- Two people were injured in two separate crashes involving Edmonton's Valley Line Southeast LRT this week. On Sept. 24, a semi-truck hit a train near Davies Station, causing a derailment and injuring one LRT passenger, while on Sept. 23, a cyclist suffered non-life-threatening injuries after colliding with a train near Bonnie Doon Station. Both crashes involved illegal right turns on red lights, police said.
- A Maru Public Opinion poll done for CityNews found that 70% of non-homeowners in Edmonton feel home ownership will remain out of their reach because of rising housing prices and a supply shortage. Despite Edmonton's relatively lower home prices compared to other Canadian cities, 36% of survey respondents cited housing as their second biggest issue, after affordability and cost of living.
- The Edmonton Police Service is urging residents of the southwest neighbourhood of Keswick to check their properties for bullet holes following a drive-by shooting in the area on Sept. 22. Investigators want to retrieve a bullet they believe was fired from a vehicle around 2:15am near King Wynd SW and King Gate SW, the police service said in a release. While the investigation is ongoing, police say there is no immediate danger to the public.
- A pair of Edmonton researchers published a report highlighting the experiences of anti-Palestinian racism faced by students in Alberta schools. The report, included in an Aug. 27 publication from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, documents findings of systemic racism and exclusion of Palestinian narratives in classrooms. "The primary way that they experienced anti-Palestinian racism was through silences and exclusions," said researcher Muna Saleh, an associate professor at Concordia University of Edmonton.
- Chipotle opened its first location in Edmonton, drawing large lunchtime crowds and joining other American food chains that have set up shop in the city, including P.F. Chang's, Crumbl Cookies, and Chick-fil-A. The city's growing population, disposable income, and available space make it an attractive market for these retailers, said Heather Thomson with the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.
- The Canada Post Community Foundation has awarded $22,007 to the Arts on the Ave Edmonton Society for its Growing Green Alleys project, which aims to revitalize Alberta Avenue's alleyways with art, play spaces, and safety improvements. The grant is part of $1.3 million the foundation is distributing to 106 community groups across the country.
- CBC News published a look into what Big Mama's & Papa's Pizzeria in Windermere says is world's largest deliverable pizza. Measuring 54-by-54 inches, this massive pizza takes at least two people to transport and requires a custom roof rack for deliveries. With 200 slices, it feeds 50 to 60 people and can cost between $350 and $400.
- Edmonton's BTB Soccer Academy has become a national soccer powerhouse, sending three teams to national championships this October. The academy began with just a few players 11 years ago and have since grown to about 500 players. The 2023 Canadian Youth Sports Report found that soccer is the most popular youth sport in Canada, with about one million children across the country playing the game. The study also highlighted the financial burden of youth sports, with families spending an average of $1,820 per child annually.
- Senator Paula Simons has released a report detailing the challenges facing Canadian municipalities, highlighting their struggle to deal with pressing issues with limited resources and constitutional powers. Simons wrote online that she hopes the report will spark a national conversation to strengthen cities, towns, and rural communities in addressing issues such as climate change, housing, and the opioid epidemic.
Headlines: Sept. 25, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim