The Pulse: Dec. 10, 2025

The siblings behind Kunitz Shoes say they've cracked the code on indie shoe retail as they prepare to add a third location in Capilano Mall in the spring.

"(The stores) all share a commonality," said Everett Kunitz, who co-owns the business with his sister Morgan Kunitz. "They're nestled within the terminus of a commute, or close to the end or beginning of a commute, within mature neighbourhoods that foster the types of customers and folks that like to buy shoes that they use."

The Kunitzes told Taproot they have had their eye on Capilano for a couple of years, as it's close to Sherwood Park, where lots of Kunitz customers live. The new store will join Kunitz West at 10046 167 Street NW and Kunitz Southside at 837 Saddleback Road as the family business heads into its 45th year.

Dwayne and Darlene Kunitz opened a Kobbler King shop at Heritage Mall in 1981, renaming it Kunitz Shoes 10 years later. Their children took over in 2018. At that time, the locations were Kunitz Southside and a downtown location at 109 Street and Jasper Avenue. Morgan and Everett moved the downtown store to the west end in 2021. While the departure from downtown stings, the siblings said, they believe they're walking the right path for Kunitz customers.

"For a lot of folks in Edmonton, the 170 Street corridor and the Capilano corridor are major … they're where most folks are headed to get a lot of their pantry needs," Everett said. "We would have loved to continue doing what we were doing on Jasper Avenue, but for some reason, Edmontonians love to drive up and shop."

That's not the experience they could offer downtown, Everett said. "The reality is, (when) every second phone call you're getting is 'Where is there free parking in front of your store on Jasper Avenue and 109 Street,' it wears you down."

Parking aside, the downtown shop also stood in the way of consistency, even though it was profitable, Morgan said.

"What we learned is that you can't compromise," she said. "If people know one store, you have to have everything at the other store … We can't just be like, 'Oh, let's have a little boutique store downtown.' That's just not the model we work on and not what our customers expect from us."

• Edmonton businesses in downtown and Wîhkwêntôwin are celebrating the completion of accelerated roadwork for the Valley Line West LRT on 104 Avenue between 105 and 121 Street. The City of Edmonton announced that the stretch is now back to two lanes of traffic in each direction, alleviating disruptions present since mid-April. This expedited approach reduced traffic restriction times by more than half, the City said. The 14-kilometre project, which is being built by the construction consortium Marigold Infrastructure Partners, is expected to be 60% complete by the end of 2025, with full completion anticipated in 2028.
• The City of Edmonton is pushing ahead with the Exhibition Lands redevelopment, with utility servicing for the first residential parcels beginning in November and neighbourhood-level construction expected in 2026. Full construction of the initial homes is targeted for early 2027. Work is also underway on the new Edmonton Urban Farm near 73 Street and Borden Park Road NW, set to open in 2026. Crews have begun on-site preparations to demolish structures on the former Northlands Park Racetrack & Casino property, a project that started in fall 2025 and will run until spring 2026. The City says the demolition is safe for nearby residents and will clear more land for future residential development.
• The Edmonton International Airport has introduced new CT X-ray technology to streamline security screenings, allowing passengers to keep liquids under 100ml and electronics in carry-on bags. While the first machine is operational, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority plans to install a total of six by the end of March 2026. The airport expects 28,000 daily travelers in December, advising early arrival and smart packing for the busy holiday season.
• The Edmonton Police Service recently issued a warning about an increase in counterfeit $100 bills circulating, with at least nine reports received as of Dec. 9, all bearing the same serial number. Suspects are reportedly using these fake bills to buy cellphones and electronics through Facebook Marketplace transactions. Edmonton police urge residents and business owners to check $100 bills for unique serial numbers and distinct texture. It also advises using "Buy and Sell Exchange Zones" at Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and West division police stations for online exchanges.
• Alberta's government is refusing to answer questions from Edmonton NDP MLA Marlin Schmidt until he apologizes for remarks made in the House on Dec. 1. Schmidt questioned Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides about informing parents of serious incidents, referencing an alleged sexual assault at a Willowbrae Academy daycare in his Edmonton-Gold Bar constituency that parents were not informed of for two months. Government House leader Joseph Schow called Schmidt's comments "despicable," but Schmidt maintained his position, saying parents deserve an apology from the government.
• The Edmonton Elks have extended quarterback Cody Fajardo through the 2026 season, the club announced on Dec. 9. Fajardo, who dressed in all 18 games last season, assumed the starting quarterback role in Week 8, helping to lead the team back into playoff contention. He completed 73.2% of his passes for 3,408 yards and 14 touchdowns, adding seven rushing touchdowns.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Building Climate Resistance: Resilient Indoor Environments for Older Adults during Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke Events starting at 10am online
• Connectors Lunch and Learn starting at 11:30am at Stony Plain Community and Social Development
• Intentional Discussions with Entrepreneurs from across Alberta Series starting at 12pm online
• Bioeconomy Guild Holiday Social starting at 5pm at EPIC Market
• Wine, Chips, Dips: Tasting & Pairing starting at 6pm at Color de Vino
• I'm Still Hungry starting at 6:30pm at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton
• Four-Course Wine Tasting Dinner With Select Wines & Icon Vins Fins starting at 6:30pm at El Corazon
• Portraits of the North with St. Albert Community Band and Saint City Big Band starting at 7pm at Arden Theatre
• A Night of Strictly Business... Christmas Business starting at 7pm at Yardbird Suite
• Winter Warmth — An Evening of Chocolate and Evergreens starting at 7pm at Delavoye Chocolate Maker

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Until Dec. 21: Christmas Streetcars at High Level Streetcar (Strathcona Terminal)
• Until Dec. 31: Christmas Glow at Edmonton EXPO Centre
• Until Jan. 4: Zoominescence: A Festival of Light at Edmonton Valley Zoo

Visit 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.

Readers of the Arts Roundup may have a leg up on a couple of these clues!