- The Alberta government said the navigation and support centre it opened in downtown Edmonton has had successful results and will become permanent, with plans to expand the model to Calgary in the future. The province said the centre has seen more than 700 people, leading to more than 2,550 referrals for services, including more than 500 connections to shelter and housing programs. The province opened the centre in January as the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Police Service intensified efforts to remove homeless encampments around the city.
- Revitalization efforts in The Quarters community in Edmonton are facing challenges due to vacant lots, crime, and a need for significant investment. City officials say the area needs to attract more people, with a plan to increase the current population from 2,400 residents to about 20,000 once fully developed. However, the pandemic and competition from other neighbourhoods with more amenities is hindering efforts. The city is exploring ways to simplify the area's zoning and is in talks with non-profits in an effort to develop vacant lots.
- While Edmonton city manager Andre Corbould made the decision to resign his position, the decision was supported by council, Postmedia reported, citing sources at city hall. One source said Corbould and council were not a good fit and another said that he made the decision to leave after growing frustrated with council "flip-flopping" on policy. His departure comes after a period of growing tensions and a series of crises, including large tax increases, contentious homeless encampment clearings, and the recent attack at city hall. His was the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the city. Corbould's last day on the job is April 3.
- Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Rakhi Pancholi has withdrawn from the Alberta NDP leadership race and endorsed former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi for the position. In a message posted online, Pancholi highlighted Nenshi's success in doubling the party's membership in a week. She is expected to take on a formal role in the Nenshi campaign. The Alberta NDP will select its new leader on June 22.
- Kurt Edward Roy, a former volunteer at Les Bouts d'Choux, a non-profit French immersion preschool in Mill Woods, has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for embezzling more than $160,000 between 2012 and 2015. His actions led to significant financial strain on the preschool, resulting in reduced enrolment and the scaling back of specialized programs and activities for the children. "Mr. Roy was a part of the community, making his betrayal all the more shocking and painful," Justice Steven Mandziuk wrote in his decision.
- Edmonton's local Girl Guides club collected more than 4,000 kilograms of food for Edmonton's Food Bank during its annual "Hike for Plenty" food drive. The fundraiser teaches Girl Guides about the importance of helping those in need, with this year's drive significantly helping to increase the food bank's dwindling supplies.
Headlines: March 27, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim