Headlines: Feb. 12, 2025

Feb. 12, 2025 · The Pulse
By Mariam Ibrahim

Edmonton city council's urban planning committee approved a plan to close intersections along Stony Plain Road to expedite Valley Line West LRT construction. The plan would allow the project contractor, Marigold Infrastructure Partners, to fully close sections of road for up to nine weeks in an effort to complete necessary work by the end of the year. Several businesses that will be affected by the closures spoke against the plan at the meeting. The LRT project is now projected to be completed by 2028, but no opening date has been set.
Former Edmonton Police Service sergeant Ken Smith has been demoted to constable and removed from leadership roles after making sexualized comments to three gay officers under his command. The disciplinary decision, which includes a $14,000 annual pay cut and mandatory harassment awareness training, was issued after Smith was found guilty of insubordination and discreditable conduct. Smith will be ineligible for promotion for at least two years.
The Alberta government has accused CUPE leaders of interfering in negotiations between the Edmonton Public Schools and striking education support workers, claiming the union pressured the nursing agency Nurse Next Door to withdraw services for some children in the division. CUPE Alberta called the accusations "baseless attacks," while the nursing agency said in a Facebook post that it had received multiple emails and that it will not work with any other schools until negotiations have been settled. The education support workers strike is in its fifth week.
The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra hosted service dogs and their trainers for a special rehearsal on Feb. 10 at the Winspear Centre. The initiative was intended to help the dogs get used to crowds and live music as part of their training. "They have to be able to go into any environment and just relax and hang out with their person, and it's a tough skill for them," said Pidra Angotti with Dogs with Wings.
Toronto-based CAPREIT announced the $79.4-million acquisition of The MacLaren in Edmonton, a 240-suite rental property in the Wîhkwêntôwin neighbourhood. The purchase is part of CAPREIT's strategy to upgrade its portfolio by acquiring newer properties with growth potential while selling non-core assets. The Edmonton property, built in 2019, offers residents convenient access to downtown and local amenities.
Edmonton's office market vacancy rate rose to 17.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with vacancies in downtown areas increasing to 19.2%, according to a new report from Avison Young. Despite this, suburban markets showed resilience with slight positive absorption and a lower vacancy rate of 15%. Additionally, investment activity surged due to lower interest rates, with seven sales totalling $105 million, reflecting a preference for suburban office spaces driven by cost efficiency and accessibility, the report says.
Several Edmonton-based artists have been nominated for the 2025 Juno Awards across various categories. Trombonist Audrey Ochoa received a nomination for her fourth album, while Samantha King & The Midnight Outfit are up for Blues Album of the Year. Metal band Striker is once again nominated for Metal/Hard Album of the Year, and folk singer Celeigh Cardinal earned two nominations. Other nominees include fiddler Brianna Lizotte for Traditional Indigenous Artist/Group of the Year and reggae artist Skystar for Reggae Recording of the Year. A full list of nominees is available online.