- After a recount by Edmonton Elections, the Ward sipiwiyiniwak councillor race flipped on Oct. 22, with Thu Parmar securing 30.36% of votes, compared with Darrell Friesen's 27.5%. Edmonton Elections said that a human error in recording counted votes prompted the returning officer to call a recount for Ward sipiwiyiniwak after identifying a potential administrative error. Delayed results from Wards Métis, Pihêsiwin, and Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi were also finalized after Edmonton Elections discovered uncounted ballots. Jon Morgan won in Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi over incumbent Jennifer Rice, Michael Elliott won in Pihêsiwin, and Ashley Salvador secured Ward Métis. All election results will undergo ballot accounting before the official statement of results is released at noon on Oct. 24.
- Edmonton's newly elected and returning city councillors will be sworn in on Oct. 29, with their first meeting immediately following to set the agenda, including when budget talks begin. Edmonton Elections returning officer Aileen Giesbrecht attributed delays to the Alberta government's Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, which mandated hand-counting ballots and voter registration. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams blamed municipalities for implementation issues.
- In an opinion piece published by Postmedia, Jacob Dawang argues Edmonton voters backed infill housing in the municipal election, giving council a mandate to continue building more homes in existing neighbourhoods. Dawang, a member of Grow Together Edmonton, argues that development should focus near the city's multi-billion dollar LRT infrastructure, arguing against current restrictions that limit higher density near stations like McKernan-Belgravia. This approach is crucial to maintain Edmonton's housing affordability and make up for housing shortages projected by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation across Canada, Dawang wrote.
- The Alberta teachers' strike has entered its 12th school day, bringing the focus to the Alberta legislature in Edmonton. Premier Danielle Smith's government is delivering its throne speech on Oct. 23, and plans to introduce legislation next week to order teachers back to work, which Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said his caucus will vigorously oppose. In a statement, the Alberta Teachers' Association said back-to-work legislation "will not bring an end to the deteriorating conditions" that caused the strike and that it remains open to negotiations. The strike impacts approximately 51,000 teachers and 750,000 students across public, separate, and francophone schools.
- The Alberta government released a report on Oct. 22 that recommends increased pay for members of the Edmonton Police Commission and removing city councillors from the commission, citing "irresolvable challenges" and conflicts of interest. The report also suggests removing the 30% cap on the Edmonton Police Service operating budget, which is currently $560 million, and increasing transparency in how the police service spends public money.
- Edmonton's new Coronation velodrome will host its first national championships for junior and under-17 track cyclists from March 27 to 29, 2026, with the Alberta Velodrome Association organizing the event at the facility, which took 20 years to plan and three years of active construction. The $153-million Coronation Park Sports and Recreation Centre is expected to fully open in January 2026 and also includes a running track, fitness centre, and bouldering wall.
- The Edmonton Police Service confirmed on Oct. 22 that 83-year-old Ruth Clarke, who disappeared from her west Edmonton home on Nov. 1, 1990, was a homicide victim and released new details about the 35-year-old cold case. Detectives now believe Clarke's remains were hidden in a hand-dug well in a rural area less than an hour north of St. Albert and appealed to the public for assistance, particularly landowners familiar with abandoned wells in that area.
Headlines: Oct. 23, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim