Headlines: Jan. 18, 2024

Jan. 18, 2024 · The Pulse
By Kevin Holowack

The province announced the opening of a temporary support centre at the Hope Mission's Karis Centre downtown to take in displaced encampment residents. Chief Dale McFee said the Edmonton Police Service is taking a zero-tolerance approach toward encampments and removing them at an "accelerated pace," which he said is the "first of many steps to re-routing the vulnerable toward longterm care and wraparound solutions." An Edmonton Transit Service bus will be on site during encampment removals for residents who want to be shuttled to the new centre, where they can store belongings while accessing housing support, health care, and addictions and mental health services. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi welcomed the new centre, but added encampments are a "symptom of underinvestment in the social sector." The centre is the work of the Edmonton Public Safety Cabinet Committee, which was formed in November. The province also published a new webpage with its own count of available shelter spaces in Edmonton, Calgary, and the rest of Alberta.
The Coalition for Justice and Human Rights issued a statement in response to the Court of King's Bench decision to dismiss its legal action against the City of Edmonton. The group says it is "disappointed" that the decision was made on the basis that the coalition lacks the public interest standing to represent homeless Edmontonians, pointing to the "mobilization of allies, neighbours, organizations, and community members" in recent months. In his decision, Justice Jonathan Martin said the coalition bears none of the "hallmarks of a party with a real stake or genuine interest in the outcome." Postmedia reported the court's decision was also influenced by an affidavit from Homeward Trust CEO Susan McGee, who said granting the injunction would normalize encampments and erode "focused and adaptive efforts to manage community impacts and safety."
The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton released its annual housing forecast, which predicts stability and growth in Edmonton's housing market in 2024. The association forecasts a 1.2% increase in the average home price, a 4.6% increase in the number of listings, and a 2.8% overall increase in sales. RE/MAX Canada's 2024 Housing Market Outlook, released in December, predicted Edmonton's market is likely to continue cooling this year but has an advantage over other Canadian markets due to its affordability and appeal to out-of-province buyers.
Rising temperatures in Edmonton can increase the risk of burst pipes and flooding, causing issues after cold weather impacted pipe systems in recent days. Global News spoke to plumber Tom Flesher, who advised homeowners to know where their main water shutoff valve is. If water stops coming from a fixture, Flesher says to minimize damage by turning off the main water valve and opening your faucets to let water drain from the pipes.
The Alberta SPCA saw a spike in animal welfare calls during the recent cold snap. The organization said 70 new files of animals in distress were called in over five days. The cold worsened existing pressures on the animal welfare system and was dangerous for livestock, as drought had already impacted feed supply for some producers, an SPCA spokesperson said.
ICE District is opening three more outdoor skating rinks in the Fan Park next to Rogers Place, which will be open weekends from Jan. 20 to Feb. 11. The area already has one outdoor rink, open daily from 10am to 10pm, located next to the plaza by the south entrance to Rogers Place.
The Edmonton Oilers will host their annual "Celebrating Pride" game on Jan. 18, when the team faces the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Place. This year's game will feature Pride colours throughout Rogers Place, use of Pride tape by the team during warmup, and mascots with Pride-themed attire. The NHL has banned Pride jerseys during warmups, but some Oilers have used Pride tape since the NHL reversed its ban on coloured tape to represent causes in October 2023.
The Edmonton Stingers have signed Jordan Baker as the full-time Head Coach and General Manager. He was the head coach last season and will start his dual-role position later this winter.