The Pulse: April 14, 2025

Two companies from the region are already capitalizing on Transport Canada's planned November 2025 updates to its rules, which will allow drones to fly beyond the line of sight of their operators for the first time.

"There are more and more uses for drones, and they are becoming more and more mainstream," Mark Palka, the director for Project Safe Canada and manager for Papaschase Security Services, told Taproot about the new laws.

Palka is working on a new security project with Ermineskin Cree Nation in Central Alberta, based on upcoming changes to beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) permissions, to make security services safer for workers. It will be delivered by Project Safe Canada, and Papaschase Security Services will assist.

"Security guards don't have a lot of protection. They can't carry weapons, they can't carry any kind of protection," Palka said. "(The guards in Ermineskin are) going to be armed with drones, so they're going to be able to keep a safe distance. They're going to be able to communicate a potential problem, and the videos coming off of those drones will come to the command centre and will be disseminated to a responding police officer or firefighter, depending upon what the emergency may require."

Drones will be dispatched from a hangar atop a building in the community, Palka said.

As the new regulations enable new uses for drones, managing flights and airspace to avoid collisions becomes more important. That's where St. Albert's AIRmarket comes in. The company wants to be a private provider of air traffic control services for drone usage regulated by Transport Canada.

"There's appetite from Transport Canada to enable emergency services as the first users of (BVLOS drone flights) because it's in the interest of public good," Lindsay Mohr, AIRmarket's CEO and founder, told Taproot. "There's a bunch of services that we're going to put up in place and line up this airspace to allow emergency services organizations, starting with the Strathcona County, to fly in that airspace. We expect that to bleed into Edmonton emergency services."

AIRmarket is currently piloting a drone project with Strathcona County that sees drones fly ahead of first responders on emergency calls in an effort to increase the efficiency of deploying employees and vehicles.

• Edmonton Centre Conservative candidate Sayid Ahmed will not attend a candidates' forum on April 16 at the Matrix Hotel. Ahmed's campaign said he will be "knocking on doors every evening until election day." Liberal candidate Eleanor Olszewski and NDP candidate Trisha Estabrooks will be at the forum organized by the Wîhkwêntôwin Community League. Estabrooks criticized Ahmed for avoiding forums and media questions, while Olszewski expressed disappointment that Conservative candidates often don't attend debates.
• Postmedia published a look at YEGWAVE, a popular Edmonton-focused social media account with hundreds of thousands of followers that has faced both praise and criticism since its launch in 2020. The account, which posts videos of car crashes, crime scenes, and local happenings, was accused in late 2024 of being operated from Russia, a claim YEGWAVE denied, stating it is based in Edmonton and uses VPNs for privacy. Critics have also raised concerns about YEGWAVE's content, including its focus on immigrants and exploitation of vulnerable people, as well as its moderation policies.
• Pollsters suggest a few urban ridings in Alberta may be tight contests between the Conservatives and Liberals in the April 28 federal election. Political scientists believe four Calgary ridings and a few in Edmonton will be competitive. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is running for the Liberals in Edmonton Southeast, while lawyer Jagsharan Singh Mahal is the Conservative candidate. According to political scientist Lori Williams, Alberta has gone from a "flyover province" to a "stopover," due to the campaign focusing on affordability and the economy.
• The Indigenous Child Welfare Conference is set to take place at the Edmonton EXPO Centre from April 15 to 17. The conference will feature various speakers and guests, including a keynote speech from Cadmus Delorme, the former Chief of Cowessess First Nation. The conference will share information on Indigenous CFS Laws, Jordan's Principle, Coordination Agreements, and the Band Designate Role.
• According to data website Numbeo, the cost of living in Edmonton remains lower than in Calgary. A family of four in Edmonton has estimated monthly expenses of $5,237, which is $390 less than in Calgary, while a single person's monthly expenses are $100 less in Edmonton. University of Alberta professor Damian Collins said Edmonton's open housing policies and housing starts contribute to the rental supply and make it more affordable.
• Alberta Health Services issued a public warning on April 11, after detecting four new measles cases in central Alberta, bringing the total to 58 confirmed cases in the province. One case is linked to a person who was at Edmonton International Airport on April 2 between 7am and 11am before boarding Sunwing Flight 4387 to Cancun. Albertans are urged to get vaccinated, especially in communities with low immunization rates.
• In a first-person piece for The Globe and Mail, Beaumont writer Karli Drew, who has spinal muscular atrophy, describes how Alberta's self-managed care program fails to meet the daily needs of people with disabilities like her. Despite her eligibility and relentless self-advocacy, Drew receives just 8.25 hours of care per day, which leaves her unsupported for much of her life. "I say this with full confidence and no hyperbole: I won't survive without meaningful systemic and social change," she wrote. She calls for urgent reforms to ensure disabled Canadians can live safely and with dignity at home.
• The family of Shae-Lynn McAllister, who disappeared from Fairview on July 7, 2019, is hoping a new billboard campaign and a $10,000 reward will generate leads in the case. McAllister, a member of Horse Lake First Nation, was 20 years old when she went missing after finishing work at an A&W in Fairview, which is 550 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. Her children are being raised by their paternal grandparents. Advocates note that such billboards are relatively new in northern Alberta, and hope this case will lead to increased awareness for other missing persons.
• Despite clinching a playoff spot with a 4-2 win against the San Jose Sharks on April 11, the Edmonton Oilers suffered more injuries, with Mattias Ekholm re-injured and Zach Hyman leaving the game early. Connor McDavid recorded seven assists in two games after returning from injury, joining Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux as the only NHL players with seven 70-assist seasons. Veteran Corey Perry acknowledged the challenge of losing key players but expressed confidence in the team's depth.
• With several injuries affecting the roster, the Edmonton Oilers have recalled forward Derek Ryan and defenceman Cam Dineen from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors on an emergency basis ahead of the team's games against the Winnipeg Jets on April 13 and the Los Angeles Kings on April 14. The Oilers have also signed goaltender Samuel Jonsson to a three-year entry-level contract.
• Two provincially appointed board members of the Alberta Law Foundation have resigned in protest over proposed legislation that would give Justice Minister Mickey Amery final say on grants more than $250,000. Seun Ogunsola stated the bill would strip the foundation of its independence, and Dawn-Lyn Blake said the changes have stalled the creation of an Indigenous law institute at the University of Alberta. Since the bill was tabled one month ago, Amery has reportedly vetoed $10 million in grants.
• Alberta is looking to allow hydrogen blending into the province's natural gas distribution system for heating residential and commercial properties, with a proposed blend of 5% hydrogen. According to Alberta Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf, a pilot project in Fort Saskatchewan already supplies blended hydrogen to more than 2,000 homes. ATCO and Qualico are also studying a 100% pure hydrogen community in Strathcona County. Bill 52 also includes plans for a day-ahead market and a cost-causation model for transmission infrastructure, shifting costs from ratepayers.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Mental Health: Understanding Stress and High Blood Pressure starting at 5pm at Africa Centre
• nêhiyawêwin (Cree Language) Classes starting at 6pm at Edmonton Public Library (Highlands)
• Easter Macaron starting at 6pm at Duchess Atelier
• Writers Corner starting at 6:30pm at Devon Public Library
• Audreys Classics Book Club starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• April 25: Black Lives for Environmental and Climate Justice at University of Alberta (TELUS International Centre)
• April 26-27: Snow Goose Festival at Beaverhill Lake area
• April 28: Meeting of the Secret LongTree Society at Felice Cafe

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.