- With the municipal election coming up on Oct. 20, Mack Male of Taproot Edmonton joined host Clare Bonnyman on CBC's This is Edmonton podcast to discuss the race for the city's next mayor and council. They covered voter concerns, candidates, and how residents can stay informed ahead of the vote.
- Edmonton's Valley Line West LRT project achieved a major milestone, with Marigold Infrastructure Partners completing all elevated concrete segments for the two-kilometre section along 87 Avenue between 163 Street and 182 Street. This section, which includes stations at West Edmonton Mall and Misericordia Hospital, saw 224 precast concrete segments installed in under 180 days using a 400-tonne gantry crane. The elevated tracks will allow traffic on 170 Street and west of 178 Street to flow unimpeded. While this phase is complete, significant work remains. The line is expected to open in 2028.
- The City of Edmonton's municipal golf courses are winding down for the 2025 season. Golfing will conclude on Oct. 13, with all courses officially closing on Oct. 14. The Victoria Driving Range, however, will remain operational as long as weather permits. Staff will prepare the greens for winter.
- Former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel said the city is in a downward spiral. Mandel, who was mayor from 2004 to 2013, said downtown has become a "disaster." With the Oct. 20 municipal election approaching, Mandel said the city needs a decisive mayor and council and should improve its relationship with the police and the provincial government.
- More than 180 Edmonton food establishments showed signs of cockroach infestations over a 38-month period, according to health inspection data, Postmedia reported as part of a series done in collaboration with the MacEwan University journalism program. The German cockroach is a common culprit in restaurants, which provide an ideal environment for them to thrive due to warmth, moisture, and food. Experts highlight that these pests, which can carry diseases, multiply rapidly and are becoming resistant to over-the-counter treatments. Prevention requires sealing cracks and thorough cleaning.
- Robert Andruchow of MacEwan University, an associate professor and design chair, criticized Alberta's food safety inspection website as a "glorified spreadsheet" needing a major overhaul. He said the site, hosted by Alberta Health Services, has not received a significant update in nearly two decades since an Edmonton Journal investigation in 2006 led to its public accessibility. Andruchow noted the platform is difficult to navigate, uses jargon, and has confusing listings.
- Cherie Klassen has stepped down as executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association after eight years in the role. In a statement, Klassen called her time leading the business community both rewarding and challenging. During her tenure, she oversaw the association's growth, guided it through the pandemic, and helped secure over $700,000 in grants and sponsorships.
- Alberta teacher Alicia Taylor launched a petition seeking a referendum to end public funding for independent (private) schools across the province. Elections Alberta approved her initiative petition question on Oct. 8, allowing signature collection to begin Oct. 14. Taylor, also an Alberta Teachers' Association representative, needs more than 177,000 signatures within 120 days. John Jagersma of the Association of Independent Schools and Colleges in Alberta said the public system lacks capacity for an additional 50,000 students. Premier Danielle Smith said funding private schools saves taxpayer money by offering diverse educational options.
- Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said striking teachers will need to make "trade-offs," as the government will not exceed $2.6 billion over four years to resolve the contract dispute. This comes after 51,000 members of the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) walked off the job after rejecting an offer that included a 12% wage increase and funding for 3,000 new teaching positions. Nicolaides described class size caps as "arbitrary," while Jason Schilling of the ATA contends 5,000 more teachers are needed.
- As the Alberta teachers' strike continued on Oct. 8, Edmonton parents turned to innovative educational solutions. Mathnasium in west Edmonton has extended its hours and offers discounted rates, while Edmonton retail company Education Station partnered with Alberta artificial intelligence firm NeuroSoph to create ES Learning Buddy, an interactive K-Grade 6 chatbot trained on the Alberta curriculum.
- The Downtown Revitalization Coalition publicly called for bail reform and tougher judicial action on Oct. 8 to address crime in Edmonton. The coalition, which includes business and community leaders, urged courts and prosecutors to respond to calls from Edmonton Police Service Chief Warren Driechel for justice reforms. It also advocated for stronger collaboration between police and Crown prosecutors.
- Alberta's police watchdog, ASIRT, cleared Edmonton Police Service officers of wrongdoing in the Sept. 20, 2023, death of Mazin Zaim. Zaim stopped breathing while handcuffed and face down during an arrest in southwest Edmonton, after police responded to reports of him acting erratically with an ice chipper. ASIRT determined all five officers were acting lawfully when placing Zaim into custody. An autopsy found Zaim died from lack of oxygen due to "restraint asphyxia" and cocaine use, with obesity and coronary atherosclerosis as contributing factors. Zaim's family has expressed concerns about the use of force and delay in officers recognizing he stopped breathing.
- The Edmonton Elks have organized a free camp for high school football players in Edmonton who are unable to practise due to the Alberta teachers' strike. Community coordinator Ryan Brower said 125 slots filled within hours, with Elks players coaching the six practice days throughout October. The strike, which began on Oct. 6, has halted school sports and closed 2,500 schools, affecting 740,000 students. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said "exploratory conversations" are ongoing, and teachers will be locked out of schools starting Oct. 9.
- The Edmonton Police Service is seeking a suspect after a statue of Polish-born religious figure Frère Antoine Kowalczyk was vandalized with orange paint at the University of Alberta Faculté Saint-Jean campus in the early hours of Sept. 28. CCTV footage shows a thin-built man, appearing to be in his mid-to-late 40s and wearing a yellow hoodie and black leather jacket, throwing paint around 12:13am. The Campus Saint-Jean administration acknowledged the incident, which occurred during the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, highlights the institution's "complex history" due to its former administration's role in residential schools.
- The Edmonton Police Service reported 11 shootings in Edmonton in September, an increase from 10 incidents in August. Year-to-date, shootings have risen by 11% to 102, compared to 92 during the same period last year. Of the 11 shootings in September, nine were believed to be targeted, and five resulted in injuries, though no deaths were reported.
- The Edmonton Oilers signed defenceman Mattias Ekholm to a three-year, $12-million contract extension on Oct. 8, set to begin in the 2026-27 season. Ekholm, 35, joined the Oilers from the Nashville Predators on Feb. 28, 2023, and has since been a pivotal blue-line player.
- Alberta Premier Danielle Smith issued directives instructing her health ministers to collaborate on health care restructuring, improving emergency response, and reducing wait times. Jason Nixon, the minister of assisted living and social services, in partnership with Matt Jones, the minister of hospital and surgical health services, will begin transitioning non-acute patients out of hospitals into assisted living facilities to free up beds. Additionally, Rick Wilson, the minister of mental health and addiction, is tasked with implementing the Compassionate Intervention Act by 2027, which will allow for involuntary care for youths and adults.
Headlines: Oct. 9, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim