- A home under construction at 7139 Saskatchewan Drive in south Edmonton burned down on Nov. 2, marking the sixth infill construction fire in the city in recent weeks, with four cases ruled arson. Edmonton Fire and Rescue Services responded before midnight to the fully engulfed home. The blaze follows infill fires in the Belgravia and Glenora neighbourhoods. Contractors expressed concern, with some planning to hire security for properties.
- Edmonton city council voted unanimously to create more daytime shelter spaces on Nov. 3, allocating $1 million from an existing city fund. Mayor Andrew Knack, in his first motion, aimed to improve public safety by providing alternatives for homeless Edmontonians currently using public spaces like libraries and parks. Knack hopes for additional provincial funding, despite the provincial Ministry of Social Services asserting that daytime spaces are the city's sole responsibility.
- Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack appeared on Global News to discuss orientation for the new city council. "There's a lot to absorb, there's a lot to learn," he said, noting that while many councillors are returning, there are four new members. He said his focus for the first meeting will be setting the tone for the next four years and discussing what each councillor heard from voters during their campaigns.
- The Edmonton Valley Zoo has bid farewell to its Grevy's zebras after housing the endangered species for decades. The male zebras, Cody and Tufani, departed Nov. 2 for other accredited Canadian facilities, with the females set to leave this week. The move, described by animal care staff as "bittersweet," comes as the zoo prepares for a new construction project. The zoo has cared for zebras since the 1970s, and says details about upcoming exhibit changes will be announced later. Fewer than 2,500 Grevy's zebras remain in the wild.
- In his latest article, Postmedia columnist Keith Gerein writes that Edmonton's new city council under Mayor Andrew Knack began its term in a spirit of harmony, but that such unity won't, and shouldn't, last. Gerein argues that disagreement is both inevitable and necessary for good governance, especially with major tests ahead like a possible strike, homelessness policy, and budget debates. Gerein also points to the city's failed electric bus program as a lesson against rushing into unproven technology.
- In an opinion piece for Postmedia, Daniel Witte, chair of Edmonton Transit Riders, writes that while Whyte Avenue is lively and vibrant, its car-centric design makes it dangerous for pedestrians. He argues the city should expand pedestrian spaces and create dedicated lanes for transit and emergency vehicles. Witte says these changes, already envisioned in city plans, would make Edmonton's busiest street safer and more welcoming.
- A 31-year-old man in a wheelchair and another pedestrian were struck by a red SUV in a hit-and-run collision on Oct. 25 at 123 Street NW and 127 Avenue NW in Edmonton. The man in the wheelchair sustained non-life-threatening injuries and required medical treatment. Police say the driver of the SUV briefly stopped before fleeing east on 127 Avenue. The Edmonton Police Service is seeking witnesses, dashcam footage, or CCTV from businesses in the area.
- Premier Danielle Smith announced that Alberta will form a class size and complexity task force to address issues raised by the Alberta Teachers' Association during contract negotiations with the province. In June, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides created an "aggression and complexity in schools action team," which will finalize its report in November. The new task force will follow, he said. Meanwhile, the province will resume annual public reporting of class sizes and composition, collecting data from school boards by Nov. 24 for public release in January. The data will guide additional funding for new teacher and education assistant hires in schools.
- Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced new legislation proposing to mandate math and reading assessments for students in kindergarten to Grade 3. The bill would make these screenings a legal requirement for school boards and independent early childhood services operators. The province allocated $11 million in Budget 2025 to support these assessments, which are not graded tests.
Headlines: Nov. 4, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim