- Members of the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) will vote from Sept. 27 to Sept. 29 on a tentative contract agreement reached with its employers, aiming to avert a strike threatened for Oct. 6. Finance Minister Nate Horner announced the deal, which includes 3% annual wage increases for four years and funding for 3,000 new teaching positions and 1,500 educational assistant positions by August 2028.
- Natalie Elzinga, a 14-year-old volleyball player, and her family are speaking out against a new sports-gender law in Alberta. The Fairness and Safety in Sport Act mandates that girls aged 12 and over submit a gender declaration to play in all-girls or women's sports. Natalie signed the form but revised it by crossing out "fairness." While Andrew Boitchenko, the minister of Alberta Tourism and Sport, maintains the law ensures fair competition, its implementation has caused confusion and anger. The Alberta Teachers' Association reports some members are refusing to coach girls' sports, and Edmonton Public Schools' junior high girls' competitions saw 10 fewer teams in 2025 compared to 2024.
- The Side Door, located on the southeast corner of the iconic Old Strathcona Farmers' Market in central Edmonton, offers farmers' market goods six days a week, from Tuesday through Sunday, the farmers' market announced. The outpost offers fresh, local, and community-driven shopping, including coffee, lattes, sandwiches, sweets, and groceries from Alberta farmers and artisans.
- Volunteers have maintained a command post in Edmonton's Dawson Park since September, coordinating search efforts for Samuel Bird, a 14-year-old from Paul First Nation who went missing in west Edmonton on June 1. Samuel's mother, Alanna Bird, has searched daily, with volunteers like Dominic Bear and Alden Boisis from across Western Canada joining the effort. The Edmonton Police Service, which issued a missing person release on July 11 and searched a residence in connection with the case on Sept. 18, continues to investigate but has not conducted ground searches. The Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations is calling for a search and recovery designation to access federal funding.
- The TELUS World of Science in Edmonton will host a special program on Sept. 30 to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. The event offers free admission for Indigenous guests and aims to support reconciliation. Activities include a tipi raising, smudging ceremony, an Indigenous vendors market, and film screenings.
- The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) launched a donation matching campaign to celebrate its 25th anniversary, matching every $25 donation up to $1 million until Jan. 24. Donors can vote on five charitable causes — Hockey Fights Cancer, Pets of Oil Country, Feeding Oil Country, Heroes of Oil Country, and Every Kid Deserves a Shot — and be entered into a draw to meet Edmonton Oilers players. The EOCF has raised more than $40 million for cancer care and supported numerous initiatives benefiting thousands of children and families in Edmonton and surrounding areas through partnerships with organizations like Sport Central, Santas Anonymous, and Edmonton's Food Bank.
- Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin is taking a leave of absence and returning to Russia after his father died suddenly. The Oilers announced the leave on Sept. 24, requesting privacy for the player and his family. The 24-year-old from Moscow had just signed a three-year contract extension with the team.
- The Edmonton Elks have added American wide receiver TJ Luther to its practice roster, while releasing J.J. Jones II. Luther spent the previous two seasons in the National Football League with teams including the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers.
Headlines: Sept. 25, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim