The Pulse
Aug. 17, 2026

This week, Edmonton city council will discuss rezoning applications in the new neighbourhood of Gorman and the old neighbourhood of Garneau, as well as in the Girard Industrial area for a wellness facility.

There is a public hearing on Aug. 17, a council meeting on Aug. 18 and 19, and a special city council meeting on Aug. 21.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Council will review broad planning documents for the future Gorman neighbourhood in north Edmonton, which is envisioned as a transit-oriented community built around an LRT stop. The developer proposed amendments to the area structure plan and neighbourhood structure plan to re-designate some areas for higher density than what is currently allowed. Administration said the application is an improvement to the plan because it maintains the NSP's vision of a transit-oriented community while providing more opportunities for medium- and high-density uses in logical areas served by amenities.
• The Hope Mission has submitted a rezoning application for a lot at 7011 Girard Road NW, to allow for an emergency shelter and wellness facility that would support up to 125 people experiencing homelessness. Some nearby residents said they oppose the facility because they think it would bring crime to the area; they also cited the site's proximity to Pure Casino Edmonton on Argyll Road as well as liquor and cannabis stores, which could conflict with the path to recovery for occupants.
• Council will review a rezoning application for a property in Garneau that would allow for increased site coverage, an additional 2.5 metres in building height, and a reduced rear setback. Administration said it supports the application because the scale of development is appropriate within the University major node and provides additional housing units near local businesses, open space, school sites, and active transportation. Some Garneau residents said they oppose the rezoning because the proposed development would alter the historic character of the area and preempt the Garneau Community League's pending proposal to designate part of the neighbourhood as a special character heritage area.

• The Alberta Avenue Business Association is urging city council to find a way to charge vacant commercial properties the same BIA levy businesses pay, arguing empty buildings can attract disorder while owners get a tax break. Mayor Andrew Knack said administration is examining whether empty sites could be treated as pending businesses.
• Downtown Edmonton businesses told a public safety forum they are paying for cameras, repairs, and extra security while asking governments for more help with vandalism, break-ins, and visible drug use. The Downtown Revitalization Coalition said increased police patrols helped but did not solve the broader problem.
• Edmonton Public Library said in a release that Canada Place Child Care Society will move into the Stanley A. Milner Library this fall and rebrand as Early Chapters Child Care Society. The library said the third-floor space will include a kitchen, gym area, and secure outdoor play yard.
• Edmonton Transit Service riders should expect Capital Line LRT disruptions from Aug. 22 to 24. Trains will not run between Churchill and Clareview stations on Aug. 22 and 23 or between Coliseum and Stadium stations on Aug. 24. Replacement buses will run every seven minutes until 7pm, then every 10 minutes.
• Edmonton is seeing widespread erosion and slope failures after months of heavy rain, more than two decades after the 1999 Whitemud Road landslide, Postmedia reported. Saturated soil and July downpours have damaged roads, bridges, trails and riverbanks, while experts warn increasingly extreme weather could make erosion harder and more costly to manage.
• The Edmonton Police Service is investigating the suspicious death of a 16-year-old girl in northeast Edmonton on Aug. 16. Officers responded to a shooting, where they found the girl seriously injured. She died at the scene. Police said the homicide section is investigating.
• The Alberta Court of Justice will rename Gladue reports as Indigenous background reports starting Sept. 1 after consulting members of the Gladue family, Indigenous leaders, and court workers. The court said the change does not alter the reports' purpose of giving judges fuller context at sentencing.
• The Alberta government has postponed new school flag rules, while draft regulations show schools would be allowed to fly Alberta and Canadian flags, sports flags, municipal flags, Vatican City, and some Treaty and foreign flags for limited periods, Postmedia reported. The draft does not mention Pride flags.
• Support sessions for people seeking compensation under the federal Indian hospitals class-action settlement are coming to Edmonton this week, with free claims help plus wellness and cultural supports for survivors of abuse at segregated hospitals, including the Charles Camsell Indian Hospital. The settlement can pay eligible claimants between $10,000 and $200,000.
• A Court of King's Bench judge has cleared the way for a Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation judicial review over a water licence tied to the proposed Wonder Valley AI data centre near Greenview. The First Nation argues Alberta had a duty to consult before approving annual diversion of six million cubic metres from the Smoky River.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• NDP Roundtable Discussion starting at 10am at Fort Saskatchewan & Lamont County Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Treaty No. 6 150-Year Commemoration Celebration starting at 12pm at Churchill Square
• ERIN Member Monday starting at 4pm online
• Tour with Pride: A Queer Fringe Festival starting at 5pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns
• Life Skills: Understanding Utilities in Alberta starting at 7pm online
• Theatresports: Home Team Advantage starting at 9pm at Granite Curling Club

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Aug. 28: The Advice Constellation: A Mentorship Circle in Edmonton at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Sept. 3: Edmonton Region Export Meet-up at The Bell in Scona
• Sept. 15-17: Carbon Capture Canada at Edmonton Convention Centre

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.

This week's puzzles were constructed by Jeff Nachtigall, a longtime friend of Taproot.