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Headlines: March 31, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • The City of Edmonton will transition to a mobile-only parking payment system, removing all physical EPark machines starting April 14, in an effort to minimize the 2025 tax increase. Payment options include the HotSpot parking app, online, and by phone. The City will remove the machines in phases from April 14 to July 31, beginning in the North Edge, Alberta Avenue, Kingsway, Stony Plain, 124 Street, and Old Strathcona Business Improvement Areas, before moving on to downtown and downtown parkades. Starting July 1, the City will also remove the two-hour parking limits from on-street EPark zones during evenings and weekends.
  • The Homestead Investment Co-Operative (HIC) is seeking investors to buy shares of the Alberta Block building on Jasper Avenue in Edmonton. Founded by Tegan Martin-Drysdale and former mayor Don Iveson, HIC aims to allow Edmontonians to invest in the city's downtown core, with a minimum investment of $10,000 and a goal of raising $9 million by June 16. The co-op is offering a minimum 6% annual return based on rent incomes, with additional returns possible from asset appreciation and expansions. As of March 20, HIC has raised $592,000.
  • Some tenants of the Southwoods Village Townhomes in Hazeldean are being forced to move after Southwoods Village Management purchased the complex in mid-February and implemented significant rent increases to align rates with market value. Heaven Finlayson, a resident of three years, said her rent would have increased by $322 per month, plus additional pet fees, making it unaffordable. Coun. Michael Janz expressed frustration, noting Edmonton's lack of affordable housing and advocating for more provincial support for renters.
  • The Edmonton Police Service is piloting a program allowing officers to display the languages they speak on their uniforms. The initiative aims to better serve the diverse population in Edmonton, where 125 languages were spoken as of 2021. The program, which began in February, includes tags for 71 languages. The police service launched a language services department in 2019 and a live interpreter app in 2024.
  • The City of Edmonton is accepting applications for the 2026 to 2028 Family and Community Support Services funding cycle until April 23. The funding supports preventive social services. Community-based programs can apply through the Community Investment Grant Portal. New applications are open for programs focused on positive mental health, poverty reduction, and homelessness prevention. New applicants can sign up for information sessions on April 3.
  • Amarjeet Sohi, on leave from his role as Edmonton's mayor, launched his campaign as the Liberal candidate for Edmonton Southeast on March 29. Sohi previously served as an MP for Edmonton Mill Woods from 2015 to 2019. Rod Loyola, a former Alberta NDP MLA who resigned his seat last week, also launched his campaign to be the Liberal MP for Edmonton Gateway.
  • Ahead of the federal election on April 28, Postmedia published a list of confirmed candidates running in Edmonton's nine ridings, noting that nomination forms are due by April 7. Due to redistribution, federal election boundaries have changed since the 2021 election. Advance voting will take place from April 18 to 21.
  • The City of Edmonton has deactivated its speed-on-green intersection cameras as new photo radar regulations from the Alberta UCP government are set to take effect April 1. The new rules also ban about 1,500 photo radar sites across the province. While red light cameras are still permitted and photo radar remains in school and construction zones, municipalities can apply for additional enforcement locations by showing a safety need. The province is allocating $13 million for safer intersection reengineering, with $1 million available this year.
  • The Alberta government will allocate $17 million to plan nine new urgent care centres across the province, including in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Airdrie, and Lethbridge. Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said the centres will be operated by Alberta Health Services, except for the one in Airdrie, which will be run by a private contractor. The centres will address urgent, non-life-threatening medical needs, with the aim of reducing emergency room wait times.
  • Premier Danielle Smith defended her trip to Florida, saying her conversation with Ben Shapiro about tariffs accomplished "exactly what we wanted." Speaking on her radio show, Smith said Shapiro dedicated an entire podcast episode to the detrimental impacts of tariffs. She also addressed concerns about a potential 25% tariff on oil and gas, saying she wouldn't agree to an export tariff where the money goes to Ottawa, instead of Alberta, which sends $150 million worth of produce to the U.S.
  • Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is expected to return to the ice before the end of the regular season, despite missing the start of the team's four-game road trip due to a lower-body injury sustained on March 20 against the Winnipeg Jets. The Oilers also began their road trip without goalie Stuart Skinner and defencemen Mattias Ekholm and John Klingberg. The team has nine games remaining in the regular season, concluding on April 16 against the San Jose Sharks.
  • Leon Draisaitl scored his 50th and 51st goals in the March 29 Edmonton Oilers game against the Calgary Flames, leading to a 3-2 overtime victory. Draisaitl is the first NHL player this season to reach 50 goals, marking his fourth time achieving the milestone. He is now tied with Jari Kurri for the second-most 50-goal seasons in Oilers history, behind Wayne Gretzky.