The Pulse
June 23, 2026

An affordable housing project led by the Edmonton Pride Seniors Group and Right at Home Housing Society now has land and nearly $9 million in provincial funding to build a safe, inclusive development in The Quarters.

"In a perfect world, it would come out of the ground sometime next summer," said Marisa Redmond, executive director of Right at Home. "But we're still early enough in the phases of this project that it's hard to tell. We're at the phase now where we can check that box and say this is probably very much going to be a reality. A year ago, we may have still been sitting on the precipice of, 'Is this ever going to happen?'"

While Redmond describes this chapter as an early one, the seniors group has been dreaming of a development since 2013. The current plan is to build around 64 units with a mix of market- and non-market price points. The City of Edmonton provided the land at 95 Street north of Rowland Road for $1 in late 2025, while the provincial government approved $8.69 million in May.

Right at Home has enlisted Global Philanthropic for a capital campaign to help raise $5 million towards an estimated total project cost of $27 million; public funders and loans are expected to make up the balance. Though the momentum is happening about 13 years into the project, Redmond said there's never a straight path between idea and execution in this realm.

"My personal opinion is that there is no normal timeline when it comes to building affordable housing," Redmond told Taproot. "There are so many different components that can play into it — the finding of the land, the finding of partners, if you need them, the funding environment. Right now, we're in an amazing funding environment, but in 2014 or 2013, those funds probably wouldn't have been available."

Part of Redmond's positivity for the funding environment is related to the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, of which the City of Edmonton stewards nearly $200 million. However, it's an indirect boon.

"I think the impact of the Housing Accelerator Fund is not targeted to make specific projects move forward," she said. "It's more targeted at changing that environment that makes projects move forward, such as approaches to zoning … it's kind of changing those things that makes all housing move forward more quickly, whether it's affordable, whether it's market, small infill, big infill."

The project is important because 2SLGBTQ+ seniors don't always feel welcome at existing housing options for their retirement years, said Michael Phair, chair of the Edmonton Pride Seniors Group.

"(Myself and) a couple of gay and lesbian friends of mine who also had gotten older realized that we didn't see very much, looking ahead, that addressed persons who were part of our community," Phair told Taproot. "That kind of drove us. After we started looking at that notion and finding out what organizations were already doing … there was basically very little."

• Edmonton experienced significant rainfall over the past weekend, with totals reaching 50 to 100 millimetres across the region. While the rain provided relief to the city after a period of dry conditions, helping to replenish local water reserves, it also caused significant flooding and water restrictions, with damages reported in homes and infrastructure. The rain led to overflowing stormwater systems and more than 600 service calls made to EPCOR. Residents are urged to conserve water to prevent sewer backups. The wet weather was caused by a slow-moving low-pressure system that brought widespread rain across the province, easing concerns about drought conditions, which had been affecting agriculture and wildfire risks.
• The CIBC building on Jasper Avenue in Edmonton, constructed in 1929, is up for sale as CIBC shifts its operations to the Ice District's modern banking centre. Previously home to the bank's main-floor branch, the five-storey building is now vacant and offers a "reposition and repurpose" opportunity. Though lacking official historical designation, it remains on Edmonton's inventory of historic resources. Heritage advocate Kyle Schole emphasized the importance of preserving such spaces, echoing past efforts to prevent its demolition.
• Edmonton emergency departments are experiencing the longest wait and stay times in Alberta. Edmonton Zone hospitals report 65% of all emergency department stays over 48 hours as of early 2026. Misericordia Hospital alone accounts for nearly one-fifth of extended stays in the province. The average stay in Edmonton emergency departments is more than nine hours, significantly longer than the Alberta average of six hours, according to recent Alberta Health Services data. Acute Care Alberta plans to improve patient flow by enhancing community-based care to reduce pressure on emergency departments.
• An environmental order was issued to the shuttered Enerkem Alberta Biofuels plant in northeast Edmonton due to contamination concerns, linked to abandoned infrastructure and chemical residue. The Alberta facility, which aimed to convert waste into biofuel, ceased operations in January 2024 amid financial troubles. Regulatory inspections revealed methanol and hydrocarbons contamination exceeding safe levels. Alberta Environment mandated Enerkem to detail a remediation plan, with an incomplete decommissioning raising concerns about community and environmental safety. Deloitte, which is overseeing restructuring, plans to sell remaining plant assets.
• The Edmonton Oilers have signed Connor Murphy to a five-year contract with an average annual value of $4.1 million. Murphy, a 33-year-old defenceman, played 20 games for the Oilers last season after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks. During his tenure with the Oilers, he scored one goal and three assists in the regular season and two goals with one assist in the playoffs.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• BOMA Industry Series: Inside Property Tax Assessments starting at 8:30am at Westin Edmonton
• Edmonton International Jazz Festival: Madeline Vandersluys starting at 12pm at La Cité francophone
• Brenda Gunn Book Launch starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Frank's Open Mic starting at 7pm at Frank's Community Pub
• Edmonton Trivia with Taproot Edmonton starting at 7pm at Earth's Refillery Coop
• Trivia Night starting at 7pm at The Pizza Spot (West Edmonton Mall)
• Album Release: Sharing Stars starting at 7:30pm at The Aviary

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 3-12: Edmonton International Street Performers Festival at Churchill Square
• July 5-12: Historic Festival and Doors Open Edmonton
• July 10-12: Whyte Avenue Art Walk

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 6-Across? Here you go.