- Edmonton's theatre community is mourning the loss of veteran actor Julien Arnold, who died during a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre on Nov. 24. Arnold was a cherished figure in Edmonton's theatre scene for more than 25 years, and a founding member of Free Will Players. Tributes expressed admiration for Arnold as both an artist and a mentor, celebrating his legacy as one of the most beloved and accomplished theatre artists in the region. The Citadel Theatre plans to adjust the performance schedule to allow performers and staff to grieve, and will contact any affected ticket holders.
- The Alberta government announced it is cutting its $1 million in annual funding to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board starting in the 2025 budget, making membership voluntary instead of mandatory. The news raised concerns about the future of regional planning and collaboration among the 13 municipalities involved. Coun. Andrew Knack called the decision "essentially the death of this organization."
- The Edmonton Police Service is investigating a series of 24 arsons across six south-side neighbourhoods this year, including Allendale, Belgravia, Holyrood, King Edward Park, Ritchie, and Strathearn. The investigation, which began in May, has been expanded with the help of Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, and police say they have identified several persons of interest.
- Academic upgrading programs in Edmonton are seeing a surge in demand, with schools like Centre High Campus and St. Joseph Catholic High School facing capacity challenges. Edmonton Public Schools has implemented measures to help manage the pressure, such as limiting students to three courses per semester and expanding facilities. Students who can't secure spots in public programs often resort to paid options at institutions like NAIT and NorQuest College.
- The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce released a statement in response to Alberta's 2024-25 second quarter fiscal update, which projected a surplus of $4.6 billion, driven by increased revenues from taxes and resource royalties. In its statement, the Chamber urged the province to use the surplus to support municipalities, reduce small business taxes, and reinstate job training grants to address inflation and labour shortages. "These measures will ensure sustainable growth, strengthen Alberta's position as a leader in innovation and opportunity, and enhance the well-being of our communities," the statement said.
- The Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree concert is returning after a five-year break and will move to the Edmonton EXPO Centre. The event, running from Dec. 12 to 15, will include 150 choir members and more than 300 local performers, offering a mix of holiday classics and modern hits.
- Edmonton was among six Canadian cities included on Resonance Consulting's global ranking of the top 100 urban areas. Edmonton ranked 65 overall, recognized for its extensive park system, and ranked 24 for tree cover. The rankings consider factors such as livability, prosperity, and global reputation. Other Canadian cities on the list were Toronto (15), Vancouver (22), Montreal (35), Ottawa (52), and Calgary (54).
- The Alberta government announced it will transition to its new "Care-First" auto insurance system over the next two years. The government said the change aims to provide "better medical and faster income support benefits", and will potentially save Albertans up to $400 annually. The province launched a website to explain the changes, which are expected to be fully implemented by January 2027.
- The province is exploring ways to increase oil and gas exports to the U.S. by encouraging private sector investments in pipeline capacity without direct government subsidies. "We're looking to make connections with the United States, to see their appetite for assisting in helping to get more product going into the United States," Premier Danielle Smith told reporters, highlighting the potential to use existing infrastructure to expand exports.
Headlines: Nov. 26, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim