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Headlines: Aug. 26, 2026

· The Pulse
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  • In a public hearing on Aug. 25, Coun. Michael Janz wondered aloud whether Edmonton should cease approving new social services until other municipalities in the region start "pulling their weight." He cited a March 2026 memo that indicated there are zero emergency shelter beds open permanently to the general public in the municipalities surrounding Edmonton. Spruce Grove has 30 emergency shelter beds that are only open during extreme cold weather, and there are no other such beds in 12 municipalities around the city. Morinville and Strathcona County each have 35 beds for people fleeing domestic violence, while St. Albert has two day spaces for people experiencing homelessness. "It just feels like Edmonton is being used as the blood bag for the rest of our region and the rest of our province," Janz said before voting on a rezoning application to allow the Hope Mission to turn its support facility in the Girard industrial area into a year-round emergency shelter. Council approved the rezoning.
  • Edmonton's infrastructure committee will consider a recommendation to proceed with 13 planned active transportation routes and remove 14 others from the city's $100-million active transportation network expansion. Administration proposes prioritizing routes that do not remove vehicle lanes or parking, citing rising complaints and possible provincial changes to the Traffic Safety Act. Coun. Ashley Salvador plans to propose continuing the expansion as approved.
  • The federal government announced a $51.2-million low-interest loan for the Gilbertson Block, a 199-unit rental building in Mill Woods with many units planned as affordable housing. Rohit Group is building the six-storey project with Covenant Health as part of the larger Covenant Wellness Community, with completion expected in late 2027.
  • The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating a fatal shooting involving two Edmonton Police Service officers in west Edmonton. Officers shot a 57-year-old man after he advanced toward them with scissors while they responded to a weapons complaint at a hotel near Stony Plain Road and 178th Street.
  • The Edmonton Pride Festival said a bomb threat prompted more visible police security at its Aug. 22 parade, though police deemed the threat not credible and organizers said it did not increase the number of officers deployed. Executive director Trevor Watson apologized to those who felt unwelcome amid criticism of the police presence and said organizers will hold mediation with affected communities this fall.
  • Edmonton Expo organizers said limited non-stop service between Edmonton and Los Angeles contributed to four of 30 scheduled celebrities cancelling ahead of the Sept. 18 to 20 event. In a statement, the Edmonton International Airport said there are six direct flights to Los Angeles, and it "remains focused on strengthening Edmonton's connections to Los Angeles and other key markets."
  • Emissions Reduction Alberta will invest $15.7 million in five Edmonton-based projects. The funding will support Azolla Hydrogen's hydrogen-refuelling system, Mangrove Lithium's low-carbon concrete material, Quantiam Technologies's low-emissions methanol technology, VulcanX Energy Corp.'s low-emission hydrogen-production technology, and Zylotex's cellulose materials made from agricultural residues.
  • Recovery Alberta had informed staff it would permanently close the voluntary addiction treatment program at the 62-bed Henwood Treatment Centre, sources told the Investigative Journalism Foundation. The facility, the largest provincially run voluntary addiction treatment centre in the Edmonton region, closed in June after flooding and had almost 600 people on its waiting list when it stopped accepting applications. The province said the facility is closed "for the foreseeable future" while it assesses the damage.
  • Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney said Canada should keep oil and gas exports as potential leverage in the U.S. tariff dispute. "They should be mindful that if they really want to escalate, it will not end well for the American economy two months before mid-term elections," Kenney said, though he conceded that cutting off exports is not feasible.