The Pulse
June 30, 2026

Most Albertans are still on the same page when it comes to Canada Day, despite growing talk of separatism, says a researcher who explores the province's sense of identity.

"I don't think a lot of Albertans are conflicted when it comes to their relationship with the Canadian flag," said Jared Wesley, who runs the Common Ground project out of the University of Alberta. "We actually see some Canadian symbols at separatist rallies, for crying out loud. They wear blue T-shirts, but it's the Toronto Blue Jays T-shirt with the maple leaf on it."

Albertans can hold separatist and federalist views at the same time, Wesley told Taproot, referencing a Facebook post in which a person expressed disgust at adding Pride colours to the Canadian flag while also advocating for Alberta to leave Canada.

"Leaving aside the politics of it, her comment that she felt that the Canadian flag was being 'disgraced' in that way reveals that she still has an attachment to it," he said.

While we prepare for the Oct. 19 referendum asking Albertans if they want to stay in Canada or hold a binding referendum on leaving, Common Ground has embarked on another round of focus groups this summer. Sessions have been held in Edmonton and Fort McMurray, with more to come in St. Paul, Lethbridge, Calgary, and Hanna.

Wesley's team walks participants through a series of discussions and activities about "what life's like for the typical Albertan these days." One of those activities involves defining "Joe Albertan," an archetype derived from Common Ground participants' impressions of the typical Albertan.

The latest version of Joe is "not a separatist, but he might listen a little longer than he used to to some of the arguments about it," Wesley said. "That's an important finding, because it suggests that the Overton window (an academic term for socially accepted discourse) for separatism is widening. The realm of possibility around this is increasing, and that is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a change in public opinion."

When separatist sentiments come up in the sessions, they seem to be grounded in emotion more than facts and figures, but that's telling, Wesley said. Some feel Alberta has been given a "raw deal" by the feds, and even if the numbers don't check out, that's not really the point.

"Alberta is best considered the jilted lover of Confederation," he said. "Not according to everyone, but according to the mainstream view, Alberta has unrequited love for Canada. Albertans feel like they're putting more into Confederation than they're getting out — coming at them with spreadsheets is unlikely to solve that. Imagine if your lover came to you and said, 'I don't feel like you love me as much as I love you,' and you handed them a spreadsheet with the total of your relationship, (suggesting) 'Actually, you're getting a lot out of this.'"

• Edmonton's fireworks regulations, tightened in 2019, have led to increased incidents, John Adria, owner of Uncle John's Fireworks, told city councillors on the community and public services committee. He argued that the regulations complicate legal fireworks usage, limiting neighbourhood events and fostering racial tensions towards Southeast Asian communities. Complaints about fireworks have surged 1,400% since 2020. The City is considering a centralized Diwali fireworks event to improve compliance. Options include a city hall celebration without fireworks or a large, community-led display in Mill Woods Park. Community advocate Shaminder Parmar emphasized that providing safe alternatives that include fireworks is important.
• Edmonton city councillors are considering changes to its public spaces bylaw to manage noise from amplifiers following complaints from residents and businesses. Council's community and public services committee passed a motion introduced by Coun. Erin Rutherford to draft new amendments that would "reduce unnecessary noise and interference of peace and enjoyment of public spaces arising from use of amplification." The proposed changes are set to be reviewed on Sept. 25.
• The City of Edmonton and EPCOR are collaborating to manage the effect of June's rainfall, which is stressing stormwater systems and infrastructure. Specific measures include the closure of a portion of 137 Avenue due to flooding, and the closure of all boat launches on the North Saskatchewan River for safety reasons. The High Level Bridge's east sidewalk remains closed due to slope instability. Some recreational fields and golf courses face closures; however, city recreation facilities are open. Weather has also affected construction plans. Meanwhile, the City is continuing its mosquito control efforts and residents are urged to clear standing water on their properties.
• Beginning July 1, the City of Edmonton will begin to enforce compliance on unpermitted downtown surface parking lots. The City said it has issued warning letters and reminders to about 113 parking lot owners about obtaining development permits and performing site upgrades. Non-compliant owners may face fines, stop orders, or property caveats. Temporary permits granted by the deadline provide operational rights for up to a decade.
• The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has announced Fringe Unforgettable as the theme for its 2026 edition, celebrating enduring moments and stories from its nearly 50-year history. Scheduled for Aug. 13 to 23, the festival will feature 209 shows across 37 venues in Edmonton. Highlights include free concerts, an expanded Indigenous-led gathering space, and the new "Q2Q: A Queer Barns Series." Returning this year is the Fringe Shuttle, offering free transport between main festival grounds and the French Quarter. Festival Guides and tickets will be available starting July 29 and Aug. 5, respectively.
• New murals were installed at Corona LRT Station, reflecting the rich history of the area, the City of Edmonton said in a release. The site was originally an apartment complex in 1908 before later becoming the Corona Hotel in 1912, which was notable for its significance to Edmonton's 2SLGBTQIA+ community. After a fire in 1932, the hotel was rebuilt and later demolished in 1981 for First Edmonton Place.
• Capital Power Summer Legends offers free athletics programs at 26 Green Shacks in Edmonton from June 29 to Aug. 21. Sport Edmonton, Athletics Alberta, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, and the City of Edmonton support the initiative, which aims to promote physical literacy among children aged 6 to 12. The collaboration provides athletics training, equipment, and activities focused on running, jumping, and throwing. The program is supported by funding from Capital Power and the City's Live Active grant.
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services successfully rescued a llama named Runner after it fell into a three-metre-deep sinkhole. Firefighters coordinated with utilities to ensure safe digging and used a mini excavator to expand the opening. A specialized team used rescue slings to lift the uninjured llama to safety.
• Wildfire smoke from northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba brought hazy skies to Edmonton after June's record-breaking rainfall. Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor told Postmedia that the region's air quality is forecast to be low to moderate risk, though it is a hazard for those with respiratory issues. Edmonton broke a 112-year June rainfall record, receiving 265 millimetres of rain this month.
• Fleet Brake Parts and Service Ltd., a heavy-duty truck parts distributor, was fined $138,000 after pleading guilty to an Occupational Health and Safety Code violation. The charge stems from a Jan. 22, 2024, incident at an Edmonton service centre where a worker was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle hood and falling into an open drop pit. Thirteen other charges were withdrawn, and both the company and the Crown have up to 30 days to appeal the conviction or penalty.
• Leduc and other Alberta municipalities are considering annexation to manage rapid population growth, CBC News reported. Leduc aims to annex land from Leduc County, as it anticipates its population, currently around 40,000, to quadruple by the 2080s. Joshua Culling of BILD Edmonton Metro said annexation is a good option for cities dealing with rapid growth. Sandeep Agrawal, a professor at the University of Alberta, noted that annexation often benefits midsized municipalities but can be a drain on larger cities like Edmonton and Calgary.
• The Edmonton Oilers extended qualifying offers to forwards Colton Dach, Roby Jarventie, and Owen Michaels, and defenceman Spencer Stastney. However, the team did not qualify forwards Josh Bloom and Matvey Petrov.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Licensing, selling & leveraging your IP starting at 11am online
• Loan Orientation starting at 12:30pm online
• The Public Farmers Market starting at 3:30pm at Ritchie Community Hall
• Sketch Night starting at 6pm at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• Trivia Night starting at 7pm at The Pizza Spot (West Edmonton Mall)

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 11: Rugby Nations Cup: Double Header at Clarke Stadium
• July 21-23: Innovation Zone at Edmonton EXPO Centre
• Aug. 1-3: Edmonton Heritage Festival at William Hawrelak Park

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.

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