- With the municipal election approaching on Oct. 20, a Postmedia analysis of Edmonton city council voting records from October 2021 to mid-August 2025 shows most councillors aligned on votes more than 60% of the time. Karen Principe and Jennifer Rice frequently voted against the majority, acting as council's unofficial opposition. Anne Stevenson and Ashley Salvador showed the strongest alignment, voting similarly nearly 90% of the time. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi maintained the highest win percentage. Mayoral candidates Tim Cartmell and Andrew Knack voted together 72% of the time.
- Edmonton's next city council may face the challenge of balancing resident desires for improved services, including snow clearing, road maintenance, and addressing crime and homelessness, against a strong demand to keep property taxes low. A CBC News poll conducted Oct. 1-8 revealed that 75% of respondents prioritize low residential property taxes. Former mayor Stephen Mandel and former city councillor Karen Leibovici emphasized the need for creative solutions and difficult decisions.
- Edmonton mayoral candidates, including Andrew Knack, Tim Cartmell, Tony Caterina, Rahim Jaffer, and Omar Mohammad, are in their final week of campaigning. The municipal election is Oct. 20 and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is not running for re-election. "Of course, it's a name recognition campaign," Kim Krushell, a former Edmonton city councillor who also ran for mayor in 2021, told Global News. "The more your name is known, the more people are potentially going to vote for you."
- The Edmonton Construction Association, alongside NAIOP and members of BOMA, a commercial real estate organization, met with municipal election candidates ahead of the Oct. 20 vote. Mayoral candidates Michael Walters, Andrew Knack, Rahim Jaffer, and Tim Cartmell were among the candidates who attended. Industry representatives discussed concerns including continuing city building, collaborating on fiscal challenges, and recognizing the construction industry's role in economic growth.
- Edmonton Fire Rescue Services is reminding residents to follow city regulations when using fireworks. Only certified professionals with approved permits are allowed to set off fireworks within city limits, and applications must be submitted at least 10 working days in advance. The warning comes after 127 investigations into illegal fireworks use late last year, which led to nearly $6,000 in fines and two court cases. One incident caused about $1 million in property damage. Officials urge Edmontonians to celebrate safely and report illegal fireworks through 311.
- The Alberta Teachers' Association and the Alberta government met on Oct. 14 for the first time since the teachers' strike began last week, keeping 750,000 students out of 2,500 schools across the province. Finance Minister Nate Horner confirmed the government reviewed a new union proposal, which seeks more teacher hires than previously promised. Teachers had overwhelmingly rejected a prior offer of a 12% pay raise over four years and 3,000 new teachers.
- Alberta parents can now apply for government payments to help offset costs for children impacted by the ongoing teachers' strike. Eligible families with children aged 12 and under in public, Catholic, or francophone schools will receive $30 per instructional day, retroactive to Oct. 6. Enhanced support is available for families with children up to 17 with active Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) agreements. Finance Minister Nate Horner said the funds come from unspent educational grants. Payments will be made monthly via e-transfer, beginning Oct. 31.
- A new report shows Alberta teachers are the most stressed globally, with 42% reporting high stress in their work, significantly higher than the 19% global average. The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2024 also found Alberta teachers work an average of 47 hours weekly, five more than the global average, ranking among the busiest worldwide. As the provincewide teachers' strike enters its second week, Jason Schilling of the Alberta Teachers' Association said the report confirms teachers feel overworked and undervalued by the government, noting a sharp decline in their belief that policymakers respect their views.
- A new Angus Reid Institute poll suggests 58% of Albertans sympathize with teachers in their ongoing contract dispute, compared to 21% supporting the provincial government. The poll, surveying more than 800 Albertans from Oct. 8-10, found 84% believe class sizes are too large. Approximately 51,000 public, Catholic, and francophone teachers across Alberta went on strike on Oct. 6, and were locked out by the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association on Oct. 9, cancelling classes for 750,000 students. Key issues include teaching conditions, class sizes, student support, and salaries.
- The 2025 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence recognized several Alberta educators, including Sean Bradley and Morgan Gahler from Edmonton. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada announced the recipients. Bradley, of McNally High School, was honoured for empowering students through entrepreneurial thinking and digital tools. Gahler, from amiskwaciy Academy, transformed school culture with athletics and land-based learning for First Nations youth.
- The Edmonton Police Service seized about 60,000 opium poppy plants and "doda" powder in July 2025 from a north Edmonton property near 34 Street and 195 Avenue. The plants, valued between $160,000 and $500,000, are used to produce opioids like heroin. Staff Sgt. Marco Antonio said it was a rare commercial-level opium grow operation in Canada. Four men, aged 30 to 42, face charges for producing a controlled substance.
- Edmonton's sports community is mourning the loss of influential businessman and philanthropist Bruce Saville, who died Oct. 14. He was recognized as a "great Edmontonian" for his significant contributions to the city. "He was so charitable and so accessible. Those are the things I'll remember," said Bryn Griffiths, a former sports personality and friend of Saville.
- Edmonton resident Chelsea Brown, a survivor of six years of domestic abuse, is now advocating for changes and building a nonprofit called Warriors Way Forward. Brown aims to help women and children flee domestic violence and navigate the justice system. She has spoken with Alberta government ministers and Edmonton city councillors, and organized a fundraising event on Oct. 4, emphasizing her commitment to being a voice for victims.
Headlines: Oct. 15, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim