The Pulse
April 10, 2026

This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a few efforts to gather feedback on what should be allowed in Garneau, plus in-person sessions on recreation in Leduc, a survey on Strathcona County's 2027 budget, and budget engagements in all 12 of Edmonton's wards.

The City of Edmonton is looking for feedback on a rezoning application for 11054 84 Avenue NW. The property is currently zoned under the Garneau special character residential zone, which aims to maintain the neighbourhood's character while still allowing infill development. The zone applies to properties in a portion of the neighbourhood between 83 Avenue and 86 Avenue, and between 109 Street and 111 Street.

Anonymous Architecture has proposed a new direct control zone that would allow for six units instead of four, a half-metre increase in height, and 5% more site coverage. The proposed zone would require building details and finishing materials common to the early 1900s and existing single-detached housing in the area. A survey on the rezoning is open until April 26. The feedback will be summarized and presented to council when the application is discussed at a public hearing.

The application would also trigger administrative updates to bring the special zone in line with the city-wide zoning bylaw, which was approved in 2023. Most of the regulations in the special zone are the same, with minor changes proposed to side setbacks. The city is accepting feedback on changes to the special zone until April 26.

Meanwhile, the Garneau Community League is looking for input into its own proposed amendments to the zoning bylaw and district policy aimed at enhancing the neighbourhood character protection. "As our neighbourhood continues to densify, Garneau residents are looking to preserve our heritage character and ensure continued livability for residents of all demographics and life stages," the league said.

The league has proposed expanding the special character residential area zone to sections north of 87 Avenue, south of 82 Avenue, and east of 109 Street. It also wants to modify the zone to limit lodging houses and microsuites, allow backyard housing with regulations, add design requirements, and require that developers retain trees.

The league said new development in Garneau has been one-dimensional and mostly focuses on small homes aimed at students, reducing housing diversity. This has been exacerbated by the priority growth area project, the league added.

The league is asking residents to suggest additions or subtractions to the proposed amendment, among other feedback. "By amending the plan, we hope to ensure that more of Garneau's historic character is considered in its future growth, even as we support thoughtful, well integrated densification throughout the neighbourhood," the league said.

The league will hold in-person engagement sessions on April 11 and 14 at Garneau School. There will be a survey open from April 11 to May 4.

• City of Edmonton officials acknowledged they missed planning for windrow removal during the 132 Avenue renewal project, which reduced the major roadway to two lanes. Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford criticized the oversight, noting that windrows blocked on-street parking. City council's infrastructure committee voted to request a memo outlining financial implications for the city's neighbourhood-renewal program.
• The City of Edmonton and OEG have selected DIALOG and HNTB to design a new $250-million event park in the Ice District, moving the project into its design phase. The venue, to be built next to Rogers Place, is planned as a mix of indoor and outdoor space capable of hosting concerts, festivals, cultural events and sports. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 as part of a broader city and provincial investment in downtown development.
• Edmonton's minor sports organizations are struggling with facility availability as youth registration and demand for practice time increase across the city, Postmedia reported. The Lewis Farms Facility and Park Project, set to open in fall 2028 with ice rinks, gyms, and a pool, may be the last large recreation centre funded by the city due to budget constraints. Hockey Edmonton, which spends more than $4 million annually on ice time, faces significant capacity challenges that exceed available resources.
• A report by Rentals.ca and Urbanation found that average apartment rent in Edmonton decreased by 2.2% to $1,488 in March. The decline reflects a national trend, where average asking rents in Canada saw their largest drop in nearly five years, falling 5.3% from March 2025 to $2,008. Shaun Hildebrand of Urbanation attributed the downturn to declining population, affordability issues, economic uncertainty, and record apartment completions, leading to higher vacancy rates and increased landlord incentives for prospective tenants.
• The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), the province's police watchdog, has cleared Edmonton Police Service officers in a June 4, 2024 shooting. After completing its investigation, ASIRT found the officers' use of force was justified and necessary to prevent death or serious harm. Police had responded to an assault call when a man armed with a steak knife approached officers, ignored commands, and was shot after a conducted-energy weapon failed. Officers then handcuffed him and provided first aid.
• The Edmonton Oilers surged into first place in the Pacific Division with a 5-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks, fuelled by Connor McDavid's five-point performance. McDavid scored three goals and added two assists, marking his 15th career hat trick. The Oilers are now two points ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights, having gone 6-1-1 in their last eight games as they prepare for the playoffs.

On this day in 1942, Edmonton's amateur astronomers were getting a lesson in asteroids.

The skies above Edmonton have been captivating people for thousands of years. It's far enough north to be treated to spectacular aurora displays, and the cold, long winter nights make for clear skies perfect for stargazing. This nêhiyaw tale shared by Jacquelyn Cardinal shows how long the stars above have been inspiring stories.

In 1932, a group of amateur astronomers, led by University of Alberta math professor J.W. Campbell, petitioned the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada to create an Edmonton chapter. Campbell would serve as the organization's first president, and the group grew quickly under his leadership. In addition to stargazing, the RASC Edmonton Centre would host monthly lectures on astronomy, hold public events, and create a "provincial fireball reporting program" for anyone witnessing one of Alberta's surprisingly frequent meteors.

One of the group's early members was Cyril Wates, an engineer for Edmonton's telephone company who had a knack for building telescopes. During the 1930s and early 1940s, he would build half a dozen of them and write articles for Scientific American and the RASC's journal. His most ambitious creation, which took him five years to craft, was a 32-centimetre telescope cobbled together out of dental equipment, washing machine parts, and other objects. Wates donated the telescope to the University of Alberta, where it became the foundation of the institution's first observatory, which opened in 1943.

In 1958, Edmonton's city council put out the call for civic projects to honour the upcoming visit of Queen Elizabeth II. Members of RASC Edmonton Centre pushed for a municipal planetarium, the first of its kind in Canada. Through an "inventive" campaign, the astronomers gathered strong public support for the idea. In 1959, the Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium was built.

The astronomical society continues to encourage stargazers in the city. The group manages the observatory at the TELUS World of Science Edmonton, one of the city's two observatories open to the public (the other is at the U of A). In 2023, the society opened a second observatory at Black Nugget Lake, 70 kilometres outside of the city, and thus far enough away to take advantage of the darker skies. That new observatory houses the largest publicly accessible telescope in Western Canada.

Many of us have been keeping a closer eye on the skies these days due to the historic Artemis II lunar mission, which is currently in flight. Among the crew is Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who at an earlier stage in his career served as a fighter pilot at CFB Cold Lake.

This clipping was found on Vintage Edmonton, a daily look at Edmonton's history from armchair archivist Rev Recluse of Vintage Edmonton.

Here are some events happening this weekend in the Edmonton area.

• April 10: Sensory Gala starting at 5:30pm at Bison Lodge
• April 10: A Fringe Benefit starting at 7pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• April 10-11: Connections//Collisions starting at 7:30pm at Mile Zero Dance
• April 10: First Fridays Open Stage starting at 7:30pm at Holy Trinity Anglican Church
• April 10-12: Orchid Fair Annual Show & Sale at Enjoy Centre
• April 10-12: Great Canadian Trade Fair at Millennium Place
• April 11: Poetry & Stillness starting at 10:30am at Unity Church of Edmonton
• April 11: Elisa Thorn (Vancouver), Conjvr, Rachel Burry & Mustafa Rafiq starting at 6:30pm at St. Mary's Anglican Church
• April 11: Collective Singers (Namibia) starting at 7pm at McDougall United Church
• Until April 11: Bonfire at Rapid Fire Exchange
• April 12: Celebration of New Books: Part 1 starting at 4:30pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• April 12: Script Salon: Punching Judy starting at 7:30pm at Holy Trinity Anglican Church

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• April 23: YEG Trivia Night with ECAMP and Taproot at The Canadian Brewhouse (Downtown)
• April 24: Friendly Fridays April Edition: Talent, Learning, Community & Collaboration at Edmonton Research Park
• April 28: Literary Editions 2026 at University of Alberta (Rutherford Library South)

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 a hint for 4-Across and 7-Across? You'll find it here.