- A new 40-unit housing project for homeless veterans is scheduled to open in north Edmonton soon. Spearheaded by Veterans' House Canada, the facility will be only the second of its kind in Canada outside of Ottawa. The City of Edmonton donated the land for the project. According to Veterans' House Canada, veterans represent approximately 1% of the Canadian population but an estimated 4% to 5% of the homeless population. The housing units will offer support and shelter for an unlimited duration.
- A jury found former Edmonton Police Service officer Oli Olason not guilty of assault regarding the 2021 arrest of Lee Van Beaver. The charge stemmed from an incident where video footage appeared to show Olason with his boot on Beaver's head during the arrest. Olason, who left the police service in 2021 and now lives in Iceland, testified that his boot "slid" onto Beaver's head. Another officer, Sgt. Dustin Adsett, was acquitted of assault with a weapon in a separate trial related to the same incident.
- Ashley Salvador launched her re-election campaign for Ward Métis on May 10, running as an independent with a focus on protecting public services, fiscal responsibility, and advancing affordability, safety, and sustainability. Salvador highlighted her work on the problem properties initiative, which led to a 34% reduction in structure fires, and the introduction of a new tax subclass for owners of derelict properties.
- Reed Clarke, former CEO of the Edmonton Stingers and current CEO of Sport Edmonton, announced his candidacy for city council in Ward Nakota Isga, running on a platform of community engagement, collaboration, and economic vitality. Clarke, who grew up in the ward, aims to enhance community leagues and make Edmonton "the best place in Canada to do business." The ward is currently represented by Coun. Andrew Knack, who is not seeking re-election.
- The black-billed magpie was named as Edmonton's official city bird. The announcement was made by Bird Friendly Edmonton following two rounds of voting by the public.
- Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek criticized the idea of a potential separatism referendum in Alberta, calling it "dangerous" and a distraction that would hurt local economies. Sohi expressed concerns that a referendum would cause investors to pull out of Edmonton. The criticism follows a new bill from Premier Danielle Smith's government that would lower the number of signatures needed for a citizen-led referendum on constitutional questions. Sohi noted that he has heard from Edmonton business leaders who are concerned about the possibility of a referendum.
- A new Angus Reid Institute poll indicates that 36% of Albertans would vote to leave Canada, with that number rising to 65% among UCP voters. Republican Party of Alberta leader Cameron Davies, a former UCP organizer, is travelling Alberta and signing up members who disagree with Premier Danielle Smith's stance on remaining in Canada. Some political watchers anticipate a divisive referendum in 2026. The poll also suggests that support for remaining could increase if the federal government built an east-west pipeline, removed the emissions cap on oil and gas, and repealed Bill C-69.
- Bike Edmonton is pushing back against a provincial threat to stop the City of Edmonton's Bike Plan and override local control of streets. A petition and volunteer campaign are underway to defend active transportation.
- The City of Edmonton awarded its annual Edmonton Arts Prizes, worth $100,000, at a ceremony at Roxy Theatre on May 7. Darrin Hagen won the Film Prize for his documentary Pride vs. Prejudice: The Delwin Vriend Story, margø received the Music Prize for her album, who are you when you're alone?, Benjamin Hertwig won the Robert Kroetsch City of Edmonton Book Prize for his novel Juiceboxers, and Raneece Buddan won the Eldon and Anne Foote Visual Arts Prize for her art show Adorned in our Thread. The Edmonton Arts Council manages the awards.
- In an opinion piece for Postmedia, authors Braden Manns, Jon Meddings, and Paul Parks raise concerns about the UCP's Bill 55, which allows the government to designate someone other than a provincial health agency as the operator of an approved hospital, could lead to for-profit hospitals in Alberta. They argue that for-profit hospitals may lead to lower staffing levels, a decline in the quality of care, and the cherry-picking of patients.
- Experts are warning that Alberta could see more measles cases than have been reported, and are urging people to ensure their vaccinations are up to date. Health officials are monitoring the situation closely and emphasizing the importance of vaccination to prevent further spread.
- MHCare Medical released a letter sent to Alberta's deputy minister for Jobs, Economy and Trade on April 8, responding to allegations made by the former CEO of Alberta Health Services and subsequent media reports. The letter addresses concerns about contracts, children's analgesics, company CEO Sam Mraiche's interest in the Prairie Surgical Centre, the sale of a property at 14425 124 Avenue NW in Edmonton, and MHCare's relationship with the Alberta government. MHCare asserts it complied with all procurement rules and regulations and seeks to correct misinformation and unfair characterizations.
- Edmonton ranks as the second-most affordable Canadian city for both homebuyers and renters, according to recent reports. Rick Reinhardt of Century 21 Masters noted that higher wages are attracting more people to Alberta. Challenges remain, as a shortage of inventory has caused many homes to sell for more than asking price. For renters, Edmonton is also the second most affordable city in Canada, with an average rent of $1,621 per month.
- For the first time in more than 60 years, Kehewin Cree Nation welcomed a baby born within the community through a new midwifery program. Maelan Simaganis-Tsatoke drove from Edmonton to Kehewin, located 240 kilometres east of the city, to give birth in a traditional setting that incorporated Cree songs, smudging, and the involvement of kokums (grandmothers). The program, which received funding from Indigenous Services Canada, aims to provide culturally safe health care and address the disparity in infant mortality rates between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.
- Alberta's chief electoral officer Gordon McClure is warning that Bill 54 will impair the election commissioner's power to investigate election rule breaking, including financial contribution rules and limits. The proposed legislation would reduce the time period for Elections Alberta to impose sanctions after alleged misconduct occurs, and introduce a new threshold for investigations. The bill also lowers the threshold for a citizen-led referendum.
- A report from Alberta's Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod found the provincial government used policies that violated access to information laws when processing requests for public records. The 21-month investigation, prompted by reporting from The Narwhal and The Globe and Mail, found 27 public bodies relied on policies that didn't align with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. McLeod's report cited breaches related to structuring requests, creating new records, and assisting applicants. The FOIP Act is set to be superseded by the Access to Information Act, which has been criticized for narrowing the scope of accessible records and extending response timelines.
- During a conference call on May 9, Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel said he is encouraged by Prime Minister Mark Carney's promise to make Canada an "energy superpower" and the Trump administration's push for oil and gas development. Enbridge reported a first-quarter profit of $2.3 billion, up from $1.4 billion in the same quarter last year, and is growing its presence in the Permian basin in Texas.
Headlines: May 12, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim