- The Edmonton Transit Service and Edmonton Aboriginal Seniors Centre unveiled a new art-wrapped bus on Sept. 17, featuring a design inspired by local Indigenous seniors. Shaped by their stories and wisdom, the design incorporates vibrant colours, sweetgrass, gathering places, and teepees. The bus will immediately enter regular ETS service across the city and display information about the seniors centre's services.
- Edmontonians should expect a slow count on election night for the Oct. 20 municipal election, with preliminary mayoral results likely unknown until Oct. 21. Returning Officer Aileen Giesbrecht explained that new provincial legislation requires all ballots to be counted by hand, unlike previous elections that used tabulators. Edmonton Elections is hiring about 1,000 additional workers for late-night counting. The change will increase the election's cost to taxpayers by an estimated $4.5-$4.8 million.
- The City of Edmonton has finalized new four-year agreements with the Edmonton Fire Fighters Union and the Edmonton Police Service Senior Officers' Association, securing contracts with all seven city unions until 2027. Council approved both deals this week after union members ratified them earlier. The agreements include annual wage hikes of 3.3-4%, along with improved health benefits and allowances. Union leaders said the deals provide fairness, certainty, and a collaborative path forward.
- The University of Alberta began offering tours of its unique trees on its campus in Edmonton. These tours showcase the diverse species of trees found across the university grounds, providing an opportunity for the public to learn about and appreciate the arboreal landscape.
- Residents in the Crystallina Nera neighbourhood in north Edmonton say they were blindsided by proposed extra units on single-family home plots. Developer Home Alkemist Ltd. plans to add three garden suites on eight properties, totaling 24 new units. Residents expressed concerns about parking, safety, and feeling misled about the neighbourhood's single-family vision. Home Alkemist CEO Amy Kim says the project aligns with city rezoning and includes extra parking, but residents claim a lack of transparency.
- A program offered by Aboriginal Counselling Services of Alberta is at risk of shutting down after the Alberta government denied renewal of $135,000 in funding. The Circle of Safety program, offering 16-week counselling sessions for women and children aged six to 16 impacted by violence, lost its funding, though the men's program was renewed. Executive director Keleigh Larson said the cut represents 15-20% of its budget. The Ministry of Children and Family Services said it received more than 200 applications for refreshed funding for family violence prevention programs, exceeding available resources.
- The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Alberta, representing educational assistants, said its members will not take on teachers' duties if the Alberta Teachers' Association proceeds with a potential strike by the Oct. 6 deadline. CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal said the union supports teachers in their efforts to improve classroom conditions and is advising union members to refuse overlapping work.
- The Edmonton Oilers are confident that captain Connor McDavid will remain with the team beyond this season. The organization believes McDavid, who has expressed a strong desire to win in Edmonton, is focused on securing the Stanley Cup. Coach Kris Knoblauch said McDavid's contract status is not a distraction. The Oilers begin their season Oct. 8 against the Calgary Flames.
- Alberta Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod expressed concern over the Alberta government's plan to add mandatory citizenship markers on driver's licences starting in late 2026. McLeod said her office was not informed, and she questioned the benefit versus privacy risks, particularly regarding sensitive information and the absence of a privacy impact assessment. Brendan Boyd, a political science professor at MacEwan University, also questioned the province's motives.
Headlines: Sept. 18, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim