The Pulse: July 31, 2025

Tickets for The Weeknd's July 19 concert at Commonwealth Stadium included a $1.50 surcharge from Edmonton Transit Service that was aimed at simplifying fare enforcement and encouraging people to use LRT rather than drive.

The surcharge, which is less than a standard transit fare, will appear on more tickets for big-name shows in the future, Sarah Feldman, the director of transit planning, ridership, and revenue for the City of Edmonton, told Taproot.

"(Concertgoers) don't have to think about buying a transit ticket at all — it's included in their ticket fee," Feldman said. "That convenience factor … becomes a popular way to use (and) a way to promote transit."

The 54,200 tickets sold for The Weeknd's concert received the surcharge for the first time. City council approved the surcharge following the Implementation of Transit Revenue Actions report last summer, Feldman said.

The ticket sales posted by the city would net $81,300, but ETS did not provide Taproot with final revenue figures during an interview. The organization also did not project an increase in ridership directly related to the surcharge.

An ETS ticket is $3.75 with cash or $3 with an ARC Card for adults, meaning the $1.50 charge is less than half a cash fare, or exactly half an adult ARC fare.

Why undercut standard fares for The Weeknd show?

"Historically, around half of all the people who go to (Commonwealth Stadium) events do take transit," Feldman said. "It's a huge number, so there's lots of people who benefit from it, but we're able to price it that way because everyone contributes."

Feldman added that the surcharge simplifies enforcement. "This kind of removes that challenge we had about having the Transit Peace Officers check fares for everyone for a concert and lets them focus on other duties."

ETS did not track how many riders used their concert tickets as a fare other than by using Transit Peace Officers to check for concert tickets as proof of fare, at the discretion of officers, Feldman said.

• The City of Edmonton activated its extreme weather response from July 30 to Aug. 2 because of expected high temperatures. The response includes 24-hour access to 28 water stations attached to fire hydrants, water bottle distribution by peace officers to vulnerable people, and the availability of City facilities like libraries, pools, and recreation centres for those needing a break from the heat.
• Data obtained by the Criminal Trial Lawyers' Association indicates that 90% of the 5,721 trespassing tickets issued on Edmonton transit in 2024 went to individuals with no fixed address, disproportionately affecting the houseless population who often seek shelter in transit stations. The majority of these tickets were issued during the coldest months, the association said. Coun. Aaron Paquette highlighted the Community Outreach Transit Team, a partnership between the City of Edmonton and the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, and called for more support from the provincial and federal governments.
• Edmonton International Airport officially opened the Safe Room Kîsê Watotâtôwin ᑮᓭ ᐘᑐᑖᑑᐏᐣ on July 30. The room is a secure space for survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, or those in crisis. Carmen Donnelly of YEG said airports are uniquely positioned to disrupt human trafficking. The room, equipped with amenities like a bed, kitchenette, and communication tools, was given an Indigenous name meaning "sharing and giving our kindness and compassion to each other" in a ceremony led by Jerry Saddleback.
• Ron Thompson will begin his three-year term as the new superintendent of Edmonton Public Schools on Sept. 1, after being unanimously ratified by the board of trustees on July 30. Thompson, formerly an assistant superintendent, is preparing for challenges including a potential province-wide teachers' strike and growing student enrollment, which is expected to reach 125,000 students this fall. Alberta Teachers' Association members voted 95% in favour of strike action in June, and Thompson said the responsibility of reaching a deal "rests with the province."
• In a Postmedia op-ed, criminologist Temitope Oriola notes that while Canada's Crime Severity Index fell in 2024, deeper issues remain. Intimate partner homicides against women rose sharply, and the Indigenous homicide rate is higher than the national average. Additionally, victims of homicide identified as visible minorities constituted 29% of the total. Oriola called for a collective societal approach to addressing crime.
• Edmonton police are seeking witnesses after two youths were charged with assault with a weapon and mischief for allegedly throwing bricks and rocks at vehicles from a pedestrian bridge near Grierson Hill and the 100 Street Funicular on July 25. A 41-year-old man detained the 14-year-old boy and 13-year-old girl until police arrived after his windshield was smashed. Police believe other vehicles may have been hit and are asking anyone with information to come forward.
• After 37 years with CBC, Mark Connolly is retiring on July 31 from his role as host of Edmonton AM. Connolly's career began unconventionally, cleaning the CBC Edmonton building with his father and later attending NAIT. He went on to work in radio in Fort McMurray, Red Deer, and Edmonton before joining CBC Edmonton in 1988. Throughout his career, he covered 12 Olympic Games and co-hosted the CBC Edmonton supper-hour news.
• Elections Alberta has approved a petition to keep Alberta in Canada submitted by former Alberta deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk. The petition asks "Do you agree that Alberta should remain in Canada?" Lukaszuk said his goal is to avoid a referendum on separation by having the Alberta legislature vote on the question. The "Alberta Forever Canada" initiative needs approximately 294,000 signatures in 90 days, a higher threshold due to the timing of its submission. A competing pro-separation referendum question is currently before the courts to review its constitutionality.
• Ahead of their game on Aug. 2 at Play Alberta Field, the Edmonton Elks remain confident despite a one-and-five start to the season. Coach Mark Kilam says the team can build on its performance against the Roughriders, where the defence had its strongest showing of the season. The Elks will face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, which are leading the East Division.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Seniors' Day starting at 11am at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Startup TNT Happy Hour starting at 6pm at Pub 1905
• Wild Mushroom Walks starting at 6pm at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Reception: A Mirror with No Reflection and Calm to Chaos starting at 6pm at Art Gallery of St. Albert
• Edmonton Jazz Alley - Jeremiah McDade starting at 7pm at Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• Opening Night: Celestial Noise by Jeff Sylvester starting at 7pm at Roxy Theatre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Aug. 7: Indigenous Landscapes Tour at Musée Héritage Museum
• Aug. 7-10: Edmonton Folk Music Festival at Gallagher Park
• Aug. 8-10: Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival at Churchill Square

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