- Edmonton city council officially set the final property tax rate for 2025 at 5.7%, down 0.4% from what was approved in the fall. Homeowners will pay approximately $763 for every $100,000 of assessed home value, up $51 from 2024. The Alberta government has also increased its education tax requisition, which in Edmonton will account for $98 or 25% of the total tax bill of the average single-detached home. The City of Edmonton will mail tax notices to property owners on May 23 and taxes are due June 30. The City's website has more information about property taxes.
- Some Edmonton city councillors are questioning a rezoning request from Fulton Creek Business Park, which would allow the park to expand its footprint but require removing more than 6,000 trees and relocating part of Fulton Creek. Administration supports rezoning the land for industrial purposes, despite "considerable ecological risks." Coun. Aaron Paquette suggested Edmonton has enough industrial land waiting to be developed, but a business park representative said only 2% of that industrial land is shovel-ready.
- Some Conservative Party candidates who won in Edmonton ridings told the media that affordability, crime, and a desire for change were the primary factors behind their success. MacEwan University professor Chaldeans Mensah suggested Conservative candidates stuck to the party platform, while the first-past-the-post system doesn't reflect the diversity of political views in Edmonton. Vote-splitting between the Liberal and NDP candidates may have led to a Conservative win in Edmonton Griesbach but doesn't appear to be a factor in other ridings, CBC reported.
- A growing number of people say they are waiting for refunds from Foundry Room, an Edmonton event curator that ran out of the Oliver Exchange building and then a venue next door. Hyphen Group, the property manager, said it terminated its leases with Foundry Room due to "repeated and uncured defaults." The company's founder Jody Seremet said the business "went under" and denied scamming customers.
- The University of Alberta's Clare Drake Arena was recently the site of filming for the upcoming movie Smudge the Blades. The film, a coming-of-age story about a Triple-A Treaty Six hockey team, is co-written by actor Cody Lightning and stars Lightning alongside Paulina Alexis and Ed Helms. It is expected to be in festivals in 2026.
- Edify published an interview with Danni Okemaw, co-founder of Nimihtotân, a grassroots initiative to promote Indigenous dance and support dancers who participate in the annual Ben Calf Robe Pow Wow event. This year's event takes place May 10 at the Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre.
- In a piece for Ricochet Media, journalist Stephen Maher explored the state of Alberta separatism on the eve of the Liberal Party's fourth consecutive win. In April, an Angus Reid Institute poll found about 30% of Albertans would vote to separate if the Liberals were re-elected, although the sentiment was concentrated in rural areas.
- The Globe and Mail examined Alberta's efforts to position itself as a major hub for AI data centres, with an aim to attract $100 billion in data centre investment.
- The Edmonton Oilers, after a slow start, are starting to resemble their playoff form from last year. After defeating the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5, the Oilers now lead the series 3-2. Goaltender Calvin Pickard is 3-0 since replacing Stuart Skinner, while Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have amassed 20 points in the five games. The Oilers, who are now 14-1 all time when leading a series 3-2, will head to Rogers Place for Game 6.
- Edmonton Elks draft pick Darien Newell was given a one-year suspension for a doping violation. In a statement, the club said it will support Newell through the process.
- The Edmonton Elks announced three transactions, signing offensive lineman Will Marotta and releasing wide receiver Frederik Antoine and offensive lineman Patrick Lavoie.
Headlines: May 1, 2025
By Kevin Holowack