Councillors on the community and public services committee reviewed an updated policy on supporting vulnerable people during extreme weather conditions on May 11. The city offers seasonal supports regardless of the temperature, such as water stations, cooling centres, and N95 masks from mid-May to September, as well as cold-weather shuttles and warming stations from November to March. When the temperature is forecast to reach -20C with windchill for three consecutive days, the city deploys an additional shuttle and activates 50 shelter beds at Al Rashid Mosque.
Committee supported a motion from Coun. Erin Rutherford asking for administration to provide funding options for increasing extreme weather supports and adjusting the temperature thresholds, possibly to -15C in winter. Rutherford said that council should "make sure that if there's nominal changes we can make that can save people's lives or save people's limbs that we're at least considering them." Council will vote on the funding options when it deliberates the budget in the fall.
Committee also heard from advocates who were concerned about frontline staff who would be interacting with vulnerable people when city facilities such as recreation centres and libraries are used as heating and cooling centres. Many city employees, such as transit drivers and recreation centre workers, are not permitted to use naloxone while on shift. Coun. Jon Morgan, who used to be a transit driver, said he was having trouble accepting that the employees can't administer naloxone. "All I'm hearing is that it's a training issue and there's a little bit of a worry about liability… I think these are solvable problems." Committee supported a motion from Coun. Jon Morgan calling for a report about expanding naloxone training opportunities for staff members who want it.
Fairly Staffing is targeting national and cross-industry growth for its staffing services platform. For now, it is focused on the dental business, with 600 clinics and 3,000 temps on its roster. But following an investment by the Accelerate Fund and inclusion in Scale Up Canada's Edmonton50 list, other forms of regulated labour could be its next target. "We still need to dominate in dental," CEO Amir Reshef told Taproot, "but it's so clear that even if it's a vertical that looks extremely different, there's a lot of the same challenges."
Edmonton Unlimited recapped a life sciences investment panel where investors and advisors discussed what funders are prioritizing as Edmonton's life sciences sector grows. The post includes data that indicates Edmonton has 139 health companies with a combined $3.5 billion valuation. The largest share of them are medical device and equipment companies, at nearly 47%.
Nominations and applications for Edmonton Startup Week's Launch Party will open May 19, organizer Edmonton Unlimited said. Ten early-stage companies will be selected for the startup equivalent of a debutante ball in October.
Nese Yuksel co-founded the virtual Effica Health for menopause care because she saw distressing gaps in women's healthcare during her research at the University of Alberta. Operating in Alberta and Ontario, Effica provides menopause and perimenopause care through nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and gynecologists. Yuksel told CBC Edmonton's Radio Active that the model aims to close gaps in midlife care and help patients navigate symptoms such as fatigue, hot flashes, and brain fog.
Andrew Karesa of blueBell Village has been selected by EY Canada for the 2026 Entrepreneurs Access Network, which provides access to mentorship and networks. His company provides support to caregivers for people living with dementia.
The University of Alberta's Faculty of Nursing has integrated immersive virtual-reality simulations into coursework after a pilot that put 850 students through clinical scenarios. Faculty leaders said the tool helps students build decision-making and communication skills in high-risk situations they might not safely encounter in placements."It is so immersive that it's nerve-wracking. I felt my own heart rate climbing," said nursing student Drew Owen of of the VR experience. "But I was able to slow down and remind myself of what I've learned in my program and implement my critical thinking, so I could navigate through the scenario, identify what was happening, and respond appropriately."
Artificial intelligence can be more efficient in diagnosing patients in some cases, new research from the University of Alberta suggests. However, AI is simply a tool and cannot replace human doctors, co-author Liam McCoy told Global News Morning Edmonton. "I think the analogy would be self-driving cars," he said. "We're seeing evidence that self-driving cars can reduce errors and be safer in certain contexts — even if we wouldn't necessarily trust them to drive on their own on a snowy pass in the middle of the winter."
University of Alberta biochemistry Holger Wille is researching a vaccine that could slow the progression of Parkinson's disease by up to 40%. The vaccine trains the immune system to attack the misfolded proteins behind neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's, Wille told CBC Edmonton's Radio Active.
The University of Alberta's Young Medical Minds program increased interest in rural health careers among Grade 8 participants from Camrose-area communities. Researchers said nearly 40% of surveyed alumni shifted toward healthcare career goals after the program.
Human rights advocate Mark Cherrington argued that enforcement-led responses to visible disorder create a costly cycle through shelters, emergency rooms, and courts when housing, treatment, and mental-health supports remain underfunded. The Substack post addresses the Edmonton Police Service's plans to increase its presence in crime hot spots, such as Churchill Square.
Historian Catherine C. Cole is gathering oral histories for a book on Mill Woods, with listening sessions focused on how residents experienced the area's growth and diversity. Cole, a resident of Riverdale, said the creative process for the book deepened her understanding of the people who make up Mill Woods. "It's really interesting hearing from these people in those sessions, and it's helping me with writing the book, because they tell me things I didn't know," Cole told Taproot. "They also give me a perspective on some things that I had already read about or understood to a degree, but they give you a different flavour of what really happened to actual people."
The University of Alberta showcased a pilot for farm-informed therapy that offers up to five free counselling sessions for farmers and agricultural workers and their families in Rocky View County. The wellness network from the university's AgWell Alberta project pairs participants with therapists trained in farm-specific pressures such as weather risk, isolation, and volatile costs.
Jacquelyn and Hunter Cardinal of Naheyawin talked reconciliation, creativity, and relational approaches to systems change on the latest episode of Action Lab's Wicked Complex podcast.
Housing is more than a shelter — it's a human right
The Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness invites you to celebrate 40 years of housing advocacy at a vibrant community event at the Alberta Avenue Hall on June 13. There will be live music, inspiring speakers, and meaningful connections, plus complimentary bannock and beverages.
The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton is struggling to meet the growing demand for its free counselling services amid rising sexual assault reports. The centre, operating for 50 years, offers up to 15 free counselling sessions to victims. Following a funding dispute with the Alberta government, SACE lost $1.8 million, resulting in employee layoffs and increased wait times. The centre's May fundraiser aims to diversify funding by symbolically representing waiting victims with sponsored teddy bears.
More than 50 organizations in Edmonton participated in Canada's Emergency Preparedness Week to assist residents in preparing for emergencies and natural disasters at the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Attendees engaged with emergency responders and experts, learning strategies to respond during crises. Eleanor Olszewski, the federal minister of emergency management, noted that 41% of Canadians are unaware of disaster risks.
Edmonton Fire Rescue Services battled several grass fires on May 8, as dry conditions allowed fires to spread quickly. Fires near 137 Avenue and Mark Messier Trail, and along Winterburn Road, are suspected to have started in encampments. Crews controlled the fires within an hour, though water availability was a challenge in rural areas. On the same day, city crews conducted a prescribed burn in Jan Reimer Park as part of broader wildfire prevention efforts to reduce potential fire fuel.
Movement should be considered core health care despite patients experiencing confusing advice on staying active, said My Viva's Prerana Rudrapatna and Shara Vigeant on the latest episode of The Lifestyle Medicine Show. The pair discussed how regular activity can improve chronic-disease risk, mental health, and long-term quality of life.
The University of Alberta Hospital and Stollery Children's Hospital emergency departments implemented a one-bag, one-visitor policy. The measure, first implemented at the Royal Alexandra Hospital following a violent incident, restricts patients and visitors to a single bag and one support person each. Officials said the policy aims to reduce clutter, maintain clear walkways, ensure space for patient care, and decrease crowding and noise. Exceptions will be made for patients requiring additional support and for essential medical or childcare items.
Alberta Blue Cross published a guide for small and mid-sized businesses on using flexible health benefits to recruit and retain tech workers.
University of Alberta virology experts said in a Folio explainer and a CBC segment that hantavirus remains rare in Canada, though severe when it occurs. They advised prevention through rodent control, ventilation, and careful cleanup of contaminated spaces.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
Correction: This file has been updated to correctly spell the name of the founder of MS Nation Community Foundation.
This roundup was sponsored by Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation.
API is one of Canada's largest not-for-profit life sciences commercialization organizations. We catalyze growth in the life sciences sector by addressing key challenges that hold companies and innovators back.
