- Edmonton Public Schools trustees are requesting that the Alberta government amend the Education Act to ensure undocumented children can attend schools and receive provincial funding. Whitney Haynes, executive director of the advocacy group Alberta Workers Association for Research and Education, told trustees she has heard of at least nine children in Edmonton who were refused entry or told to leave school due to immigration status. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said in a statement that Alberta's education policy for newcomers is already generous, but EPSB chair Julie Kusiek said his response does not account for undocumented children.
- Alberta Wildfire has issued a red flag watch, a rarely used term indicating extreme risk of wildfires due to low humidity, warm temperatures, and high winds. Crews continue to battle a wildfire near Swan Hills in northern Alberta, where 1,300 residents were evacuated May 26. By May 28, the fire had grown to 3,629 hectares, forcing the closure of Highway 33. More than 40 fires are burning across Alberta; the full list of advisories, restrictions, and bans can be found at albertafirebans.ca.
- The Edmonton Pride Parade is returning to the city on Aug. 23 as part of the three-day Edmonton Pride Festival. The parade hasn't occurred in Edmonton since 2018, after the 2019 parade was cancelled amid calls for inclusivity and opposition to police participation. The parade is part of Edmonton Pride Month, which includes events throughout June and August.
- The Edmonton Elks are reviving the "Eskimos" name internally to celebrate the team's history, according to team president Chris Morris. While the team will remain the Elks, the organization aims to embrace its past, including restoring the "Once an Eskimo, always an Eskimo" sign, and putting the Eskimos name back on the team's vintage fire truck. "We are done hiding in the shadows from something that really isn't something to be afraid of: 14 Grey Cup championships, the most incredible fan support, and I apologize to our fans, for over the years somehow being villainized for being called the Eskimo fan base," Morris said.
- The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has launched the AI x CE strategy, aiming to establish Canada's first industrial cluster that integrates artificial intelligence with construction and engineering. Developed with input from more than 30 industry experts, the plan aims to address labour shortages, increase productivity, and attract $100 million in annual investments, potentially creating 20,000 new jobs in tech-augmented trades. The group behind the strategy says next steps include securing government funding and establishing an AI x CE venture lab, which would be housed at Edmonton Unlimited.
- The City of Edmonton needs to wrap up its annual compost giveaway early due to high demand. So far, more than 11,000 people have collected more than 1,900 tonnes of free compost made from grass, leaves, and other yard waste. The City says it is still giving away compost at the Ambleside and Kennedale Eco Stations until May 31, or until supplies run out.
- The Edmonton Folk Music Festival released its 2025 performance lineup, with headliners including Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Stephen Wilson Jr., Allison Russell, The Roots, and Mt. Joy. Organizers say 60% of the artists are new to Edmonton. Art critic Fish Griwkowsky wrote about the festival lineup for Postmedia. The festival runs Aug. 7 to 10 in Gallagher Park. Tickets go on sale June 7.
- The City of Edmonton Youth Council is accepting applications for new members until June 22. Its mandate is to provide information and advice to council on issues that affect youth. People aged 12 to 23 can apply. Appointments will be made this summer.
- Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman is "most likely done" for the playoffs and will undergo surgery after suffering an injury in Game 4 against the Stars.
- A recent poll commissioned by CBC News suggests that Premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party are still popular in Alberta, with more than half of Albertans saying they support the governing party two years into its term. Support for the NDP has dropped in Edmonton, with only 47% of Edmontonians saying they would vote NDP, compared to 58% who voted that way in the last provincial election. Among voters aged 18 to 24, 47% said they are inclined to vote for the UCP, and 39% for the NDP, the poll found.
- The Canadian Medical Association, representing more than 75,000 physicians, is challenging the constitutionality of Alberta's law that bans certain kinds of gender-affirming care, specifically hormone therapy and puberty blockers for those under 16, and gender-affirming surgeries for those under 18. The law, enacted last year as part of a trio of bills affecting transgender people, hinders doctors' autonomy to provide what they believe is the best treatment, said one doctor involved in the court challenge. In December, Egale Canada, the Skipping Stone Foundation, and five Alberta families launched legal challenges, saying they violate Charter rights.
Headlines: May 29, 2025
By Kevin Holowack