- Edmonton city council is set to vote on a new chief of police on Sept. 19. Once the Edmonton Police Commission recommends a candidate, the choice must be ratified by a council vote. This decision marks one of the final actions for the current council before the Oct. 20 election. Commission Chairman Ben Henderson said that the extensive selection process involved community consultations to identify a leader with strong policing knowledge, relationship-building skills, and innovative capabilities.
- Edmonton city council voted to keep 20 affordable housing units in Riverdale, passing a motion 9-4 on Sept. 17. The decision directs city administration to rezone four parcels as DC1, ensuring at least 20 affordable units, with the next council holding a public hearing after the Oct. 20 election. This follows HomeEd, a city-owned entity, listing the 1980s-built Riverdale Place townhouses for sale to fund new units, saying their useful life had ended. Tenants fought the sale, fearing displacement.
- Edmonton's newest supportive housing development has officially opened in Holyrood, providing 63 homes for people at risk of homelessness. Funded through all three levels of government, the $28.5 million project is owned by Homeward Trust Edmonton and the George Spady Society and includes individualized care plans for each resident. The Holyrood site is the sixth such facility completed since 2020, with two more under construction in Garneau and Canora.
- At a mayoral forum hosted by the Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, money dominated the debate as candidates clashed over taxes, spending, and the city's strained relationship with the province. Rahim Jaffer pledged to roll back recent tax hikes and freeze rates, a plan his rivals Tim Cartmell, Andrew Knack, and Michael Walters criticized as unrealistic and harmful to non-profits. Walters promised to freeze transit fares and prioritize housing, while Knack pushed for stronger city leadership on homelessness and funding models that keep pace with inflation. Cartmell called for pragmatic budgeting and better collaboration with the province, which all four agreed is critical for tackling housing and social service pressures.
- Edmonton mayoral candidates weighed in on whether municipal workers should return to downtown offices. Downtown Edmonton businesses, like Remedy Cafe, which closed its Jasper Avenue location, are struggling as approximately 3,000 City of Edmonton employees continue a hybrid work model. Omar Mohammad, Rahim Jaffer, and Tony Caterina advocated for a full return to stimulate downtown vibrancy and productivity. Andrew Knack opposed ending the hybrid model, citing union agreements and arguing that addressing affordability, housing, and safety are more critical for downtown revitalization. Tim Cartmell encouraged a return but noted logistical challenges, while Michael Walters said he would detail his plans for city workers later.
- City councillor and mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell urged council to halt new bike lane projects, including the nearly finished lanes in the Delton neighbourhood and work on 132 Avenue, but his motion failed. City staff warned a halt could increase costs and delay completion. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi defended the city's active transportation strategy, saying more Edmontonians are embracing bike lanes. Cartmell plans to continue pressing the issue during his mayoral campaign.
- The Edmonton Police Service has executed a search warrant in the suspicious disappearance of 14-year-old Samuel Bird. The teen was last seen alive in west Edmonton in early June. While police did not disclose the warrant's location or reason, his family has focused recovery searches in the river valley, with Manitoba-based searchers assisting in August to search the North Saskatchewan River.
- The Winnifred Stewart Empties to WINN program has been renamed to Joey & Friends Empties, in honour of Joey Moss. The service offers year-round scheduled pickups at homes and businesses, collecting empty containers and providing tax receipts for the estimated donation value. Moss was a beloved figure in Edmonton, known for his longtime role as a dressing-room attendant for the Edmonton Oilers.
- The Edmonton Police Service said it issued 323 traffic violations during a 24-hour traffic campaign on Sept. 11. The infractions included 68 speeding tickets, eight distracted driving violations, and 98 automated red light violations caught by City of Edmonton enforcement.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's office has directed officials to invoke the notwithstanding clause for three laws affecting people who are transgender, according to a leaked Sept. 10 memo obtained by The Canadian Press. These laws, introduced last year, regulate student name and pronoun changes in schools, ban transgender girls 12 and older from amateur female sports, and limit gender-affirming care for youth under 16. A government spokesperson said Alberta will use all legal means, including the clause, to "protect the safety and well-being of children." 2SLGBTQ+ groups Egale Canada and Skipping Stone are challenging the laws.
- Edmonton-based Waste Parrot, a University of Alberta spinoff company, is one of 17 finalists in a NASA competition to combat space waste. The 30-member team, based at the university's Smart Lab, developed an innovation featuring a drone that identifies and categorizes waste. It aims to deploy unique 3D printers to the moon to upcycle trash into essential tools for astronauts.
- The Alberta government has allowed its ban on police "carding" to expire, informing the Edmonton Police Commission of its decision. The provincial regulation, which prohibited officers from stopping individuals without reason to ask for identification, was first implemented in 2021. The practice is often seen as racial profiling due to statistics showing it disproportionately affects people of colour. The government now asserts that existing mechanisms allow citizens to seek justice if they feel unfairly treated by police.
- Jordan Baker was named president of the Edmonton Stingers, effective Sept. 18, also becoming a part owner of Stingers Entertainment Group LP. Baker will continue to serve as head coach and general manager of the Canadian Elite Basketball League team. He was a standout player for the Stingers from 2019 to 2022, winning two CEBL Championships, and later took on coaching and general manager roles.
Headlines: Sept. 19, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim