- Andrew Knack announced he will not seek re-election in the next municipal election after serving more than 10 years as an Edmonton city councillor. Knack, who said he plans to finish his current term, has represented Ward Nakota Isga since 2013. He said his decision was motivated by a need for new representation in the ward. He didn't identify any immediate plans for the future, but said "for the first time ever" he is thinking about the potential to enter provincial politics. "But (it's) too early to say," Knack said.
- The City of Edmonton deactivated its extreme weather response for heat on Sept. 9 as temperatures stabilized. Water bottle filling stations will remain accessible 24/7 until Sept. 30 at locations around the city, including fire hydrants and transit centres.
- A new campaign in Edmonton aims to protect Indigenous youth from gang violence by connecting them with their culture through messages displayed in Cree and English at LRT stations and on billboards. The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council, the City of Edmonton, and other organizations. "Gangs don't know any boundaries. We don't just have gangs in Edmonton or Maskwacis. We have to get that message out to all of our kids, all of our youth," said Samson Cree Nation Chief Vernon Saddleback.
- The Alberta Teachers' Association is calling for increased provincial funding to address rising student enrolment, large class sizes, and teacher burnout in Edmonton and across Alberta. Edmonton Public Schools expects more than 121,000 students this year, while the Edmonton Catholic School Division anticipates more than 50,000. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides told Postmedia in a statement that the province is investing more than $1.2 billion in education over the next three years to hire more staff and support students, while also funding school projects and modular classrooms.
- Duncan Kinney pleaded not guilty to mischief charges in an Edmonton court on Sept. 9, as pre-trial hearings for his case began. Kinney, a vocal police critic who is accused of vandalizing Ukrainian statues with anti-Nazi graffiti in 2021, claims the Edmonton Police Service used significant resources to investigate him because of his criticism. In a court filing, Edmonton police Chief Dale McFee called the allegations "baseless and conspiratorial." Kinney's trial is set for April 2025.
- COVID-19 has been far deadlier than the flu in Alberta over the past year, with 732 deaths from COVID compared to 177 from influenza, according to provincial data. Despite a decrease in COVID deaths since the 2021-22 peak, the virus continues to pose a risk, particularly to vulnerable populations. Alberta Medical Association president-elect Shelley Duggan stressed the importance of increasing vaccination rates to protect individuals and alleviate the strain on the healthcare system.
- The Edmonton Oilers have partnered with Play Alberta, making it their exclusive sports betting and online gaming partner for the 2024-25 season. The announcement drew backlash from fans upset about the promotion of gambling and commercialization of the team's jerseys. The Play Alberta sports betting corporation, run by the Alberta government, will also see its responsible gambling program, GameSense, displayed on players' helmets.
- As a new hockey season approaches, the Edmonton Oilers are solely focused on winning the Stanley Cup. No matter how the regular season goes, it will be deemed a failure if the team doesn't win the Cup this year, wrote Postmedia journalist Robert Tychkowski. "We know where we want to end up at the end of the season, I think everybody knows that," Leon Draisaitl told reporters. "But we have to give ourselves a chance to get there, first. That's the most important thing."
- Edmonton Oilers player Corey Perry is gearing up for his 20th NHL season after signing a one-year contract with the team. The 39-year-old remains committed to contributing on the ice, despite the challenges of playing at his age. "I always said I wanted to play until 40 and see what happens after that," he said.
- More than half of Albertans are struggling with daily expenses due to a cost-of-living crisis, according to a recent Statistics Canada survey, with high housing costs a significant factor. Average wages in the province have fallen, erasing the "Alberta advantage" in earnings compared to the rest of Canada, said Public Interest Alberta executive director Bradley Lafortune. Albertans also face higher costs for insurance and utilities.
Headlines: Sept. 10, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim