- Kickstand Edmonton opened a new mental health and social support hub at West Edmonton Mall in partnership with the YMCA of Northern Alberta and the Mental Health Foundation. The hub provides free, confidential services for young people aged 11-25 and their families, including mental health counselling, peer support, employment services, workshops, and Indigenous support. Referrals aren't required to access services at the facility, which is open Monday to Friday from 12pm to 6pm.
- Paths for People is urging the City of Edmonton to prioritize pedestrian-friendly spaces in the 76 Avenue renewal project. The group is proposing the City close a section of road in Mill Creek Ravine to vehicle traffic and replace it with green park space for pedestrians and cyclists. The project is still in the planning stages, with public engagement shaping the final design before work begins in late 2025.
- TELUS World of Science - Edmonton remains closed for cleaning after a small fire resulted in extensive smoke damage. A reopening date hasn't been set, and the closure has forced the cancellation of the Amazing Pollinators exhibit.
- Child sexual exploitation cases have increased in Alberta since the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting initiatives like the Cyberworld seminar hosted by the Saffron Centre, which educates parents on online safety, privacy, boundaries, and recognizing predatory behaviour. The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams' Internet Child Exploitation unit highlights community engagement and public education as key tools in ensuring online safety. Last year, it received more than 5,000 reports of online child sexual exploitation.
- A task force report into Alberta's COVID-19 response is facing backlash from the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) and other medical experts for spreading misinformation and challenging scientific consensus. The $2-million report, commissioned by Alberta's UCP government, recommends halting the use of COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and teenagers and suggests legislative changes to give doctors more freedom to prescribe non-traditional therapies, such as ivermectin. "It speaks against the broadest and most diligent international scientific collaboration and consensus in history," AMA president Shelley Duggan said in a statement.
- In his latest article, Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein discussed the City of Edmonton's Vision Zero efforts, which aim to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2032. While the City has made progress with some initiatives, including lower speed limits and traffic calming infrastructure, the resurgence of risky driving behaviours post-pandemic, restrictions on enforcement tools like photo radar, and financial and political hurdles remain challenges.
- RCMP are investigating a protest in St. Albert over the weekend involving three men displaying anti-immigrant messages and neo-Nazi symbols. "We are committed to ensuring everyone we serve can live in communities free from discrimination and bias, and we take any action that threatens the safety and security of others extremely seriously," said RCMP, who are consulting with their hate crimes coordinator on the case.
- Two teenagers have been found guilty of manslaughter in the fatal attack of a Grade 10 student outside an Edmonton high school in April 2022. The date for their sentencing will be scheduled later this year. The case is part of a series of trials involving seven youths charged in connection with the attack, with one trial still pending and four others already sentenced.
- Federal Justice Minister and Attorney General Arif Virani appointed three new Justices to Alberta's Court of King's Bench, including Kathryn Oviatt and Kristan McLeod in Edmonton, and Shannon Davis in Grande Prairie. The appointees bring experience in various legal fields, with a focus on human rights, labour law, and prosecution, a news release says.
- The Edmonton Oilers are leading in the Western Conference with strong offensive and defensive metrics, taking second place in Sportlogiq's weekly power rankings. The Oilers currently have the best expected goal differential of any NHL team.
Headlines: Jan. 28, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim