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Headlines: May 15, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • The City of Edmonton has launched a new Downtown Action Plan to guide growth and investment over the next five years. The plan proposes a "substantial financial commitment" of about $553 million to revitalize the core. About $511 million will come through the Downtown Community Revitalization Levy, of which $440 million is contingent on a proposed extension to the levy.
  • The intersection at 111 Avenue NW and 106 Street NW will be closed for the entire Victoria Day weekend to accommodate LRT construction. Crews will stop vehicle traffic starting 8pm on May 16 until 4:30am on May 20. In addition, the Metro Line LRT will not run north of the Kingsway/Royal Alex station between May 16 and May 19, with replacement bus service available from the NAIT/Blatchford Market and Kingsway/Royal Alex LRT stations.
  • The Downtown Farmers' Market is returning to 104 Street on May 17 and will run Saturdays from 10am to 3pm until October. Last year, the market drew 230 people an hour, including from beyond downtown and outside Edmonton, and gave a boost to local businesses, said Quinn Phillips of the Downtown Business Association. On May 20, city council will vote on whether to create an entertainment district on 104 Street during market hours, which would allow people on the street to consume alcohol bought from restaurants and bars.
  • The Edmonton Oilers' current Stanley Cup playoff run is boosting restaurant spending in the city, according to data from financial technology company Moneris. Spending went up 3% in restaurants across the city at the start of the series against the L.A. Kings, growing to 21% and 82% during the first Oilers home game. Spending by Oilers fans far outpaced spending by fans in Toronto and Ottawa, and was similar to spending in Montreal, according to Moneris.
  • An Edmonton Police Service sergeant received a reprimand on April 16 after he admitted to off-duty impaired driving. In 2023, the sergeant, whose identity is not public, was driving 20km/h over the speed limit and failed a breathalyzer test. Four other officers have been found guilty of driving under the influence in the past 18 months, related to incidents that occurred between 2021 and 2023. The retired RCMP superintendent who heard the latest case agreed to a light penalty, but noted the need for "general deterrence," Postmedia reported.
  • The Alberta RCMP said a "substantial" number of military vehicles will be moved from Edmonton to Calgary between May 15 and 30, ahead of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis in June. The vehicles will travel west on Highway 216, south to Highway 2, west on Highway 201, west on Highway 1, and south on Highway 40, with moving done in evenings to limit disruptions. Drivers are asked to be careful and pass with caution.
  • The City of Edmonton has a new semi-permanent facility to support people who are evacuated from other areas due to disaster. The Rapid Emergency Support Terminal (REST), located at 10908 120 Avenue NW, works as a reception centre, safe space for displaced people, and hub for the Canadian Red Cross and community agencies. The REST supported 250 Edmontonians evacuated from their homes last week by an apartment complex fire.
  • Honi Honi, an intimate tiki bar in Edmonton's Ice District, was ranked 28th on an annual list of Canada's 100 best bars. "(Hopefully) it'll help us stay in business (and) bring some more people to the bar," said bartender Travis McKenna, who called the news a "bit of a shock" but "very exciting."
  • Tristain Hoath, an Edmonton Police Service officer and co-owner of United Strength and Power gym, is one of four Canadians competing at the World's Strongest Man competition in Sacramento this week. In 2023, Hoath won the Magnus Ver Magnusson Strongman Classic in Iceland.
  • Some municipal officials applauded the appointment of Edmonton Centre Liberal MP Eleanor Olszewski as federal cabinet minister of emergency management and community resilience, as well as the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. Jasper mayor Richard Ireland said the "community resilience" part of Olszewski's title is especially relevant for his community in light of the 2024 wildfire. Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet picks drew mixed reaction across Alberta.
  • Kasperi Kapanen's overtime goal secured a Game 5 victory for the Edmonton Oilers against the Vegas Golden Knights, advancing the team to the Western Conference Final. This marks the Oilers' 12th conference final appearance and its second consecutive year reaching this stage.
  • An Alberta judge has found parts of the province's Personal Information Protection Act unconstitutional. Clearview AI, an American facial recognition company, had applied for a judicial review of the Alberta privacy commissioner's 2021 ban on the company collecting people's images. A judge upheld the ban, but wrote that Alberta's legislation fails to consider privacy considerations posed by the internet, and its restrictions for requiring consent are too broad. Technology Minister Nate Glubish said the act is being reviewed by a committee.
  • CBC published an explainer on how the Alberta government is changing rules to make citizen initiatives easier, including referendums and recalls. In 2021, the UCP introduced policy that allows Albertans to propose referendum questions or recall elected officials by gathering enough signatures, although no one has successfully gathered enough signatures. The newly proposed Bill 54 will significantly lower the signature thresholds.
  • The Edmonton Elks have released eight players, as required by the CFL's training camp roster requirements, including former Calgary Stampeders receiver Tre Odoms-Dukes.