The Pulse: Sept. 29, 2025

Several developers say the "black hole" created by the many surface parking lots that surround Warehouse Park downtown is finally set to change, with up to 1,800 housing units proposed.

"Whenever you have that swath of land, everybody looks at it every day, saying, 'There's such an opportunity there,'" Ian O'Donnell, development manager at Westrich Pacific, told Taproot. "Most cities in Canada don't have that size of land, or areas around a park that are just sitting vacant, and so the opportunity is incredible, and it's wonderful to see that the private sector has responded."

Instead of skyscrapers towering over the future downtown park, however, developers are rezoning lots to build smaller. Autograph Group, the developer of The Shift at 10157 106 Street just east of the park, had initially proposed to build two towers, at 38 and 35 storeys, with 780 units. But in September, Autograph successfully applied to rezone the lot to allow for much shorter buildings. Autograph president Henry Edgar told Taproot the company now plans to construct buildings between six- and seven-storeys with up to 250 units.

"We were seeing the progress on Warehouse Park and on the LRT being built along 102 Avenue, and just felt the timing was right to restart the engines," Edgar said. "And right now, towers are just too expensive."

Kelowna-based Faction, the developer that owns the Massey Ferguson building and adjacent surface parking lot near the park, at 10609 104 Avenue, also rezoned its lot that same day to reduce the maximum height from 18 to 14 storeys. The building was recently designated a municipal historic resource. The new development will incorporate the historic building, according to a city report about the rezoning application.

Meanwhile, MHA Properties, developer of the BLVD building at 10163 108 Street that will directly abut the park, received a development permit in February to construct the six-storey, 54-unit building. The developer plans to include a restaurant or cafe on the ground floor with a patio facing Warehouse Park.

Westrich is midway through constructing Lotus Park, a six-storey, 152-unit building at 10164 108 Street. On Sept. 2, the developer visited the Edmonton Design Committee with its plans for two more six-storey buildings, one south of Lotus Park and one on the other side of Warehouse Park on 106 Street. Those buildings are expected to have 204 units and 171 units, respectively. The committee did not support either of the developments.

City administration has introduced a per-door incentive for student housing and will facilitate electricity upgrades, in the hope of spurring development, particularly around Warehouse Park. This will allow hundreds, if not thousands, of downtown housing units to move closer to completion, O'Donnell said. Combine that with the Valley Line West LRT, set to open in 2028, the upcoming completion of Warehouse Park in the fall, and new developments on NorQuest College's campus, and downtown's warehouse district is set to look remarkably different in a few years than it does now, provided the proposed developments are actually built.

• A nationwide Canada Post strike may affect several City of Edmonton services, the City said in a release. Residents can make payments for various bills and traffic and bylaw tickets online, through banks, by phone, or in person at the Edmonton Service Centre located in Edmonton Tower. Development permit notifications will be posted online, and Neighbourhood Renewal updates on project webpages. Residential Parking Program permits can be requested online for pick-up, and Edmonton Elections will use alternative services for special ballots or allow pick-up. The City advises using online options to minimize longer wait times at the Service Centre.
• The City of Edmonton will observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30 by raising Every Child Matters banners, lowering flags, and lighting key structures orange, including Muttart Conservatory and the High Level Bridge. It will also support the Orange Shirt Day Run & Walk, offer free admission to City attractions for Indigenous people, and open the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park. A list of events is available online.
• Mayoral candidates Tony Caterina, Rahim Jaffer, and Tim Cartmell addressed a neighbourhood rally on Sept. 27 in Edmonton, focusing on concerns regarding infill development, streets, and growth, and calling for all current council members to be voted out in the upcoming municipal election. Cartmell, who apologized for missing a crucial vote on infill density, pledged to change bylaws restricting infill height and size, and tackle parking and trash issues within 40 days if elected. Jaffer criticized Cartmell's absence, stressing the need to protect mature neighbourhoods. Caterina urged voters to research candidates.
• Some Alberta teachers planned to vote against the latest contract offer from their employers and union, CBC reported. The proposed 12% wage increase over four years was previously rejected in May, as teachers say it fails to address a nearly 21% rise in Alberta's consumer price index over six years. The new offer includes government commitments to fund 1,000 additional teachers for three years and 1,500 educational assistants by August 2028. Members of the Alberta Teachers' Association were set to vote from Sept. 27 to Sept. 29. If the agreement isn't ratified, a provincewide strike could start on Oct. 6.
• The Edmonton Police Service issued 30 tickets and executed a warrant after intercepting more than 100 vehicles gathered for a suspected street racing event near 129 Avenue NW and 170 Street NW on Sept. 21. Officers used drone footage and set up check stops, issuing tickets for various vehicle equipment violations and stunting.
• Alberta's current school book restrictions, targeting explicit images of sexual acts and prompting Edmonton Public Schools to list 226 books for removal, mirror past provincial censorship efforts, CBC reported. In 1954, Alberta established the Advisory Board on Objectionable Publications to control "crime comics" and "salacious" magazines. Chaired by an Edmonton Public Library member, this board removed hundreds of titles and distributed more than 40,000 pamphlets across Alberta, until its dissolution in 1976.
• The family of Samuel Bird, a 14-year-old missing from his west Edmonton home since June 1, has issued a public appeal for financial help to continue their search efforts. His father, Justin B. Bird, stated they are running out of resources for professional search-and-rescue crews, search dogs, drones, and equipment. The Edmonton Police Service declared Samuel's disappearance suspicious on Aug. 22, and said detectives are continuing to follow leads.
• Edmonton-Strathcona MP Heather McPherson launched her campaign for NDP leadership on Sept. 28. McPherson, the sole sitting MP currently in the race to succeed outgoing leader Jagmeet Singh, aims to unite the party and lead it out of its worst federal election performance. She emphasized bringing people together, advocating for fair wages, affordable housing, reduced grocery prices, and strong public healthcare and education. Other candidates include Avi Lewis, Rob Ashton, and Yves Engler.
• Colleagues and politicians across Canada paid tribute to Darren Markland, a prominent physician and cycling advocate who died in a cycling accident on Sept. 21. Among them were Prime Minister Mark Carney and Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. Markland was a vocal advocate for patients and healthcare workers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2023. He was also celebrated for fostering community through "Coffee Outside" gatherings at Constable Ezio Faraone Park and his involvement with the YEG Bike Coalition in Edmonton.
• CJSR welcomed Sarah Hoyles as its new Executive Director and Station Manager, effective Sept. 29. Hoyles brings two decades of experience in broadcasting, journalism, and communications to the Edmonton-based independent, volunteer-powered campus and community radio station.
• TELUS World of Science announced the winners of its 2025 Inspiring Educator Awards, which spotlights teachers who bring science to life in their classrooms. Julie Arsenault, a teacher at Michael Strembitsky School in Edmonton, was among the recipients.
• Edmonton Elks owner Larry Thompson was remembered by General Manager Ed Hervey and CEO Chris Morris for his deep love of football and Edmonton. Thompson, who died at the age of 65 due to complications from surgery, purchased the struggling community-owned team in August 2024, rescuing it from near bankruptcy. The Elks held a moment of silence and tribute at the home game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sept. 27
• The Edmonton Oilers reduced its training camp roster by assigning four players to the AHL's Bakersfield Condors on Sept. 28, including two forwards, a defenceman, and a goaltender. The move comes after the team announced on Sept. 26 that it had assigned 14 other players from its training camp roster to the AHL team, including 10 forwards, three defencemen, and one goaltender.

One municipal political party may not operate after the coming election, the minister of municipal affairs is likely to interfere, and a new chief of police chief has been appointed, the hosts of Episode 325 of Speaking Municipally noted. Here's a quick snapshot.

Better Edmonton to 'go dormant'

Nomination day for Edmonton's Oct. 20 election passed on Sept. 22, followed by the withdrawal period's end on the following day. There are 140 candidates: Of them, 13 are running for mayor, 81 are running city council, and 46 are running for school boards. (Taproot's voter-matching feature compares your own answers to 30 questions with how the candidates responded.)

With nomination day in the past, the co-hosts looked at the state of parties and slates for the election. Specifically, they focused on Better Edmonton mayoral candidate (and current councillor) Tim Cartmell's recent comments to CTV that Better Edmonton will "go dormant" after the election. Male called the Cartmell campaign office to ask why, and learned it's because of unclear procedural requirements for parties in the Municipal Government Act.

"What they're worried about is actually not about parties, but quorum," Male said. "In the MGA, if you get, say, seven councillors together, and they talk about council business, it's supposed to be a meeting. You're supposed to give notice, and it should be on the record … (If) they're talking about council business, which should be what the party is doing, then should that be a council meeting? Should that be on the record?"

Minister 'mandated to interfere' in municipal affairs

Premier Danielle Smith released a mandate letter on Sept. 22. for Dan Williams, the minister of municipal affairs. The letter instructs Williams on how to work with municipal governments, including pushing for Williams to find ways to reduce "excessive" property taxes." The letter does not contain the the term "identity politics," but Williams quickly referenced that concept as a reason to intervene in municipal governance in a recent interview.

"What does that mean — 'wading into identity politics?'" co-host Stephanie Swensrude asked, citing a Williams quote. "If municipalities start doing stuff that the province doesn't like, he is mandated to interfere."

City names new chief

City council unanimously appointed co-interim chief Warren Driechel as the 24th chief of the Edmonton Police Service on Sept. 19, in one of its last decisions before the election. The co-hosts discussed a 2016 trial where Driechel discussed how he bought steroids from a fellow officer, and also that relations are improving among the Edmonton Police Commission, the service, and the city — at least for now.

"We've heard from councillors on the current council throughout the year that the relationship between the police, the police commission, and council has improved," Male said. "With a new chief in place — and in a month, a new council and a new mayor in place — we'll see if that improving relationship continues, or if we start to see some cracks."

The Sept. 26 episode also includes a remembrance of Darren Markland, a public health advocate and community builder, as well as Taproot's work on election coverage. Listening and subscription options are all right here.

Taproot asked candidates to complete a 30-question survey covering a wide range of topics relevant to Edmonton's next city council. It was informed by the 900+ responses to our election question, insights gathered at listening sessions, input from our election partners, and our own observations of what Edmonton's next city council will face.

Here are the answers we've received from the candidates in Ward papastew:

• Josh Doyle
• Mark Hillman
• Terrie Holgerson
• Rozalia Janiszewska
• Michael Janz

Want to see which candidates best align with you on the issues that matter most? Take the survey and find out.

For more coverage of the 2025 municipal election in Edmonton, visit edmonton.taproot.vote.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• The Relationship Between Indigenous People and Police starting at 1pm online
• AIMSS UAlberta Fall Kick-off 2025 starting at 3:30pm at Edmonton Clinic Health Academy
• GoPHISH! starting at 6:30pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Audreys Book Club September starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Oct. 8: Monica Miller Memorial Lecture featuring Lorna Crozier at MacEwan University
• Oct. 9: Edmonton Mayoral Candidate Forum online
• Oct. 10: Public Art Pop-up: Meet Artist Royden Mills at Terwillegar Park

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

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

It's a special week in Edmonton, so saddle up for some themed crosswords!