- Alberta students staged walkouts on Oct. 30 to protest the provincial government's decision to force teachers back to work. The students held rallies at the Alberta legislature and the Alberta Teachers' Association building to support teachers. The protests followed the Alberta government's passage of Bill 2, the "Back to School Act," which invoked the notwithstanding clause. The bill ended a provincewide teachers' strike, which began Oct. 6, by forcing 51,000 teachers back to work and imposing a deal 90% had rejected. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides acknowledged students' right to protest but urged them to remain in class.
- Thousands of Alberta parents with children aged 12 and under are receiving provincial payments totalling $480 per child. These payments, $30 per day for 16 days, compensate for children being out of school during the recent teachers' strike. Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said that payments began Oct. 31 for those who applied by Oct. 27. The application portal remains open until Nov. 14.
- Edmonton Waste Services is set to transition to its winter collection schedule starting Nov. 4. Curbside collection will feature bi-weekly garbage and food scraps (alternating weeks), while recycling remains weekly. Edmonton's four Eco Stations (Ambleside, Coronation, Kennedale, and Strathcona) will also adopt winter hours, operating Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm, effective Nov. 4, after being closed on Nov. 2 and 3. Residents should clear snow from carts and bag food scraps.
- A second home under construction in south Edmonton's Belgravia neighbourhood caught fire on Oct. 29, just three days after a previous blaze destroyed another multiplex in the same area on Oct. 26. Edmonton Fire and Rescue Services responded to the mid-block six-plex fire near 74 Avenue and 118A Street, extinguishing it by 4:45am with no injuries. Spire Developments built the multiplex. Both EFRS and Edmonton police are investigating. Police said it is too early to link the incidents. This marks the third construction home fire in Belgravia within the past year.
- Edmonton resident Eric Abrahamson received a Glenrose Courage Award for his remarkable determination to regain the ability to walk. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery and resilience in their health and rehabilitation journeys, specifically highlighting Abrahamson's efforts in his recovery.
- The UCP government has reinstated public reporting of Alberta class sizes, six years after eliminating the practice. The change comes after legislation forcing striking teachers to return to classrooms. Class size and complexity were key bargaining issues for the Alberta Teachers' Association. An annual census will collect detailed data on student numbers, teacher ratios, and student demographics, including those with disabilities, gifted students, and English as a Second Language learners. School boards must submit data by Nov. 24, to be publicly released annually by January.
- The Alberta government introduced Bill 4 on Oct. 30, moving forward with plans for an Alberta Provincial Police Service. The legislation would allow permanent residents to become provincial police service officers and modify their inclusion in various acts. It also proposes amendments to the Disclosure to Protect Against Domestic Violence (Clare's Law) Act, giving the Integrated Threat and Risk Assessment Centre legal authority to access police databases for threat assessments.
- NDP MLA Kathleen Ganley tabled a bill on Oct. 30 proposing to increase Alberta's minimum wage by one dollar annually for three years, starting December 2025, to reach $18 per hour by October 2027. Bill 201 also calls for indexing the minimum wage to the consumer price index and eliminating the youth minimum wage differential. Alberta's $15 per hour minimum wage is currently the lowest in Canada, with no increase since 2018.
Headlines: Oct. 31, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim