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Headlines: Feb. 20, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • The long cold snap across Alberta is expected to end on Feb. 20, with forecasters expecting above-freezing temperatures in Edmonton. So far this February, Edmonton has experienced 15 days below -20°C, compared to the average of five days by this point in the month. The number of days below -30°C so far is five, compared to just one on average. "Believe it or not, there were colder temperatures in January 2024," and this February "won't beat the cold of February 2019," said climatologist David Phillips.
  • EPCOR reported nine water main breaks across the city due to cold weather on Feb. 19, with water service disrupted in the areas around 67 Avenue and 112A Street, Argyll Road and 88 Street, and 114 Street and 100 Avenue. On Feb. 18, a broken hydrant line near 104 Street and Whyte Avenue forced 11 businesses to close for two hours during repairs. See the water outage map for updates on affected areas.
  • Edmontonians have noticed more rutted, bumpy, and slippery roads than usual this winter, creating safety concerns for drivers and pedestrians, Global News reported. The City says the rutting is due to heavy snowfall, freeze-thaw cycles, and poor compliance with parking bans on residential roads. Coun. Andrew Knack said urban sprawl and rapid growth are limiting the City of Edmonton's ability to provide good services, and more frequent and thorough snow clearing would require a greater budget.
  • The City of Edmonton's auditor made eight recommendations to improve the Dedicated Accessible Transit Service (DATS). In a report, the auditor says DATS has a clear mission and delivered 93% of trips on time, but it can improve privacy controls, training materials, data quality, and contract management. Currently, DATS operations are split evenly between city and contracted employees. A recommendation that Edmonton Transit Service regularly review and financially "optimize" the DATS service model drew concern from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569, while Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, a former DATS driver, said privatization has led to an "erosion of service."
  • The City of Edmonton is planning a prescribed burn in the new Northeast River Valley Park this spring, if conditions allow. The proactive measure is part of the City's efforts to mitigate wildfire risk, which includes drone surveillance. According to Alberta Wildfire officials, current conditions suggest the 2025 wildfire season will be easier to manage than the previous two years.
  • Staff at Diplomat Consulting, a government relations firm, wrote an op-ed suggesting Edmonton should be branded as an affordable hub for business, and called for relocation incentives for new headquarters or regional offices. After losing "established players," including the sale of Canadian Western Bank and the closure of DynaLife, Edmonton should take advantage of its growing population, relative affordability, and trade access to become a "key destination" for American businesses seeking alternative markets, wrote Nathan Mison and Naomi Mison.
  • Edmonton Global announced that the fintech company Vesti, which runs a platform providing financial and legal information for immigrants, is expanding to the Edmonton region. The company will co-locate at Edmonton Unlimited and is hiring a team of four local staff, with plans to expand.
  • Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee was interviewed by CBC AM's Mark Connolly about his six years with EPS. McFee's last day with the police service is Feb. 21, after which he will start his new job as the Alberta government's top civil bureaucrat.
  • St. Albert city council voted to spend part of a projected $10.8-million surplus from last year to provide residents with some utility bill relief. Instead of placing all the money into the stabilization reserve, the capital reserve, and the land and facilities reserve, council allocated $1 million to the water reserve. Mayor Cathy Heron disagreed with the decision, saying tax dollars should be invested in the public good, while utilities "should be cost recovery."
  • Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visited striking educational support staff outside Ross Sheppard High School on Feb. 19. Singh used the visit to pitch his plan for a national infrastructure project, focused on affordable, clean energy, and avoided committing to new oil pipelines, emphasizing the need to meet environmental needs and respect Indigenous rights.