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Headlines: Aug. 31, 2026

· The Pulse
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  • As campaigning intensified ahead of Alberta's Oct. 19 referendum, hundreds gathered at the legislature grounds for a pro-separation rally, while more than 100 people attended a pro-Canada event in Calgary. The referendum ballot will include a question on whether Alberta should begin the process for a binding separation vote.
  • Former Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi is now lobbying the federal government on behalf of the Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) for funding for the proposed Village at Ice District, after promoting the project while in office, according to an Investigative Journalism Foundation report. The City of Edmonton and Alberta government have committed $138 million and $183 million, respectively, toward a $400-million deal with OEG to expand the downtown arena district, including a housing component. Federal records show Sohi, now a senior adviser with New West Public Affairs and a consultant to an OEG affiliate, has met with at least 18 government officials this year for registered lobbying communications to discuss housing, including potential funding for the Village.
  • A survey of nearly 12,000 Edmontonians found deep divisions over spending priorities for the City's 2027-30 budget, particularly on policing, transit, bike lanes and housing. Residents broadly prioritized fiscal responsibility, road maintenance and existing services, with winter roads and pathways ranking highest. Many favoured user fees for some services, while others accepted modest tax increases over significant service cuts. City council will review the findings Sept. 8, with the budget expected to be finalized in December.
  • Recovery Alberta says Edmonton's Henwood Treatment Centre will reopen after repairs to flood damage are completed, CBC News reported. The centre has been closed since flooding in June forced it to suspend services. Recovery Alberta estimates remediation, renovations and improvements will take one to two years and cost about $6 million. The agency said it contacted 104 patients awaiting admission to arrange alternative treatment, while some Henwood staff received layoff notices following the closure.
  • The Edmonton Bike Park has pushed its official grand opening to spring 2027 after more than seven weeks of weather-related delays. The Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance said that completed sections will open as they are ready, and some riding may be possible this fall.
  • Edmonton city council is set to revisit an LRT fare-gate pilot project after a motion from Coun. Jon Morgan narrowly passed, even though the previous council shelved the idea over cost. "What I intend to do is look at fare evasion and operational efficiencies around fare collection," Morgan told Global News.
  • A new Edmonton Islamic Academy elementary campus opened in Edmonton, expanding a school that began in the 1980s in the basement of Al-Rashid Mosque. "It's brand new, very shiny, but I think what matters more is that it's a safe space for our students to learn," Grade 3 teacher Benjamin Gee told CTV News during the school's grand opening.
  • Edmonton-born Curtis Wright, 40, has returned to Canada after losing his legal battle to remain in the U.S. with his two young sons. Wright, a longtime U.S. resident, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about 10 months ago after an old drug conviction resurfaced. He described harsh conditions in Texas detention facilities, including freezing cells, poor food and dirty showers. Wright was deported to Canada more than two weeks ago, while his sons, aged eight and 11, remain in Texas.