- The City of Edmonton plans to sell two downtown office buildings, Chancery Hall and Century Place, and relocate 1,350 staff as part of a $22.7-million project to optimize downtown workspaces. If approved by city council, funding would come from an interim financing reserve, with repayment expected from building sale proceeds and cost savings. "Our biggest risk is how we're going to be able to sell and when we're going to be able to sell the buildings and get that investment going," said Pascale Ladouceur, branch manager of infrastructure planning and design for the city.
- Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has proposed a plan to reduce the property tax increase from 8.1% to below 6% for 2025. Sohi's plan includes reallocating funds to keep the city's core clean, support the low-income transit pass program, and establish an industrial growth hub, alongside efforts to make the budget process more transparent and efficient. "Despite financial pressures, Edmonton is not returning to austerity, but advancing with a determined plan to maintain and improve core services," Sohi wrote in a letter posted to his website.
- Edmonton's civic unions are urging the city to focus on core services in the upcoming budget, emphasizing better support for transit employees, including making temporary jobs permanent, and enhancing the role of transit peace officers. ATU Local 569 president Steve Bradshaw said peace officers also need better equipment and tools, including "stronger authorities for what statutes and bylaws they enforce." CSU 52 outgoing president Lanny Chudyk said city council needs to define what it means by core services. "We have these wonderful things we would like to do, but when you don't have enough money to do everything, are they actually needs, or are they simply wants?" Chudyk said.
- Edmonton will deactivate its extreme weather response today as temperatures are expected to rise this week, with a high of 8°C forecast for Dec. 4. The average high throughout November was -1.1°C, which is below the 10-year average, although the city had 11 lows in a row below -13°C, which is the most since 1996.
- Bike Edmonton and the City of Edmonton are collaborating to enhance winter cycling safety by distributing free winter studded tires. To be eligible, participants must do three winter cycling challenges by Jan. 31, 2025. You can apply here.
- The Hope Mission is among the local charities facing challenges due to the ongoing Canada Post strike. Donor relations manager Kevin Wiebe said the organization is unable to receive more than half its donations because of the strike. "We're grateful for the support of the public, but we're also hoping that this can get wrapped up soon for the sake of the community we serve," Wiebe said.
- EPCOR is matching donations up to $25,000 for Youth Empowerment and Support Services, and the Bissell Centre as part of its Giving Tuesday campaign due to rising demand for youth services. The contribution could provide 3,000 meals at the Bissell Centre and support three youths at YESS for a year.
- The City of Edmonton is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Clareview Community Recreation Centre, which has become a popular hub in the northeast for its diverse facilities and programs, including pools, arenas, a fitness centre, and a multicultural centre. The City said visits to all recreation and leisure centres have increased from 4.86 million last year to 5.16 million in 2024.
- Edmonton's 2024 summer construction season, particularly on the Yellowhead and Stony Plain Road, has concluded. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi acknowledged the frustrations faced by drivers but emphasized the necessity of ongoing infrastructure investments to avoid future issues. The new Stony Plain Road bridge over Groat Road in Edmonton is now open after being closed for nearly two years for reconstruction as part of the Valley Line West LRT project. The bridge, located between 129 Street and Connaught Drive, now accommodates vehicles, pedestrians, bicycles, and LRT traffic.
