- Edmonton Transit Service has seen a 14% increase in ridership from January to September 2024 compared to the previous year, partly due to the new Valley Line Southeast LRT. The growth has ETS on track to move nearly 60 million riders in 2024, surpassing last year's 53 million, with ridership exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 12%. The City of Edmonton said it is continuing to work on closing the gap between current service levels and the growing demand.
- Edmonton Downtown Business Association CEO Puneeta McBryan joined more than 20 business leaders from across Canada urging the federal government to address safety and social disorder issues affecting downtown areas, which are linked to homelessness, mental health, and addiction crises. McBryan said that while business groups can identify these issues, they lack the expertise to solve them. She called on the federal government to collaborate with provincial and municipal partners to address shortcomings in the justice system and improve post-incarceration support. "These issues are affecting people wanting to live downtown, visit downtown. It's affecting tourism, it's affecting the mental health of people who live and work and own businesses downtown," McBryan said.
- A new 280-bed long-term care facility is set to be built in Lewis Estates for adults with complex care needs. The Good Samaritan Society will operate the facility, which will feature 20 independent households that will each accommodate 14 residents in private rooms. Construction is expected to begin later this year and take three years.
- CBC News got a behind-the-scenes look at construction on the Winspear Centre expansion project, including the facility's Music Box. "The Music Box is the jewel of the whole project," said Winspear president and CEO Annemarie Leenhouts-Petrov. The space will include a motorized platform that can descend into the floor, or raise for tiered seating. "This room will be able to pretty much do it all," she said.
- Churchill Square is once again home to Realtors Row, a series of plaques commemorating milestones in Edmonton's economic development, after they had been damaged during transit construction in 2022. The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton oversees the plaques that tell the city's story from the late 1800s.
- As the Edmonton Oilers prepare for their home opener at Rogers Place on Oct. 9, star players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl say they are determined to win the Stanley Cup this season after narrowly losing to Florida in Game 7 of the finals. Draisaitl has secured a new long-term contract and the team is focused on building on their success last season. "We haven't gotten the job done yet, which makes it even more special," said Draisaitl. "We're going to do this together."
- Edmonton Elks players Loucheiz Purifoy and Jake Julien were named to the CFL Honour Roll for week 18 of the season. Purifoy was recognized for his performance as a kick returner with a grade of 68.4, while Julien made the honour roll for his punting skills with a grade of 78.2.
Headlines: Oct. 9, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim