The Pulse
June 5, 2026

This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes Edmonton's annual climate change and energy perception survey, feedback on the leisure access pass program, and open houses about the proposed Yellowhead Pipeline.

The climate change and energy perception survey is open until June 7 and is available to those enrolled in Edmonton's Insight Community. The preamble says the feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the city's climate policies and initiatives.

The survey has taken place annually since 2017. This will be the first survey since council voted to disband seven advisory committees, including the Energy Transition Climate Resilience Committee, a panel of experts that advised council on climate issues. Melanie Hoffman, former chair of the committee, told Taproot shortly after the decision that the committee's end means Edmontonians who care about climate are going to need to share their voice. "If we want a strong four-year budget that prioritizes a responsible, livable city, people are going to need to show up," she said.

Edmonton initiated the creation of Canada's first municipal carbon budget in 2021. It set a cap of 176 megatonnes of emissions through to 2050, when the city aims to reach carbon neutrality. The budget tracks emissions from both city operations and the broader community. But from the start, projections showed the city would exceed its limit by 2037, and updated forecasts now suggest both the city operations and community carbon budgets will be depleted even sooner. Administration said an updated carbon budget will be presented every four years alongside the operating and capital budgets.

Results from past surveys suggest that Edmontonians' thoughts and feelings about climate change have changed very little since 2017. The share of respondents who said they are concerned about climate change has stayed within a percentage point of 74%, while the share who said action is needed now rose modestly, from 72% to 77%.

Administration underscored the urgency in a report released last year. Understanding Edmonton's Changing Climate found that Edmonton is warming faster than the global average. Since 1885, the city's mean annual temperature has risen by 2.3C, while winter temperatures have increased by more than 4C. Wildfire smoke and other episodic air quality events have also increased exposure to harmful pollutants such as fine particulate matter, while annual precipitation has declined by 14% compared with the 1961-1990 baseline.

"The findings presented in this report are clear: climate change is not a future threat — it is a present reality in Edmonton," the report said. "These changes, while consistent with global and national trends, are unfolding locally in ways that are deeply shaped by Edmonton's geography, infrastructure, and social systems."

Administration is also updating the Climate Action Plan, which is scheduled to be presented to council in late June.

• At the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Edmonton on June 4, the mayors of Canada's largest cities called on the federal government to focus on infrastructure, homelessness, and organized crime and extortion in its next budget. "Canada's economic success depends on vibrant downtowns, where housing, public safety, mobility and infrastructure work together to create places of opportunity, foster civic pride, support local businesses, and build strong, connected communities," caucus chair Josh Morgan said in a release. The action on crime "should include consideration of international best practices, immigration pathways, and enforcement gaps, so communities feel safe," Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack told reporters. The mayors also asked Ottawa to earmark funding to help revitalize downtown cores.
• The federal government's updated AI strategy builds on the momentum that the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute and its sister institutes have generated over the past decade, said Amii CEO Cam Linke. "We are energized by this commitment and ready to deepen our work, cementing our nation's competitive edge and making AI work for everyone," he said in response to the AI for All strategy unveiled on June 4.
• The 21st annual Homeless Memorial in Edmonton honoured 349 people who died experiencing homelessness in 2025. Since 2006, there have been 2,566 such deaths, with 1,665 occurring in the last five years. Alberta Health Services reported 692 cases of frostbite among unhoused Albertans last winter. The Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness emphasized the urgent need for more shelter spaces and social housing, criticizing current provincial support. Alberta NDP housing critic Janis Irwin called for increased funding for affordable housing to address the crisis.
• High schools in Edmonton are offering alternatives to traditional career paths amid a challenging job market for youth. Through the Educational Partnership Foundation, students can enter trades-centric programs that lead directly to apprenticeships, bypassing conventional post-secondary education. Graeme Dowdell of Edmonton Public Schools said the programs provide students the opportunity to connect with industry mentors.
• The "Queer Black Prairie Futures" report from Zetna Collective highlights the challenges Black queer Edmontonians face, including racism and homophobia in housing, employment, and social spaces. With input from 19 participants, the report emphasizes the lack of spaces where their identities are fully honoured, causing feelings of exclusion. Creator Dawn Susan Carter hopes that the report informs better community supports. The report utilized an Ubuntu-aligned framework focusing on collective storytelling and relational accountability. The City of Edmonton plans to use these insights to enhance inclusivity efforts.
• A new Alberta government policy mandates childcare facilities to post notices of high-risk incidents visibly on site within one business day of a report. While facilities are not currently required to notify parents directly, Nicolaides said that this is under consideration.
• The driver of a van crashed into the Young Champions Daycare in Stony Plain on June 4, causing significant damage and injuring one worker. No children were harmed. Authorities are investigating potential causes such as drugs, alcohol, or a medical episode, though the driver is not in custody. The crash ruptured a gas line, prompting evacuations within one block until Atco deemed the area safe. Police expect 48 Street to reopen soon while investigations continue.
• Reports say Darnell Nurse and the Edmonton Oilers are likely parting ways. The Oilers plan to trade Nurse, provided he agrees, before his no-trade clause permits a 10-team list next year. Despite being a solid skater and contributor, Nurse's $9.25 million annual contract does not align with his performance, Sportsnet's Mark Spector wrote.

On this day in 1964, the Glendale Golf and Country Club was showing off its brand-new clubhouse.

The original plan wasn't for a golf course. Instead, the land at 124 Avenue and 199 Street in northwest Edmonton was initially purchased for residential development. The plan fell apart. But the rolling hills and natural reservoir made the land attractive for a new golf course.

When the Glendale officially opened as a private club with 18 holes in 1961, it faced a lot of competition. Edmonton was in a boom time, both in terms of population and prosperity. So the Glendale was just one of several new golf courses to open in the city in a few short years. At the same time, Edmonton's existing country clubs were undergoing a shift, aiming to expand beyond the domain of wealthy men and to offer facilities for their members' entire families.

As an Edmonton Journal writer noted at the time, "it is no longer wise or healthy to sneak off for 18 holes and leave the family at home to mow the lawn and paint the garage."

The heavy competition meant a rough go in the Glendale's early years. The club's 10 original members put houses and businesses up as collateral to keep it afloat. And the course itself had issues, including greens that were sometimes washed away by rain.

But it did have some advantages. The course was designed by Norman Woods, a well-known golf course architect who apprenticed under legendary designer Stanley Thompson. The course that Woods created was a strategic and challenging one that has drawn praise over the years.

The club has twice hosted the Canadian Amateur Championship (in 1996 and 2000), and it has frequently been the site of the TELUS Edmonton Open. It remains one of the largest courses in the city, behind The Quarry and Jägare Ridge.

The Glendale remains a private club, but Explore Edmonton lists 11 golf courses that visitors can try within the city limits. Coun. Michael Janz has raised questions about whether that's a good use of land, particularly in the river valley. The Royal Mayfair Golf Club, a private club next to Hawrelak Park, is particularly vexing to Janz, but it will be contributing to the visitor economy this summer as it hosts the CPKC Canadian Women's Open from Aug. 19 to 23.

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.

• June 5: Bikes & Beverages with Grow Together YEG starting at 5pm at The Buckingham Pub
• June 5: Bailemos starting at 6:15pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• June 6: Bike to the Birds starting at 6:30am
• June 6: Pride Pancake Breakfast starting at 9am at O-day'min Park Pavilion
• June 6: Fruit Loop's Pride Block Party starting at 11am at Grindstone Theatre
• June 6: Sneakers & Strays starting at 10:30am at Buena Vista Park
• June 6: Reception + Artist Talk: Transcendence starting at 11am at Art Gallery of St. Albert
• June 6: Heart of the City Jam starting at 3pm at Giovanni Caboto Park
• June 7: Reconnect Event: To the land and one another starting at 12:30pm at Alfred H. Savage Centre
• June 7: A Celebration of Stewards of the North Saskatchewan River Watershed starting at 2pm at Ukrainian Centre
• June 7: The Art of Community Regeneration Conference - By Dr. Ronald Pate starting at 2pm at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 13: Moonlight Annual Fundraiser at Santa Maria Goretti Centre
• June 18: Anti-Hate Intervention Training - In Person Session at NorQuest College
• June 20: 3-on-3 Community Basketball Tournament at O-day'min Park Pavilion

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

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