Headlines: July 8, 2024

July 8, 2024 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

The City of Edmonton activated its extreme weather response on July 8 as temperatures are expected to reach up to 35°C. The City will provide water stations and spaces for vulnerable people to cool off, and peace officers will carry water bottles to distribute to people in need. The hot, dry conditions in Alberta have significantly increased the wildfire risk, especially in the province's north. Residents are advised to stay hydrated, seek cool indoor spaces, and be mindful of air quality advisories due to smoke from ongoing wildfires.
Funding has expired for a City of Edmonton overdose prevention pilot program that had nurses and outreach workers from Boyle Street Community Services respond to drug poisonings downtown, including at the Stanley Milner Library, transit stations, and pedways. A memo to council from administration says the program ran out of funds, and a provincial funding request was unsuccessful. An application to a Health Canada program is still pending. The $3.3-million pilot was a success, said Marliss Taylor of Boyle Street, handling more than 440 overdoses and distributing 20,000 naloxone kits.
Edmonton's Mill Creek Outdoor Pool will reopen at 12pm on July 8 after extensive renovations, including improved accessibility, a new waterslide, and updated change rooms and washrooms. New programs like Deep Water Aquafit and Learn-to-Swim classes will be available, and a concession stand will offer snacks and swimming essentials.
A new eight-storey residential development is being planned for the vacant lot at 99th Street and 89th Avenue in Strathcona, which was the former site of Wild Earth Foods. Councillors approved a rezoning application from Pangman Developments at a public hearing last week, though residents have concerns about a potential lack of ground-floor commercial space and amenities.
An ad hoc committee of regional mayors has recommended changes to Edmonton Global, including its funding model, governance, and communication practices. The recommendations come after several municipalities signalled their intentions to withdraw from the regional economic development organization because of concerns over fees and their return on investment. The specific recommendations remain confidential.
Leduc city council is set to revisit a decision to open emergency overnight shelter spaces during extreme cold weather. Council passed the motion to open the spaces in a tight vote last month, after that city's sole homeless shelter stopped operating because it couldn't find a suitable location. Some councillors argue the city doesn't have the necessary resources to address homelessness and suggested that Leduc should send people in need to the navigation and support centre in Edmonton. A spokesperson for the province said it doesn't recommend organizations outside of Edmonton rely on the centre, which already operates near capacity.
Strathcona County has received $690,000 from the federal Active Transportation Fund to build a multi-use trail and amenities connecting to a new footbridge that will link the community with Edmonton across the North Saskatchewan River. Construction on the $38.6-million footbridge is expected to be done in 2025.
Shawna Pandya, an Edmonton physician, is set to become the first Canadian woman to be a commercial astronaut. She will participate in the IIAS-02 mission in partnership with Virgin Galactic, focusing on upper atmosphere research and microgravity studies. The flight is expected to happen in a few years.
Edmonton's real estate market experienced an 11.4% slowdown in residential sales from May to June, although sales were still 10% higher than they were in June 2023, according to new figures from the REALTORS® Association Of Edmonton. While single detached home prices dropped slightly, condo prices and rental rates increased.
The Canadian women's 3×3 basketball team achieved a perfect record and won the gold medal at the FIBA 3×3 Women's Series at the Ice District in Edmonton over the weekend, with a 21-11 victory over Dallas 3XBA in the final. Michelle Plouffe scored 14 points in the final, and her sister Katherine was named MVP of the match. The team is now preparing to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 3x3 tournament drew more than 100 teams, which organizers said indicates the growing popularity of basketball in Edmonton.
Edmonton Oilers CEO and interim general manager Jeff Jackson is earning praise for his bold moves on the first day of NHL free agency, signing Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson, and re-signing Mattias Janmark, Connor Brown, and Adam Henrique. Analysts say the decisions demonstrate Jackson's commitment to strengthening the team.
Kent Davidson has been appointed as Alberta's new chief justice of the Court of King's Bench. Davidson, who began the role on June 23, has a long history of public service and legal experience. He replaces Justice Mary Moreau, who was appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.