Headlines: Aug. 28, 2024

Aug. 28, 2024 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

The City of Edmonton has partnered with the Edmonton Police Service to launch the "Here to Help" campaign to enhance transit safety as 22,000 students return to school. More transit peace officers will be stationed at key LRT stations and transit centres during peak hours to help riders, while the Community Outreach Transit Team will provide broader social support. The campaign includes increased security measures, including security cameras, emergency phones, and alarm systems.
The City of Edmonton has proposed routes for a potential Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to enhance the existing bus network with dedicated lanes, which would improve travel times and frequency. Proposed routes include connections from Castle Downs to Century Park, West Edmonton Mall to Bonnie Doon, and the University of Alberta to Ambleside. A report detailing the proposal, presented at an urban planning committee meeting on Aug. 27, envisions implementation within five to 10 years.
Edmonton's existing facilities cannot handle the increased volume of organic waste from the City of Edmonton's expanded food scraps collection program, administration says. The City plans to build a new composting facility, expected to be operational by 2028, at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre, and will hire a third party to manage the extra waste in the interim. City councillors will review a report outlining these plans and other options at a utility committee meeting on Sept. 3.
The Alberta Human Rights Tribunal is hearing a gender discrimination complaint filed by Edmonton 2SLGBTQ+ advocate Marni Panas against the Edmonton Police Service after she says she was repeatedly misgendered during a 911 call in April 2019. Panas, a trans woman who has worked with the police service on 2SLGBTQ+ issues, said the incident eroded her trust in the police and violated her rights under gender, gender expression, and gender identity.
Edmonton International Airport celebrated International Dog Day on Aug. 26 by highlighting the calming presence of therapy dogs at the airport, which help nervous travellers relax before flights. The airport, the first in Canada to implement a pet therapy program, also hosted an adoption drive with the Greater Edmonton Animal Rescue Society.
Premier Danielle Smith has revealed the next steps in her government's plans to restructure Alberta's healthcare system by potentially removing Alberta Health Services as the operator of some hospitals, transferring them to other operators, such as the Catholic provider Covenant Health. Smith told attendees at a UCP town hall on Aug. 17 in Drayton Valley that the plan would improve healthcare delivery through competition and accountability. Critics argue the move could lead to service disruptions, particularly in rural areas, and may further privatize the public health system.
A survey by Pollara Strategic Insights for the National Police Federation (NPF) has found that most Albertans support the existing Alberta RCMP over a proposed independent provincial police service. The survey found that 84% believe there are more pressing priorities than creating a new police force, and 87% want a detailed cost analysis before any changes. The NPF is a police union representing around 20,000 RCMP members across Canada and abroad.
Edmonton's Saville Community Sports Centre is hosting the Curling Canada U-25 NextGen Classic, featuring men's, women's, and mixed doubles events. The competition includes teams from across Canada, with champions earning spots in the 2024 PointsBet Invitational and significant funding. All games will be streamed online.