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Headlines: May 5, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • The Old Strathcona Farmers' Market opened on a Sunday for the first time in 40 years on May 4. The market was busy with shoppers, vendors said. "It's the right time, and there's a strong desire to support local," market manager Corinne Olson said.
  • The City of Edmonton and Civic Service Union 52 have reached a tentative agreement after months of negotiations. Details of the agreement won't be released until after the union holds a ratification vote with its members. Both parties said they were pleased to reach an agreement that balances the needs of union members and the City's financial sustainability.
  • Alberta Health Minister Adriana Lagrange will provide an update on measles on May 5, after 17 new cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 210 in Alberta. She will be joined by interim Chief Medical Officer of Health, Sunil Sookram. Healthcare professionals, including Alberta Medical Association president Shelley Duggan, have urged the UCP government to expand public messaging and set up booster clinics. Of the 210 cases, 26 are active, and most are Albertans between five and 17 years old.
  • Sturgeon County declared a state of local emergency on May 4 after a large wildfire broke out in the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area on May 3. The fire, which spans roughly 110 hectares, prompted the RCMP to direct traffic and issue evacuation notices to residents. One home was lost in the fire, but crews put fire suppression systems around buildings near the town of Redwater. The county is asking residents to stay away from the area.
  • A recent episode of the "In Development" podcast explored the relationship between public and active transportation and infill development in Edmonton. Guests Daniel Witte of Edmonton Transit Riders and Shannon Lohner, former chair of Paths for People, discussed transportation financing and policy implementation. Lohner's organization advocates for improved active transportation infrastructure, while Witte's group focuses on using public transportation as a city-building tool.
  • A wildfire prompted the County of Grande Prairie to issue an evacuation alert for residents living south of Township Road 710 to 27th Avenue, and east of Range Road 64 to Highway 40, southwest of the City of Grande Prairie, on May 4. Alberta Wildfire reported the fire grew from two to 35 hectares in approximately one hour.
  • A fatality inquiry has called for improvements to mental health care at the Edmonton Remand Centre following the death by suicide of Timothy "TJ" McConnell in January 2021. The inquiry found that the jail's mental health and addictions services are inadequate, causing inmates to fall through the cracks. Recommendations include establishing a specialized psychiatric clinic, increasing mental health staffing, hiring a full-time psychiatrist, and implementing stringent protocols for monitoring inmates in segregation. McConnell's mother, Lana Greene, who launched a lawsuit against Alberta Health Services and the province in 2022, hopes the recommendations will be adopted.
  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said her meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney was a "positive first step" toward resetting the relationship between Alberta and Ottawa. Smith spoke with Carney about policies and legislation she says are holding back Alberta's energy economy. They also discussed the ongoing trade dispute with the United States. Carney said he is focused on bringing down the cost of living and increasing opportunities in the energy sector for Albertans. The conversation comes after Smith's UCP government tabled legislation that lowers the bar for citizens to initiate referendums, including on Alberta separating from Canada. Smith's government also initiated court action against Ottawa regarding the constitutionality of federal clean electricity grid regulations.
  • Hundreds of Albertans rallied at the Alberta Legislature on May 3 to advocate for separation from Canada following the federal Liberal's election win. Rally attendees expressed frustration with federal policies affecting Alberta's energy industry and a perceived lack of representation. Counter-protesters raised concerns about the impact of separation on treaties with First Nations, with Piikani Nation Chief Troy Knowlton asserting Alberta's lack of authority to interfere with treaty rights.
  • Prairie Boys Supply Co. and Fresh Nets Foundation have partnered to fund new basketball and hockey nets in Edmonton through sales of a playoff beard oil. All proceeds from "Oil Oil" support local sports gear and infrastructure.
  • The NHL released the schedule for the second-round series between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights. The series begins May 6 at 7:30pm in Las Vegas. Games 3, 4, and 6 will be played in Edmonton on May 10, May 12, and May 16, respectively. This is the second time in three years that Edmonton and Vegas have met in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
  • Alberta NDP members voted to end automatic membership with the federal party, a move party Leader Naheed Nenshi says will attract more provincial support. Members will now be allowed to opt out of federal party membership. Nenshi called the federal link a political burden that hurt the party in past elections. Critics warned it could divide the movement. The vote marks a clear shift from former party leader Rachel Notley's approach.
  • The Edmonton Oilers signed defenceman Alec Regula to a two-year, two-way contract extension with an average annual value of $775,000. The Oilers claimed Regula, a 24-year-old right-shot defenceman, via waivers from the Boston Bruins on Dec. 11.
  • The Edmonton Elks have signed American quarterback William McElvain. The team also released quarterbacks Jarret Doege, defensive back Kai Gray, defensive lineman Daniel Joseph, wide receiver Jerminic Smith, and defensive back Jake Taylor.