Features

For Edmonton, a sustainable future depends on trees

Edmonton is counting on trees to help it lessen its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the effects of climate change

Even though a council committee has put off passing a bylaw to protect trees on private property, the Tomorrow Foundation for a Sustainable Future is encouraged to see progress on a file that is vital to the city's ability to lessen and mitigate the effects of climate change.

July 8, 2022
By Dustin Scott and Karen Unland

Downtown daycares in danger of succumbing to pandemic

Fewer families need the service now as they work from home, but child care may not be there when they return to the core post-COVID

As Edmontonians weather a fifth wave of the pandemic, the prolonged closure of many downtown offices has left daycares in the heart of the city struggling to stay open.

Jan. 14, 2022
By Emily Rendell-Watson

How public washrooms help make a city work well

As Edmonton's strategy slowly progresses, most candidates agree we need more places to go

Most candidates for mayor and city council agree that Edmonton needs more permanent public washrooms, a move that is vital for a city to work for everyone, says consultant Lezlie Lowe.

Oct. 6, 2021
By Emily Rendell-Watson

City aims for Edmontonians to 'live more locally' with 15-minute districts

The 15-minute city is an urban design strategy that the current city council adopted as part of the City Plan at the end of 2020. The next city council, and its successors, will make the decisions that either help bring this plan to life or leave it to languish. As the municipal election approaches, this is a good time to examine what this concept means for Edmonton.

Sept. 16, 2021
By Emily Rendell-Watson

Countdown to 2050: Explaining Edmonton's carbon budget

The city wants to be carbon neutral within 30 years. This is how it plans to do it.

The devastating effects of climate change have become more clear than ever over the past few years, urging Edmonton and other cities around the world to aggressively curb their carbon emissions. In April 2021, city council approved a plan with an ambitious idea — what if Edmonton budgeted for carbon emissions the same way it handles its money?

Aug. 23, 2021
By Scott Lilwall

This social-services experiment is working — could there be more?

The C5 North East Community Hub serves an area that needs it, but its future is not guaranteed, and its replicability is untested

The C5 North East Hub is unique in Edmonton, as a collaborative and comprehensive source of social services in an area that needs them. So far, it appears to be a success, but continued funding is not guaranteed, nor is it certain that there is an appetite for funding similar hubs elsewhere. That will be for future city councils to decide, which is a reason to take a closer look at the C5 experiment ahead of the municipal election on Oct. 18.

July 26, 2021
By Jackson Spring

Truth and reconciliation in Edmonton: Where we're at and what you can do

Implementation of the City of Edmonton's Indigenous Framework, which city council endorsed in February after extensive consultation with a panel of Indigenous leaders, is in its "embryonic stage." Edmontonians can help ensure the strategy doesn't just become lip service.

July 1, 2021
By Jackson Spring and Karen Unland

Growing self-sufficiency: New gardeners look for more support, increased food security

As people spend more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, an interest in gardening, and growing food in particular, has blossomed.

June 16, 2021
By Caroline Barlott

Public purchasing power leaves small businesses on the outside looking in

Governments laud social and sustainable procurement, but are they putting their money where their mouth is?

When COVID-19 arrived in North America and businesses everywhere braced for an unknown future, Claire Theaker-Brown’s thoughts turned to China and the relationships she had spent the last decade nurturing there.

May 3, 2021
By Ryan Stephens