Headlines: June 4, 2024

June 4, 2024 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

A new Leger poll suggests that Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi would face significant challenges if he seeks re-election, with only 16% of respondents likely to vote for him and two-thirds believing the city is heading in the wrong direction. Key issues for residents include housing prices, property taxes, and public safety. The poll highlights widespread dissatisfaction, particularly among older residents and men, with 43% indicating they would vote for "someone else" in the next municipal election. "In terms of civic politics, things are not good right now for the current administration there," said Andrew Enns with Leger.
Several schools in the Edmonton Catholic School Division are ending their full-day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs because of budget constraints it says are caused by the provincial government's weighted moving average funding formula for K-12 education. The division's 2024-25 budget, passed last week, projects a $14.2-million operating deficit, which it says amounts to about 2,000 unfunded students. The board is advocating for the province to return to per-pupil funding to better manage enrolment growth.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi appeared on Global News for its monthly Civic Matters segment, discussing the impact of the Edmonton Oilers playoff run on the downtown. Sohi also spoke about 15-minute cities, which have been a topic of discussion at city council as part of Edmonton's district policy and planning. "The idea is creating local communities, amenities, where people are able to enjoy their quality of life," he said.
Despite a rocky start to the season and a mid-season coaching change, the Edmonton Oilers finished strong and are now vying for the Stanley Cup for the eighth time in the team's history and the first time since 2006. The team has seen strong performances from key players, including Connor McDavid, who led the playoffs with 31 points, Evander Kane, who led the team with 250 hits, and Stuart Skinner, who has a .920 save percentage in the post-season. The Oilers will play the Florida Panthers for Game 1 of the finals on June 8.
The Edmonton Elks and Edmonton Riverhawks have adjusted the start times of their upcoming games to avoid clashing with the Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Final schedule. The Riverhawks games on June 8 and 15 will now start at 1:05pm, and the Elks home opener against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 8 will begin at 2pm, to avoid conflicting with the Oilers.
Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium has undergone $2 million in upgrades, including a new point of sale system to help reduce concession wait times, improved cellular and Wi-Fi infrastructure, and renovated concourse washrooms. The improvements were completed in time to mark the 75th anniversary of the Edmonton Elks, and to enhance the fan experience for the upcoming CFL season.
The Edmonton Elks have signed a one-year deal with McLeod Bethel-Thompson to help improve the team's performance after finishing fifth in the West Division for the past three seasons. The 35-year-old quarterback, who helped the Toronto Argonauts win the Grey Cup, is also expected to mentor Canadian quarterback Tre Ford.
Many residents of Fox Lake, a northern Alberta community heavily impacted by last year's wildfires, remain displaced, with about 525 long-term evacuees living in temporary accommodations. Despite ongoing efforts and significant funding from Indigenous Services Canada, rebuilding the destroyed homes and infrastructure is progressing slowly, with full recovery expected to take up to three years. The community continues to face challenges with transportation and social problems made worse by the displacement and trauma from the fires.