- Edmonton Elections reported a significant increase in advance voter turnout for the municipal election on Oct. 20. More than 41,000 ballots were cast over the five-day advance voting period, averaging 8,268 votes daily, a nearly 30% rise from 2021. The busiest day was Oct. 11 with 10,698 votes. Due to new provincial government rules, ballots will be counted by hand, not tabulators, which officials warn will significantly slow down the counting process. Preliminary results are not expected until Oct. 21, and municipalities anticipate increased administrative costs.
- A new exclusive CBC News poll by Janet Brown Opinion Research suggests Andrew Knack leads the Edmonton mayoral race with 41% support among decided and leaning voters, while Tim Cartmell garnered 21%. However, 46% of Edmonton voters remain undecided, according to the survey conducted Oct. 1-8. Pollster Janet Brown called the high undecided rate unusual this close to the Oct. 20 election. Omar Mohammad and Michael Walters each received 10% support, with other candidates trailing. Experts note Knack's focus on progressive issues, while other candidates struggle for centrist votes.
- A majority of Edmonton residents, 62%, feel the city is growing too fast, according to a CBC News poll by Janet Brown Opinion Research conducted Oct. 1-8. The survey found 56% of Edmonton respondents reported a negative personal impact from this growth. With Alberta's population surpassing 5 million on July 1, concerns include overcrowding, strained health care services, and challenges with recreation facility access. This rapid growth is a key issue for politicians in the municipal election race.
- Edmonton grassroots groups are mobilizing underrepresented communities for the municipal election on Oct. 20. The University of Alberta Students' Union, alongside the Edmonton Student Alliance, encourages students to pledge votes for issues like housing, transit, and affordability. YEG Muslim Vote, led by Shiza Wasi, focuses on policies benefiting Muslim communities, addressing affordability, housing, transit, and concerns about the war in Gaza and EPCOR fees. Zohreh Saher's interVivos organizes forums for newcomers, 2SLGBTQ+ Edmontonians, students, and unhoused individuals.
- The Investigative Journalism Foundation published a database of campaign contributions for Edmonton's upcoming Oct. 20 election on Oct. 10. Changes to the Local Authorities Election Act in 2024 by Alberta's United Conservative Party government allowed municipal political parties in Edmonton and Calgary, increasing contribution limits and permitting corporations and unions to donate directly. Data from two reporting periods show that Better Edmonton, one of Edmonton's two registered parties, received $395,220 of $597,006 in corporate donations, primarily going to its 12 candidates out of 57 total who have reported so far.
- While new to most contemporary voters, municipal political parties previously existed in Alberta, dominating city councils in Edmonton and Calgary from the late 1910s to the 1970s, CBC News reported. Historical parties, such as the Dominion Labor Party and the Civic Government Association, saw success before gradually disappearing due to factors like the province assuming more social welfare responsibilities, the fading of policy divides, and a shift to ward systems. The provincial government introduced legislation in 2024 allowing local political parties to reappear on ballots in Calgary and Edmonton for the Oct. 20 election.
- A provincewide teachers' strike is entering its second week in Alberta, affecting approximately 750,000 students. Edmonton high school student Declan Reid noted the strike's impact on football, while Melissa Qerimi, a Grade 10 student at the Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton, described feeling stressed about schoolwork without teacher support, though she said she supports the teachers' actions. The Alberta Teachers' Association and the government's bargaining team will hold their first formal meeting on Oct. 14 since the strike began on Oct. 6 to discuss a complex counter-offer from the union.
- The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reported that most of its more than 11,000 educational assistants and support staff across various Alberta school boards continue working amid a provincewide teachers' strike. While only High Prairie School Division and Northern Lights School Division have issued layoff notices or granted temporary layoffs, CUPE expects more if the strike persists. Edmonton Public Schools is assigning alternative tasks like library book classification to its support staff.
- Food safety expert Lawrence Goodridge of the University of Guelph suggests food courts can pose unique challenges for hygiene due to close vendor proximity and continuous operation, which may hinder cleanliness and increase pest risks, Postmedia reported in a series done in collaboration with the MacEwan University journalism program. In Edmonton, a cockroach infestation closed a Southgate Centre mall business in 2018 and a West Edmonton Mall vendor was fined $12,000 for health violations in 2009.
- The Edmonton Police Service arrested two people on Oct. 11 after a protest involving 50-100 individuals caused significant traffic gridlock near River Valley Road and 105 Street in downtown Edmonton. The blockade also obstructed emergency services and extended to the Walterdale Bridge. Acting Insp. Ian Brooks of the police service said that while police will uphold the "right to lawful protest," impeding emergency access is not acceptable. Police cleared the blockade and restored traffic flow within an hour. Charges are pending.
- The Edmonton Police Service is seeking additional complainants in a sexual assault investigation following an incident at the Jasper Place Transit Centre on Sept. 29. A 40-year-old man has been charged with assault, sexual assault, and obstruction after reportedly attempting to touch a woman and a young girl. Police believe he may have approached and attempted to touch several other individuals, including women and a man with a child, in the area between 7:30am and 9:07am. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
- University of Alberta experts Neal LaMontagne and Sandeep Agrawal said Edmonton's incoming city council must address the threat of climate change, calling it a "clear and present danger." They said that mitigation focuses on reducing impact through energy intensity, transportation, and building design, while adaptation involves responding to a changing climate. Agrawal noted rising temperatures, declining precipitation, and worsening air quality are already affecting Edmontonians. While Edmonton's current climate policy is robust, LaMontagne suggested improvements, such as making buildings solar ready and accommodating electric vehicles.
- The NHL issued a fine to Vancouver Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers for US $2,500 on Oct. 12, for slashing Connor McDavid, the captain of the Edmonton Oilers. The incident happened during the third period of their game on Oct. 11 that saw the Oilers defeat the Canucks 3-1. Myers appeared to hit McDavid in the groin area with his stick. While no penalty was called on the play, Myers later received a delay of game penalty.
- Connor McDavid's agent, Judd Moldaver, explained the motivation behind his short-term deal with the Edmonton Oilers in a podcast interview on Oct. 13. McDavid signed a two-year, $25 million extension, foregoing a potentially more lucrative contract to prioritize winning a Stanley Cup in Edmonton. Moldaver stated that McDavid's intention was always to win with the Oilers and that the prolonged process allowed him to be "wisely patient" in balancing individual value with team success.
Headlines: Oct. 14, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim