- Edmonton's Boyle Street Community Services has made significant progress towards its $49.5-million fundraising goal for a new downtown hub, thanks to a $21-million contribution from the federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program. The new facility, called okimaw peyesew kamik (King Thunderbird Centre), is set to open in June next year and will offer health and housing services for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty. While the project has faced challenges, including a legal dispute with the Katz Group over a conditional donation, the funding boost means construction is now set to proceed.
- Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is considering launching an online store to sell branded merchandise like LRT mugs and hydrogen-bus hoodies, in an effort to increase revenue and community engagement. The idea, which was first pitched in early 2020 but delayed because of the pandemic, has since gained momentum after the enthusiastic response to the Valley Line Southeast LRT launch last November. Speaking on the latest episode of Taproot's Speaking Municipally, City of Edmonton interim city manager Eddie Robar said he loves the idea of opening a transit merchandise store, which could launch by the end of the year.
- Edmontonian Dustin Bajer appeared on CBC Edmonton AM on May 3 to speak about his campaign to have the magpie recognized as Edmonton's official bird. "They're just ubiquitous. They're everywhere," Bajer said, adding the birds share many characteristics with the city. The bird is the inspiration behind several art pieces around Edmonton, including The Magpies' Nests in the Rossdale Linear Park. Not everyone loves the bird, though, Bajer acknowledged. "I feel like it's a little bit of an underdog and I can't help but feel like maybe it doesn't quite get the respect it deserves sometimes," he said.
- Red Dress Day events took place in Edmonton and across Alberta on May 5 to honour and remember missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and other exploited community members. In Edmonton, families, survivors, and supporters walked down Jasper Avenue in remembrance of those they've lost. Judith Gale of Bear Claw Beaver Hills House said she was marching in memory of her sister, who was killed in Montreal when she was 16 years old. "Today I call her spirit to us to let her know that she's never forgotten," Gale said.
- Home sales in Edmonton were 54.9% higher in April compared to the same month last year, according to a new report from the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. Home prices are also climbing, with the report noting a 5.8% year-over-year increase in the average price of detached homes. Housing inventory also grew, with new listings in April up by 8.7% from the previous month.
- Thousands of WNBA fans descended on Rogers Place in Edmonton for a sold-out pre-season game between the Los Angeles Sparks and Seattle Storm on May 4. A total of 16,655 people were in the arena for the historic event, which was only the second time a WNBA game has been played in Canada.
- Alberta Wildfire has introduced three night vision-equipped helicopters at the Slave Lake air tanker base to combat wildfires at night, as the province prepares for what is expected to be a hot and dry season. Alberta is believed to be the only province in Canada using helicopters to fight wildfires at night. The province began using a night vision helicopter last year in a pilot program, which allowed firefighters to work at night when fire activity is typically subdued.
Headlines: May 6, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim