- The City of Edmonton fielded more than 30,000 calls for snow removal to its 311 service between Dec. 1 last year and Jan. 21, a significant increase from the 11,314 calls received between Dec. 1, 2024, and Jan. 21, 2025. Mayor Andrew Knack noted continued frustration over unbladed neighbourhoods and large windrows. Val Dacyk, snow and ice control program supervisor for the City, said 94% of residential roads were cleared and that parking ban compliance improved despite some unsafe driver behaviour. Knack said he wants to review the program for the next budget cycle, considering full snow removal and simultaneous main and residential snow clearing.
- The Central McDougall Community League paid for a school-zone windrow to be plowed with the last of its ice rink budget, citing safety concerns. The league said the snow in front of the school was making pick-up and drop-off hazardous. "Parents, teachers and the principal were at wit's end," said Michael Brown with the community league. Brown said Edmonton Public Schools was also contacted about the safety concerns but he said the division didn't have the equipment necessary to deal with it.
- The City of Edmonton is set to deactivate its extreme weather response on Jan. 26 at noon, as temperatures are expected to improve. While the extreme weather shuttle service will end, winter shelter shuttles, including a 24/7 Hope Mission shuttle on the west route, will continue operating until March 31. Public city facilities and libraries also remain open during regular hours for respite.
- Wiikwemkoong First Nation, located on Manitoulin Island, acquired Edmonton's Connect Centre in the ICE District for $65 million, announcing plans to add 35 residential storeys to the existing two-storey commercial building. Chief Tim Ominika said the investment aims for financial self-sustainability for the community, funding health care, transportation, and housing. The building was developed by Katz Group Real Estate and ONE Properties.
- Edmonton-based companies FireSafe AI, Wyvern, and AIRMarket are partnering to enhance wildfire detection and prevention for the 2026 season. FireSafe AI integrates data from mobile towers, municipal infrastructure, and Wyvern's hyperspectral satellite imagery to provide wildfire intelligence and risk analysis. AIRMarket adds real-time drone surveillance for verification and situational awareness. This collaboration aims to offer a comprehensive management system, currently running a pilot program with Sturgeon County to reduce losses and improve response times.
- Edmontonians can attend free open houses at City of Edmonton community recreation centres throughout 2026, offering families opportunities to explore facilities, try activities, participate in giveaways, and learn about programs without a membership.
- Edmonton's Complete Streets standards are meant to advance Vision Zero and safer mobility, but critics say they allow unsafe designs to meet minimum requirements, according to an Edmonton Bike Coalition Substack post. The rules permit weak infrastructure, rely on flexible language, and treat very different street contexts as the same, enabling safety to be traded away. That approach lets the city claim compliance even when projects undermine accessibility and increase conflict. The problem is systemic, prioritizing legal defensibility over harm prevention. The post urges council to rewrite the standards so they deliver real safety rather than normalize preventable harm.
- Rosalind Smith, the first Black woman to serve as an Edmonton public school principal, died on Jan. 6. Appointed principal in 1996 after 18 years as a teacher, Smith was remembered by Alberta's education community as a "true pioneer" and "extraordinary advocate." Her career focused on equity and diversity, later training district staff and principals. Edmonton Public Schools board Chair Saadiq Sumar and Superintendent Ron Thompson praised her for breaking systemic barriers, saying she "opened doors for educators to follow."
- The Edmonton Police Service renewed an outdoor tradition on Jan. 24, hosting the annual McCauley Cup at the McCauley Rink. The event brings police officers and inner-city youth together for a hockey game. Supported by the Oilers Entertainment Group, the Edmonton Police Foundation, and McCauley Community League, the game is intended to build meaningful relationships between police officers and youth in the community.
Headlines: Jan. 26, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim