- Edmonton experienced record construction growth in 2024, with a 31% increase in the overall value of construction permits, reaching $4.2 billion. The City of Edmonton attributed this boom to LRT expansion and relaxed zoning rules that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, which allowed for more diverse and dense housing. LRT expansion is driving transit-oriented developments along the Valley Line in areas like Bonnie Doon and Mill Woods, according to transportation planner David Cooper. While developers like Niraj Nath of NDura Developments are seeing an increase in building projects, some residents are concerned about the effect of increased density on established neighbourhoods.
- Edmonton city council approved a rezoning application for Scandinave Group to build Edmonton's first Nordic spa in Brander Gardens, next to the river valley on land owned by the University of Alberta Properties Trust. The spa will include saunas, steam baths, and cold plunges. Explore Edmonton says it supports the project, citing potential benefits to local businesses and tourism. Some residents who spoke at a public hearing on Feb. 24 expressed concerns that the project's construction could harm the local environment.
- The City of Edmonton released a schedule for its planned bridge renewal work in 2025 to reassure residents that the construction will not cause significant traffic disruptions. The City will begin replacing the Wellington Bridge in late 2025, when Valley Line West LRT work on Stony Plain Road is expected to be complete. Work on the Dawson Bridge starting in the summer of 2025 will require occasional night and weekend closures, along with intermittent lane reductions. Maintenance on the southbound Low Level Bridge will fully close the structure starting in late summer or fall 2025, requiring traffic to be rerouted to the northbound bridge and 98 Avenue. Design for renewal of the High Level Bridge is in progress, with construction timelines not yet determined.
- The City of Edmonton is exploring ways to improve bus route efficiency by allowing buses to bypass congested intersections through measures like bus lanes, parking restrictions, and adjusted traffic signals. The move follows a report noting increased ridership and delays, with ridership up 15% from 2023 to 2024, and 12% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Coun. Michael Janz highlighted the need to make transit more appealing to reduce traffic congestion.
- The Alberta government plans to spend $180 million to construct two involuntary addiction treatment centres in Edmonton and Calgary. Premier Danielle Smith says the facilities, with 150 beds each, are part of the proposed Compassionate Intervention Act, which would allow a family member, doctor, or police officer to request a mandatory treatment order from a judge. Construction could begin in 2026, with the centres scheduled to be operational by 2029. The province also plans to create 50 new secure beds at existing treatment centres in the north and south.
- Everett Rain, an Indigenous man who suffered a skull fracture during a 2019 search by Edmonton Police Service officers, is proceeding with a lawsuit seeking $175,000 in damages. The suit names former Edmonton police chief Dale McFee and officers Rhyce Cotterill, Laura Clarke, and Michael Zacharuk. According to Rain's statement of claim, he sustained serious head injuries while in custody at Edmonton Police headquarters after being arrested without cause. In a statement of defence, Zacharuk denies using excessive force, claiming that Rain's head injury resulted from an unintended fall during a controlled takedown.
- DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen in north Edmonton has become a community hub for Ukrainian refugees. Founded by Janice Krissa and her daughter, the restaurant employs women who fled the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian community held a vigil on Feb. 24 at St. Basil Ukrainian Catholic Church to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion.
- Alberta's Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams denied allegations made by ousted Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos in her $1.7-million wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed earlier this month. Mentzelopoulos alleges she was fired after investigating potential political interference related to contracts for chartered surgical facilities, and possible conflicts of interest in a $70-million deal to import pain medication from Turkey via Edmonton-based MHCare Medical. Williams stated his concerns stemmed from potential misuse of public funds, and not the individuals and companies being investigated.
Headlines: Feb. 25, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim