- The Edmonton Police Service located the remains of 14-year-old Samuel Bird in a rural area outside Edmonton and charged Bryan Farrell, 38, with second-degree murder and interfering with a body. Bird, a member of Paul First Nation, was last seen on June 1 after leaving his west Edmonton home. Farrell, arrested Oct. 15, also faces 13 other charges, including arson related to a west Edmonton property Bird visited the night he disappeared. Police are not seeking additional suspects in Bird's killing.
- Thousands of striking teachers rallied outside Rogers Place on Oct. 16, as Premier Danielle Smith addressed the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. The Alberta Teachers' Association strike is in its second week, with bargaining stalled over wage disputes. Smith said the province is addressing demands through hiring and a "comprehensive pay package," warning that back-to-work legislation might be considered by Oct. 27 if the strike causes "irreparable harm."
- Edmonton is building more homes than ever, with Alberta recording a new high of nearly 27,000 home starts in the first half of 2025, a 30% increase. In 2024, Edmonton issued more than 15,000 building permits for new dwelling units, the most since 2005, primarily concentrated between 41 Avenue Southwest and Anthony Henday Drive in areas like The Orchards, Keswick, and Chappelle, CBC News reported. This rapid expansion follows a population increase of more than 100,000 in the last two years. Outgoing Mayor Amarjeet Sohi highlighted this growth as a success, aiming for 50% of new development to occur in established areas like Griesbach.
- A new poll for CityNews of 423 Edmontonians conducted from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 found significant voter dissatisfaction with Edmonton mayoral candidates Tim Cartmell and Andrew Knack, the frontrunners, just days before the Oct. 20 municipal election. The Canada Pulse Insights survey revealed 39-45% of respondents felt "none of the top six candidates" — which also includes Michael Walters, Rahim Jaffer, Omar Mohammad, and Tony Caterina — have the right vision, reflect their values, or are trustworthy. The poll also indicated 74% believe Edmonton is on the wrong track, and 80% perceive outgoing Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and city council as out of touch. The poll also found that more than two-thirds of Edmonton voters think their sitting councillors do not deserve re-election, with 51% rating their ward councillor's performance as "bad."
- A CityNews-Canada Pulse Insights poll, conducted from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, found the cost of living is the most important issue for Edmonton voters, with 40% selecting it as a top three concern. Other key issues include homelessness (34%), crime and policing (25%), and municipal spending (24%). While Edmonton's overall crime rate dropped 6% in 2024, serious offenses like opioid possession increased by 152%. Voters want officials to prioritize property tax reduction and housing affordability, according to the poll. Edmonton's municipal election is Oct. 20.
- A campaign finance analysis from Postmedia shows sharp contrasts in the fundraising bases of Edmonton's two leading mayoral contenders. Tim Cartmell's campaign has drawn more than $400,000 from donors who also contributed to Alberta's United Conservative Party, while Andrew Knack has attracted support from people connected to city administration, including several current and former municipal employees. Observers say the fundraising patterns underscore the ideological and institutional divide shaping the 2025 mayoral race. The financial disclosures come as both candidates ramp up efforts ahead of Edmonton's upcoming municipal election on Oct. 20.
- In his latest article, Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein argues that Edmonton's "infill election" reveals a significant divide between existing homeowners, who fear disruption and property value loss, and younger residents who struggle to find affordable housing. While mature neighbourhoods experience population declines, Edmonton requires diverse, affordable housing options, he wrote. New developments like Blatchford are insufficient to accommodate the 200,000 people who moved to the city from October 2021 to October 2025 alone, making uncontrolled sprawl unsustainable for Edmonton's long-term growth.
- The City of Edmonton is accepting applications for its 2026 Operating Grant for Indigenous-led Organizations, with $1 million in available funding. The grant, offered under the Community Safety and Well-Being Strategy, aims to promote the resurgence of Indigenous cultures, languages, identities, and ceremonies, ensure safe spaces, and provide education, training, employment, and economic security for Indigenous Peoples. In 2024, 22 Edmonton organizations received similar funding. The deadline for applications is 1pm on Nov. 26.
- Three Edmontonians were among nine Albertans inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province's highest honour. Businessman and philanthropist Sine Chadi was recognized for his community work with institutions such as the Al Rashid Mosque and Glenrose Hospital Foundation. Businessman and developer John Day was honoured for shaping Edmonton's and Jasper's urban and cultural landscape through his roles in law and development. Doug Stollery, president of the Stollery Charitable Foundation, was acknowledged for his leadership at the University of Alberta and his philanthropic contributions.
Headlines: Oct. 17, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim