- The City of Edmonton is opening its three municipal golf courses and driving range for the 2025 season. Victoria Golf Course will open April 23, and Riverside Golf Course will open April 24. Rundle Golf Course is already open from 7am to 7:30pm and includes a new restaurant called Shortees. The Victoria Driving Range is open from 9am to 8pm. Tee times and lessons can be booked online.
- Edmonton is experiencing a surge in potholes, with crews already repairing more than 85,000 so far in 2025, a significant increase from the 25,000 filled by this time last year. The City has allocated nearly $11 million for pothole repairs this year, but some residents feel it's not enough. Drivers can file compensation claims within 30 days of pothole incidents, although payouts are rare.
- Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen is calling on Edmonton and Calgary to remove bike lanes from key roadways, blaming them for traffic congestion and obstructing road expansion. Dreeshen specifically requested the cancellation of a plan to build bike lanes on 132 Avenue in Edmonton, which he says will negatively impact the "provincial road network" by removing two lanes of vehicle traffic. Bike Edmonton said the minister needs to "butt out of municipal affairs," while the NDP said the province is overstepping its jurisdiction.
- Edmonton Centre Conservative candidate Sayid Ahmed skipped a candidates forum held on April 16, leading to a showdown between NDP candidate Trisha Estabrooks and Liberal candidate Eleanor Olszewski. The federal election is on April 28. Puneeta McBryan, executive director of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, highlighted downtown Edmonton's struggles with homelessness, crime, and safety, emphasizing the need for federal attention and investment in mental health, addictions, and public safety.
- Alberta's disability advocate, Greg McMeekin, is urging the provincial government to enact an accessibility law, following a June 2023 report recommending an Accessible Alberta Act and associated regulations. The report, obtained via a freedom of information request and shared by Zachary Weeks of Edmonton, calls for proactive measures to remove barriers for people with disabilities and ensure compliance. Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said the government is considering the report.
- Postmedia published a profile of Edmonton Northwest, a new riding that will be contested in the upcoming federal election. The riding covers a large portion of Edmonton's northern edge and picked up parts of the St. Albert-Edmonton, Edmonton West, and Edmonton Griesbach ridings. Candidates include Omar Abubakar of the NDP, Lindsey Machona of the Liberal Party, Albert Carson with the People's Party of Canada, Billy Morin of the Conservative Party, and Colleen Rice of the Green Party. The riding is home to nearly 113,000 Edmontonians, representing about 10.4% of the city's population.
- The Edmonton Oilers playoff run is boosting business and community spirit for local establishments. Restaurant and bar managers, including Franco Camminatore of 1st RND and Marko Slaney of On The Rocks, reported increased business and a strong sense of unity.
- As the Edmonton Oilers begin their playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings, head coach Kris Knoblauch says the team is embracing its underdog status, despite having won the first-round matchup for the last three years. The Oilers finished third in the Pacific Division with a 48-29-5 record, while the Kings finished second with a 28-25-9 record.
- The Edmonton Police Service has charged three Alberta sheriffs, Adam Zasada, Brent Roy, and Sgt. Karin Simmons, in connection with the 2023 death of a 43-year-old prisoner who died in the Edmonton courthouse holding area. The sheriffs are scheduled to appear in court on May 30. The government said that two of the accused no longer work for the Alberta government, while one remains on administrative leave.
- Following the death of Pope Francis, Edmonton Archbishop Richard Smith recalled the Pope's 2022 visit to Alberta, which brought the issue of residential schools into public focus. Smith noted the Pope's visit to Maskwacis, where he delivered an apology to Indigenous peoples. Adela Arcand of Mother Bear Wellness said her organization received a boost from the Indigenous Reconciliation Fund that arose from the Canadian Indigenous delegation's visit to the Vatican.
- Edmonton's public transit safety is a growing concern for riders who cite frequent incidents and feeling unsafe, especially at night. Despite dramatic expansions to the train service, a recent Edmonton Transit Service plan found that only 61% of riders reported feeling safe throughout their last trip. In February, a 13-year-old died after teens randomly attacked a couple at an LRT station, and weeks later, a 34-year-old man and a woman were stabbed in separate incidents. City council recently approved hiring 30 more peace officers for the transit system.
- As the spring wildfire season begins, fire advisories have been issued across Alberta in the first two weeks of April, with one ban in place near Fairview. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to a grass fire on April 18 near 100 Street and 72 Avenue in the Ritchie neighbourhood.
- An Alberta judge has granted the province's request to question former Alberta Health Services CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos about confidential emails she allegedly kept and shared without authorization. Mentzelopoulos is suing the government and AHS for wrongful dismissal, claiming she was illegally fired in January to halt her investigation into potential sweetheart deals and political interference. The province and AHS deny these claims, asserting she was fired for poor performance and stalling health reform. The emails in question relate to private surgical facilities and freedom of information requests concerning a private medical supplier.
- Postmedia writer Kurt Leavins assessed the performance of Edmonton Oilers players during the 2024-25 regular season, grading them based on whether they exceeded, met, or failed to meet expectations. Leon Draisaitl "exceeded expectations" with a dominant two-way display, while Connor McDavid "met expectations," remaining among the league's highest points-per-game players. Leavins assessed several other Oilers, including Evan Bouchard, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Jake Walman, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Corey Perry, and Stuart Skinner.
Headlines: April 22, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim