Headlines: July 26, 2024

· The Pulse
By
Comments
  • Provincial officials said wildfires in Jasper National Park may have burned 30-50% of Jasper's structures, according to preliminary estimates, but the full extent of the damage remains unknown. A video from the townsite shows large areas of destroyed buildings, cars, and trees. The most significant damage is in west Jasper, while east Jasper appears to be less affected. Several bridges burned, but all critical infrastructure was protected, including the hospital, emergency services, schools, and a wastewater treatment plant. The Jasper Park Lodge confirmed the hotel was damaged by fire, but most buildings on the property remain intact. The fight to get the flames under control could last weeks, a spokesperson for Parks Canada said.
  • By the afternoon of July 25, 436 wildfire evacuees from Jasper had registered at Edmonton's support centre, with more expected to arrive in the coming days. An estimated 25,000 people, including residents and visitors, have fled the Jasper area. Many are mourning the loss of their homes and businesses. Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, which is home to about 5,200 people, has also been under a mandatory evacuation order since July 20, with some evacuees sheltering in Edmonton. Daily evacuation updates from across Alberta are posted to the province's website.
  • The City of Edmonton extended its extreme weather response for poor air quality until July 26 and may continue extending it if poor air quality persists. Various city facilities are open to provide respite from the smoke and are distributing N95 masks. Smoke caused "very high risk" air quality levels across most of Alberta on July 25, according to Environment Canada's index.
  • Strathcona County announced a series of changes to Strathcona County Transit service to Edmonton that will take effect Sept. 3. The changes are in response to Valley Line LRT construction, which has regularly slowed down and detoured routes over the past 18 months, the county said. Routes 401 and 411 will stop at 105 Street instead of going to 109 Street. Route 413 will no longer travel north beyond Jasper Avenue, affecting service to NorQuest College and NAIT. More details about the changes are available on Strathcona County's website.
  • Edmonton's real estate market will likely see large sales growth in coming months, a trend driven by relative affordability, said John Carter with RE/MAX River City. Edmonton was ahead of all major Canadian markets for sales growth in June, year over year, despite a slow start to 2024. The benchmark selling price for homes in Edmonton was $408,200 in June, compared to $608,000 in Calgary, which is "pricing people out" and pushing some to Edmonton instead, said Carter.
  • Many fans and commentators responded to the Edmonton Oilers hiring former Chicago Blackhawks executive Stan Bowman as general manager after he was suspended from the NHL for two years for mishandling a sexual assault allegation. Postmedia writer Gerry Moddejonge suggested the Oilers took a "calculated risk" with the hire, noting that Bowman's role will involve contributing to team culture. Daniel Nugent-Bowman with The Athletic wrote that Bowman should be "under immense scrutiny" and hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt. Allan Mitchell with The Athletic wrote that there is "at least some evidence" the Oilers did not follow best practices in hiring Bowman, making him a "Daryl Katz hire." An online petition against Bowman's hiring has garnered more than 5,900 signatures, and another petition to fire Bowman has more than 2,500.
  • Edmonton Elks quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson was fined by the CFL for publicly criticizing the league. Earlier this season, Bethel-Thompson took issue with the CFL's decision to schedule Elks games with only five rest days in between, a sentiment he repeated after Edmonton lost to Ottawa on July 19.