The Pulse: June 9, 2025

This week, city council will discuss a shortfall in the city’s maintenance and renewal budget, increasing the capital budget, and several rezoning applications in the Belgravia neighbourhood.

There is a public hearing scheduled for June 9 and a city council meeting scheduled for June 10 and 11.

Here are key items on this week’s agenda:

• The city faces a $1.5-billion shortfall in its 2023-2026 capital budget for infrastructure maintenance and renewal, according to an administration report that council will review on June 10. Administration estimated that the ideal renewal portion in the 2027-2030 capital budget will be $4.5 billion. The report said staff will introduce a dedicated tax levy to fund renewal projects in the next capital budget and only include projects “mandated by legislation, required due to safety concerns, eligible for external funding, or show significant benefit to the overall prosperity of the city.”
• The capital budget should increase by a net of $75 million in the forthcoming spring supplemental adjustment, administration said in a report. Part of the increase that administration has suggested can be attributed to projects that have completed design and need budget for construction or projects that have seen their scope grow. The adjustment also proposes a $5-million increase to fund security upgrades at recreation centres, attractions, and major event sites. The upgrades include an Edmonton Police Service video surveillance initiative, enhanced lockers and change rooms, and a project to convert ladders to staircases in pools.
• Council will consider three applications to rezone properties in Belgravia at a public hearing on June 9. The properties are located at 11607 76 Avenue NW, 11618 76 Avenue NW, and 11603 75 Avenue NW. Two applications were submitted by BM Homes; the third was submitted by Kairmar Properties. Each of the applications proposes rezoning the property from the small scale residential zone, which allows a maximum of eight units in a building up to three storeys, to the small-medium scale transition residential zone, which allows buildings up to three or four storeys with no unit maximum. Public opposition to the two applications along 76 Avenue was particularly high, with roughly 90 people responding to each. Many opponents raised concerns about traffic congestion and parking, and said that the existing zone was sufficient to add density to the neighbourhood. Council is set to vote on each of these applications on June 9.

• Edmonton activated its extreme weather response due to high-risk air quality from wildfire smoke. The response began June 7 at 10am and is scheduled to end June 9 at 9am, but may be extended if conditions persist. City of Edmonton recreation centres, pools, and libraries are open for relief. Free N95 masks and bottled water are available at select city facilities. Residents are advised to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and check on vulnerable neighbours.
• The intersection of Stony Plain Road and 124th Street in Edmonton is set to reopen after being closed for six weeks to accelerate construction of the Valley Line West LRT. According to Marigold Infrastructure Partners, the LRT project is now about 40% complete and expected to open in 2028. Other intersections along the route remain under construction, and a partial closure at 142nd Street and Stony Plain Road will begin June 10 for nine weeks. Another unplanned closure will begin next week at 139th Street and Stony Plain Road for nine weeks.
• Edmonton’s Chinatown hosted its second annual block party on June 7 with activities including dragon dances. The event is among those supported by funding from Edmonton’s Chinatown Vibrancy Fund.
• United Sport and Cycle in Edmonton is working to keep up with demand for Edmonton Oilers merchandise as the team continues its playoff run. On Whyte Avenue, Yelo’d Ice Cream & Bake Shoppe is offering a limited-edition orange and blue ice cream flavour to celebrate the team.
• Premier Danielle Smith has invited Prime Minister Mark Carney to watch an Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup Final game, potentially Game 5, ahead of the G7 conference in Kananaskis. Carney, who grew up in Edmonton, previously skated with the Oilers in March. Smith defended her and her cabinet’s past attendance at playoff games after criticism last year over accepting free luxury box tickets.
• Lauren Kyle McDavid, wife of Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, opened Bar Trove, a small bites restaurant in downtown Edmonton. This weekend’s opening coincides with Oilers’ second straight Stanley Cup Final appearance. McDavid’s other ventures include Kyle and Co. (interior design), Sports Club Atelier (a fashion line), Trove Living (furniture showroom), and a cookbook arriving this fall.
• Parents praised Edmonton’s new Jim Jiwani Autism Academy as it celebrated its first school year in operation and the milestones their children have reached. Forty students from Kindergarten to Grade 2 were enrolled this year, and it will open to Grade 3 students next school year.
• Constable Daniel Woodall School commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Edmonton police officer’s death on June 6. A Grade 6 student, Maizie Stewart, received the inaugural Legacy Award for displaying values of courage, service, and compassion.
• After the Alberta government rescinded its March order to pause purchases of U.S. products in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods, Edmonton liquor stores like Keg n Cork Liquor Company and 121 Jasper Liquor have noted a shift in consumer preference towards Canadian options. According to AGLC’s announcement, the change will allow retailers to restock their U.S. products, which will still be subject to a 25% surtax upon importation.
• The Edmonton Elks unveiled new home and away jerseys at an event at Midway Music Hall on June 5. The redesign, which took 18 months, brings back gold numbers to the home jerseys, a feature absent since 2021, and prominently displays “EDMONTON” across the front of both jerseys. The sleeves feature a familiar pattern combining the Double E logo with striping reminiscent of the 1960s and the 2015 Grey Cup-winning team.
• Canadian universities are seeking new methods to evaluate students in response to concerns about AI being used for cheating. Karsten Mundel, who sits on the AI steering committee at the University of Alberta, noted an increase in handwritten exams and new approaches that incorporate AI and oral exams, but recognizes challenges for students who lack handwriting skills. Katie Tamsett of the U of A’s student union says AI is being used in the workforce, and wants to see it incorporated as a tool in university courses.
• Nearly half of the buildings in the northern Alberta community of Chipewyan Lake, about 450 kilometres north of Edmonton, have been destroyed by a wildfire. According to emergency management officials, the destroyed buildings included the Bigstone Health Centre, a local church, the community’s water treatment plant, homes, and sheds.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Reconciliation Practice starting at 8:30am at Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations
• Canadian Operational Research Society conference at Westin Edmonton (until June 11)
• Pride Flag Raising at Town Office starting at 4pm at Town of Stony Plain Youth Centre
• Queer Stories Film Festival: Close to You starting at 6:30pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Green Drinks June starting at 7pm at EPIC Market
• Audreys Classics Book Club starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 11: What’s on your mind, municipally speaking? online
• June 15: Kamishibai Storytelling with Master Storyteller Naomi Steinberg at Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• June 17: Dear Future YEG Presents: Youth Symposium at ArtsHub Ortona

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