The Pulse
May 20, 2026

Three companies based in Edmonton will get a repayable boost from the federal government to advance AI innovation and commercialization as part of a $6.8-million funding announcement made on the opening day of the Upper Bound conference.

Edmonton Centre MP Eleanor Olszewski, the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, announced the funding at the fifth annual AI conference, hosted by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute:

• Vertical City, a digital ad-tech company, will get $1.3 million to scale its AI and machine learning software to support global market expansion;
• Darkhorse Emergency, a decision-analytics provider for emergency services, will get $1 million to expand exports;
• NTWIST, which provides industrial AI solutions in mining and manufacturing, will get $1 million to accelerate commercialization and marketplace adoption.

Localintel, which has offices in Calgary, Vancouver, and Seattle, will also get a repayable grant of $500,000 to further its platform to help municipalities and economic development organizations better tell their story. Meanwhile, the University of Alberta received $3 million in non-repayable funding to advance its Canadian AI Compute Vault, which aims to build out infrastructure to strengthen Canada's tech sovereignty.

The investment will help Darkhorse Emergency reach new clients while also benefiting its existing ones, said Darkhorse president Daniel Haight.

"We applied for this money to support our growth and scaling, both within Canada and internationally," Haight told reporters. "We're using most of this to support our sales and marketing efforts, and to grow our team, but of course it also has a trickle-down effect throughout the business as we build out AI products and AI capabilities internally to better serve our customers."

Darkhorse expects to hire at least five people, Haight said, and Olszewski estimated that this installment of funding from the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative will create more than 70 jobs. However, it can be difficult to invest in hiring as AI advances, suggested NTWIST co-CEO Sunil Vedula.

"I don't want to sugarcoat this," he told Taproot following the announcement. "We have to think 10 times before hiring anyone because so much can be done with the agents and all of that. So we will hire for sure, but only in those areas where human-to-human connection is what finally gets the deal done."

• The High Level Bridge and Low Level Bridge will be decommissioned and replaced over the next 10 to 15 years, the City of Edmonton announced on May 19. While the Low Level Bridges have been slated for demolition for some time, the city had planned to rehabilitate the High Level Bridge to extend its lifespan. But updated testing shows it could cost more than $1 billion to keep it in operation over the next 75 years. Pascale Ladouceur, the city's branch manager of infrastructure planning and design, said the city is aware of how important the bridges are, not only for transportation but also the city's identity. "The city recognizes the attachment many Edmontonians have to these structures, and want to be clear that this work is not about disregarding Edmonton's history," she said. "It's about balancing heritage consideration, public safety, infrastructure reliability, and long-term transportation needs." The tentative timeline, pending budget deliberations in the fall, would see a new Low Level Bridge funded in the 2027-2030 budget cycle and a new High Level Bridge funded in the 2035-2039 budget cycle. The plan is to build the replacement bridges before the existing ones are demolished, and the northbound Low Level Bridge, which was the first bridge constructed in Edmonton, will be maintained for active transportation.
• Edmonton has designated Windsor Park North Park as its 200th historic site, providing $75,000 for refurbishment. The 1.57-hectare park, featuring a sunken garden and great lawn, was recognized for its original design by city architect Robert Falconer Duke. The park still showcases original elements like masonry walls, iron drainage infrastructure, and mature elms. The Elizabeth Bell Residence was also designated as Edmonton's 201st historic resource. Its owner will receive a grant of about $59,000 to help with its refurbishment.
• Edmonton Police Service Chief Warren Driechel said police have seen an increase in speeding incidents despite efforts to curb dangerous driving. In 2025, Edmonton recorded 32 traffic-related fatalities. Driechel noted that police are issuing more tickets, but drivers often exceed speed limits by 20 kilometres per hour, creating dangerous situations due to reduced reaction times. The police service is seeking provincial authorization to seize vehicles travelling more than 50 km/h over the speed limit.
• St. Albert city council voted unanimously on May 19 to maintain its integrated ambulance service, which comes with an estimated 1.2% tax increase. "The prudent approach, in my view, is to continue the integrated model while watching the experiences and outcomes in other municipalities that have transitioned away from these services over the coming years," said Coun. Sandy Clark when introducing the motion that kept the status quo. "We do not need to be first." Strathcona County council made the same decision, but Spruce Grove city council voted against absorbing the additional costs, as did Leduc city council.
• The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton has implemented a weapons-screening system in its emergency department, using technology similar to systems used in concerts and sports venues. The measure comes after a stabbing at the hospital in April. Items of concern may be secured in lockers, cars, or with family. Other safety measures introduced at the hospital include bag searches and visitor limits.
• A pilot from the Edmonton Soaring Club was killed in a glider crash in Lamont County, northeast of Edmonton, on May 18. The crash involved a Schleicher ASW 20 glider near Chipman, about 45 minutes east of Edmonton. The pilot, a woman in her 40s, was the only person on board. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the incident. This is the first fatality for the club, which has operated since 1972. It plans to ground operations temporarily.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada warned that conditions were favourable for funnel clouds to form across eastern Alberta on May 19. The funnel clouds are expected to originate from weak rotation beneath rapidly growing clouds or weak thunderstorms. Though usually harmless, the rotation could intensify into a landspout tornado, potentially causing minor damage to trees and roofs. Residents are advised to treat sightings seriously and seek shelter.
• Alberta is anticipating significant developments in AI data centres by 2026, with plans for major infrastructure expansion expected in the coming months. At the Upper Bound AI conference in Edmonton, Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish and Beacon Data Centers CEO David Lane highlighted potential investments and projects that could elevate Alberta to Canada's "compute capital." Two European companies aim to invest over $1.2 billion in four data centres, while Alberta aims to attract $100 billion in five years. Concerns include jobs, water usage, and power, with requirements for self-sufficient energy generation.
• Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, in collaboration with the University of Alberta, has identified 62 potential unmarked graves after a two-year search on its land, although it is unclear if they contain human remains. The search, focused on finding 82 children who attended St. Francis Xavier Residential School, used technologies like ground-penetrating radar and involved community input. Nine sites are outside known cemetery areas. Chief Sheldon Sunshine said the work is just starting, with plans to seek further funding for the investigation.
• The Alberta NDP has raised concerns about a potential referendum vote after a last-minute meeting was called to discuss a petition. The party said the UCP government might use the meeting to push through controversial policies without sufficient public consultation. Details on the petition's content and the meeting's agenda have not been fully disclosed, prompting further questions from the opposition.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Advanced Manufacturing Summit starting at 7:30am at NAIT
• Southwest Edmonton Farmers' Market starting at 3:30pm at Booster Juice Recreation Centre in Terwillegar
• (Hard) Tech x AI for the Built World starting at 4pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Celebrate a Year of Parachutes for Pets starting at 5pm at Parachutes for Pets
• Salsa in the Square – Bachata starting at 6pm at Churchill Square
• Reimagining Bystander Intervention starting at 6pm at Earth's Refillery Coop
• Night Market starting at 6pm at Downtown St. Albert
• An Evening with Louise Penny & Mellissa Fung starting at 7pm at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
• Leduc Music Festival starting at 7:30pm at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts
• The Dating Debrief starting at 7:30pm at Hearth Co-work and Co-wellness

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• May 29-31: Edmonton Drag Festival at Churchill Square
• May 30: YEG Bike Party at Downtown Farmer's Market
• June 1: Canada Men's National Team vs Uzbekistan at Commonwealth Stadium

Visit the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.

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