The Pulse
Jan. 15, 2026

The Alberta Food Processors Association is leveraging artificial intelligence to help shoppers keep their dollars local with the Made in Alberta app.

"We kept hearing that people were struggling to know if something was made in Alberta," Bianca Parsons, the AFPA's executive director, told Taproot. "We thought, 'This could be as simple as literally taking a photo.' Maybe you're at home, you take a photo of your coffee cup, and the app will say, 'It looks like you're drinking a hot beverage — here are some local ones to choose from.' It gives people an opportunity to, hopefully, fall in love with something new."

Taproot tried the coffee cup photo Parsons mentioned and got suggestions for products by Beverage Bombs, Gioielli Tea Co., and Token Bitters. The app also allows users to browse a directory of more than 3,000 Made in Alberta products by category or search term and save them for future reference. It was developed by Playcanics and debuted in December.

The AFPA has stewarded the Made in Alberta program on behalf of the provincial government since 2023. Parsons said support for shopping local has only grown since, especially once the United States started applying tariffs on Canadian goods and made threats against Canada's sovereignty.

"All of a sudden, when we heard 'elbows up,' we also heard people say, 'Actually, I genuinely care. Is this actually made in Alberta? What does it mean to have been made in Alberta?'" Parsons said.

There are many different official designations for how much something is made in a specific place, Sam Jenkins of Punchcard Systems shared when his company released the Check the Label app, which focuses on how Canadian a product is. With Made in Alberta, the "substantial, final transformation" of the goods must take place in the province, Parsons said. For example, raw materials don't necessarily need to be grown here to meet the AFPA's threshold.

"We know there are so many incredible coffee roasters out there," Parsons said. "Our criteria allows for you to bring your beans in, but if you roast them here, well, now that product is made in Alberta."

The AFPA has calculated the value of Albertan growers, processors, retailers, food service buyers, and suppliers at $28 billion. Parsons said the eligibility criteria for Made in Alberta are more inclusive than similar programs in other provinces. British Columbia's Buy BC certification is open to vendors who spend 51% or more of processing costs on products within the province, she mentioned.

Made in Alberta began as a labelling program with no ambitions to build an app. The provincial Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation had pledged $5 million for the AFPA to deliver the program through mid-2027. The funds were meant to develop the program, build a website, and promote Made in Alberta to consumers and producers. But Budget 2024 limited Made in Alberta funding to $2.8 million, leading the AFPA to create an app instead, Parsons said.

The agriculture ministry did not respond to Taproot's request for information about the funding shortfall. Meanwhile, it is soliciting input on the demand for local food in Alberta. The survey closes on Jan. 30.

• Residents in areas like the McLeod neighbourhood expressed frustration regarding large snow windrows left on residential streets and the City of Edmonton's decision not to tow vehicles during parking bans. Residents said blocked curbs and driveways are affecting mobility and commutes. Mayor Andrew Knack, acknowledging the issues and said that snow clearing will be a key part of next year's budget. The union representing crews said vehicles left on streets are hindering efforts.
• Organizers of the Deep Freeze Festival say unplowed streets in Edmonton's Alberta Avenue ahead of the event, scheduled for Jan. 17 and 18, are raising safety and parking concerns for the 60,000 expected attendees. Mayor Andrew Knack said he is working to address navigation and safety concerns. The City of Edmonton said it can't reschedule residential blading due to policy but completed extra clearing on specific routes.
• Edmonton's outdoor rinks are experiencing bumpy, slushy conditions due to recent warm weather. As of Jan. 14, the warmer temperatures have led to degraded ice quality, making many rinks less suitable for skating in the Edmonton area.
• Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium will be the site of a friendly soccer match between Canada and Uzbekistan men's national teams on June 1. The game serves as preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will see tournament matches played in Canada for the first time. Mayor Andrew Knack anticipates a $21 million economic impact for the city. Canadian captain and Edmonton native Alphonso Davies is expected to play in the game. Tickets go on sale Jan. 23.
• An editorial in The Globe and Mail highlighted how Edmonton's loosened zoning rules in 2024 fostered a record for building permits in 2025, predominantly for low-rise multiplexes, which created approximately 2,350 new homes. The editorial argued that this success refutes claims by politicians about a lack of demand for such housing. Housing advocate Jacob Dawang's analysis highlighted minimal impact, with only 310 out of 80,000 established Edmonton properties receiving multiplex permits. Despite these positive results, the editorial board wrote, Edmonton city council is set to debate new building restrictions in February, a move criticized as counterproductive to addressing Canada's housing crisis.
• McMan Youth, Family, and Community Services, an Edmonton child crisis prevention centre, experienced a high intake of children in January, following the holiday season. The centre noted that this post-holiday period often sees an increase in children needing assistance due to various family stressors. The centre works to provide immediate assistance and prevent further crises for vulnerable children and families in the Edmonton region.
• The Alberta government will transition in-hospital registered midwifery services from Edmonton's Royal Alexandra Hospital to the Fort Saskatchewan Community Hospital, more than 30 kilometres away. The shift means 24/7 low-risk labour, birth, postpartum, and newborn care midwifery will move to Fort Saskatchewan. Royal Alexandra Hospital will continue midwifery coverage Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 7am to 7pm until Feb. 13.
• The Alberta government plans to test the drinking water for lead and copper in more than 200 buildings owned by the province, including the legislature and the Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton. Infrastructure Minister Martin Long's office said the measure addresses aging infrastructure to ensure water safety. Bids for the project closed on Jan. 13, with testing and reporting expected by spring 2027.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• 2026 REALTORS Housing Forecast starting at 8am at Edmonton EXPO Centre
• Solve the Right Problem: How Customers Decide to Hire You starting at 11am online
• U of A Researcher Spotlight Series with John Ussher starting at 12pm online
• BetaKit Welcome Party starting at 4:30pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Indian Weeknight Meals starting at 6pm at Get Cooking
• Opening Reception: from where the grain itself can speak starting at 6pm at Mitchell Art Gallery
• PYRO 142's Wine Dinner starting at 6pm at PYRO 142
• New York Islanders at Edmonton Oilers starting at 7pm at Rogers Place
• Writer in Residence: Applying for Grant Funding starting at 7pm online
• Are You Smarter Than A Drag Queen? starting at 7pm at Evolution Wonderlounge
• Talking Archaeology starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Strathcona)
• Book Clubs of EPL: The Glass Hotel starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Abbottsfield - Penny McKee)

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Jan. 27: BOMA Leaders Luncheon featuring Angus Watt at Royal Glenora Club
• Jan. 29: Export Awards at Queen Elizabeth II Building
• Feb. 7: The House of 1000 Sues at Orange Hall Strathcona

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.

Have you checked out the Taproot Edmonton Calendar? Some of today's answers show up there from time to time.