The Pulse: March 18, 2026

A group of people pose in safety vests pose near a robotic arm inside a warehouse.

Robot-made trusses among pilot projects in new program

March 18, 2026
By Colin Gallant

A robotics company aiming to make the modular building industry more efficient is among the first pilots supported by the new Venture Pilots program at Edmonton Unlimited.

RoBIM Technologies will pre-fabricate a form of truss for Honomobo, which makes modular homes and other structures. The pilot is a way to get a foothold in a realm that has a significant market, said Bruce Alton, CEO and co-founder of RoBIM.

"It gives us a reference customer to work with and an opportunity to work here in Edmonton," Alton told Taproot ahead of a March 18 showcase for RoBIM and four other companies. "But there are 1,100 modular builders in Canada, so they're all potential candidates for this."

Alton's company makes a manufacturing system called RoBIM HIVE that combines a robotic arm, software, and "end-effectors," which are attachments such as vacuum grippers, drilling routers, or nail guns. It shipped its first products from HIVE in the summer of 2025, and Alton said HIVE's functionality will grow during the Honomobo pilot, which is slated to run until June.

"We're building up this library of 25 different capabilities that we can combine together in different ways," Alton said. "We've developed some of the capabilities needed for Honomobo, but this project allows us to build a few new capabilities that will solve the problem for Honomobo, and then go into our library so we can then sell to other customers who have a similar need."

RoBIM was established in 2021 and closed an oversubscribed angel investment round in June 2025. Its customers include Connects Pre-Fab Wall Panels, which makes wall panels for multi-unit dwellings, and Alta-Fab, which makes dwellings and offices for worksites.

Customer acquisition and technology development go hand in robotic hand for Edmonton Unlimited's Venture Pilots program, which kicked off with its Built World Tech stream earlier this year. A key goal for the program is to help participants find customers beyond Edmonton, as RoBIM's pilot could do, given that the Edmonton-founded Honomobo has clients throughout North America.

"There are definitely significant advantages for our startups if they partner with corporations that are operating beyond our shores," program lead Zack Storms told Taproot. "We really want the startups to use these pilots to land more sales and grow their customer base beyond just the local region."

The first built-world cohort is expected to lead to 10 pilots, including RoBIM's. Others include the following:

Aqtiva, which is using a cold plasma microbubble-activated water to maximize crop yield for FreshPal Farms in Olds;
Candle Lithium, which is deploying a direct lithium extraction technology based on ion-exchange to a large natural gas producer;
CityScan Technologies, whose AI-powered infrastructure assessment software will be used by Tetra Tech;
Elementiam, which is providing a vision-enabled software layer for industrial robots to Fusion Production Systems.

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Headlines: March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim

Edmonton's Lewis Farms Recreation Centre, which is under construction, is projected to exceed its budget by at least 47% due to higher-than-predicted inflation. City staff will ask council to approve an undisclosed amount from the capital budget to cover the difference. The facility was already significantly scaled back in 2025, with pool and gym reductions and the removal of features like a bouldering wall. Construction is slated for completion in 2027, with an opening in fall 2028.
Edmonton city council voted 12-1 to direct Mayor Andrew Knack to advocate to the provincial government for a ban on grocery store restrictive covenants. This push aims to prevent food deserts in Edmonton by stopping grocery companies from placing clauses in property sales that restrict competitors from using former store locations. Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz introduced the motion.
Edmonton Police Service Chief Warren Driechel defended his February trip to Israel, following criticism from local Muslim community groups and city councillors. The Major Cities Chiefs Association organized the trip for North American policing executives to learn from Israeli policing practices. While Driechel highlighted discussions with Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Druze officers and community leaders, some councillors, along with Mayor Andrew Knack, and Muslim groups have criticized the trip. Driechel said he stands by his decision, and that the trip was an opportunity to learn from diverse policing environments.
Edmonton city council designated Harcourt House as a Municipal Historic Resource. Designed by architects Freda and Dennis O'Connor, the International Style building has served as a place for artists to gather since its construction in 1965, the City of Edmonton said in a release. It was designed by Freda O'Connor, who became the first woman president of the Alberta Association of Architects.
Ward tastawiyinwak Coun. Karen Principe is set to ask city council to reconsider new patio licensing fees this week, which are set to begin in April. Businesses would pay $6,900 for large year-round patios and $3,700 for large seasonal patios on public spaces. Principe, whose proposal is supported by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, argues these fees are too costly for small- and medium-sized businesses, many of which are still recovering from the pandemic. Ward O-day'min Coun. Anne Stevenson said the fees help cover lost parking revenue, regulatory costs, and fill funding gaps left by cancelled photo radar. If the motion passes, fees would temporarily pause while council seeks alternative funding.
The Alberta government does not publicly release its Taser-use guidelines, citing "sensitive operational information," unlike other provinces that do release such documents, CBC reported. While the Edmonton Police Service said it follows "strict policies and procedures," several people have died after Edmonton police used Tasers on them. These deaths were often attributed to "excited delirium," a diagnosis now criticized by medical organizations.
Edmonton police and fire crews are investigating an early-morning fire that destroyed a home in north Edmonton. Five Edmonton Fire Rescue Services crews responded to the blaze near 120 Street and 138 Avenue, taking more than an hour to control and three more hours to extinguish. No injuries were reported, and the Edmonton Police Service is in the early stages of an investigation.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to a lower-body injury. Draisaitl sustained the injury on March 15 during a game against Nashville. This season, Draisaitl has recorded 35 goals and 62 assists for 97 points in 65 games.