The Latest

Here's the latest from Taproot Edmonton.


The Pulse

Wednesday, Aug. 13

In this edition: Rapid Fire uses AI for Fringe show but also warns audience about bots taking jobs; changes proposed for Edmonton's snow removal policy; and more headlines and happenings

The Pulse

Tuesday, Aug. 12

In this edition: AMTA wants to add pressure to Alberta's push to use hydrogen to decarbonize trucking; Noted: Parking, no mayoral frontrunner, mowing maps; and more headlines and happenings

The Pulse

Monday, Aug. 11

In this edition: Report shows community league facilities need $30M by 2028 and $100M by 2035; on the agenda: Snow removal, animal control, community league infrastructure; and more headlines and happenings


Three improvisers in costumes on a stage.
arts technology

Rapid Fire uses AI for Fringe show but also warns audience about bots taking jobs

Rapid Fire Theatre is using artificial intelligence for comedic effect in a show called Plays by Bots, which runs from Aug. 16 to 24 as part of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival.

Read the story
The exterior of a municipal polling station.
yegvote city council

Explainer: The role of parties and slates in the 2025 election

As part of Taproot's ongoing election analysis and coverage, today we examine parties and slates in the coming election and what that might mean for voters.

Read the story
A group of people gathered on a step-and-repeat, with two people in the centre holding up an awards plaque that says Fantasia.
arts film

How an Edmonton comedian took his film to a global stage and screens

Simon Glassman spoke to Taproot about his horror-comedy film, which recently screened at the prestigious Fantasia International Film Festival.

Read the story

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi speaks at a podium beside a slide that reads "Mayoral Keynote Address: Balancing Inclusivity and Social Cohesion in an Era of Rising Polarization: Mayoral Leadership in Building Resilient Cities in the Face of Migration Challenges"
city council racism

Mayor lauds anti-racism efforts amid acrimony

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has been highlighting the city's anti-racism efforts, even travelling to Berlin to speak about it. But the committee charged with shaping that work has been paused, raising concerns about a lack of community involvement and delays in implementing the city's anti-racism strategy.

Read the story
A canopy of green leaves as seen from beneath a tree
trees climate change

For Edmonton, a sustainable future depends on trees

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.

Read the story
Heather Ratsoy speaks at a news conference
business city council

Downtown daycares in danger of succumbing to pandemic

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.

Read the story

Grassy medians, trees, and street signs on a multi-lane street.
podcast yegvote

Noted: Parking, no mayoral frontrunner, mowing maps

The co-hosts of Episode 318 of Speaking Municipally explored how the city has intentionally reduced the residential parking despite more infill coming to neighbourhoods, how the Edmonton mayoral race currently lacks a frontrunner, and the City of Edmonton's new lawn map. Here's a quick snapshot.

Read the story
Premier Danielle Smith stands in front of cars and trucks at a podium that reads "The 5000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge."
region hydrogen

AMTA wants to add pressure to Alberta's push to use hydrogen to decarbonize trucking

The Alberta Motor Transport Association is working to bring back a 700-bar hydrogen refuelling station to Alberta as part of its ongoing push to decarbonize the province's trucking industry, for which it serves as a member organization.

Read the story
A photo of a city sidewalk with snow cleared from most of it and a portion left unshovelled
city council housing

On the agenda: Snow removal, animal control, community league infrastructure

Councillors will return this week from their summer break to attend committee meetings, where they will discuss snow removal, animal control, and the state of infrastructure at community leagues.

Read the story

Roundup

Regional Roundup: August 13, 2025

With news from St. Albert, Strathcona County, Spruce Grove, Sturgeon County, Morinville, Stony Plain, Leduc, Great North Cookie Co., and more.

Read this edition
Roundup

Health Innovation Roundup: August 13, 2025

With news from DiveThru, Edmonton Regional Innovation Network, Life Sciences Week, Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation, Skills Society, NAIT, and more.

Read this edition
Roundup

Food Roundup: August 12, 2025

With news from Rita Trattoria, Tasty Bud Kitchen, Bernadette's, Sip Soda Co., Kommune Snack Bar, PlayWright, Little Brick, It's Sumo, and more

Read this edition
Roundup

Tech Roundup: August 12, 2025

With news from Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute, Standard Field Systems, Jobber, Alberta Games Series, Start Alberta, ELITE Program, and more.

Read this edition
Roundup

Business Roundup: August 08, 2025

With news from Complete Solutions Consulting International Inc., Enbridge, samdesk, ELITE Program, Avison Young, Westrich Pacific, Zylotex, and more.

Read this edition
Roundup

Arts Roundup: August 07, 2025

With news from Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Cariwest, Animethon 2025, Arts Habitat Edmonton, St. Albert Readers' Festival, Arts on the Ave, and more.

Read this edition
Roundup

Events Roundup: July 03, 2025

Featuring an event pick by Taproot reporter Stephanie Swensrude, and a listing of events to fill the start of summer.

Read this edition

Podcast

When did you last mow the lawn?

Edmonton is building fewer parking spaces than housing units, St. Albert is trying to grow its downtown population, Hawrelak Park could open by the end of the year, and we look at the City's new mowing map.

Listen to the episode
Podcast

How Taproot is approaching the election

Taproot co-founder Karen Unland returns to the show to talk about how we are approaching the 2025 municipal election and the impact we hope to have. We've also got clips from an interview with Coun. Michael Janz about infill.

Listen to the episode
Podcast

Can you get rid of the Rapidfire segment next?

We're back with a discussion about changes we are making for election season. Namely, Troy will take a hiatus from the show. We discuss why and what that means for the show going forward.

Listen to the episode

What we heard at our election listening sessions
Blog

What we heard at our election listening sessions

Throughout May and June, we hosted five listening sessions dubbed "What's on your mind, municipally speaking?" to hear from Edmontonians about the issues that matter most to them in the 2025 municipal election.

Read the post
Housing Complex a finalist for Collaboration of the Year
Blog

Housing Complex a finalist for Collaboration of the Year

Housing Complex — Taproot's series on what works, what doesn't, and what can be improved about Edmonton's housing system — has been named a finalist in the Collaboration of the Year category at the 2025 LION Publishers Sustainability Awards.

Read the post
A progress report on Taproot’s election project
Blog

A progress report on Taproot’s election project

Much has happened since last we spoke about our election plan, so here's an update on what we've done so far and what's to come.

Read the post