The Pulse
Dec. 18, 2025

Fort Saskatchewan has finalized its exit from Edmonton Global and will now focus on in-house economic development and membership in Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association.

The city east of Edmonton voted to exit Edmonton Global in late 2023, as did Strathcona County, Sturgeon County, Devon, and Parkland County. Each municipality had two years before the exit became final, and Edmonton Global offered each one a three-month extension to decide. Unlike the others, Fort Saskatchewan council passed a motion on Dec. 9 to take the extension, on the condition that Edmonton Global waive $29,063 in dues for the three-month period.

"It's like a marriage," said Coun. Gale Katchur, who was mayor for 15 years before being re-elected as a councillor in the latest municipal election. "You're separating, you're going through the divorce, and you say, 'Give me 90 more days. I'll really, really work at this.'"

However, the request for the unpaid membership extension failed after an informal discussion with Edmonton Global, a spokesperson for the City of Fort Saskatchewan told Taproot in an email. Fort Saskatchewan will now focus on "sub-regional collaboration" as part of the Heartland Association, a non-profit that works to attract investment in the lucrative petrochemical industry in Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont County, Sturgeon County, Strathcona County, and a slice of Edmonton.

Edmonton Global has now shrunk from 14 members to nine. Departed members may not rejoin Edmonton Global for a period of five years under its current rules. Sherri Bouslama, the director of strategic communications and brand for Edmonton Global, told Taproot the organization is not ready to comment on what may change. She added that CEO Daryn Edgar plans to meet with all affiliated municipalities in the New Year and that conversations about regional economic development are still possible with ex-members.

Most Fort Saskatchewan councillors cited a lack of return on investment in Edmonton Global as a reason to leave. Several said they have not seen a final investment decision in the municipality that was directly linked to Edmonton Global since it launched in 2018.

But who claims credit for a final investment decision is not black-and-white, Mustafa Sahin, Edmonton Global's executive vice-president of investment and trade, told council ahead of the Dec. 9 vote to seek an extension. He said Edmonton Global's international network and work on the Edmonton region as a brand have benefits that may not be immediately obvious. "We have one major criteria before we claim responsibility for an FID, and that is when the investor says to us explicitly, 'This deal, this final investment decision, would not have occurred without your involvement.'"

Administration recommended that Fort Saskatchewan continue its membership to maintain access to subject matter experts and collaborate as part of the region.

"Though no investment decisions have been finalized, withdrawing from Edmonton Global could mean missing out on future investment opportunities," Erin Brush Duncan, the city's director of economic development, said during the meeting. "Edmonton Global remains one of the last regional entities following the dissolution of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board, and leaving may limit opportunities for collaboration with regional partners."

• A winter storm in Edmonton and across central Alberta brought strong winds, rapidly dropping temperatures, and heavy snowfall after an overnight flash freeze. The storm was expected to continue into the morning of Dec. 18. The storm caused more than 12 flight cancellations at Edmonton International Airport. A Phase 1 parking ban is in effect in Edmonton. Drivers in Edmonton, Sherwood Park, and Red Deer should use caution due to blowing snow and icy conditions.
• Edmonton is considering charging for parking at attractions like the TELUS World of Science – Edmonton and Edmonton Valley Zoo. Coun. Michael Janz introduced a motion to study the costs of maintaining free parking lots and potential user fees, arguing that taxpayers currently provide an "enormous parking subsidy." The proposal includes tiered fees based on income and separate charges for non-Edmonton residents.
• The Edmonton Community Foundation is investing more than $1.85 million in early childhood programs, bringing its 2025 funding in the sector to over $2.5 million. The funding supports 18 organizations serving children from infancy to kindergarten and aims to stabilize frontline services. Funded projects include Indigenous land-based learning at Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, more than 5,300 new picture books for Edmonton Public Library, and a renovated site for ABC Head Start.
• Prairies Economic Development Canada has invested $10.9 million over two years in CKUA for upgrades to its headquarters in downtown Edmonton, including both studio and performance-space amenities. Acting CEO Adam Mitchell emphasized that the federal funding does not change CKUA's ongoing fundraising for operations. "This investment will help us in our stabilization plan; it is not the stabilization plan," he said.
• Ritchie residents in Edmonton are divided over plans for the 76 Avenue renewal, a central thoroughfare in need of rebuilding. Earlier this month, City of Edmonton planners presented three options at the Ritchie Community League, which include features like multi-use trails or raised bike lanes, wider sidewalks, and traffic calming measures. Some residents expressed concern that proposals to reduce parking could negatively impact local businesses and residential parking. The City said the final design would depend on community feedback.
• The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) recommended no charges against Edmonton police officers following an investigation into a 2021 overdose death. ASIRT concluded there were no reasonable grounds to believe the officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Festive Lunch Buffet starting at 11am at Chateau Lacombe Hotel
• Bidding on Opportunities starting at 12pm online
• Women's Wisdom Circle starting at 1pm at Devon Public Library
• Community Connectors starting at 2pm at Stony Plain Public Library
• Dragons' Den Day starting at 4pm at DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen (Jasper Avenue)
• Startup TNT Happy Hour starting at 6pm at Pub 1905
• Letter to Your Future-self starting at 6pm at Kommune x Whisked
• Deck the Rolls: Sushi Workshop starting at 6:30pm at Fort Edmonton Park
• Adult Christmas Sing Along starting at 6:30pm at Stony Plain Public Library
• Music in the Manuscripts: A Night of Readings and Songs starting at 7pm at Highlands United Church

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Dec. 20-21: Shumka's Nutcracker at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
• Dec. 28: Holiday Skate at Rogers Place
• Dec. 31: New Year's Eve Festival and Fireworks at Churchill Square

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

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