Headlines: Sept. 26, 2024

Sept. 26, 2024 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

Edmonton's fall yard waste collection will begin Sept. 30 and run until Nov. 25. Residents with curbside collection will have two fall yard waste collection days during that period, with specific dates listed online or through the WasteWise app. Dutch elm disease has been detected in the city, so residents are asked not to mix cut elm wood with yard waste, and instead dispose of it immediately by burning it or taking it to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre.
Edmonton's Valley Line Southeast LRT has been involved in more than 20 accidents since opening last November, including two this week, data shows. At least 18 of those collisions involved vehicles, and five involved pedestrians or cyclists that either hit or were hit by trains. The City of Edmonton says it isn't planning any immediate safety changes and that it's confident road users will safely adjust to the LRT line if they follow posted signs and signals.
A Maru Public Opinion poll conducted for CityNews found that just 26% of respondents think Edmonton's mayor and councillors should be re-elected. The survey found 60% believe Mayor Amarjeet Sohi should be replaced, while 14% said they didn't know. In a statement, Sohi acknowledged that "this year's property tax increase was difficult for Edmontonians," adding that he has directed administration to "cut costs, find efficiencies, and minimize tax increases while protecting the core municipal services." The survey of 400 residents in Edmonton was conducted as part of a CityNews series on municipal issues.
The Edmonton Police Service is rolling out a mobile app called InterpretManager to help officers overcome language barriers when they interact with people from diverse communities. The app, developed by Calgary-based Languages in Motion, allows officers to connect with interpreters in more than 300 languages. It was initially piloted in 2021 and is now available to 1,100 Edmonton police officers, with plans to reach all sworn members by the end of 2024.
The City of Edmonton will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 through efforts to raise awareness about the legacy of the residential school system and honouring survivors and their families. The City will host various events, including educational programs, an Orange Shirt Day Run and Walk, and display Indigenous artwork. A full list of events is available online. Municipal services will have adjusted hours, and the Edmonton Service Centre, 311, Eco Stations, and the Animal Care and Control Centre will be closed.
The City of Edmonton marked National Tree Day at Hermitage Park on Sept. 25 with more than 200 volunteers from the Root for Trees program planting 2,000 trees as part of the City's goal to plant two million trees by 2030. Since 2013, Root for Trees has planted 323,484 trees and shrubs in Edmonton.
The Edmonton Police Service and the City of Edmonton's automatic traffic enforcement issued 902 traffic violations during its most recent Operation 24 Hours on Sept. 12. Speeding accounted for 733 of the tickets, while the remaining 169 included a variety of infractions, including red light violations, distracted driving, and criminal code driving offences.
The Crime Stoppers Association of Edmonton and Northern Alberta has partnered with the Edmonton Police Service and the provincial government to launch a Report Hate campaign to encourage residents to report incidents of hate crimes and discrimination. Officials hope the campaign, which features ads on city buses and within the LRT system, will help address the rise in hate crimes in Edmonton since 2022.
A new C5 Hub has opened in Edmonton's Northgate neighbourhood. The location is open weekdays from 9am to 3pm and offers a market, donation centre, and connection to various social programs. It's the third such hub to open in the city's north side.
In the latest episode of CBC's This is Edmonton podcast, host Clare Bonnyman speaks to Laura Cunningham-Shpeley, the executive director of the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, to explore how these organizations started in the city and the role they play today. Cunningham-Shpeley said community leagues started in Edmonton's Crestwood neighbourhood in 1917 by a group of residents who wanted to come together to discuss issues they cared about.
Edmonton native and cannabis advocate Tommy Chong appeared on CTV Morning Live to discuss his journey from his early days in Alberta to becoming a significant figure in cannabis culture. Chong will be featured at the Grow Up Conference, which runs from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1 at the Edmonton Convention Centre.