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Headlines: June 20, 2025

· The Pulse
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  • The City of Edmonton is making traffic changes to accommodate work on the Yellowhead Trail conversion project, which will remain in place until construction is finished in 2027. Starting June 21, lane restrictions between St. Albert Trail and 121 Street will extend east, and Yellowhead Trail will have two lanes in each direction between St. Albert Trail and 97 Street. Earlier this month, traffic on 121 Street was reduced to single lanes between Yellowhead Trail and 121 Avenue.
  • Edmonton Transit Service is relocating some bus stops at Century Park Transit Centre to accommodate construction from June 29 to Aug. 30. The routes 56 West Edmonton Mall, 709 Southgate, 716 Leger, 717 Leger, 721 Rutherford, 722 Allard and 729 Leger will be parking at temporary bus stops along 111 Street. The routes 1 Leduc, 518 Mill Woods, 707 Southgate, 715 Leger, and On Demand Transit will park at a grassy curb north of the transit centre. Several other routes will move to different bays or be detoured.
  • A section of 106 Street in downtown Edmonton, from just north of Jasper Avenue to just south of 102 Avenue, will be closed starting June 23 to accommodate construction for Warehouse Park. Improvements on 106 Street will include new sidewalks, road reconstruction, a bike lane, and new lighting. The section will be closed for the duration of construction. The City of Edmonton says the Warehouse Park Project is proceeding on time.
  • Coun. Michael Janz said he will introduce a motion to have a proposed deal between the City of Edmonton, the province, and Oilers Entertainment Group to build an event park by Rogers Place put to a referendum in the fall municipal election. Janz, who shared his proposed referendum question on his website, said he opposes one business "getting an enormous pot of gold from the premier" in a deal that was "essentially done behind closed doors." A public hearing about the proposal is scheduled for June 26.
  • Arsene Arcand, a local artist known for his soapstone carving, has been selected as the City of Edmonton's next Indigenous Artist-in-Residence. A nêhiyaw (Cree) artist from Kipohtakaw (Alexander First Nation), Arcand said he hopes to use the position to share his own work and also help young Indigenous artists showcase their talent. His work is currently available at the Bear Claw Gallery in Edmonton and a gallery in Canmore. He is on Instagram and Facebook.
  • Criminologist Temitope Oriola wrote an op-ed about the qualities he wants to see in the next chief of the Edmonton Police Service, stressing the "non-negotiability" of education outside of policing, inclusive leadership qualities, and someone who would "stay out of politics." The Edmonton Police Commission should give the chief a clear "reform mandate," and it should be made clear in the hiring process that the commission is the boss of the chief and the police department, Oriola wrote.
  • Dave Cournoyer wrote on his blog about what's at stake in the three upcoming provincial byelections in Edmonton-Ellerslie, Edmonton-Strathcona, and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Cournoyer suggests Edmonton-Ellerslie is a "very safe" win for Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, but tactics used by UCP candidate Darby Crouch to frame Nenshi as an "out of touch outsider" may affect other ridings. With some polls showing rising UCP support in the city, Edmonton-Ellerslie will be a "practical test of whether the growth in support is real." The byelections are on June 23.
  • Ontario-based food processing company Sofina Foods was ordered to pay $330,000 after one of its workers died after being trapped in an Edmonton smokehouse. The company, which pleaded guilty for failing to ensure the worker's safety, was ordered to put the money toward a workplace training program.
  • Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid is in the final year of his eight-year contract and will be eligible to sign an extension on July 1. Following the Oilers' second consecutive Stanley Cup Final loss to the Florida Panthers, McDavid said that winning is his top priority when considering a new contract. The three-time Hart Trophy winner amassed 26 goals and 74 assists in 67 games this past season, and added 33 points in 22 playoff games.