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Headlines: Oct. 24, 2024

· The Pulse
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  • Dutch elm disease has not spread in Edmonton after it was first detected in four trees in August, city council heard on Oct. 23. Since the disease was identified in the Killarney neighbourhood, crews have removed 25 trees and assessed 55,000. Edmontonians are encouraged to watch for symptoms of Dutch elm disease and properly dispose of pruned elm wood.
  • Some parents are supporting CUPE Local 3550 in its ongoing labour dispute with Edmonton Public Schools, citing the need to better compensate educational assistants and support staff, who are essential to supporting children with disabilities. On Oct. 22, the province approved the school board's application for a dispute inquiry board, which delayed a strike by forcing the employer and union back to the bargaining table.
  • Real estate experts are anticipating how the Bank of Canada's fourth interest rate cut this year, which will bring the rate to 3.75%, could affect Edmonton's real estate market. Melanie Boles, board chair of the REALTORS Association of Edmonton, said the lower rate will give buyers more spending power in the short term, but Edmonton's low inventory could negate the benefit by driving housing costs up. Tom Shearer with Royal LePage Noralta Real Estate advised potential buyers to "find a property now because chances are it'll be more expensive next year."
  • The City of Edmonton is struggling to replace aging ice arenas as the population and demand for ice time grows, CTV News reported. The average age of the city's 22 municipal and six private arenas is 57 years, and Edmonton has one ice sheet for every 38,709 people, compared to one sheet for every 22,777 people in Calgary. A twin rink at the Lewis Farms Community Recreation Centre is expected to open in 2028, while the City is exploring new arenas in Bonnie Doon and in southwest Edmonton. The 2027-2030 budget is expected to include funding to replace some aging single arenas with twin or multi arenas.
  • Edmonton was named one of Lonely Planet's 30 best destinations for 2025. The publication highlighted the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, Old Strathcona and Whyte Avenue, and the Royal Alberta Museum. Edmonton's inclusion in the list is a "testament to the hard work and collaboration between our tourism partners, Indigenous communities, and local entrepreneurs," Explore Edmonton vice-president Paul Hawes said in a release.
  • Edmonton bartender Calliope Draper was awarded the 50 Best Bars Roku Scholarship 2024, which provides an opportunity to train at three world-famous bars in Japan and Australia. Draper is also the founder of Places You Are Welcome, a cocktail zine focused on queer stories in the hospitality industry, and in 2022 became the first non-binary competitor to place in the World Class Canada bartending competition.
  • Randy Gregg and Craig MacTavish are the 2024 inductees to the Edmonton Oilers Hall of Fame. A ceremony will happen after the Oilers take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 25. Fans at Rogers Place can stay to watch the celebration, which will also be streamed on Sportsnet ONE.
  • The Athletic interviewed former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft about his nine seasons with the Oilers and his 2023-24 season, which ended early with his dismissal. Oilers Nation published an article about the interview.
  • Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser said that Alberta is one of three provinces that didn't respond to a formal offer made in September for federal money to address encampments and homelessness. Fraser said the federal government is now offering to partner with municipalities directly. Jason Nixon, Alberta's seniors, community and social services minister, said the federal government didn't provide a deadline to respond, adding the parties have been in regular discussion about the "best use of these funds."
  • A federal program that provided Alberta free rapid COVID-19 tests ended this month, and most pharmacies have run out of the tests. Health Canada said there are no plans to replenish inventories. Pharmacies selling COVID-19 tests from the private market are charging $5 to $10, which could deter people or limit access to testing, pharmacists told CBC News.
  • The Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre in Edmonton is marking Child Abuse Prevention Month with other child advocacy centres across Canada by encouraging people to wear blue on Oct. 24 in an effort to spark conversations and provide education about child abuse. The centre is raising funds to support its front-line programming.