- Edmonton city council voted to keep the names of recreation centres like Meadows, Clareview, and Lewis Farms, rather than selling their naming rights. A clause in the motion passed permits naming interior facilities for a fee, subject to council approval. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi stated that selling exterior names wouldn't address the City of Edmonton's fiscal gap and would diminish community pride. Councillors Joanne Wright, Aaron Paquette, and Ashley Salvador supported the decision. Councillors Tim Cartmell, Andrew Knack, and Sarah Hamilton opposed the motion. The decision does not affect existing contracts, such as Rogers Place and the Booster Juice Community Centre in Terwillegar.
- Edmonton city council is grappling with unexpected costs related to the province's mandate for police body cameras. While the province is covering the cost of the cameras for Edmonton police officers, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi says the City may need to hire 30 to 40 people to manage and redact footage, calling the bill "shocking." Interim Chief Devin LaForce also expressed concern that the province's Traffic Safety Act, which eliminated automated enforcement of speeding violations, has negatively impacted traffic safety in Edmonton.
- A year after the City of Edmonton's new zoning bylaws came into effect at the beginning of 2024, the City reports a 30% increase in new dwelling units, with a significant rise in row house applications. However, groups like Edmonton Neighbourhoods United have concerns about a lack of consultation and poor integration of new developments, particularly eight-plexes, in established neighbourhoods. The City's urban planning committee will review the zoning bylaw on June 3.
- The Northern Bricks Lego convention brought together 100 Lego builders from across Canada to Edmonton's Glengarry Community League hall on May 25.
- Alberta Health Services issued a public alert on May 24 after a confirmed measles case was identified in a person who had been at the Connect Care Medical Clinic in Spruce Grove on May 16 between 8:45am and 1pm. Anyone potentially exposed should self-monitor for symptoms and review their immunization records. As of May 17, 89% of people with confirmed measles cases were not immunized. Alberta has recorded 560 known measles cases as of noon on May 24.
- The Edmonton Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars 6-1 on May 25, taking a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference Final series. Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid each scored two goals, while Evan Bouchard and John Klingberg also scored for Edmonton. Stuart Skinner made 33 saves for the Oilers. Jason Robertson scored the lone goal for the Stars. Game 4 is scheduled for May 27 in Edmonton.
- A new oral history details the making of The Boys on the Bus, the iconic 1980s documentary that captured the Edmonton Oilers at their peak. The documentary, produced and directed by Bob McKeown, with cinematography by Michael Boland, followed the team through their 1986-87 season, capturing intimate moments with Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and other key players. Featuring interviews with the filmmakers and Oilers personnel, the oral history recounts how the crew gained unprecedented access, the challenges they faced after the team's initial playoff loss, and the lasting impact the film has had on sports documentaries.
- A dispute has emerged among paleontologists regarding the authenticity of a mosasaur fossil discovered in Morocco. Paleontologist Nicholas Longrich identified the fossil as a new species, Xenodens calminechari, but University of Alberta researchers Henry Sharpe, Mark Powers, and Michael Caldwell suggest the fossil may be a forgery, pointing to irregularities in the teeth placement. Longrich defends the fossil's authenticity, stating that a CT scan will be conducted in Paris to address the concerns.
- A Canadian strain of coyote-borne tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis, is raising concerns for doctors in northern Alberta due to a 40-fold increase in cases. According to infectious diseases physician Dave Waldner of the University of Alberta, the first case was identified in Edmonton in 2013, and the majority of Alberta's 40+ cases are in the northern half of the province. The disease spreads from animals to people through contaminated food or water and can cause lesions in the liver.
- Talks between Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are set to resume after the union evaluated Canada Post's latest offers, which include a pay increase and a plan to introduce part-time workers. The nationwide overtime ban by the union remains in effect, causing parcel volumes to drop by 50% compared to last year, according to Canada Post. The previous agreement between the parties expired on May 22, and the union issued a 72-hour strike notice before implementing the overtime ban.
Headlines: May 26, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim