- A 71-year-old man became Edmonton's fifth pedestrian fatality of the year after he was hit by a truck while walking in a marked crosswalk in south Edmonton on Oct. 3. Residents in the area say the crosswalk at 17th Street and 19th Avenue is dangerous and have been asking the city for more safety measures, such as flashing lights. "This intersection is very busy. But it's not just busy; it's dangerous," said Gurvir Sran. Coun. Jo-Anne Wright, who represents the ward, said speed is a concern because drivers coming from Anthony Henday Drive "are used to doing 100 or 110 kilometres per hour and then having to slow down to 60 km/h." The intersection is not currently on the planned projects list for the city's Safe Crossings program.
- Edmonton experienced a record-breaking number of smoke hours this summer, with a total of 299, beating the previous record of 229 hours set in 2018 by 70 hours. It's only the second time that more than 200 smoke hours were recorded in a year since the 1950s. Rob Griffith, lead meteorologist from Environment and Climate Change Canada, attributed the increase to changing climate patterns, including warmer summers and drier conditions. As of Oct. 2, 84 wildfires were burning across the province. Alberta's wildfire season runs until Oct. 31.
- A 2022 survey done by the Edmonton Youth Council found that many young people in the city believe the transit system could be safer and provide faster service. The survey found that 68% of respondents want improved safety, and 71% said transit took too long. Other concerns included cleanliness and feeling unsafe at night. The youth council will present a report containing its findings to the city's urban planning committee on Oct. 11.
- The city is examining options to encourage downtown revitalization by converting vacant office space into residential apartments. At least 30 buildings downtown have already been converted, and council's urban planning committee is expected to receive a report later this month with options for a new incentive program to encourage more conversions. Edmonton's downtown office vacancy rate was 24.1% in the second quarter of 2023, which was the third highest in Canada, according to real estate firm CBRE.
- Edmonton placed second in a ranking of the friendliest cities in the world, according to Condé Nast Traveller's 2023 Readers' Choice Awards. With a friendly score of 95.71, Edmonton was praised for its slower pace, community-oriented atmosphere, and welcoming multicultural community. Calgary won the top spot with a score of 97.81.
- The Alberta government has launched an $8-million ad campaign in four provinces to push back against new emissions regulations proposed by the federal government. The campaign will run until Nov. 2, when a public feedback period on the regulations is set to end. A provincial spokesperson said the campaign is meant to "encourage the federal government to make changes needed to keep Canada's electricity affordable and reliable."
Headlines: Oct. 4, 2023
By Mariam Ibrahim