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Headlines: April 7, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • The Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market will expand its operations to include Sundays from 11am to 3pm starting May 4. Customer demand drove the decision to add another day, said market manager Corinne Olson. The market, which has operated for more than 40 years, signed a new lease with the City of Edmonton last year. The expansion may require vendors to adjust their operations.
  • The City of Edmonton has started its spring street sweeping program, cleaning major roadways, business improvement areas, pathways, and bike lanes before moving to residential areas on April 14. Street sweeping will happen Monday to Friday, and is expected to be completed by June 1, weather permitting. Parking bans will be in effect, with signs posted 48 hours beforehand. Residents can check the street sweeping map online or sign up for notifications.
  • Lauren Kyle McDavid aims to open a new establishment, called Bar Trove, in downtown Edmonton by mid-May. The Edmonton Downtown Business Association hopes the new business, owned by a high-profile Edmontonian, will attract more people to the city’s downtown. The bar’s owner is married to Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.
  • Rod Loyola was dropped as the Liberal candidate for Edmonton Gateway after a 2009 video resurfaced of him praising Hamas and Hezbollah. He will now run as an independent in Edmonton Southeast against Liberal candidate Amarjeet Sohi and Conservative Jagsharan Singh Mahal. Loyola, formerly an NDP MLA for Edmonton Ellerslie, resigned in late March to run for the Liberals in the April 28 federal election. This dismissal marks the third candidate dropped by the Liberal party since the start of the federal election campaign.
  • Don Iveson, Edmonton’s former mayor, has been focusing on family, career, and community initiatives since leaving municipal politics in 2021, Postmedia reported. Iveson is currently involved with Co-operators, working on climate resilience with communities across Canada, and chairs the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation board. While he acknowledges the difficulties, he said he is pleased that the current city council has followed through on the zoning bylaw and implementing the City Plan.
  • Chief Billy Morin is stepping down from the Edmonton Global board to run as a federal candidate in the upcoming election. During his time with Edmonton Global, Morin advocated for Indigenous initiatives and regional collaboration to drive economic growth across the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. Morin will run for the Conservatives in Edmonton Northwest.
  • Tributes poured in for hockey writer Bruce McCurdy after his sudden death on April 2. McCurdy wrote for the Edmonton Journal’s Cult of Hockey, and was known for his insightful analysis and kind demeanor. He was a fixture in the Edmonton Oilers community. Mark Spector of Sportsnet and Ryan Rishaug of TSN were among those who shared condolences, remembering McCurdy’s unique perspective and passion for the game.
  • Edmonton’s real estate market continues to grow in early 2025, with 2,494 homes sold in the greater Edmonton area in March, a 36.9% increase from February and a 1.3% increase from March 2024. According to Darlene Reid of the REALTORS Association of Edmonton, the market has surpassed initial forecasts, driven by a $200,000 price gap between Edmonton and Calgary that is causing migration into Edmonton. While detached home prices average $574,872, all housing categories have seen significant increases. Reid noted that tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump could impact new home builds due to rising supply costs.
  • Families in Camrose are awaiting the opening of the new Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic High School, but road and utility access issues are preventing its opening. The $30 million school, which will accommodate more than 400 students, was completed ahead of schedule, but a dispute between the City of Camrose and the developer regarding responsibility for providing road and site servicing access remains unresolved. Paul Corrigan of Elk Island Catholic Schools expressed concern about the unresolved issues in a letter to parents.
  • The Edmonton Oil Kings were named the Eastern Conference finalist for the WHL Business Award on April 2. The team will compete against the Medicine Hat Tigers for the award, which recognizes the team that demonstrates outstanding business success in areas such as marketing, ticket sales, and community involvement. The winner will be announced at the WHL Awards ceremony later in April.
  • Marco Arop, an Edmonton native, won the 800-metre race at the Grand Slam Track event in Kingston, Jamaica on April 6, finishing with a time of 1:45.13. Arop, the 800-metre world champion, finished sixth in the 1,500m race on April 5 and is the only Canadian committed to all four Grand Slam Track events, with upcoming races in Miami, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.