- Edmonton Transit Service is rearranging its schedule to add 50,000 annual hours of service to busier bus routes, including increased frequency on the 747 route from Century Park Transit Centre to Edmonton International Airport. ETS is also adding 20 new buses to its fleet. In late April, a new route in Keswick and Glenridding Ravine will replace On Demand Transit. Regular service in Riverdale, Belgravia/Windsor Park, and Lendrum/Malmo will be replaced with On Demand Transit in June. Some school routes will see reduced service or be replaced with On Demand Transit in September, while some busy school routes will run more frequently. ETS transported 61.6 million riders last year.
- Coun. Andrew Knack says he is considering a run for Edmonton mayor after Amarjeet Sohi took an unpaid leave of absence to run for the federal Liberals in the riding of Edmonton Southeast. Knack, who previously announced he won’t run for re-election in the October municipal election, said public encouragement has prompted him to reflect on how he can best serve the city. During a special council meeting on March 24, councillors unanimously approved Sohi’s request for leave, allowing him to step away until after the April 28 election. With Sohi absent, councillors will rotate mayoral duties. Tim Cartmell, who is running for mayor, criticized Sohi for not resigning outright, while Sohi said he will return to finish his term if he loses.
- Raj Uppal, former president of CUPE Local 41 in Edmonton, was elected president of CUPE Alberta on March 21, defeating incumbent Rory Gill. Uppal, who previously worked as a mortgage broker, has served as president of CUPE 41 since 2019, representing members at Grey Nuns and Edmonton General Hospitals. She has also served two terms on CUPE Alberta’s executive board as diversity vice-president. The union said Uppal appears to be the first woman of colour to lead a major union in Alberta.
- In an opinion piece published in Postmedia, Danielle Dolgoy and Roxanne Droppo of Jewish Family Services denounced recent hateful actions in Alberta, including anti-immigrant slogans and Nazi salutes in St. Albert, and racist symbols left outside community agencies in Red Deer. They called on all Albertans, including governments, institutions, organizations, and individuals, to actively support one another against hate. “We must collectively reject the rhetoric of fear, division, and hatred that seeks to fragment our communities,” they wrote.
- Since 2022, Albertans have lost millions to employment scams, with losses of $4.8 million in 2024 alone, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Edmonton Police Service Det. Scott Abbott said scammers often post ads for remote work with high wages and then convince people to pay for things. The RCMP noted scammers are increasingly using cryptocurrency because it’s less regulated.
- Premier Danielle Smith denied claims that she asked the U.S. to meddle in Canadian politics, after she told right-wing media outlet Breitbart she hoped U.S. tariffs could be paused until after the federal election. In the interview from March 8, Smith said the trade dispute was boosting Liberal support and that Poilievre, aligned with Trump, would manage U.S. relations better. Critics accused her of overstepping by discussing Canadian elections with American officials, while her office insisted she only advocated for delaying tariffs. The controversy emerged as party leaders launched their campaigns for the April 28 federal election.
- The Alberta government introduced Bill 47, the Automobile Insurance Act, to implement a “care-first” auto insurance model. Finance Minister Nate Horner said the new rules would limit lawsuits to at-fault drivers convicted under the Traffic Safety Act and apply to accidents occurring in or after January 2027.
- The Guardian published a feature on the Edmonton Grads, a women’s basketball team based out of Edmonton’s McDougall Commercial High School that achieved a record of more than 95% wins between 1915 and 1940. The team dominated the sport internationally, winning the Underwood International Trophy and exhibition games at the Olympics. Despite facing challenges such as limited funding during the Great Depression, the Grads, known for their stamina and short passing, secured their legacy as one of the most dominant teams of all time, before disbanding in 1940 due to the outbreak of war.
- Edmonton Oilers players Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will be out for at least a couple of games, coach Kris Knoblauch said on March 24. Their absence could allow other players to step up, gain confidence, and find their game, Knoblauch said. The team’s March 22 game against the Seattle Kraken was the first time injury prevented both Draisaitl and McDavid from playing in the same game since McDavid joined the team.
Headlines: March 25, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim