- A third-party review into the removal of a Palestine solidarity encampment at the University of Alberta has concluded that while the university's actions were lawful, alternative approaches such as seeking an injunction or negotiating with protesters might have been preferable. The review, conducted by retired Justice Adèle Kent, includes recommendations for improving student engagement, crisis reporting, and protest rights, which the university says it is already implementing. Several groups involved in the encampment were critical of the review.
- Edmonton city council approved the expansion of the Alberta Avenue Business Improvement Area, allowing more businesses to access municipally funded programs and support services. The expansion includes an additional 10 businesses along 95 Street and the Exhibition Lands, allowing them to access benefits such as storefront improvement grants and enhanced street maintenance.
- Edmonton city council passed a bylaw to regulate and improve 120 illegal surface parking lots in the city's downtown area by requiring property owners to get development permits and improve landscaping and accessibility by June 2026. While some business owners and city councillors support the plan as a necessary step towards a cleaner and safer downtown, others, including parking lot operators, expressed concerns development costs given current economic conditions.
- Alexander Circle in Glenora is the first park in Edmonton to be designated a Municipal Historic Resource. The designation highlights the park's unique garden suburb design, featuring symmetrical landscape architecture and community gathering spaces. The City of Edmonton plans to develop a new Heritage Places Strategy in 2025 to address broader historical and preservation issues.
- The shooting death of 20-year-old security guard Harshandeep Singh in central Edmonton has sparked concerns about the safety and training protocols for security personnel. Singh, who was studying at NorQuest College, was working alone when he was shot while patrolling an apartment building. Two people are facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the killing, which is being investigated by the Edmonton Police Service and provincial occupational health and safety officials.
- Staff at Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton cut off an Indigenous man's braids without his consent and threw them in the trash, an act his niece said caused "great emotional and spiritual harm." Alberta Health Services called the incident "deeply regrettable," and has introduced new cultural sensitivity training for staff. The man's family, however, criticized the response as insufficient and demanded stronger measures to ensure accountability. Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said she was concerned to learn about the incident, adding that the province recently hired an Indigenous patient safety advocate to address discrimination in healthcare.
- The new Afro-Caribbean Indigenous Food Bank opened in Edmonton, providing culturally appropriate staple foods to those in need, with more than 100 people attending on its first day. Program director Ranti George said it's important to offer familiar ingredients to help ease culture shock for newcomers. "We want to be able to give them that little comfort," George said.
- The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has joined the calls urging the federal government to withdraw its proposed emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, arguing it could negatively impact Edmonton's economy and lead to a 4.5% drop in Alberta's GDP by 2040. Chamber president Doug Griffiths said the cap-and-trade system would disproportionately affect industries in Edmonton, including construction and engineering services, and suggested exploring other ways to achieve emissions reduction targets. The Alberta government has also introduced a sovereignty act motion to challenge the federal cap.
- Edmonton's Syrian community held a rally to celebrate the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime as many expressed both joy and shock. The collapse marks a major turning point for the country after more than 13 years of civil war. Edmonton's Syrian community includes more than 2,800 refugees. Another rally is planned for this weekend.
- Edmonton's real estate market is expected to continue favouring sellers into 2025, with an expected 10% increase in average home prices and a 4% rise in sales, according to a Re/Max report. Despite high demand putting pressure on housing supply, Edmonton remains more affordable than Calgary, particularly in the condominium market where prices have stayed around $200,000, attracting both first-time buyers and investors. Lower mortgage rates and increased interest from out-of-province investors are expected to fuel further demand.
Headlines: Dec. 11, 2024
By Mariam Ibrahim