The Pulse: June 26, 2025

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Essentials

  • 23°C: A mix of sun and cloud with 30% chance of showers and risk of a thunderstorm. High 23. Humidex 25. UV index 7 or high. (forecast)
  • Grey/Blue: The High Level Bridge will be lit grey and blue for The Works Art and Design Festival. (details)

A rendering of a proposed development in Rossdale.

Flood won't be a problem for proposed Rossdale housing, architect says


By Stephanie Swensrude

Gene Dub said he believes his proposed housing development in Rossdale won't be at risk of flooding, even as updated forecasting models suggest two of the three buildings would be in water in the event of a hundred-year flood.

Dub, a local developer and architect who designed Edmonton City Hall and other notable buildings, has proposed to build three residential buildings with up to 490 rental units in Rossdale. Each building would use a sloping design to increase in height from one to 17 storeys.

The proposal incorporates the old Rossdale Brewery, designated as a municipal historic resource, into the larger development. Dub said he hopes future tenants of the brewery would include a bike shop, a restaurant or cafe, and a wellness studio. He added that the plan is to include about one underground parking stall per unit.

The property's current direct control zoning allows for five-storey buildings with a maximum of 263 units. City administration said it supports the rezoning application because it would result in more environmental mitigation measures and the buildings would be located further from the river than what is allowed in the current direct control zone. City council will debate the application at a public hearing on June 30.

Dub told Taproot the proposed development's location in Rossdale is unique along the North Saskatchewan River. "I think that this is one location, and perhaps the only or the best location, where you can get some density close to the river — where people can live close to the river and in an apartment," he said. "I don't think we want to do this throughout the river valley. This one location where the downtown meets the river is an appropriate location for this kind of density and this small village feel."

The location of the proposed development would also make it a "marquee building at the entrance to downtown," Dub said.

Being so close to the river creates risks, however. Rossdale is one of the few Edmonton neighbourhoods that's close to the water level, as most riverside communities are built at the top of the riverbank. Rossdale has flooded several times, including the catastrophic flood of 1915.

Dub's original design placed parts of the three buildings within what's called the floodway, which is where fast-moving water is anticipated in a flood event. After engagement sessions with residents, Dub altered the design, moving the buildings outside the floodway and almost entirely away from where water would be expected in a hundred-year flood — a flooding event that has 1% chance of happening in any given year.

However, through the rezoning process for this new design, Dub obtained a new flood assessment that factors in rising water levels thanks to climate change. That assessment factored in a 10% increase to water levels and found a potential increase in the extent of a hundred-year flood. The updated flood area completely covers one of the three buildings located closest to the river and mostly covers the second-closest building. "This is an indication that future flood impacts in this area could be noticeably more significant in the future due to climate change," the report said.

Dub said he doesn't think the floodway is a problem. "The North Saskatchewan River is fed by natural rainfall ... but it's also fed very much by the Columbia Icefield, and the Columbia Icefield is actually receding," Dub said. "I don't see this as being the river increasing in intensity. I don't see this as being a great problem in the future."

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Headlines: June 26, 2025


By Kevin Holowack

  • The City of Edmonton announced it will discontinue the use of mobile photo radar in playground zones starting July 1, citing the financial unsustainability of continuing to use photo radar in areas with low speeding rates. Before the province introduced restrictions on photo radar this year, enforcement in playground zones was subsidized by revenue from photo radar on other high-speed roads. The City said it is redirecting resources into other upgrades and traffic-calming measures.
  • Rahim Jaffer, a former Reform and Conservative MP for the riding of Edmonton Strathcona, announced he is entering Edmonton's mayoral race, telling the media he plans to base his campaign on taxes, public safety, and creating a better business climate. Other confirmed contenders for the position are Tim Cartmell, Andrew Knack, and Tony Caterina.
  • Edmontonians are seeing more skunks this time of year due to mating season. Unlike adult skunks, which are nocturnal, baby skunks will sometimes play outside during the day. WildNorth advises residents to be aware of skunk warning signs, keep dogs on leashes when not in off-leash areas, and avoid trapping and orphaning young animals. The organization has a helpline Edmontonians can call if they have concerns about injured or orphaned wild animals.
  • Craig Walbaum with the City of Edmonton's Integrated Infrastructure Services department appeared on CTV News to talk about downtown construction. Several projects are ongoing in the core of the city, including LRT work on 104 Avenue, revitalization of 107 Avenue, the Imagine Jasper Avenue project, and Warehouse Park construction.
  • Stantec was ranked #2 on the annual list of Canada's top 50 corporate citizens by Corporate Knights, which assesses businesses for social and environmental impact. Stantec generated 60% of its revenues from sustainable projects, Corporate Knights said.
  • Alberta Health Services reached a deal with Health Partners International of Canada, a Montreal-based charity, to send 1.4-million bottles of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to Ukraine. The children's pain medication was imported from Turkey in 2023 in a deal that became part of multiple investigations.
  • Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick. Defenceman Evan Bouchard will become a restricted free agent next week, and observers think he could receive an offer sheet from another team if the Oilers don't sign him fast.
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Ground-level view of a forest fire, filled with smoke, with a line of flames along the ground and climbing the trees

Calls for public engagement: Entertainment district, wildfire strategy, open spaces


By Kevin Holowack

Here are opportunities to inform decisions about entertainment districts, parks, urban wildfire planning, and more. Please only answer surveys from the municipality where you live.

  • Open Space Master Plan — Strathcona County is in the final phase of creating a new plan for open spaces. Residents can explore a story map and complete a survey until June 29.
  • Happy Beer Street Entertainment District — The City of Edmonton is considering a proposed entertainment district on 78 Avenue between 99 Street and 100 Street, which is known as Happy Beer Street. Residents can offer feedback through a survey until July 6.
  • Crystallina Nera East Park — The City of Edmonton created draft designs for a new community park in the Crystallina Nera East neighbourhood, where the province has announced a new K-9 Catholic school. Residents can view the designs and take a survey until July 8.
  • Wildland-Urban Interface Wildfire Risk Strategy — The City of Edmonton is creating a plan to manage wildfire risk in areas where urban development meets undeveloped vegetation areas. Public feedback will help develop the Wildland-Urban Interface Wildfire Risk Strategy, a long-term plan to reduce potential physical and economic losses. Residents can complete a survey until July 14 or provide input through the Engaged Edmonton portal until July 21.

More input opportunities

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Picnic tables on a patio outside an ice cream shop

Happenings: June 26, 2025


By Debbi Serafinchon

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

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

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