and the police service.
The Love with Humanity Association has opened a 24-hour mini community food bank and library located outside the BlueSky Day Care in the Kensington neighbourhood. Association founder Syed Hassan encouraged Edmontonians to donate what they can to support families in need. "It's easy and accessible," Hassan said. The organization has previously set up nine outdoor food banks in Calgary, but this is its first in Edmonton.
The Jewish Federation of Edmonton is the latest organization to call for the removal of two monuments in the city that commemorate Ukrainians who fought with the Nazis during the Second World War. The federation is also pushing for Holocaust education to be mandated in the core curriculum in Alberta. The calls come after Parliament recognized 98-year-old war veteran Yaroslav Hunka, who was later found to have fought with the Nazis during the war.
Edmonton Police Service Const. Clayton Tipton had assault and intimidation charges against him withdrawn after he agreed to enter into a peace bond following a Jan. 14 incident at the TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove while the officer was off duty. Tipton admitted to grabbing a woman with whom he shares custody of a child, which caused her to fall to the ground. The peace bond requires Tipton to keep the peace, be of good behaviour, and avoid unauthorized contact with the woman for 12 months.
Homicide detectives are investigating the suspicious death of a 39-year-old man who was discovered outside Hope Mission's Herb Jamieson Centre at 105A Avenue and 100 Street on Oct. 1. An autopsy is scheduled for Oct. 3, and anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
The Alberta government launched its new COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) dashboard on Oct. 2. According to the data, there were 1,772 COVID-19 cases, 70 influenza cases, and 23 RSV cases between Aug. 28 and Sept. 23. There were 29 deaths during the same period, all due to COVID-19.