Headlines: May 8, 2025

May 8, 2025 · The Pulse
By Kevin Holowack

The City of Edmonton's 2025 construction season has begun, with more than 70 projects underway, including the Terwillegar Drive Expansion, the Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion, and the final year of the William Hawrelak Park Rehabilitation. In downtown Edmonton, the Imagine Jasper Avenue project will enhance crosswalks and pedestrian safety, and Warehouse Park is expected to be finished by the end of 2025. The City has a full list of construction projects on its website.
A wildfire in the Redwater Provincial Recreation Area, northeast of Edmonton, has burned about 1,500 hectares. On the morning of May 7, there were about 30 fire response vehicles and 175 personnel on site. Sturgeon County has a series of evacuation alerts, including for the Town of Redwater, and dozens of homes have been evacuated. A separate fire this week forced an evacuation of Boyle, a village in Athabasca County, where officials say crews made "excellent progress" and are working to get the last areas of the fire under control.
Residents of 46 townhomes in the Homesteader neighbourhood, who were ordered to evacuate on May 6 due to the possible presence of explosive or volatile chemicals in a unit on 50 Street and Hermitage Road, were allowed to return after police found no risk. Red Cross is coordinating the residents' return, while investigations continue, the Edmonton Police Service said.
An assault trial for former Edmonton Police Service Const. Oli Olason, accused of using excessive force against Lee Van Beaver during a March 2021 arrest, continued on May 7 with testimony from other police officers. Prosecutors say Olason used excessive force when he kicked, stomped, and stood on Beaver's head during the arrest, which was caught on surveillance video, while the defence says the actions were justified. Beaver addressed the court earlier this week.
The Rainbow Visions Film Festival, an annual LGBTQ2S+-focused film festival at the Garneau Theatre, is showing 12 feature films from May 8 to 15. FLASHBACK, a documentary on a popular downtown club open in Edmonton from 1974 to 1992, is screening May 18.
TELUS World of Science is hosting an adults-only event called Science is Dope on May 22 as part of its "Dark Matters" series exploring taboo subjects. The May 22 event includes a 420-themed laser show, exhibits about drugs, and visiting scientists who will demonstrate ancient beer-making and discuss the use of psychedelics in clinical settings.
A host of Edmonton companies appear on a list of Canada's best managed companies in 2025, a prestigious designation awarded each year by Deloitte Canada. In a release, Servus Credit Union said it was recognized for the 22nd consecutive year.
MLA Nathan Cooper, who has been Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta since 2019, was appointed Alberta's envoy to the United States. Cooper has been speaker since the UCP formed government in 2019 but has never had a cabinet post or worked in international affairs. The role was recently vacated by James Rajotte, a former Conservative MP who is now a senior advisor to Premier Danielle Smith, according to a government news release.
Dave Hancock, a former MLA who served as interim premier after Alison Redford's resignation in 2014, was appointed assistant chief justice of the Alberta Court of Justice in the Edmonton Family and Youth Division. He has been a provincial court judge since 2017.
The Edmonton Elks have signed fullback Skyler Griffith, running back Isaiah Knight, and defensive back Jarmaine Doubs. The club says it has no more eligible draft picks ahead of the first day of rookie camp.