The Pulse: Jan. 29, 2026

A popular vegan baker is back in action after hanging up his apron last year.

"This opportunity kind of popped up out of nowhere," Jeff Funston, the owner of King of Tarts, said about his new location in the back alley of 10334 82 Avenue NW. "I get this email saying, 'Hey, this space is about to go on the market. Do you want to see it?'"

Funston opened the first King of Tarts store at Revolution Square on Stony Plain Road in mid-2023. About six months later, a flood displaced the business. Between that setback, medical problems for his family, and the sudden death of Funston's father, the uphill battle to run King of Tarts just wasn't worth it anymore, he said.

"(My father's death) was the final straw. It made us take a step back and just look at what's worth it, in the end, to try and bring this thing back to life," Funston told Taproot. "I ended up taking the summer off and really did some soul-searching."

And yet, a few months after announcing he was folding the business in April, Funston was baking pastries for Felice Cafe and getting back onto the market circuit, he said. All the while, a 14-foot sign for the business was beating in his garage like a telltale tart.

"I was about ready to hack up the sign and throw it out, because it was taking up space, and I was going to take a job elsewhere," Funston remembered. But after about six weeks of negotiating with the new shop's landlord, he was all in. King of Tarts soft-opened in December and began operating from Thursday to Sunday in early January.

"I like to consider this kind of our bit of redemption," Funston said. "We didn't really get the full opportunity to push our business concept in the last place, because by the time we hit the six-month mark, we were flooded and scrambling."

Funston said part of his decision was due to the location. The bakery just off Whyte Avenue has better foot traffic than at Revolution Square, it was already built out for his exact needs as a baker, and the signage is visible from the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market, where Funston has been a vendor. Plus, he has history with Sugared & Spiced, which shut down at the location in 2025 after operating since 2017. Jeff Nachtigall of Sugared & Spiced had twice offered to share the space with Funston in the past.

• Edmonton city council has begun a year-long process to develop its next four-year budget, starting with a review of long-term financial projections to 2036. Mayor Andrew Knack said the process will focus on transparency and clearly outlining the costs of city services. Administration will finalize year-end financial updates by March, with council setting the 2026 budget in April. Public engagement, including ward meetings and workshops, will run from April to June, followed by councillor reports in July. A public hearing is scheduled for November ahead of council's budget deliberations in December.
• Edmonton city council discussed high development costs for new neighbourhoods during a meeting on Jan. 28. Councillors are evaluating strategies to mitigate these expenses, which significantly impact housing affordability and the ongoing expansion of residential areas within the city. "Everything that is south of 41 Avenue SW, authorizing planning for that also needs to come with the authorization of a clear financial plan of how we will pay for all of the necessary infrastructure," Mayor Andrew Knack said.
• WestJet is reducing flights to the U.S. from Edmonton, saying the decision reflects a decrease in demand for these routes. "We see no indication that this trend will change in the foreseeable future and we are implementing reductions to our transborder network in 2026 on an ongoing basis," a WestJet spokesperson told CTV News.
• Fraud charges against 11 owners of 10 Edmonton tow truck companies were quietly withdrawn between November and December 2025, Global News reported. The owners were charged last year by the Edmonton Police Service. The Alberta Crown Prosecution Service cited "no reasonable likelihood of conviction due to insufficiency of the available admissible evidence." Some company owners told Global News of negative impacts on their businesses and reputations despite the charges being dropped.
• Former Edmonton city councillor and mayoral candidate Michael Walters is pitching an after-school recreation program aimed at expanding youth programming at city recreation centres. His proposed All in for Kids initiative would add activities during after-school hours and weekends and provide free transit for youth from high-needs communities to access the centres. Walters says investing in prevention supports mental health and reduces future social costs, an idea Mayor Andrew Knack said he supports as council heads into budget discussions.
• Alberta Sen. Kristopher Wells joined 40 other senators in calling for a ban on all advertising related to online sports betting. Wells cited concerns about sports corruption, the pervasive nature of these ads since laws were loosened in 2021, and gambling addictions, particularly among young men under 25.
• Alberta separatists collected signatures in Edmonton on Jan. 27 at a west end hotel, for a petition aiming to trigger a referendum on provincial independence. Organizers are seeking nearly 178,000 signatures across Alberta. Edmonton residents Brian Copping and Serge Chamberland expressed frustration with Ottawa, citing unfair treatment. Jeffrey Rath of Stay Free Alberta said he is confident about reaching a goal of one million signatures.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• How to Build a Stronger and More Profitable Business in 2026 starting at 10am online
• What it Feels Like to Be Offered MAID starting at 12pm online
• ERIN x EBA Mixer: Kick Off 2026 starting at 5pm at Silent Ice Centre
• Medical Applications of Machine Learning - Patient Specific Treatment - Use Cases starting at 5pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Export Awards starting at 6pm at Queen Elizabeth II Building
• Intro to sewing and making a tote bag starting at 6pm at The Woodrack Cafe
• Write Night starting at 6:30pm at Roam Cafe
• Between Us: An Interactive Talk on The Psychology of Sexual Desire & Orgasms starting at 7pm online
• Mixtape Improv starting at 9pm at Grindstone Theatre
• Edmonton Chinatown Dining Week at various locations (until Feb. 8)

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Feb. 2-7: International Week at University of Alberta
• Feb. 4: Interfaith Breakfast: Belonging in a Time of Uncertainty at The University Club
• Feb. 5: Community Grant Sessions: Coffee, Conversations & Funding Ideas at Edmonton Community Foundation

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.

Need something to do when you're done? Check out the Taproot Edmonton Calendar!