- Residential road clearing is 75% complete, the City of Edmonton said in a release, with the Phase 2 parking ban expected to end by Jan. 23 at 7pm. Crews are also addressing priorities like windrow pickup, spot sanding on Priority 1-3 roads, alley clearing, and school zones, the City said. Enhanced enforcement for the 24/7 parking ban is underway, and residents must move vehicles to avoid tickets.
- Edmonton city council voted on Jan. 20 to keep the fine for disobeying parking bans at $250, rejecting a proposal to lower it to $150. The decision comes as only 10% of Edmontonians complied with the residential parking ban, causing significant snow clearing delays across the city. With only five dedicated bylaw officers and insufficient budget for towing, councillors hope the higher fine revenue can scale up enforcement. Since Jan. 12, 1,100 tickets have been issued.
- Data shows Edmonton emergency crews responded to 1,064 slip and fall events in December 2025, the highest monthly figure in two years. This surge followed a month with freezing rain and record snowfalls, with icy conditions continuing into January. Edmonton resident Kathleen Joy broke her ankle on Jan. 18, after slipping on an icy 169 Street in west Edmonton, blaming the city's road conditions. The City of Edmonton encourages reporting dangerous conditions to 311 and allows residents to file injury claims if they suspect negligence, but residents are calling for improved snow and ice removal.
- Edmonton's new river valley strategy went into effect on Jan. 20, after city council's urban planning committee voted 5-0 to replace the 1992 Ribbon of Green Master Plan. This updated strategy for the North Saskatchewan River valley balances natural preservation with public use and recreation, aligning with climate resilience. It includes provisions for greater Indigenous oversight, multi-use trails, improved accessibility, and active ecological monitoring. Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz highlighted its balance of conservation, recreation, and amenities, while Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance president Joe Yurkovich welcomed increased cycling access.
- The Edmonton Police Service historical crimes unit released an age-progression composite sketch for Tania Murrell, who was abducted from west Edmonton's Grovenor School on Jan. 20, 1983, when she was six years old. The 43-year-old cold case remains unsolved. Detectives, in consultation with Tania's family, created the sketch showing what she might look like today at age 49, hoping to generate new tips. Anyone with information should contact EPS at 780-423-4567.
- MovieMaker Magazine has named Edmonton one of the best big cities to live and work in as a moviemaker in 2026, pointing to the city's growing film industry. The ranking highlights the success of Edmonton filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball and his breakout horror film Skinamarink. It also cites recent local productions such as Smudge the Blades and The Great Ones, alongside crew work on HBO's The Last of Us. Alberta's film incentives, including a 22% base tax credit and targeted grants for local projects, support that growth.
- The Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission heard public feedback regarding its interim report proposing 21 Edmonton ridings, up from 20. Residents argued Edmonton's rapid growth warrants more ridings, noting three proposed Edmonton constituencies would exceed the provincial average population by more than 12%. Beaumont Mayor Lisa Vanderkwaak voiced opposition to splitting Beaumont between Leduc-Beaumont and Strathcona-Sherwood Park ridings. The commission, restricted to adding only two new provincial ridings, will issue final recommendations in March 2026.
- The citizen recall petition against Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides failed to gather enough signatures by its Jan. 20 deadline. Submitted to Elections Alberta, the campaign collected approximately 6,500 signatures, falling short of the required 16,000. Launched in October 2025, the petition aimed to force a constituency-wide vote on Nicolaides's seat. This was the first of 26 recall petitions initiated against Alberta legislature members.
Headlines: Jan. 21, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim