The Pulse: April 23, 2026

A multinational supplier of industrial gases is holding its next expo in Edmonton to help showcase the role its products play now — and could play in the future — as major projects get off the ground.

"It's an old industry, but there's a lot of advancements being made," said Ryan Brodrecht of Messer Canada, a subsidiary of the largest privately held industrial gas business in the world.

The Messer Canada Industrial Expo takes place on April 30 at the River Cree Resort and Casino. The company has a main facility in northeast Edmonton and a secondary one in Nisku to support the needs of its industrial partners in Leduc County; the timing was right to host the third annual expo here, Brodrecht told Taproot.

"We see a need in bringing the latest and greatest in welding technology to our customers," he said. "We really felt that there was a need to do something out here in Alberta."

Messer largely supplies compressed gases for welding, with its primary partners in Alberta being in the oil and gas sector. Raising its profile makes sense as the province begins fast-tracking energy projects in light of a key memorandum of understanding between Ottawa and Alberta. But Brodrecht said the company's gases are found in a myriad of industries, and its products' applications are continuing to grow.

"One of our largest customers is SpaceX in the US," he said. "All the way through to the beer that we drink at the Earl's restaurant — we supply the gas that propels that beer."

Another way Messer hopes to broaden its horizons is through uplifting women in the trades. Among the keynote speakers are welding specialist Randi Wudrick from Messer's Nisku office and engineer Kimberley Meszaros of InnoTech Alberta. The expo's featured artist is Joanne Guthrie, a sculptor, mixed-media creator, and journeyman welder based in St. Albert.

"It was hard at the beginning, because there was a lot of, 'We don't hire women,' or 'We don't have facilities for women,'" Guthrie said of the start of her career in welding. "I found a really great company to work for, and they apprenticed me, and then I just went from there."

After 20 years in the trades, Guthrie left her full-time job to become a contractor and began pursuing her art full-time. "My studio is part scrapyard, part forest floor, where rusted steel, broken plastics, and handmade charcoal form the foundation of sculptures and drawings that explore how we live with the Earth, not just on it," her website says.

• The City of Edmonton plans to tighten oversight of problem builders following complaints about messy sites and unsafe practices tied to infill development. Because permits cannot legally be denied based on past performance, the Construction Accountability Program will instead flag low-compliance builders for "high oversight," requiring extra planning, training and on-site monitoring. The City expects to introduce further bylaw changes by 2027 to make repeat offenders cover the added enforcement costs. BILD Edmonton Metro said it supports the program's intent but cautioned against creating barriers for companies already following the rules.
• Some homeowners in south Edmonton's Duggan neighbourhood are turning to legal measures to curb large-scale infill development by placing restrictive covenants on property titles to limit future redevelopment, even after homes are sold. The move comes as some residents object to a proposed multi-unit project they say is out of character for the low-density area and may violate permitting rules. Organizers say the covenants offer long-term protection and clarity for homeowners. Coun. Michael Elliott said the movement reflects growing frustration with Edmonton's approach to infill and a sense that community concerns are not being heard.
• Students at MacEwan University in Edmonton reopened rooftop beehives this week, marking 10 years of its urban beekeeping program, now expanded to eight insulated hives. Beekeeper Troy Donovan said the spring check identifies surviving colonies, with new bees added to boost diversity. The program produces honey sold on campus and has drawn strong student interest, with one volunteer saying it helped overcome a fear of insects. The City of Edmonton also permits urban beekeeping, which now has more than 200 licensed beekeepers and will allow up to two hives per residence starting May 19.
• Edmonton International Airport CEO Myron Keehn said YEG is well-positioned to weather a global jet fuel crisis. Keehn, speaking on a panel at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention at the Edmonton Convention Centre, noted an intensified global push, particularly in Asia, to reduce reliance on Middle East oil, and identified Alberta and Canada as key players in hydrogen production. He said Edmonton is a testing ground for alternative fuels, with YEG already using hydrogen-powered vehicles for runway inspections and passenger assistance to build comfort with the fuel source.
• The Edmonton Police Service is asking the public for help after a 66-year-old woman was attacked at a bus shelter near McConachie Boulevard and 64 Street NE in northeast Edmonton on April 19. Two young men approached her, and one sprayed her with a fire extinguisher before they fled. Emergency crews treated the woman at the scene. Police described the attack as an "unprovoked and random attack" and urged anyone with information to contact them at 780-423-4567.
• The Alberta NDP named two MLAs to a government-led committee, despite NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi calling the process "illegitimate." Edmonton-Mill Woods MLA Christina Gray and Calgary-Mountain View MLA Kathleen Ganley will sit on the committee, which will redraw the province's electoral map to add four additional legislature seats. The committee was created after the government set aside the majority recommendation from the independent Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission, citing a minority opinion from its chair, Justice Dallas Miller. The UCP will hold a majority on the committee with three members.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Deep Energy Retrofits and MURB Electrification starting at 12pm online
• Developing Leaders Present: 20 Questions with Raka Josan and Dave Young starting at 12pm at CBRE Limited
• AI for Small Business: Where It Actually Makes Sense (and Where It Doesn't) starting at 12pm online
• Tech in the City: The future of Edmonton's built environment starting at 4:30pm at Fu's Repair Shop
• Table Top Games Nights starting at 5pm at Earth's Refillery Coop
• Ward Nakota Isga In-Person Engagement for 2027-2030 Budget starting at 5:30pm at St. Thomas More Catholic Junior High School
• AI Tools Unpacked - What's Actually Worth Using in School, Work & Life? starting at 5:30pm at Singhmar Centre for Learning
• YEG Trivia Night with ECAMP and Taproot starting at 6:30pm at The Canadian Brewhouse (Downtown)
• Lighting Canada green for fertility awareness starting at 7pm

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• May 1-9: Jane's Walk
• May 8: Dark Matters: Science is Dope at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton
• May 9: Edmonton Bike Swap at Alberta Aviation Museum

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 5-Across and 7-Across? We mentioned it here.