- Edmonton city council’s urban planning committee has asked administration to explore sharing parking revenue with business districts. The move is in response to a request from the Old Strathcona Business Association, which argues that revenue sharing would incentivize the association to manage parking more effectively and invest in improvements to the area. “Research indicates that when users can clearly see where their parking fees are being utilized with real, tangible results, they’re more likely to support those parking prices to help manage the demand,” said association executive director Cherie Klassen.
- The owners of the Old Strathcona Antique Mall announced they are selling the business after 16 years. Owners Betty and Bobbi made the announcement on Facebook, saying Betty plans to retire and Bobbi wants to focus on her family. The antique mall on Gateway Boulevard is the largest in Western Alberta and was featured on Amazing Race Canada. The owners hope the new tenant will maintain the mall’s “welcoming vibe.”
- Edmonton Oilers and Katz Group owner Daryl Katz has moved up to No. 605 on the Forbes 2025 billionaires list with a net worth of $5.8 billion, an $800 million increase from last year. Katz’s wealth stems from his pharmacy business and Katz Group, which includes sports, entertainment, and real estate development businesses, including ICE District and Rogers Place in downtown Edmonton.
- Alberta Health Services has reinstated its original food policy in emergency departments and non-inpatient areas, reversing a decision made in September 2024 that required patients to bring their own food and drinks. The reversal follows criticism sparked by a social media post from an Alberta mother, who expressed concerns about the policy’s impact on children battling cancer at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Oncology Clinic. AHS interim president and CEO Andre Tremblay said the policy was intended to reduce waste and that clinicians were not consulted.
- NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visited Edmonton on April 1 to rally support for local candidates in the upcoming federal election. He made his first stop in the Edmonton Centre riding, where Trisha Estabrooks is running for the party. The NDP aims to retain its Edmonton Griesbach seat and build on its performance in 2021.
- The Joey Moss Man Crush beer from Sea Change Brewing Co. will return to shelves and taps on April 11. After its initial launch last April, the beer raised more than $27,000 for the Winnifred Stewart Association, which supports people with developmental disabilities. Moss was a longtime Edmonton Oilers locker room attendant who died in 2020.
Headlines: April 2, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim