- Nearly 80% of people evicted from encampments by police between January and May did not use Edmonton's new navigation centre, Postmedia reports. The centre, located in the Hope Mission shelter, has faced criticism for its limited impact and the discomfort some homeless individuals feel due to its police presence. "We are not seeing this having the effect I think the province hoped it would," said Coun. Erin Rutherford. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing itself, but it can't be the solution." A provincial government spokesperson claimed the centre's success "has been even greater than expected," with more than 2,900 people receiving help since it opened on Jan. 17.
- Construction has begun on the 142 Street Pedestrian/Cyclist Bridge, a key component of Stage Two of the Terwillegar Drive Expansion project aimed at improving active transportation in southwest Edmonton. The bridge will enhance connectivity between the Brookside and Brookview neighborhoods and link to existing pathways.
- TSN reports that Larry Thompson, a local businessman and longtime season ticket holder, is set to become the new private owner of the Edmonton Elks, according to an anonymous CFL source. If confirmed, the ownership change would leave the CFL with only two community-owned teams.
- The City of Edmonton has adjusted the hours of the Rapid Emergency Support Terminal for evacuees from Jasper and Jasper National Park to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Since July 23, more than 2,500 evacuees have registered at the Kennedale location. The Canadian Red Cross will continue to assist on-site during operating hours.
- Early estimates suggest that the total value of buildings destroyed in the Jasper wildfire is about $283 million. Residents have been invited to return home on Friday, though officials warn that properties may not be habitable due to internal damage and that basic services remain extremely limited.
- Edmonton Public Schools will accommodate Jasper students displaced by wildfires by helping them enroll before the school year starts on Aug. 29. Schools in Jasper are currently unsafe due to ash and smoke damage, and it is unknown when they will be able to reopen.
- Edmonton's risk of a fast-spreading wildfire is lower than Jasper's due to the predominance of deciduous trees, which are slower to ignite compared to evergreen trees. City of Edmonton ecologist Courtney Teliske notes that Edmonton's rapid fire detection and response capabilities further reduce wildfire risks, although areas with dense evergreens and dry debris remain higher risk. "The fires that start in the boreal forest, they can go for days without anyone seeing them. Here, there's people everywhere. So the detection is going to be that much quicker," said Teliske.
- Starting April 1, 2025, Alberta will permanently expand its recycling program to include more than 500 additional electronic items and develop Canada's first provincial recycling programs for solar panels, electric vehicle batteries, and wind turbine components. The expansion will make Alberta's recycling system the most comprehensive in Canada. The initiative was announced at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, which will also receive a $250,000 investment for AI-powered hazardous waste detection technology.
- The St. Louis Blues have extended offer sheets to Edmonton Oilers defenceman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway, proposing two-year contracts worth $4.58 million and $2.29 million per season, respectively. Edmonton has seven days to match these offers; otherwise, they will receive draft picks as compensation. Broberg and Holloway, both high draft picks, played pivotal roles in Edmonton's recent playoff success.
