The Latest
Here's the latest from Taproot Edmonton.
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
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
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

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Business Roundup: August 08, 2025
With news from Complete Solutions Consulting International Inc., Enbridge, samdesk, ELITE Program, Avison Young, Westrich Pacific, Zylotex, and more.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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