- A pilot project to clean up Edmonton's downtown core had a noticeable impact, businesses groups told city council's community and public services committee at its April 8 meeting. The project began last May, but funding is set to run out by July 31 unless city council decides during its spring budget debate to extend it to December with an additional $1.5 million. "The impact was undeniable," said Edmonton Downtown Business Association executive director Puneeta McBryan, calling it the bare minimum for cleanliness downtown.
- The father of a boy who was killed in a dog attack in south Edmonton last week says the overwhelming negative attention since the death has been "brutal" and is affecting his ability to grieve. Wesley Grist said his son Kache was visiting from Osoyoos, B.C., and was playing a new video game moments before the attack. He said the dogs, which have since been euthanized, had never posed a risk like this in the past. The Edmonton Police Service is investigating the incident, and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi announced the city will review previous complaints about the dogs to identify any response gaps.
- WestJet has introduced daily, year-round, non-stop flights from Edmonton to Ottawa starting April 29 and to Montreal beginning June 3. The airline said the new flights are in response to long-standing requests from Edmonton businesses. A town hall meeting with WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech and the Edmonton business community is scheduled for April 22 in Edmonton.
- Native Hockey Alberta successfully concluded what might be its largest championship event to date in Edmonton, with 265 teams participating across all local rinks from April 4-7. The event included around 5,000 players and coaches from across Alberta, said president Clyde Goodswimmer, who has been involved in the league since it was founded in 1993.
- Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said he is concerned over the sale of four-litre vodka containers resembling milk jugs, which were recently spotted at a south Edmonton liquor store. T-Rex Distillery in St. Albert bottled the jugs, which sold for $49.95 each, but said it is halting their production. Nally's remarks come as he introduces red tape reduction bill, which, among other updates, aims to clarify the authority of ministers over alcohol pricing and policy decisions.
- The Alberta Black Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Alliance, a group of six Alberta-based organizations, is calling on the provincial government to invest in programming that supports Black entrepreneurs. The alliance has received about $15.5 million under the federal Black Entrepreneurship Program to help Black-owned businesses launch, but that funding is now winding down. The alliance met with Premier Danielle Smith on Feb. 15 to make its funding pitch. "It's great that the federal government has provided the resources to catalyze this initiative, and we think that it's time that the province has skin in the game," said Samuel Juru, executive director of the Edmonton-based Africa Centre.
- Postmedia published an op-ed suggesting that as Edmonton grows, river valley golf courses are not an efficient use of public green space. Kael Kropp and Stephen Raitz, the op-ed's authors, wrote that city council should consider using the 364 hectares of land allocated to municipal golf courses for uses that better meet the needs of Edmontonians. "Embracing this debate could unearth lesser-known perspectives on Edmonton's land use from diverse community members and interest groups," they wrote.
- Veteran Edmonton broadcaster Daryl McIntyre has announced his retirement after a 41-year career, with his final day on 630 CHED Mornings set for May 31. McIntyre, known for his 33-year tenure at CTV News Edmonton, shared his decision in an online post, noting he will continue voice work, emceeing, and auctioneering post-retirement.
- TSN's final NHL Power Ranking positions the Edmonton Oilers as Canada's top contender for the Stanley Cup, with a 36% chance to top the Pacific Division. Edmonton's next game is against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on April 10, where captain Connor McDavid is on the brink of achieving 100 assists for the season.
- Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard set a new franchise record with his seventh game-winning goal of the season during the team's April 6 game against the Calgary Flames. Bouchard's performance this season includes career highs of 17 goals, 62 assists, and 79 points, positioning him as a potential finalist for the Norris Trophy.
Headlines: April 9, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim