The Pulse
June 9, 2026

Emily Bachynski was sick of uncomfortable touring life after 10 years with her band Bad Buddy, so she decided to open a "band hotel."

"Sometimes the only time alone you get on tour is in the bathroom, so to have this space that I've wanted to be a hub for artists for my entire career, I just value it so highly," she told Taproot. "I think that other artists do, too."

She ought to know: Bachynski hosted the Vancouver band Concrete Vehicles (formerly known as Computer) when the group performed at the lineup announcement party for the Purple City Music Festival on May 22. She and the company she works with, Double Lunch, provided private space, basic groceries, and dignity that independent touring musicians have chronically lacked.

Her "huge house" is located near the University of Alberta in Windsor Park, making it easy to get to and from venues in Old Strathcona and downtown Edmonton, with or without cramming your bandmates into a tour van.

"There's a bed in a room with a door that closes," she said, a big improvement over shared hotel rooms or the floor of someone's house. "There is agency … You don't have to all be doing something as a group, because you only have this one method of transportation. You're trapped together so often."

Bachynski's home also includes space to record music and video, as well as to jam and rehearse. It's part of the next chapter for Double Lunch as it develops music industry resources to supplement its existing promotional services for live music, said creator Craig Martell.

"We don't want to grow as a show promoter (in particular)," he told Taproot. "We don't want to be doing 10 shows a month. We want to be doing only the things we think are very cool, only things that we do well, only things that are in our wheelhouse. And then beyond that, we all have so much expertise in varying sides of the music industry. How do we make something happen?"

Martell officially joined forces with Bachynski, Mike Wilson, Raine Radtke, and Zach Hofer just this year. They have since launched an Edmonton music listings page, a Canada-wide list of music festivals, and a directory of grant resources for artists and industry members. Double Lunch also amplifies Trickle Down Music, a directory of tips on everything from getting your music on campus radio to registering songs with SOCAN. (Trickle Down Music is led by Shawn Petsche, with whom this reporter used to work at Sled Island Music and Arts Festival.)

"I feel like when you start to take your music seriously, and you build a band, it very quickly becomes a small business," Bachynski said. "To learn how to keep track of your accounting, how to book a tour, how to pay people, what things cost … a lot of people feel like if they share these trade secrets that it's going to become too competitive."

• Edmonton city council is considering a $6.5-million plan to implement a community hub program to address the growing homelessness crisis. Initiated by Mayor Andrew Knack, the proposal aims to establish either a year-round day shelter or a comprehensive community hub. Despite support from the Edmonton Downtown Business Association and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, concerns remain over whether government budgets will align with the initiative's goals. The council will discuss the plan during the upcoming four-year budget deliberations.
• The City of Edmonton has sued the Canadian Snowboard Federation for $120,000 remaining from the 2023 FIS Snowboard Big Air World Cup event expenses. The federation was charged nearly $139,000 for stadium use, security, and other services, but failed to complete the full payment by the January 2024 deadline. The federation acknowledged the debt and is negotiating a settlement with Edmonton. Financial reports reveal significant debts, raising concerns about the organization's financial management.
• The City of Edmonton unveiled the Indigenous Legacy Paddle during the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference. This ceremonial paddle honours Indigenous cultures and histories and was carved by the Spirit Tree Paddle Company and designed by Alberta Metis artist Sharon Rose Kootenay.
• Edmonton will soon unveil its first community-built mountain bike park at Queen Elizabeth Park. Set to open on July 25, the park marks a significant community achievement, led by the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance, with volunteers contributing thousands of hours. The $1.2-million project, funded by donations and grants, aims to offer a structured cycling space while addressing environmental concerns.
• Alberta country music artist Corb Lund said his petition against coal development in the province is a success. Lund, known for his advocacy against coal mining in Alberta's Rocky Mountains, has actively campaigned to protect these areas from industrial projects. Lund said the petition has gathered enough signatures to compel the province to take action against coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, Canadian Press reported. Lund didn't specify how many signatures were collected, but under provincial law, nearly 178,000 are needed.
• Elections Alberta is recruiting 60,000 workers for the Oct. 19 referendum, marking the largest electoral recruitment in provincial history. This effort aims to complete unofficial ballot counting within 48 hours. The referendum includes a key question on whether Alberta should pursue a binding separation referendum. Because hand-counting votes is now a requirement under provinical law, more workers are needed for the effort. Alberta residents aged 16 and older can apply online.
• A fire destroyed the Wetaskiwin Memorial Arts Centre, a historic community hub in Wetaskiwin, about an hour south of Edmonton. The blaze began around 5pm on June 6 and required 15 crews, including those from the Millet Fire Department, to contain it by 11:30am on June 7. The centre, built in 1947, hosted weddings, funerals, and fundraisers. The nearby Manluk Theatre for the Performing Arts was not damaged. An investigation into the fire's cause is ongoing.
• Alberta's privacy commissioner, Diane McLeod, warned that integrating personal health numbers and citizenship markers into driver's licences increases the risk of fraud, CBC News reported. Despite the province's plan to roll out these new licences starting July 2, McLeod highlighted concerns, including insufficient privacy law coverage for the Registrar of Motor Vehicles. Premier Danielle Smith said the new IDs have enhanced security features, but critics remain concerned.
• The Edmonton Oilers are consulting with the NHL Players' Association concerning potential objections before hiring Mike Babcock as head coach, TSN reported. This follows Babcock's resignation from the Columbus Blue Jackets amid controversy over reports he requested players' personal photos. The Oilers are searching for a head coach after firing Kris Knoblauch. The team previously showed interest in former Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Big Thinking Summit at Edmonton Convention Centre
• Building Trust & Relationships with Investors: Insider Insights from a Top Investor starting at 1:30pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• CPRS Edmonton Annual General Meeting starting at 5:30pm at Edmonton Public Library (Capilano)
• Paint My Person - Pride Edition starting at 6:30pm at EVO
• Edmonton Riverhawks vs Victoria HarbourCats starting at 7pm at Re/Max Field
• Book Launch with Nicolette Little starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• The World of Lerner & Loewe starting at 7pm Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Oil City Opry starting at 7:30pm at Winspear Centre
• Fully Comitted starting at 7:30pm Varscona Theatre
• Royal Canadian Circus starting at 7:30pm at West Edmonton Mall

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 14: Fyrefly's Annual Mayor's Pride Brunch at Fort Edmonton Park
• June 18: ECAMP Curiosity Walking Tours - Strikes, Struggles and Success at Royal Alberta Museum
• June 20-July 1: The Works Art & Design Festival at Churchill Square

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 1-Down? You'll find it here.