The Pulse
April 21, 2026

The City of Edmonton will convene housing leaders from across the Prairies from May 11 to 14 in an effort to advance affordable and non-market housing.

Housing Forward builds off of a one-day symposium the city held in the fall. The four-day symposium is the logical next step, in part because Edmonton has lessons to share, and in part because it wants to learn what's next, said Stuart Kehrig, director of the city's Housing Action Team.

"Since 2019, we've increased our housing inventory by more than 40%, so we have some successes that we want to share with others, but it's also continuous improvement," Kehrig told Taproot. "What can we do better? What can we learn?" He added that Edmonton's progress has depended on collaboration with affordable housing providers and other partners, and the summit is intended to build capacity across the sector.

Edmonton's affordable housing needs assessment, released in August 2023, found that one out of every four renter households in the city is in core housing need, meaning they struggle to cover housing costs or live in crowded or unsafe homes and can't afford to move. The city is projected to have more than 56,000 households in core housing need by 2031. Administration estimates that it needs nearly 40,000 additional subsidized housing units to meet the demand. It's using the Housing Accelerator Fund from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to help it get there, with funds going toward developing surplus school sites for affordable housing, waiving some fees, and prioritizing permit applications for subsidized housing projects.

The summit expects 500 or more delegates from across the Prairies, including housing providers, government representatives, developers, designers, builders, funders, researchers, and Indigenous housing leaders. The agenda includes sessions on topics such as innovative delivery, financing and land models, planning reform, climate-resilient design, sector sustainability, and Indigenous leadership in housing.

The conference is intentionally focused on the Prairies. While Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal are each hundreds of years old, Prairie cities have only been around for about a century, Kehrig said.

"We're so young as far as cities go, and the way that the growth patterns have looked, they are much different than Ottawa, Toronto, and some of those other bigger centres," he said. "Some of the market dynamics are different, too — the cost of land in Toronto could be 25% of your full project cost, for example, where in Edmonton, it's not quite the same."

• The City of Edmonton released its Wildfire Risk Strategy on April 20, aiming to protect people, property, and natural areas from increasing wildfire risks. The strategy focuses on minimizing ignition risks via vegetation management and updated development regulations, increasing community awareness, strengthening emergency response, and collaborating with regional partners and Indigenous communities. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services Chief David Lazenby highlighted a "whole-of-society approach" beyond fire suppression, including forest management and public education.
• Edmonton council candidates returned nearly $68,000 in campaign contributions following the 2025 municipal election, the Independent Journalism Foundation reported. The total amount, $67,951.81, accounts for 0.35% of all declared contributions received by candidates. Funds were returned due to exceeding donation limits or originating from ineligible sources. Candidates must return non-compliant donations to the donor or, if the donor is unknown, remit them to the municipality or the province.
• Judith Gale of Bear Claw Beaver Hills House is urging Edmonton to re-evaluate fines for public drug use under its public spaces bylaw. The bylaw, which came into effect in May 2025 and is scheduled for review in late 2026, includes $25 fines for visible public drug use. Gale argued that the fines are punitive for people experiencing homelessness and who are unable to pay. Since the bylaw came into effect, Edmonton has issued 406 tickets and about 3,700 warnings, totalling more than $10,000 in fines.
• The Edmonton Police Service said it is preparing for large crowds as the Edmonton Oilers begin their Stanley Cup playoff run. Up to 30,000 fans are expected in ICE District during home games, with 104 Avenue set to close during the third period and for about an hour after games. Police are urging fans to plan transportation ahead and celebrate responsibly.
• Circle K says it will reimburse customers affected by contaminated fuel at an Edmonton gas station, where water intrusion into underground tanks caused vehicle damage. The company shut down pumps after dozens of drivers reported issues following fill-ups at the Ellerslie Road site. The station will remain closed until the system is fully cleared and independently verified. Affected customers are encouraged to submit claims for compensation.
• Premier Danielle Smith announced that Alberta will eliminate twice-a-year time changes, opting to stay on daylight time year-round. The government is expected to introduce legislation supporting the move this week. The change means Albertans will have more evening daylight in winter but less morning light. The decision follows British Columbia's move to permanent daylight time. Medical experts, including the Canadian Sleep Society, advocate for permanent standard time due to potential health impacts. Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the move as a distraction from pressing issues.
• The Edmonton Police Service charged tattoo artist Iskotew Gladu, 40, with five counts of sexual assault. Gladu was arrested on April 18 and released with conditions, including not working alone as a tattoo artist. He is known to have worked at two businesses in north and central Edmonton, near 118 Avenue and St. Albert Trail, and Kingsway Mall. Investigators believe that there may be additional complainants.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation, Episode 2 starting at 11am online
• Selling to the City Information Sessions starting at 1pm online
• Edmonton Safety Connects April Social starting at 4:30pm at Canadian Brewhouse (Edmonton Ellerslie)
• Chrysalis Connects starting at 5pm at Buco Pizzeria + Vino Bar
• Ward pihêsiwin In-Person Engagement for 2027-2030 Budget starting at 5:30pm at Whitemud Creek Community Centre
• Life Skills: Organ and Tissue Donation - Give Life Alberta starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Strathcona)
• What We Talk About When We Talk About (and to) AI starting at 7pm at Strathcona County Library

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• April 26: Moretime's First Ever Dog Social at Edmonton Humane Society
• April 30: Nerd Nite Edmonton #92: Hypnotism, Insect Moms, and Space Travel at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• May 6: Canvas for Hope Fundraising Luncheon at Winspear Centre

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 1-Across and 7-Across? Here you go.