Headlines: Sept. 4, 2024

Sept. 4, 2024 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

The City of Edmonton has detected Dutch elm disease in Edmonton for the first time, with four trees testing positive in the Killarney and Yellowhead Corridor East neighbourhoods. The City is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Alberta government to contain the spread, and has begun implementing an action plan developed in 2020 to combat the fungus. Residents can help by not transporting firewood, pruning elm trees during the recommended period, and reporting any signs of the disease to 311.
EPCOR is updating its water conservation protocols to improve clarity and transparency for customers and account for seasonal usage, following a four-day water use ban in January due to malfunctions at the E.L. Smith water treatment plant. The new staged approach is outlined in a report reviewed at council's utility committee meeting on Sept. 3. The plan includes internal curtailment, voluntary public reduction, and mandatory public reduction of non-essential water use.
Post-secondary students, including those at the University of Alberta, are experiencing major financial pressure because of high tuition and living costs. Edmonton students are grappling with significant rent increases, with the city experiencing the highest rent inflation among major Canadian municipalities. Many students say they are relying on parental support or making sacrifices to manage rising expenses. The University of Alberta Students' Union is advocating for more government grants to alleviate these burdens.
NAIT has restructured its academic offerings by expanding from four to seven schools to enhance student experience and industry connections. This reorganization, which took effect Aug. 19, also includes the addition of two new deans, Agatha Ojimelukwe and Stephen McMillan, to lead the new schools. The changes aim to help NAIT accommodate more students as the institution continues to grow.
Samson Cree Nation is grieving after RCMP officers in Wetaskiwin fatally shot a 15-year-old Indigenous boy from the community who had called police for help. Chief Vernon Saddleback and Grand Chief Cody Thomas called for improved accountability and communication in how Indigenous communities are policed. Izaiah Swampy-Omeasoo, a Samson Cree Nation councillor, has called for the officers involved to resign. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting, and the RCMP are conducting their own internal investigation.
The Edmonton Oilers have signed star centre Leon Draisaitl to an eight-year, $112-million US contract extension, which will make him the highest-paid player in NHL history at $14 million per year. Draisaitl, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, played a pivotal role in leading the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup final appearance since 2006.
The Edmonton region is emerging as a prime location for data centres due to its strong energy infrastructure, expertise in artificial intelligence, and favourable geographic and economic conditions, according to a new post from Edmonton Global. The economic development agency also said the region's cool climate, abundant renewable energy sources, and low land and tax costs make it an attractive option for data centre investment.
Edmonton's Joey Moss School is among 74 schools across Canada set to share $1 million worth of musical instruments and equipment provided by Canadian music education charity MusiCounts. The grant funding is being provided through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program and the new MusiCounts Slaight Family Foundation Innovation Fund.
Recovery Alberta has officially taken over mental health and addictions services from Alberta Health Services (AHS), transitioning 10,000 employees on Sept. 1. The new agency is the first of four new entities created as part of the province's plan to overhaul AHS. The move, which has faced criticism for causing uncertainty and increased costs, will require more than $1 billion annually to operate.
Canadian Western Bank (CWB) announced that its shareholders voted 99.78% in favour of a proposal from National Bank of Canada to acquire all of CWB's common shares. The transaction, which still requires regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed in 2025.
Retired Edmonton piano teacher Daniel Chong, 66, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for sexually abusing two students. Court of King's Bench Justice Shaina Leonard said the sentence takes into account the "immeasurable amount of emotional pain" caused to the victims and noted Chong's lack of remorse or treatment. Chong will be listed on the sex offenders registry for 20 years and faces a lifetime firearms prohibition.