- Edmonton city council's executive committee approved the sale of three sites in the Calder and Highlands neighbourhoods to the Jasper Place Wellness Centre (JPWC) at below-market value. This initiative aims to expand supportive transitional housing, with an additional $10 million in grant funding approved for six 12-unit buildings. JPWC's Bridge Healing program, which has significantly reduced emergency department reliance for homeless individuals, will expand into these sites and three others in Edmonton. Some Highlands residents expressed concerns about the community engagement process.
- Five Edmonton mayoral candidates — Tim Cartmell, Rahim Jaffer, Andrew Knack, Omar Mohammad, and Michael Walters — are set to participate in a debate on Sept. 12 at the JW Marriott hotel. Hosted by the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and Global News, the event will allow voters to hear priorities ahead of the mayoral election on Oct. 20. The full 90-minute debate will be livestreamed on Global News platforms, with the first 30 minutes airing on Global Edmonton's television channel.
- The Canadian Civil Liberties Association issued a statement saying that it is "manifestly unconstitutional and deeply troubling" for the Edmonton Police Service to threaten a public campaign against the Crown if prosecutors exercise discretion in a way the police disagree with. The statement comes after Edmonton police objected to a proposed plea deal for a 29-year-old woman charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 death of an eight-year-old girl.
- RCMP responded to a weapons complaint at Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School in Sherwood Park on the afternoon of Sept. 11, initiating a lockdown. Authorities took a 14-year-old boy into custody, seizing what appeared to be a gun. No injuries were reported, and police confirmed there is no further threat. The lockdown was lifted after students were dismissed for the day.
- The Alberta government announced an $8 million investment to establish the Alberta Youth Employment Incentive to combat the province's rising 8.4% youth unemployment rate. Starting in October, the program aims to help 1,000 employers hire approximately 2,500 youth aged 15 to 24 by offering incentives. Nonprofit organization CAREERS will manage the grants.
- The Health Sciences Association of Alberta, representing more than 22,000 healthcare professionals, said its members have voted to reject a tentative labour deal with Alberta Health Services and other provincial agencies. A record 78% of eligible voters participated in the province-wide vote, with 59.4% rejecting the agreement. Union President Mike Parker stated that wages are the biggest issue, citing a dangerous shortage of healthcare professionals in Alberta, and urged the province to offer better compensation.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney announced five fast-track megaprojects, none of which are in Alberta, though carbon capture projects could prompt new pipelines in future rounds. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met with Carney in Edmonton, and expressed encouragement despite the initial exclusion, hoping an Alberta project will be included when more projects are announced in November.
Headlines: Sept. 12, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim