The Pulse: Dec. 15, 2025

Before heading into the holiday break, Edmonton city council is scheduled to debate rezoning applications and interview candidates for the Edmonton Police Commission.

A public hearing is scheduled on Dec. 15, a council meeting on Dec. 16 and 17, and an orientation meeting on Dec. 17. Then, aside from a bit of agenda review in the new year, council resumes its regular meeting schedule on Jan. 19.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• The City of Edmonton has applied to rezone the open space adjacent to the St. Peter Centre at 7330 113 Street NW to allow for a medium-scale residential building. If the application is approved, the city said it plans to sell the land to an affordable housing provider. The site is adjacent to a bus stop and less than 300 metres from the McKernan/Belgravia LRT Station. Some nearby residents said they oppose the application because they want to see the green space retained for soccer. Council is scheduled to debate the application on Dec. 15.
• More than 100 people said they oppose a rezoning application in Crestwood at 14603 95 Avenue NW. Franken Homes has applied to rezone the corner lot from the small-scale residential zone to the small- to medium-scale transition residential zone, which would allow for the building to be 1.5 metres taller and cover 60% of the lot instead of 45%. Those opposed to the rezoning application said the current RS zone is sufficient and that there is too much infill in the neighbourhood. They also raised concerns about parking, traffic, and the neighbourhood's character. Administration said it supports the application because the location is appropriate for a larger building. Council is scheduled to debate the rezoning application at a public hearing on Dec. 15.
• The Michael Pavone Realty Group has applied to rezone a property in Queen Alexandra at 10541 81 Avenue NW to allow for a six-storey mixed-use building. The rezoning would remove the requirement for the property to have commercial bays facing the street and would allow for ground-floor residential. Council is scheduled to debate the rezoning application at a public hearing on Dec. 15.
• Council is to meet in private on Dec. 16 to interview candidates for the Edmonton Police Commission and Edmonton Regional Airports Authority.
• Council will learn more about safety and security, as well as public engagement, at an orientation meeting on Dec. 17.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

• Edmonton city councillors are seeking a review of ward budgets and mayor's office funding, saying the current $209,169 per ward has not been updated since 2012, making it difficult to serve residents. Coun. Aaron Paquette said that Calgary allocates $350,000 per councillor and a larger city council. Edmonton councillors argue the outdated funding hinders communication with the public, fails to keep up with population growth and inflation, and makes it challenging to meet new technological and language needs, such as providing American Sign Language assistance.
• Edmonton city council was briefed on the new Municipal Emergency Plan, which outlines "exceptional powers" a municipality can use during an emergency. Acting city solicitor Michael Gunther emphasized that powers, like demolishing buildings, or commandeering labour, must be clearly communicated. Following April 2025 changes by the Alberta government, an emergency is defined as "sudden and temporary," excluding long-term issues like climate change. The plan details roles during an emergency, with the city manager as Director of Emergency Management and the Emergency Advisory Committee able to declare a state of emergency with a quorum of one.
• The City of Edmonton completed rehabilitation work on the southbound Low Level Bridge, returning both southbound and northbound traffic to normal patterns. Work involved constructing roadway crossovers, building scaffolding, mechanically cleaning steel truss corrosion, and strengthening or replacing select steel bridge parts. Pedestrians, cyclists, and rollers will continue to use the northbound bridge sidewalk, and the shared pathway below remains open. Planning for the northbound bridge's rehabilitation is underway.
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services crews battled at least four separate fires across the city over the weekend, with frigid winter temperatures. Crews faced significant challenges as water froze rapidly, coating equipment and roads, complicating efforts at scenes like a building fire in the Alberta Avenue neighbourhood and a garage fire in a southeast industrial area. District Fire Chief Jamie Wilson reminded homeowners to prioritize fire safety, including unplugging heaters and securing fireplaces. No injuries were reported in any of the blazes, and investigations into their causes are underway.
• Two former Edmonton venues are making a comeback years after their original closures. The Pawn Shop, previously on Whyte Avenue and a hub for local bands, will reopen on Jan. 16 at the former Union Hall location on 99 Street NW. Co-owner Jimmy Kwak aims to provide a better platform for bands, after economic issues forced its closure in 2015. Additionally, The Druid Irish Pub will reopen the week of Dec. 15, inside the Mercer Building downtown, after leaving its Jasper Avenue location nine years ago due to building issues.
• Alberta Auditor General Doug Wylie said his office faces a $1.5-million budget shortfall for the 2026 to 2027 fiscal year, after a UCP majority legislative committee declined his full funding request, CBC reported. Wylie said the budget reduction will jeopardize his office's ability to complete requested financial statement audits, especially for eight new healthcare agencies that were created following the government's restructuring of Alberta Health Services.
• The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) accused the province of "fudging numbers" on teacher hires, filing a formal complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board on Dec. 12. ATA President Jason Schilling said the province is counting pre-budgeted hires towards the 3,000 new teachers promised in back-to-work legislation that ended a strike in late October. The ATA is seeking a ruling to ensure 3,000 teachers are hired in addition to those funded in the 2025 budget.
• 2SLGBTQ+ organizations Egale Canada and Skipping Stone Foundation will continue their court challenge against provincial laws affecting transgender youth, despite Bill 9's passage on Dec. 11. The bill uses the notwithstanding clause to shield laws like Bill 26, which prohibits gender-affirming health care for minors under 16. The groups are amending their legal case to argue Bill 26 is unconstitutional, saying it criminalizes health care and oversteps into federal jurisdiction.
• Alberta and Ottawa have reached a one-year, $1.17-billion childcare extension agreement for 2026 to 2027, maintaining the $15-a-day parent fee beyond March 31. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the extension serves as a buffer to negotiate a long-term, sustainable model. The deal allows 5,000 additional for-profit childcare spaces to receive federal funding and removes the cap on family day-home spaces. Nicolaides said he hopes to address future challenges, and believes the federal $10-a-day target would require an additional $4 billion from Ottawa.
• The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) has launched a renewed push for an Alberta separation referendum after Bill 14, which amended citizen initiative rules, came into force. APP leaders filed a notice with Elections Alberta, proposing the question: "Do you agree that the province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?" The group is now in "campaign mode" to rally supporters for an official application in January 2026.
• The Edmonton Oilers have acquired veteran goaltender Tristan Jarry from the Pittsburgh Penguins in a five-player trade. The deal sent gooaltender Stuart Skinner and defenceman Brett Kulak to Pittsburgh, along with a 2029 second-round pick, while the Oilers also received minor league forward Samuel Poulin. Jarry, who played for the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings and resides in the area during summers, made 25 saves in his debut victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 13.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Beginner Acrylic: White is Never White starting at 6pm at The Paint Spot
• Audreys Book Club December starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Come ye, and behold, as we assuredly DIE-NASTY starting at 7:30pm at Varscona Theatre
• The Vox Collective: Sing Your Heart Out starting at 7:30pm at Garneau Theatre
• Christmas with Johnny Reid starting at 7:30pm at Winspear Centre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Dec. 21: The Little Match Girl Passion at All Saints Anglican Cathedral
• Dec. 22: Bright Lights: A Holiday Cabaret at Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre
• Dec. 23: Tibbs Eve at Rocky Mountain Ice House

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.

Did you know that Taproot sells memberships? Might be a great way to show how much you love the Mini!