- Eight suspicious infill fires across Edmonton between Sept. 15 and Nov. 2 have caused an estimated $8 million in damages, according to Edmonton Fire Rescue Services Chief David Lazenby. Mayor Andrew Knack, Lazenby, and Deputy Chief Nicole Chapdelaine of the Edmonton Police Service addressed the "unconscionable violence" at a news conference on Nov. 4, urging residents to report suspicious activities and check surveillance footage from 10pm to 1am on Sept. 15 and 23; Oct. 18, 21, 26, and 29; and Nov. 2. Police and fire investigators are collaborating closely, and officials will meet with developers to enhance construction site protection.
- The City of Edmonton is seeking public feedback on the condition of a vacant downtown lot at the former Bank of Montreal site at 101 Street and 101 Avenue NW. Residents, workers and visitors are invited to share their experiences through an online survey open until Nov. 11. The responses will help the City understand the property's impact on the community and guide future action.
- A Salvation Army report on poverty in Canada released Nov. 4 indicates 73% of Albertans struggle to buy necessities like food and clothing, a 4% increase from September 2024. This figure is higher than the national average of 64%. The report also found 86% of Albertans are most concerned about the cost of living and inflation. In Edmonton, the Castledowns Salvation Army, one of the city's busiest food pantries, reports serving 4,000 people monthly, a demand that has doubled in the past year, while simultaneously facing reduced supply.
- A five-year-old boy died Nov. 3 after a woman driving a Jeep struck him in a residential parking lot in Edmonton's McConachie neighbourhood. Police said the boy, Ali Sayed, was running on a sidewalk, when he tripped and fell into the path of the 25-year-old woman's vehicle as she pulled out of the parking lot. The Edmonton Police Service major collisions section is investigating. Speed and alcohol are not considered factors. The community has set up a memorial for the child.
- Gurkaran Singh, 20, received a seven-year prison sentence for his role in "Project Gaslight," an extortion scheme targeting South Asian homebuilders in the Edmonton area. Singh pleaded guilty on Nov. 1 to extortion, counselling arson, and money laundering for a criminal organization. As a "middle manager," he directed an "arson team" that burned homes of four Edmonton-area development companies, causing approximately $10 million in damage.
- In a column for Alberta Views magazine, Sen. Paula Simons argues Canada needs its own "Trusted Traveller" program, as the current "Verified Travellers" system relies on the problematic NEXUS program. Canadians face long waits for NEXUS cards, which involve security vetting, biometric data collection, and gender identity barriers. Applicants must also travel to a U.S. land border or fly to the U.S. for interviews. Fewer Verified Travellers means longer security lines at Canadian airports, even for those flying domestically, according to Simons. "The only way for Canadian frequent fliers to travel conveniently within their own borders is with Donald Trump's blessing!? It's bonkers," she wrote.
Headlines: Nov. 5, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim