- Alberta domestic violence shelters turned away a record 31,983 people between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, due to capacity limits, a new report from the Alberta Council of Women's Shelters (ACWS) shows. For the first time in a decade, children comprised 40% of those turned away. ACWS executive director Cat Champagne said the province's rapid population growth has increased demand.
- Rehabilitation work beginning April 27 on the Coliseum LRT bridge will reduce Capital Line weekday frequencies to 10 minutes until 7pm, and 15 minutes after 7pm, until mid-September. The work means only one track will be available. To compensate, weekday Metro Line frequencies will increase to every 10 minutes from NAIT/Blatchford Market to Century Park until 7pm, resulting in five-minute frequencies between Churchill and Century Park. After 7pm, Metro Line trains will revert to 15-minute service and run between NAIT/Blatchford Market and Health Sciences/Jubilee Station.
- Edmonton Global published a statement from the mayors of the 14 municipalities comprising the Edmonton Metropolitan Region expressing united concern about the economic pressures facing their communities due to U.S. tariffs. The mayors anticipate significant impacts on key sectors, including agriculture, energy, advanced manufacturing, and tourism. They are calling for federal investment in trade-enabling infrastructure to strengthen transportation corridors, more access to global markets for Alberta energy, action to strengthen tourism through facility investments, and a coordinated interprovincial trade strategy.
- With Edmonton's Hudson's Bay stores closing, retail real estate expert Paul Raimundo of Avison Young says this creates an opportunity to reimagine the spaces in West Edmonton Mall, Southgate Centre, and Kingsway Mall. He notes that these large spaces have access to the outside, which allows for renovations to entrances or the creation of a new wing. The University of Alberta purchased the former Hudson's Bay building on Jasper Avenue in 2005, before reopening it as Enterprise Square.
- Bike Edmonton has launched the 2025 Advocacy Priorities Survey to gather input from local cyclists. The organization wants to understand what matters most to riders, including rising transportation costs due to tariffs and the impact of upcoming elections.
- An Edmonton gay bar is opening a new location in central Edmonton. Evo will open on Jasper Avenue and 115 Street, while its original location Evolution Wonderlounge will remain open until October. According to the bar's co-owner, this will be the first time since 2016 that two gay bars will operate in Edmonton during the summer.
- The former Edmonton Mill Woods riding has been split into two new constituencies, Edmonton Southeast and Edmonton Gateway, following a federal boundary redistribution. The new ridings have attracted high-profile candidates, including Conservative MP Tim Uppal and former Liberal MP Amarjeet Sohi. Analysts say both ridings are now considered competitive, with shifting demographics and redrawn lines making the outcome of the April 28 federal election too close to call.
- Alberta will tie public hospital funding to the number and type of procedures performed, starting with some surgeries in 2026. Premier Danielle Smith said the "activity-based" model will foster competition and efficiency, while critics warn it will accelerate privatization and prioritize quantity over quality. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta is concerned the model will incentivize private companies to focus on low-complexity surgeries, leaving public hospitals under-resourced.
- The Alberta government is taking steps to establish an independent police agency through Bill 49, which amends the Police Act to designate the agency as a Crown corporation operating independently of the government. Municipalities will have the option to choose the new agency as their local police service. The Alberta Police Review Commission will launch later in 2025 to handle complaints against municipal and First Nations police services, absorbing ASIRT and expanding its mandate.
- Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced Pierre Poilievre at an Edmonton Conservative Party rally attended by thousands on April 7. Harper endorsed Poilievre for prime minister during his remarks. The rally was held in a business park south of Edmonton, and was the first in Alberta. The race between the Conservatives and Liberals has tightened since Justin Trudeau resigned as prime minister in early 2025 and was replaced by Liberal Leader Mark Carney.
- Alberta's inflation rate has increased by 13.7% since the 2021 federal election, according to a CBC News analysis. The increase has affected residents like Rachel Chiasson, who experienced homelessness after being "renovicted" from her Calgary apartment and struggling to find housing in Edmonton. Homeward Trust estimates that more than 2,900 Edmontonians experienced homelessness in 2023, an increase of about 1,100 since 2021, citing inflation as a contributing factor. The six major federal parties have promised initiatives, including tax breaks and changes to social programs, to address the rising cost of living. The federal election is on April 28.
Headlines: April 8, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim