The Pulse: Oct. 20, 2025

It's Oct. 20, election day, and Edmontonians are heading to the polls to elect their next mayor and council. Here's what you need to know.

Where to vote, how to decide

We have created an election guide to help you determine your ward and find your polling station. Simply input your address and the tool will give you both.

If you're still undecided on who to vote for, you can also take the Taproot survey to see which candidates you align with.

Come prepared

You are eligible to vote in Edmonton's municipal election if you are 18 years old or older, are a Canadian citizen, live in Edmonton on election day, and have that location listed as your place of residence.

Voters must show identification at the voting station, such as an Alberta driver's licence, identification card, or another form of authorized identification. Those who missed the deadline to register online can still register or update information at their assigned voting station.

Voting stations are open from 9am to 8pm.

Results

Taproot has created a results dashboard that will go live as soon as the polls close. We expect to receive some results on Oct. 20, but we don't expect to know who has been elected to city council until Tuesday, Oct. 21. We'll share what we know on our website and in The Pulse.

Next week's episode of Speaking Municipally, Taproot's civic affairs podcast, will dive into the election results. Taproot members can also join us for a special edition of Taproot Exchange on Friday, Oct. 24, at 12pm, where we'll discuss the next city council. Watch your inbox for the link to join.

While you wait for results

Have a listen to Episode 328 of Speaking Municipally — 'Twas the night before election.

• Ahead of Edmonton's Oct. 20 municipal election, mayoral candidates are strategizing to reach undecided voters. Political experts emphasize traditional door-knocking, but candidates are also highly active online. Candidate Andrew Knack uses Twitch livestreams and campus video game events to engage young voters, and includes his personal phone number on flyers. Tim Cartmell targets older millennials with Instagram reels, such as a bike lane policy video with more than 1 million views. Omar Mohammad, appealing to voters seeking political change, has the most Instagram followers and has spent $46,000 on social media ads.
• Public safety appears to be the top issue in Edmonton's municipal election, with 85% of residents prioritizing improving safety and reducing crime, according to a Janet Brown Opinion Research poll done for CBC News. Mayoral candidates outlined their plans to tackle crime and disorder. Andrew Knack advocates for balancing enforcement with social services and housing, while Tim Cartmell emphasizes proactive community policing and improving response services. Michael Walters focuses on creating day shelters and enhancing transit safety, and Rahim Jaffer proposes building a "recovery village" in northeast Edmonton and hiring 500 additional police officers.
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed disappointment on Oct. 17 that the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) rejected the government's request to end the provincewide teachers' strike and enter enhanced mediation. ATA President Jason Schilling called the proposal "insulting," as it excluded discussion of classroom size caps, a key union demand. The strike is entering its third week. Smith suggested back-to-work legislation is possible by Oct. 27 if the strike persists. The province has made November diploma exams optional.
• The Canora Community League in West Edmonton celebrated the groundbreaking for its significant retrofit and revitalization project on Oct. 18. This project marks a major step towards enhancing the community centre's facilities for residents in the area.
• Christenson Group of Companies, which operates several retirement communities in Edmonton and central Alberta, entered creditor protection on Oct. 17. The company owes nearly $200 million in life lease payments to hundreds of seniors, many waiting years for their money, and an additional $105 million to secured lenders. Court of King's Bench Justice Colin Feasby approved an initial 10-day order under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, allowing the group to restructure by potentially selling assets to repay creditors. An independent monitor will oversee the process.
• Voting is open until Nov. 22 for the Field Law Community Fund Program. This year, $85,000 is available in funding across Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The program has awarded $915,000 to 167 projects since launching in 2013, and is on track to reach $1 million in total funding by the end of 2025. A selection of ideas that seek to improve local communities is available online.
• Edmonton sports reporter and anchor John Sexsmith died Oct. 17 at 63, following a lengthy and public battle with prostate cancer. An Edmontonian since 1971 and a NAIT graduate, Sexsmith was a beloved figure at Global Edmonton. He also worked at K-97 radio and 630 CHED. Beyond media, he was a high-performance coach with Hockey Alberta, volunteered for Sport Central, and joined the Alberta Cancer Foundation, using his platform to openly share his cancer journey and raise awareness for men's health.
• The University of Alberta Pandas women's rugby team rallied from a 12-3 deficit to defeat the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns 15-12 and claim the Canada West bronze medal at Foote Field. Captain Molly Stetsko's late first-half try narrowed the gap before Anéla Hébert's score in the 37th minute sealed the comeback. The win marked Alberta's third bronze in four seasons and their first victory over Lethbridge this season. The University of Victoria Vikes secured the Canada West Final title with an 18-17 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds.
• As Alberta's cold and flu season intensifies, physicians are expressing concerns about escalating emergency room patient volumes and low vaccination rates. Brian Wirzba, president of the Alberta Medical Association, noted that the healthcare system remains strained, entering each season with already full ERs. For the week of Oct. 5, Alberta recorded 42 influenza, 16 RSV, and 146 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases. Doctors urge Albertans to get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19.
• Former Manitoba judge Raymond Wyant released his report investigating allegations of government interference in Alberta Health Services (AHS) procurement contracts. Prompted by former AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos's wrongful dismissal lawsuit, the report found no wrongful interference by the premier or government officials, but Wyant identified two former AHS staffers who were in "real or perceived" conflicts of interest regarding AHS vendors. In response, Premier Danielle Smith said she was "deeply disappointed with the way these procurements and contracts were dealt with by AHS decision makers and some of its employees" and said her government will work to implement the report's 18 recommendations.
• Premier Danielle Smith urged the business community to hire younger Albertans during an Edmonton Chamber of Commerce event on Oct. 16. Smith expressed concern about youth unemployment, even after the provincial rate for those aged 15-24 dropped to 14.7% in September. She highlighted the government's $8 million Alberta Youth Employment Incentive Program, which offers a $10/hour wage subsidy to help 1,000 businesses hire 2,500 youths.

About half of the candidates for mayor and council who responded to Taproot's candidate survey said they want to cut spending to lower taxes in response to the question Which would you prioritize regarding property taxes?

Thirty-seven candidates for mayor and council said they would Lower taxes by cutting spending. The only members of the current council to choose this answer are Tim Cartmell and Aaron Paquette (though both candidates added context clarifying their answers). Mayoral candidates Abdul Malik Chukwudi, Vanessa Denman, Rahim Jaffer, and Olney Tugwell also chose this option.

Meanwhile, 26 candidates said they would Increase taxes only to keep up with inflation and population growth. This includes mayoral candidates Ronald Stewart Billingsley, Jr., Tony Caterina, Andrew Knack, Omar Mohammad, Utha Nadauk, and Michael Walters.

Just four candidates said they would Increase taxes to improve quality of life. That includes incumbents Michael Janz, Anne Stevenson, and Jo-Anne Wright, and newcomer Jennifer Porritt.

Four candidates — Paul Bakhmut, Reed Clarke, Andy Andrzej Gudanowski, and Funke Olokude — said they didn't have a position on the issue.

Joti Buttar and Patrick Stewart did not answer the question.

As of this writing, 21 candidates have not completed the survey.

City council approved a 5.7% tax increase for 2025. Canada's consumer price index was 1.7% in July 2025. Edmonton's population increased by 5.76% in 2024. In 2021, council approved a property tax freeze to provide financial relief to those struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 more than 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 Karhiio:

• Jason Bale
• Joti Buttar
• Hali Kaur
• Atiq Rehman
• Keren Tang

We have not yet received a response from Manny Bautista, Yogesh Garg, Paul Mah, and Avinash Soochit.

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.

• Election Day starting at 9am (find your voting station here)
• Small Business Week at World Trade Centre Edmonton (until Oct. 24)
• Meet Business Link: Free Support for Alberta Entrepreneurs (+ Live Q&A) starting at 11am online
• 2025 Small Business Week Conference starting at 1pm at Festival Place
• Leading Change Edmonton: Real Estate Solutions for a Stronger Alberta starting at 2:30pm at The Bell in Scona
• Audreys Genre Book Club starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Oct. 29-30: Social Enterprise World Forum Community Hub at Supreme Steel
• Nov. 3-5: Alberta Co-operative Conference at Matrix Hotel
• Nov. 7: State of the Economy Luncheon at JW Marriott (Edmonton ICE District)

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.

Puzzled about today's election? Visit taproot.vote to prep yourself to make your decisions, then stay tuned for the results.