- Five years after Edmonton made parking optional for infill developments, some developers report difficulty renting units without parking, causing some banks to tighten financing for such projects, especially if they are not near public transit, Postmedia reported. While some residents express anger over large infills affecting existing homes, Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson said it empowers Edmontonians to choose parking based on their needs, citing examples like an Inglewood duplex where car ownership varies.
- Edmonton city council is considering reintroducing physical parking kiosks during its 2026 budget talks, just months after removing the last units and switching to mobile-only payments via the HotSpot app. The previous move aimed to save taxpayer money, but bringing back kiosks could cost approximately $2.8 million for fewer machines. Edmontonians have mixed opinions, with some preferring the app's convenience, while others, including seniors and those with accessibility issues, find physical kiosks easier. Mayor Andrew Knack acknowledged concerns and suggested app improvements, such as banking unused parking time.
- Edmonton Transit Service will discontinue accepting paper tickets in 2026. The change marks a full transition to the Arc for transit fare payment in Edmonton.
- Edmonton's Food Bank and its volunteers are preparing for a busy holiday season due to increasing demand for food hampers. Tamisan Benz Knight of the food bank said that an average of 43,000 people request hampers monthly. The organization emphasized the need for donations of food, funds, or volunteer time to help meet its goals of 300,000 kilograms of food and $4.5 million.
- The new Alberta Police Review Commission launched on Dec. 1, aiming to enhance transparency and speed up police complaint investigations across the province. The province said the commission will absorb the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team and replace municipal police professional standards branches. It will oversee the entire police complaint and investigation process, along with disciplinary hearings for municipal and First Nations police services. Interim CEO Michael Ewenson said the commission will provide liaisons to inform families about case statuses.
- Elections Alberta verified nearly 405,000 signatures for the "Alberta Forever Canada" petition, exceeding the 294,000 threshold. Former deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk launched the initiative to affirm Alberta's place in Confederation and counter separatist movements, such as the Alberta Prosperity Project. The petition asks if Alberta should remain within Canada, setting the stage for a government committee to decide if the issue will be addressed by MLAs or put to a provincewide referendum.
- The Edmonton Elks signed defensive lineman Noah Taylor to a contract extension after a strong 2025 season. Taylor played all 18 games and matched the team lead with four sacks, adding 26 defensive tackles. The Maryland native joined Edmonton as a free agent in mid-2024 and has since become a key part of the pass rush.
Headlines: Dec. 2, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim