The Latest
Here's the latest from Taproot Edmonton.
Friday, Dec. 20
In this edition: Taproot's big numbers of 2024; a moment in history: Dec. 20, 1946; and more headlines and happenings
Thursday, Dec. 19
In this edition: Sohi reflects on housing emergency declaration, downtown investment; calls for public engagement: Recreation, under-served communities, cultural infrastructure; and more headlines and happenings
Wednesday, Dec. 18
In this edition: Edmonton's gaming industry struggles as investment shrinks and provincial support is MIA; Edmonton Police Commission chair resigns; and more headlines and happenings
Taproot's big numbers of 2024
Numbers give news context, heft, and depth — and 2024 had lots of them. As Taproot prepares for a holiday break, we're sharing which numbers might matter most in the years ahead.
Read the story
Sohi reflects on housing emergency declaration, downtown investment
In a year-end interview with Taproot, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said council's declaration of a housing and houselessness emergency in January led to real change, despite provincial criticism at the time that it was performative.
Read the story
Edmonton's gaming industry struggles as investment shrinks and provincial support is MIA
A gaming executive says the recent layoffs at Inflexion Games and the full closure of Humanoid Origin have been influenced by investment in gaming companies being scaled back and the ongoing absence of a tax credit program in Alberta.
Read the story
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
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
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
A moment in history: Dec. 20, 1946
On this day in 1946, a funeral was held in the Freemason Lodge downtown.
Read the story
Calls for public engagement: Recreation, under-served communities, cultural infrastructure
Here are opportunities to inform municipal decision-making about recreation, engaging communities, arts and heritage, and more. Please only answer surveys from the municipality where you live.
Read the story
Zero-based budgeting interesting but challenging, podcasters say
A motion that pushed for a rethink on how Edmonton's council can work on city spending using zero-based budgeting passed following its recent budget vote, and could offer both opportunities and challenges, Taproot's council watchers said on Episode 289 of Speaking Municipally.
Read the story
Business Roundup: December 20, 2024
With news from BILD Alberta, Stantec, Capital Power, Canadian Western Bank, Carbeeza, Plantae Technologies, Canadian Hydrogen Association, and more.
Read this edition
Events Roundup: December 19, 2024
Featuring our best wishes to you for the holidays and ways to fill the coming weeks with fun.
Read this edition
Arts Roundup: December 19, 2024
With news from EAC, Royalty Records, Art Gallery of St. Albert, Shadow Theatre, Thou Art Here, Girl Brain, Inflexion Games, and more.
Read this edition
Regional Roundup: December 18, 2024
With news from West Sturgeon Agricultural Society, St. Albert Public Library, Kinette Club of St. Albert, Leduc & District Food Bank, and more.
Read this edition
Health Innovation Roundup: December 18, 2024
With news from Black Youth for Social Innovation, GlycoNet, Future Fields, baüne, Glenrose Hospital Foundation, Social Impact Lab, and more.
Read this edition
Food Roundup: December 17, 2024
With news from Meuwly's, Jacek Chocolate, Sherbrooke Liquor, Overload Cheese, Overload Cheese, Lessig Ferments, Chicken House, Rosy Farms, and more.
Read this edition
Tech Roundup: December 17, 2024
With news from RUNWITHIT Synthetics, Nanoprecise, Baüne, Zero Point Cryogenics, Artificial.Agency, PulseMedica, TrustBIX, Startup TNT, Amii, and more.
Read this edition
Jeopardy 2024
This. Is. Speaking Municipally Jeopardy! Three branch managers from the City of Edmonton square off in our annual holiday trivia episode. Enjoy!
Listen to the episode
Eventually the bill comes due
In our penultimate episode of 2024, we recap the 2025 budget and discuss how the process might change in the future. Plus, we wrap up the Housing Complex project and look at what's next as we head into municipal election season.
Listen to the episode
We're pushing, but the tax increase just won't budge-it
After four days of debate, Edmonton city council approved adjustments to the 2025 budget, setting a 6.1% property tax increase for next year. In this episode, we dig into some of the key moments throughout the debate. We talk about photo radar, trees, and community sandboxes.
Listen to the episode
Taproot harvests curiosity about housing at well-attended event
Taproot brought its Housing Complex project to the public by hosting an event that was part panel discussion, part question-gathering, and part mind-mapping exercise. While we discussed our editorial series, we also turned the mic (or in this case, m...
Read the post
Taproot is now a Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization
Taproot Publishing Inc. has officially been designated as a Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization (QCJO), effective Feb. 7, 2024. This gives paying members access to the Digital News Subscription Tax Credit.
Read the post
Taproot joins Press Forward, a voice for indie media
Taproot Edmonton is now a proud member of Press Forward, an organization "dedicated to ensuring people in Canada have strong, independent and community-focused journalism."
Read the post