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Headlines: Sept. 27, 2024

· The Pulse
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  • Edmonton is expected to hit a record number of housing starts and approved building permits in 2024, the City said in a release. From January to August, housing starts rose 48%, and the number of approved permits for dwelling units jumped 65% compared to the same period in 2023. The City attributes the surge to initiatives like the Housing Accelerator Fund and zoning bylaw updates. The significant number of housing starts in Edmonton contributed to a 4% rise in total housing starts in Canada's six largest cities in the first half of 2024, according to a Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation report. Despite the increased construction, housing starts still lagged behind population growth, raising concerns about meeting future demand.
  • Parents and advocates are urging Edmonton Public Schools to ban the use of seclusion rooms, which have been used 2,821 times from September 2023 to April 2024. At a school board meeting on Sept. 24, parents raised concerns about the impact seclusion rooms have on children, particularly those with disabilities, and the lack of transparency in their usage. Some schools have decommissioned the rooms, but 139 remain in use for the 2024-2025 school year.
  • A coalition of 10 advocacy groups in Edmonton released a joint statement demanding stronger protections for unhoused individuals as winter approaches, highlighting rising living costs and limited affordable housing. The statement outlined demands for better support amid a reported 47% increase in homelessness in Edmonton this year. Its signatories include the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, the 4B Harm Reduction Society, and the Coalition for Justice and Human Rights. In a statement, the provincial government maintained its position against encampments and said it is "committed to providing supports to Edmonton's most vulnerable."
  • A poll done for CityNews found that 75% of Edmontonians fear being victims of violence on public transit. The poll also found concerns about repeat offenders and insufficient bail laws, along with mixed opinions on police funding. The City of Edmonton's Enhanced Transit Safety Plan, a partnership with the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society and Edmonton Police Service, includes expanding the Transit Community Safety teams from three to six this year, adding 40 new security cameras, and improvements to more than 500 transit centre doors.
  • Researchers at Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and the University of Alberta have developed mind-controlled computer technology that allows individuals with disabilities to control their wheelchairs using a headset. The technology can help increase independence and mobility for its users, like Tristin Froma, who has cerebral palsy. "Face to face connection is way more fun than just playing Pac Man in your room all day," he said.
  • Meta Productions, an Emmy Award-winning Calgary-based production company specializing in commercials, television, and film, opened a new office in Edmonton. The expansion reflects the company's ongoing work in the city, co-found John Cameron said. This move comes as TV and film production surges in Alberta.
  • Destination Canada has launched four new tourism corridors for 2024, including the Northern Sky Corridor connecting Edmonton to the Northwest Territories. The corridors are intended to help reach Canada's goal of becoming a top global destination by 2030.
  • Dave Breakenridge was appointed the new editor-in-chief of the Edmonton Sun and Edmonton Journal. Breakenridge said he is excited to lead during a dynamic period for the city. He previously served as managing editor for the newspapers.
  • The Competition Bureau gave its clearance for the National Bank of Canada's proposed acquisition of Canadian Western Bank. The bank says it plans to maintain its executive and operational presence in Edmonton. The merger is pending further regulatory approvals.
  • The Edmonton Oilers have shrunk their training camp roster by releasing five players on AHL contracts from their tryouts and loaning four others to the Bakersfield Condors. The released players are Jasper Weatherby, Brett Brochu, Connor Corcoran, Alex Kannok-Leipert, and Cameron Wright. The loaned players are Matvey Petrov, Connor Ungar, Jayden Grubbe, and James Stefan.