The Pulse
Sept. 2, 2026

A new art store at Kingsway Mall aims to make it easier for former AISH recipients to transition into employment under the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program.

Set to officially open on Sept. 8, the Prospect Art Collective store will help adults with mental health challenges acquire employment experience in a supportive and flexible environment. The social enterprise is part of the Retail Mental Health Program from Prospect, a 30-year-old non-profit dedicated to overcoming barriers to employment.

"We recognized that there was going to be an awful lot of people going into an employment situation that they weren't necessarily prepared for," program manager Lorraine Henderson told Taproot. "(ADAP) was one of the reasons why we came up with this program … (as) a lot of people with disabilities of any sort were going to be told that they were expected to be looking for employment."

Over the summer months, Henderson's team has been preparing the art store to be a space where participants can develop skills and confidence. Participants will be able to practice customer service, organizing merchandise and inventory, and supporting various tasks on the floor or behind the scenes. They'll also work on skills such as writing résumés and cover letters.

Henderson believes those who have been outside the workforce for extended periods of time have valuable skills that employers look for. But extra support may be needed to make it possible to get and keep a job. That's where Prospect comes in.

"We don't just send them out with a kick in the pants and say 'Here's your job, get to it,'" Henderson said.

As of July 1, nearly 80,000 Albertans who previously qualified for Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped were shifted to the Alberta Disability Assistance Program. ADAP recipients will receive less than they did on AISH but are allowed to earn more before their benefits are affected. The change has been heavily criticized by disabled Albertans and advocates, and its implementation has been rocky.

As advocate Zachary Weeks put it, AISH is for those whose disabilities permanently prevent employment, while ADAP is for those whose disabilities "substantially impede employment," and the latter will be expected to seek work.

"Many disabled Albertans want to work," Weeks wrote. "The concern is what happens when government adjudicators or contracted employment providers misunderstand someone's disability, overestimate their ability to work or fail to provide the accommodations and supports they need."

• The former Edmonton Journal building at 10006 101 Street NW is up for sale as an investment or owner-user property, with the listing describing it as suitable for adaptive reuse or redevelopment. The five-storey, 148,640-square-foot building, constructed in 1990, sits on a 0.86-acre site at 101 Street and MacDonald Drive and is currently vacant. The building, listed $3.26 million USD by CBRE, went on the market on Aug. 6.
• Edmonton city council's urban planning committee approved higher road-closure fees during a meeting on Sept. 1, with the changes taking effect Jan. 1, 2027. The daily permit fee will rise to $32 from $25, while residential builders will pay a standard $185 fee. The changes aim to shorten construction-related disruptions, and BILD Edmonton Metro supported the revised system, saying daily fees should encourage builders to stay on schedule.
• The City of Edmonton is renewing its heritage plan for the first time in 17 years, expanding it to include natural, Indigenous and community heritage alongside existing building heritage. The Edmonton Heritage Council said the update will create new ways for African, Caribbean and South American communities to participate in Edmonton's history.
• The Connaught Armoury in Old Strathcona — a century-old building that once housed a military regiment, then a nightclub, and most recently a Youth Empowerment and Support Services drop-in centre — is listed for sale at $2.47 million. Provincial and municipal historic designations protect it from demolition.
• About 124,000 Edmonton Public Schools students returned to classes on Sept. 1, with Edmonton Police Service and school staff on site to remind drivers to slow down in school zones. Staff and students expressed excitement for a "normal" school year after last year's began with a strike.
• Edmonton Public Schools has cancelled all international field trips for the school year, citing civil unrest, fuel shortages, public health concerns and ongoing military conflicts. The move is part of a broader trend, with multiple school boards across Canada restricting or banning international travel.
• A new high school created by the Northern Alberta Mikisew Cree First Nation opened in Edmonton this fall in a temporary space, welcoming Grade 10 students and teaching the Cree language alongside the standard Alberta curriculum. The permanent Rita Marten Nihiyawiwin Kiskinwamatowin High School is under construction on Whyte Avenue and is expected to be complete by early next year.
• A former Edmonton transit peace officer was sentenced to two years of house arrest after pleading guilty to impersonating an Edmonton Police Service officer and using that guise to obtain a key to a woman's home. He was originally charged with housebreaking and sexual assault, but the sexual assault charge was dropped before sentencing.
• Elections Alberta has begun mailing out special ballots for the Oct. 19 provincial referendum after receiving 225,000 requests — nearly four times the number from the 2023 provincial election. The ballots cover 10 questions, including whether to hold a binding referendum on Alberta separation. Albertans can apply for special ballots online until Oct. 9.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• India-Canada Investment Webinar: Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy & Advanced Manufacturing starting at 9am online
• Community Coffee starting at 9am at Edmonton Unlimited
• Southwest Edmonton Farmers' Market starting at 3:30pm at Booster Juice Recreation Centre in Terwillegar
• IndigiRise Pitch Night & Networking Event starting at 4pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Tech Wednesdays starting at 5:30pm at The Pint Public House
• Movie Night: YEG's Seed Sovereignty & Security starting at 6pm at Edmonton Public Library (Whitemud Crossing)
• Composting Workshop starting at 6:30pm at Earth's Refillery Coop

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Sept. 13: The Way of Tea: Japanese Culture starting at 3pm at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Sept. 18: Friday Nights at the Grand Night Market at Frank's Community Pub
• Sept. 20: Edmonton Terry Fox Run at Kinsmen 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.

Need a hint for 4-Across and 8-Across? It was supposed to open on Sept. 5, though it has since been delayed.