The Pulse
July 10, 2026

This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a questionnaire about housing in Edmonton's Chinatown and a rezoning proposal in Windsor Park.

YEG Chinatown Re:VITA is asking what kind of housing and development is most needed in south Chinatown, also known as The Quarters, to further its vision of creating community-led housing in the neighbourhood.

"We are working toward a long-term vision of community-owned, affordable housing in Chinatown," the group wrote on its website. "If we don't lead our own development, it's only a matter of time before we are up against displacement and gentrification."

The group said it is focused on south Chinatown because seniors housing and community and cultural organizations are already located there. It wants to build on existing residential capacity and take advantage of the Valley Line LRT.

The city has been trying to incentivize development in The Quarters with variable success through a community revitalization levy. Municipalities can use CRLs to finance infrastructure developments needed to attract private development to targeted areas, and the investment is meant to be paid back through the property tax uplift of new development. The Quarters CRL has funded $100 million in "catalyst projects," including The Armature, upgraded drainage servicing, Kinistinâw Park, and the adaptive reuse of city-owned buildings into new art spaces.

An update on The Quarters CRL said the improvements attracted more than $450 million in private development. Despite this, the revenues from the CRL are expected to be about $63.6 million short of covering all outstanding costs of the catalyst projects.

The Home in Chinatown questionnaire asks what kind of housing should be built — stacked townhouses, mixed-use apartment towers, or an entertainment district with a plaza. It also asks if it should be specially built for any demographic, such as seniors, students, families, or low-income Edmontonians.

The group said the input will guide future planning before it draws designs, raises funds, or buys land.

Re:VITA's Jordon Hon spoke about the need for affordable housing in Chinatown after the Pacific Mall and adjacent parking lot were rezoned on July 6 to allow for an 18-storey building and a six-storey building, respectively. The former zoning allowed for buildings of up to 38 storeys.

• Construction began on a $23.6-million affordable housing project at a former surplus school site in Edmonton's Mill Woods area. The Kiniski Gardens development will create 68 affordable homes, split evenly between townhouses with three-bedroom and single-bedroom units. Overseen by the Right at Home Housing Society, the project aims to maintain rent at 60% to 80% of market rates for at least 40 years.
• EPCOR said an animal interference caused a power outage affecting 3,000 residents in Edmonton on July 9. The incident took place in the early morning, affecting multiple neighbourhoods, EPCOR said. Restoration efforts began quickly, and power was restored by mid-morning.
• The Alberta government has invested $50 million into the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) to bolster the province's AI ecosystem. The funding aims to support startups, accelerate AI adoption across various sectors, and enhance AI literacy to better prepare the future workforce. Amii CEO Cam Linke emphasized the importance of this initiative in maintaining Alberta as a key hub for AI talent, innovation, and investment, ultimately aiming to provide lasting economic and societal benefits for the region.
• Rainbow Valley Pedestrian Bridge in Edmonton has opened for pedestrians and cyclists, although construction is still underway. The bridge spans Whitemud Creek and connects Rainbow Valley Campground to Snow Valley Ski Hill, offering a scenic route for active transportation users. City officials urged bridge users to exercise caution, as minor construction is continuing.
• The City of Edmonton is launching a new internship initiative aimed at engaging youth with civic governance. The program, designed to provide experience and insight into city operations, targets young people interested in understanding local government processes. Participants will engage in hands-on learning, fostering a deeper connection with municipal governance.
• In a 49-minute police cruiser video, shown for the first time in an Edmonton courtroom, accused killer Justin Bone is seen expressing concerns about being dropped off unsupervised in Edmonton. The video was taken three days before Bone allegedly killed two men in Chinatown in 2022. Bone, who was out on bail and unable to stay at his Alberta Beach residence, argued against being taken to Hope Mission, calling it unsafe. The RCMP officer, aware of Bone's bail conditions, had informed the Edmonton Police Service of the situation.
• A 69-year-old woman died after being struck by a 17-year-old boy driving a vehicle in southeast Edmonton near 50 Street and 23 Avenue, just after midnight on July 9. The Edmonton Police Service said the woman was crossing against the light when a Hyundai Kona hit her. The driver and his three passengers were unharmed and remained on scene. Authorities are requesting any witnesses or those with dashcam footage of the incident to contact Edmonton police.
• Concerns are escalating around the proposed Wonder Valley AI data centre due to its water usage and lack of environmental oversight. The project faces scrutiny from local residents, Indigenous leaders, and agricultural advocates, especially after a public engagement session on June 4 left attendees dissatisfied with the information provided. Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Coun. Shannon Chowace said the lack of prior consultation highlights the potential long-term impact on the Peace watershed's water levels. Additionally, the provincial government's choice to exempt the project from an environmental impact assessment has intensified concerns over transparency.
• A tornado struck the Dillberry Lake Provincial Campground, about 300 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, on July 8, injuring five people and causing significant damage. The Alberta Emergency Alert issued for the region has since been cancelled. Three individuals were hospitalized, with their conditions undisclosed. The campground was evacuated, and a reception centre was set up in Chauvin. The Northern Tornadoes Project confirmed that two tornadoes touched down in the area, with damage assessment teams scheduled to evaluate the sites.

On this day in 1953, Edmonton's Exhibition Lands were being prepared for the 75th anniversary of the city's annual summer fair.

Edmonton's exhibition predates the city itself by almost 30 years. The first iteration was held at Fort Edmonton in 1879, although it happened in October and was mostly a showcase of handicrafts and agricultural products. Even then, that first exhibition drew a crowd of 500.

For the next several years, the exhibition would bounce around the growing settlement, often being held on available land along Jasper Avenue. In 1899, the exhibition got its first permanent home after a purchase of 55 acres of land from the Hudson's Bay Company near Rossdale. The first Edmonton summer fair was held there in 1901.

It wouldn't be long before it outgrew its new home, however. Attendance grew, reaching 20,000 people by 1904. After only nine years in Rossdale, the Edmonton Exhibition was looking north for a new, larger home. In 1910, the exhibition would move to its current home in the northeast. The city bought the land, known as the "Kirkness Lake property," for about $24,000. City councillors made the decision without putting it to a plebiscite, for fear that voters would reject the idea.

The plan divided the newly purchased lands into several areas, including athletic grounds and a park. The northern part was set aside for the exhibition. Work began quickly to get the land ready for the summer, clearing trees and draining wetlands to rapidly put up dozens of buildings. Edmonton's Radial Railway network was expanded to provide transit to the new exhibition grounds, too. When the 1910 Exhibition opened in August, it drew in 80,000 people.

Construction soon started on one of the centrepieces of the Exhibition Grounds — the Stock Pavilion. When it was finished, the $120,000 structure was the largest livestock pavilion in the country. It would also serve as the city's arena, following the destruction of the Thistle Rink in the same year, eventually renamed as the Edmonton Gardens. (Half a century later, it would also be the home of the Northlands Coliseum, which would replace the Gardens.)

It wouldn't be too long before the grounds began to serve another purpose — supporting the military during the First World War. Parts of the grounds were used as a camp for cadets in the early days of the war. Soldiers and recruits were housed on the grounds. Apparently, the Stock Pavilion suffered some minor damage due to an indoor football game played by some of the soldiers stationed there at the time.

For the past 116 years, the Exhibition Lands have seen their share of reworkings, renovations, and renamings. Now, it is facing what could be another massive change. Earlier this year, city councillors discussed proposals for redeveloping the Exhibition Lands, which could see the summer fair move to a new location for the first time in a century. For the moment, however, it remains the home for the annual KDays exhibition, which starts on July 17.

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.

• July 10: Friday Nights at the Grand Night Market starting at 5pm at Prince Charles Park
• July 10: Edmonton Riverhawks vs. Marion Berries starting at 7pm at Re/Max Field
• July 10-12: Whyte Avenue Art Walk
• July 10-11: RavenWood Music Festival at Festival Place
• July 11: Fifty Years of All of Baba's Children: A Symposium starting at 8am at Allard Hall
• July 11: Edmonton Jerk Festival starting at 12pm at Queen Mary Park Community Hall
• July 11: Let's Make Granny Squares starting at 1pm at West Jasper Sherwood Community Hall
• July 11: Challengers starting at 6:15pm at Garneau Theatre
• July 11-12: Public Art Walking Tours: ÎNÎW River Lot 11 with Tiffany Shaw at ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞ Indigenous Art Park
• July 12: The Sunday Book Club YEG starting at 2pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• July 12: Goalie Play starting at 2pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Until July 12: Found Festival

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• July 25-26: Butter and Biscuits at Rutherford House
• July 29: Family Nature Nights: Crawling Critters at Gold Bar Park
• 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.

Learn more about 9-Across and 12-Across right here.