- For the second time in two weeks, a statue has been stolen, this time from Ambleside Park in south Edmonton. The statue of a little boy was cut off at the ankles, mirroring a similar incident in late February involving the theft of the Emily Murphy statue at the park bearing her name. The West Ambleside HOA said the statue was a replica, as the original had been stolen some years ago.
- Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein writes that Premier Danielle Smith's funding commitments to Edmonton are not quite as "ruthlessly fair" as she says when compared to provincial funding for Calgary. A proposed deal among the province, City of Edmonton, and Oilers Entertainment Group involves a $250 million event park, $68 million for OEG's ICE District, and $90 million for an "infill urban community" on the exhibition lands, including the Coliseum demolition. Gerein suggests ensuring affordable rates and prime time slots for public bookings at the event park, and that the final deal comes with a guaranteed number of affordable units at the Village at Ice District.
- The federal and provincial governments signed a $70-million agreement to address homeless encampments in Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer, and Lethbridge. The funding will be used to connect vulnerable individuals with housing, health, and social resources. Data from Homeward Trust shows 1,283 people were living unhoused and unsheltered in Edmonton in January 2025 and 775 were living in shelters.
- The SPARK Indigenous Youth Careers Conference is happening at the Edmonton EXPO Centre from March 18 to 20. The conference aims to raise awareness among Indigenous young people between the ages of 16 and 30 about diverse career opportunities. It will connect Indigenous-owned companies, educational institutions, and career development resources to remove barriers and create opportunities for young Indigenous people across Canada.
- Alberta Health Services deployed mass casualty stretchers to Edmonton hospitals to help address crowding issues, according to a Feb. 26 email obtained by Postmedia. In the email, Jeremy Olfert of Edmonton Zone EMS said the stretchers would help paramedics return to service faster. Health Sciences Association of Alberta president Mike Parker called the situation a "cry for help," while Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the province's EMS system is "well-formulated," and pointed to improvements in response times.
- Strathcona County is investing $350,000 to build a mobile hydrogen fuelling station in Edmonton this spring, with a second station planned for 2026. The project, in partnership with the City of Edmonton and Emissions Reduction Alberta, is part of the Alberta Zero Emissions Fleet Fuelling project. Strathcona County also plans to transition at least one heavy-duty truck to run on both hydrogen and diesel this year to test the technology.
- The Canadian Olympic Committee named Jennifer Heil, a decorated freestyle skier from Spruce Grove, as Canada's chef de mission for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Heil, who won gold at the 2006 Turin Olympics, will act as an ambassador and mentor for the Canadian team.
- Alberta government lawyers defended legislation in court that bars those under 16 from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy, arguing it protects at-risk youth from making life-altering decisions. Egale Canada and Skipping Stone Foundation are seeking an injunction to suspend the law, the first of its kind in Canada, while its constitutionality is decided. They argue that gender-affirming care is life-saving.
Headlines: March 12, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim