- Edmonton has activated its extreme weather response to protect vulnerable populations as the city experiences severe cold, with up to 10 cm of snow expected by Feb. 26 and an overnight low of -26C. As part of the response, a third Winter Shelter Shuttle Service bus is operating, 50 temporary shelter spaces are available at the Al Rashid Mosque, and expanded day services are in place at the Bissell Centre and Boyle Street Community Services. The response is expected to last until 9am on March 1, but could be extended if cold conditions persist.
- Applications are now open for the City of Edmonton's Community Mural Grant and Community Clean Up Grant. Applications for the Community Mural Grant are open until May 15. The grant provides up to $8,000 for projects that contribute to neighbourhood beautification and community engagement. The Community Clean Up Grant, which provides up to $1,000 in reimbursed funds to support waste removal efforts, is accepting applications until Sept. 30. The grants are offered through Edmonton's Capital City Clean Up program.
- The Edmonton Football Officials Association is facing a shortage of referees, urging those interested in the sport to consider officiating. The association said the sport is growing in popularity across Edmonton. "There's more teams every year ... so we need to continue to recruit," said Parry Steen with the association.
- Edmonton saw venture capital investment triple in 2023, with $188 million invested across 21 deals, the province said in a release. By the end of 2023, the province's five-year growth rate for capital investment reached 48.5%, with tech companies in Alberta securing $2.7 billion in investment across 350 deals.
- Edmontonians gathered at Violet King Henry Plaza to mark the second anniversary of Russia's war on Ukraine. Yaroslav Broda, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Edmonton Branch, emphasized the importance of maintaining support to prevent Ukraine from being trapped in a prolonged conflict. The Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts also launched a photography exhibit titled "Moments from the Battleground – the Photographs of Maxim Dondyuk," to connect locals with the realities of the war and provide a visual understanding of the crisis. Archpriest Cornell Zubritsky, who leads the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Edmonton, says parishioners have become pessimistic as the war drags on. "The anger, the grieving, the lack of optimism is pretty prevalent," Zubritsky said.
- Edmonton-Rutherford MLA Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse has announced her entry into the Alberta NDP leadership race. Calahoo Stonehouse, who is Mohawk and Cree, said her campaign will focus on environmental issues, including climate change and drought. Other candidates in the race to replace Rachel Notley are Sarah Hoffman, Kathleen Ganley, and Rakhi Pancholi. The vote is scheduled for June 22.
- Delays from FortisAlberta in processing applications for solar panel installations are hindering the growth of solar energy projects outside of Alberta's major cities. Edmonton-based Boreal Connected Homes president Jordan Forsythe said the delays are frustrating customers as solar energy increases in popularity due to government grants and other financial incentives. FortisAlberta acknowledged the delays, adding that it is hiring additional staff and introducing new software in an effort to reduce wait times.
Headlines: Feb. 26, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim