Karen Unland

Karen Unland

Editor-in-Chief

She/Her

Karen is the co-founder of Taproot Publishing Inc. and the Alberta Podcast Network. She previously worked as a reporter and editor for 14 years at the Edmonton Journal before leaving the newsroom in 2011 to start a consulting business and teach journalism.

Karen has a Masters in Journalism from Carleton University and attended the beat business training program at CUNY's Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism in the summer of 2015.


Recent work by Karen

regional city council

'Edge cities' should maintain unique identity, says urban scholar

While much effort has been put into creating a cohesive identity for the Edmonton metropolitan region, something important will be lost if the municipalities around the big city lose themselves, says Murtaza Haider, executive director of the Cities Institute at the University of Alberta.

Read the story
technology business

Edmonton50 list recognizes region's most scalable startups

Ultracoustics Technologies, a University of Alberta-born company that has developed an "optical microphone" that uses light to detect sounds, ranked first on Scale Up Canada's Edmonton50 list of the region's most scalable companies.

Read the story
A pigeon on top of a glass roof with blue sky in the background
events

Happenings: May 11, 2026

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

Read the story
Elsa Robinson's The Garden, with a tree as its centrepiece
arts awards

Arts awards celebrate Edmonton's creative best

An artist who created a monumental garden rooted in memories; a filmmaker who told the story of a barrier-breaking hockey player; a writer who took a playful look at stock photography; and a musician whose record explores ambition, love, nostalgia, and growth — those are the winners of this year's Edmonton Arts Prizes.

Read the story
A statue of the Virgin Mary capped with snow
events

Happenings: April 27, 2026

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

Read the story
regional

Nearly $254M in municipal tax arrears tied to Alberta oil and gas companies

Several oil and gas companies were in arrears on property taxes owed to counties in the Edmonton region. Reporting suggests nearly 600 Alberta companies owed almost $254 million in municipal property taxes by the end of 2024.

Read the story
Fireworks over Churchill Square
events arts

What to do and where to spend this holiday season

The Taproot team is taking a break from daily publishing starting on Dec. 22. But before we go, we want to leave you with a list of fun things to do over the holidays and some words on the value of shopping local.

Read the story
Amarjeet Sohi sits behind a microphone in his office.
city council politics

Sohi to run for federal Liberals, says Canada needs 'serious' leadership to face Trump

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has confirmed he will run for the Liberal Party of Canada in Edmonton Southeast in the upcoming federal election.

Read the story
A title card that reads Taproot Edmonton Calendar: edmonton.taproot.events
events

Happenings: Oct. 29, 2024

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

Read the story