The Pulse: Jan. 12, 2026

The Strathcona Rail Community Garden has been added to Edmonton's inventory of historic resources, which could signal a widening of the definition of heritage in Edmonton, says the advocate heading the preservation effort.

"It goes well back in telling the story of the settlement of Edmonton, but also the City Beautiful (movement) and beautification during the Great Depression and post-World Wars," said Kyle Schole, who is vice-chair of the Edmonton Historical Board but spearheaded this project independently.

The garden is on a wedge of city-owned land along the rail line near 86 Avenue, between 105 and 106 Streets. Schole told Taproot it was originally part of River Lot 11, which was claimed by Joe McDonald, a man of Scottish and Métis descent and one of the original founders of the Strathcona community. The plot was one of many vacant lots across the city that was transformed into a garden in a bid to increase food production and beautify the city in the 1920s or '30s (precise historical records were destroyed in a flood in the 1970s).

To make the case to add the garden to the inventory of historic resources, Schole researched the space and interviewed members of the gardening group.

"At a couple of moments, I was almost moved to tears by some of the passion and the joy that this place brings them today," he said. "It's a space that, yes, has a longstanding story and tells a heritage and has a lot of stories that go with that, but also, for today, it's a spiritual place that brings joy to folks who continue to improve those soils and work this land."

Schole said the garden's recognition as a historic place aligns with potential forthcoming updates to city policy. Administration has been working on a new heritage places strategy to reimagine how it identifies, commemorates, and preserves historic spaces. A main goal of updating the strategy is to widen the definition of "heritage places" to include not just historic buildings, but also natural spaces, cultural landscapes, and community landmarks.

Schole said there are seven parks and 13 trees or landscape features currently on the inventory, meaning they are recognized as deserving of conservation but are not legally protected from demolition. Resources that are designated as municipal historic resources are protected from demolition or inappropriate alteration. Alexander Circle, a small park in the Glenora neighbourhood, was Edmonton's first open space to be designated a municipal historic resource.

• Edmonton's office vacancy rate stabilized at 19% by the end of 2025, returning to pre-pandemic levels, a CBRE report found. Mark Anderson, CBRE's Edmonton managing director, attributed this steady growth partly to office-to-residential conversions, especially downtown. Quinn Phillips of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association called for more such projects to increase downtown vibrancy and foot traffic. The return of provincial government workers to offices in February is expected to further boost the market.
• A fire next to Norwood music venue The Aviary has sharpened calls to extend Edmonton's problem properties initiative to neglected commercial buildings. Owner Phillip Muz says abandoned properties pose serious risks, noting two nearby derelict buildings burned within weeks, threatening active businesses. He says property owners often leave buildings vacant and unsecured despite repeated warnings about break-ins and fire hazards. Muz adds that years of reports to the city about the neighbouring property led to little action, calling the damage to his venue a preventable failure.
• Edmonton's Ice Castles have closed for the week due to unseasonably warm weather. The popular winter attraction requires cold temperatures to maintain the ice structures. Those with tickets during the closure can either get a refund or exchange them for a future visit.
• Edmonton business owner Richard Gendron, 72, took an injured man to the hospital himself on Jan. 4 because of a long ambulance wait, Postmedia reported. Gendron found the man, who had a broken leg and said he had been assaulted, crawling in -20 C weather in his business parking lot near 75 Street and Wagner Road. After police arrived, they informed Gendron that an ambulance could be hours away. The Edmonton Police Service confirmed the incident and that the complainant declined to wait for EMS. Gendron drove the man to the University of Alberta Hospital, expressing his disappointment and "losing faith" in emergency services.
• The purchase of a downtown Edmonton building later slated for addiction recovery services has raised fresh questions about government decision-making and private influence, The Tyee reported. The property was toured by senior Alberta officials months before it was bought by businessman Sam Mraiche, who now leases it to the Métis Nation of Alberta for $480,000 a year. Mraiche is a central figure in a wider political scandal involving alleged conflicts and political interference in Alberta Health Services contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, allegations he denies and that are under investigation by the auditor general and RCMP. Documents reviewed by The Tyee show overlapping ties among the UCP government, a private recovery firm and Mraiche, prompting opposition claims of a broader pattern of insider access.
• Edmonton parents say poor governance at Southwest United Soccer Club has cost their U-18 team thousands of dollars and a key scouting opportunity, Postmedia reported. A sideline altercation involving the club's president led to coaches being removed, leaving the team unable to secure travel permits for an Ontario showcase. Parents say the club failed to replace the coaches and showed little accountability, allowing the president to remain after a brief suspension. The late cancellation meant players missed a rare chance to be seen by college and university scouts.
• Edmonton will host the National Indigenous Cultural Conference from Feb. 17 to 19. Organized in partnership with Indigenous Tourism Alberta, Travel Alberta, and Explore Edmonton, the event will welcome more than 1,100 delegates from about 11 countries. Keith Henry of Indigenous Tourism Canada said the conference aims to strengthen Indigenous tourism by focusing on marketing, development, leadership, and partnerships, positioning Canada as a leading Indigenous destination.
• Alberta Municipalities asked the federal government not to impose reductions to off-site levies within the Housing Accelerator Fund. The organization argues that these levies are crucial for municipalities to fund essential infrastructure like roads and utilities for new housing developments. It says reducing them could strain municipal finances and impact services across Alberta, including in Edmonton and surrounding areas.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Regional Genomic Applications Partnership Program Information Session starting at 2:30pm online
• ERIN's New Member Monday starting at 4pm online
• Edmonton Ecommerce Meetup starting at 5pm at Poppy Barley (Office)
• Pressed sushi and nigiri-making class starting at 6pm at Izakaya TOMO
• Green Drinks starting at 7pm at The Buckingham Pub
• The 4 Daily Foundations for Healthy Balance starting at 7pm online
• Audreys Classics Book Club: Invisible Man starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Jan. 22: Career Fair Canada at Edmonton Convention Centre
• Jan. 25: Zine Workshop at Ritchie Community Hall
• Jan. 28: Spring Signals: Birds, Bats, and the Start of a New Aerial Season in Alberta at Horowitz Theatre

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 Food Roundup or the Arts Roundup may have an easier time with some of these clues — subscribe for free just in case!