The Pulse: July 21, 2025

After marking her 30th anniversary with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, executive director Cheryl Whiskeyjack told Taproot she's still working to build a future in Edmonton where social-service systems work better and people regularly get what they need.

"What I would like to see happen is that we have more of those really great, celebratory days than we have the days of dealing with people who are houseless, dealing with people who are incarcerated, and dealing with a police system that feels like it's working against us instead of with us," Whiskeyjack, who hails from Anishinaabeg territory, said. "Maybe we'll be dealing with them two or three times a month instead of every single day."

Bent Arrow is a registered charity that primarily provides culturally specific social services to Indigenous children, youth, and families. The society also holds an annual Culture Camp for people who want to better understand why cultural teachings are important to Bent Arrow, and it partners with the City of Edmonton on the Community Outreach Transit Team.

Whiskeyjack said work in human services is never-ending because clients of non-profits and the providers alike will always need compassion. Still, while she said things have changed for the better since Bent Arrow started in 1994, she also has ideas for how to make the whole social system better in the future.

Early days

Whiskeyjack's draw toward this work began when she was 14, she said. She and her three sisters had just lost their mother, and they began attending youth programs like clubs from what's now called BGC Big Brothers Big Sisters in Edmonton.

"I just remember really looking up to these youth leaders who were willing to spend time with people like me," she said. "That's set me off on my career choice. I wanted to be that person for Indigenous young people."

That experience led her to enroll in the child and youth care program at what's now called MacEwan University in 1993. She graduated in 1995. MacEwan awarded Whiskeyjack a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018, but she said she sometimes felt like an outsider during her education.

"I often felt in contradiction with what was considered accepted practice at the time by my faculty," Whiskeyjack said. "I had genuine affection and care and a responsibility of care for these young people that I was serving … but at the time, you didn't use words like that in our field."

• The City of Edmonton announced that the privacy of a "limited number" of Edmontonians was compromised due to a breach in its mail services. The City said it discovered the breach on June 30, and that about 200 pieces of mail were stolen, along with other items. The mail would have been dropped off at an Edmonton facility or sent via Canada Post between June 24 and June 27. The City has relocated mail storage, launched an internal investigation, and reported the breach to the information and privacy commissioner.
• The opening of Edmonton's Borden Natural Swimming Pool has been delayed by approximately a month due to a leak in one of the natural filter beds. The pool, which is Canada's first public outdoor chemical-free pool, uses rock filters and natural processes to clean the water. Repairs, involving specialized filter material, are estimated to cost between $80,000 and $100,000.
• The City of Edmonton confirmed a sixth case of Dutch elm disease in a tree in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood on July 16, following confirmation from the Government of Alberta. As part of its Dutch elm disease management plan, the City said it would remove the infected tree, as well as elm trees within 20 metres, and is conducting additional testing in the area.
• Coun. Tim Cartmell, who is also a mayoral candidate, apologized for missing a crucial council vote on infill housing. The vote, which failed 6-5, concerned a motion by Coun. Michael Janz to limit mid-block developments. Cartmell's absence drew criticism, especially since he had previously attempted to pass a motion for a moratorium on infill permits. Cartmell attributed his absence to poor cellphone coverage during a family vacation in northern Cape Breton, N.S., saying he "was stuck," and regrets that he could not attend virtually.
• Scandinave Group has officially confirmed plans to build Edmonton's first Nordic spa, set to open in summer 2028 overlooking the North Saskatchewan River, CBC News reported. The project cleared a major hurdle earlier this year when city council unanimously approved a rezoning application. With support from the province and Travel Alberta, the company is now entering the design phase ahead of construction expected to begin in 2027. The $121-million project promises hundreds of construction jobs and aims to make Edmonton a destination for wellness tourism.
• Despite the rain, people lined up for rides and food at K-Days on July 19. The festival will host Indigenous Day on July 21, featuring a full day of events celebrating Indigenous culture, creativity, and community. Meanwhile, Taste of Edmonton, one of Edmonton's largest summer festivals, opened in Churchill Square on July 17, with more than 200 menu items available. The festival runs until July 27.
• After the 20th traffic fatality of 2025, Edmonton city councillor Ashley Salvador called on the province to reverse photo radar cuts. Salvador noted that the City of Edmonton has other tools, such as education campaigns and infrastructure improvements, to limit dangerous driving, but limiting enforcement "makes the rest of the strategy hard to deliver on." The Edmonton Police Service said it is focusing "significant resources" on traffic safety and has called for the power to seize vehicles going 50 km/h above the speed limit. Edmonton has adopted the Vision Zero strategy to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries by 2032.
• Otéra Capital, the real estate finance arm of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, placed Edmonton City Centre under receivership due to approximately $140 million in debt. The mixed-use complex, acquired by LaSalle Investment Management and others in 2019 from Oxford Properties, includes the mall, Centre Point Place, TD Tower, and 102A Tower, spanning 1.4 million square feet.
• The City of Edmonton is exploring ways to address parking challenges during major events through technological upgrades and policy adjustments, CBC News reported. The City is trying to encourage transit use, while aiming to balance the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors while optimizing parking availability and revenue.
• A 2025 economic impact analysis of 183 organizations funded by the Edmonton Arts Council indicates it generates more than $171 million of economic activity annually in Edmonton. The arts organizations also create more than 1,400 local jobs each year and engage thousands of volunteers. The arts council plans to conduct an economic impact study every four years.
• Family and friends organized a search in the Edmonton river valley near Victoria Park on July 19 for 14-year-old Samuel Bird, who has been missing since June. Samuel's mother, Alanna Bird, and his paternal grandmother, Geri Potts, voiced their frustration with the Edmonton Police Service response to the missing person report.
• Nearly six years after Edmonton annexed 9,000 hectares from Leduc County, rural residents remain uneasy about the city's growth plans, CBC reported. Jacob Morris, whose family has farmed there since 1891, cites worsening roads and illegal dumping since the annexation. Development isn't expected until Edmonton's population hits 1.5 million, though developers want a faster timeline. A city study due in 2026 will map needed infrastructure. Landowners worry about service gaps, business impacts, and keeping their farms as urban expansion approaches.
• The Edmonton Police Service will hold a town hall on July 28 at the Southwood Community League in Mill Woods to address renewed extortion threats against the South Asian community, believed to be connected to the "Lawrence Bishnoi gang" in India. Interim Police Chief Devin LaForce said a recent arson and half a dozen extortions are similar to those investigated under Project Gaslight, which targeted home builders and affluent community members between October 2023 and January 2024.
• At an Alberta Next town hall in Edmonton on July 17, Premier Danielle Smith faced criticism over proposals to create a provincial police force, amend the constitution, and control immigration. Speakers challenged the benefits of a provincial pension plan and concerns were raised about the government's handling of a new pension plan. Smith defended her government's immigration proposal, saying they were trying to find a solution to high housing costs. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called the panel a "sham." The panel will return to Edmonton next month.
• The Edmonton Oilers have made changes to their coaching staff for the upcoming season. Coach Kris Knoblauch said the organization is looking for ways to improve and hoped the changes will help the team reach its full potential.
• Edmonton's Marco Arop won a silver medal in a Diamond League event in London, England on July 19, posting a time of 1:42.22. This was Arop's first Diamond League medal of 2025, and the 19th of his career. Arop is currently 10th in the 2025 Diamond League standings.
• The Edmonton Elks added three defensive backs to their roster on July 20: Jerrell Cummings, Jaylin Williams, and Bryce Cosby.

Correction: This file has been updated to correct Coun. Ashley Salvador's first name.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Library Lunchtime Concerts: Jivin'Belles starting at 12:15pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Wild Mushroom Walks starting at 2pm at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Author Talk - Robert Proudfoot starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Capilano)

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 23: ECAMP Curiosity Walking Tours - Ukrainian Ties at Central McDougall Park
• July 25: YEG Bike Coalition at Constable Ezio Faraone Park
• July 25: Festival Food Bike Tours

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