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Explainer: The role of parties and slates in the 2025 election
As part of Taproot's ongoing election analysis and coverage, today we examine parties and slates in the coming election and what that might mean for voters.
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A moment in history: Aug. 8, 1979
On this day in 1979, Edmonton's first streetcar was resurrected to run the rails once again.
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How an Edmonton comedian took his film to a global stage and screens
Simon Glassman spoke to Taproot about his horror-comedy film, which recently screened at the prestigious Fantasia International Film Festival.
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Zylotex partners up on quest to make hemp a viable industry in Alberta
After searching for a mill to produce hemp pulp fibre but finding none willing in Alberta, Zylotex, which makes natural fibres from provincially grown hemp, is working with Plantae Technologies Inc. to pulp the hemp itself.
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Explainer: What's a weak mayor — and why could it matter for the 2025 election?
Few Albertans will approach the ballot box this October intending to elect a weak mayor, but that's exactly what they will get.
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Why Workshop West's experiment allowing audiences to name their price is a smashing success
Workshop West Playwrights' Theatre will keep offering pay-what-you-will ticketing during its next all-Canadian season of theatre because its pilot run was such a smash, growing its audience by nearly 75%.
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A moment in history: Aug. 1, 1923
On this day in 1923, Alberta's premier was angry at the Edmonton Journal for financing and hosting a speaking tour. But despite the premier's anger, the speaker and their tour would eventually have a massive impact on Alberta's economy.
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ETS begins adding small surcharge for big-name concert tickets at Commonwealth
Tickets for The Weeknd's July 19 concert at Commonwealth Stadium included a $1.50 surcharge from Edmonton Transit Service that was aimed at simplifying fare enforcement and encouraging people to use LRT rather than drive.
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Why St. Albert's downtown could be welcoming a lot more residents
The number of housing units in St. Albert's downtown is expected to grow as the Edmonton region experiences record-breaking population growth, the city's director of economic development Mike Erickson told Taproot.
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The Pulse
A weekday news briefing that informs you about what's going on in Edmonton.
Friday, Aug. 8
In this edition: Explainer: The role of parties and slates in the 2025 election; a moment in history from 1979; and more headlines and happenings
Thursday, Aug. 7
In this edition: How an Edmonton comedian took his film to a global stage and screens; Alberta Transportation minister to meet with Edmonton mayor over bike lanes; and more headlines and happenings
Wednesday, Aug. 6
In this edition: Zylotex partners up on quest to make hemp a viable industry in Alberta; Edmonton building fewer parking stalls than infill housing units, data shows; and more headlines and happenings
Events
Check out the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar. This is our latest effort to inform and connect our community, building on the attention Taproot already pays to what's going on in the Edmonton region.
Roundups
Weekly newsletters that go deeper on topics of interest.
Business Roundup: August 08, 2025
With news from Complete Solutions Consulting International Inc., Enbridge, samdesk, ELITE Program, Avison Young, Westrich Pacific, Zylotex, and more.
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Arts Roundup: August 07, 2025
With news from Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Cariwest, Animethon 2025, Arts Habitat Edmonton, St. Albert Readers' Festival, Arts on the Ave, and more.
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Regional Roundup: August 06, 2025
With news from St. Albert, Strathcona County, Beaumont, Alexander First Nation, BURNCO, Complete Solutions Consulting International Inc., and more.
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Health Innovation Roundup: August 06, 2025
With news from My Fertility Labs, NiaHealth, First Nations Health Consortium, Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists, and more.
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Food Roundup: August 05, 2025
With news from Mark Connolly, White Rabbit Ice Cream, Square 1 Coffee, Dosti Tandoor Grill, The Colombian, Seoul Fried Chicken, and more
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Tech Roundup: August 05, 2025
With news from the University of Alberta, Capital Power, Yaletown Partners, NiaHealth, samdesk, RISEx, and more
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Events Roundup: July 03, 2025
Featuring an event pick by Taproot reporter Stephanie Swensrude, and a listing of events to fill the start of summer.
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Podcasts
Taproot publishes regular podcasts on local topics.
When did you last mow the lawn?
Edmonton is building fewer parking spaces than housing units, St. Albert is trying to grow its downtown population, Hawrelak Park could open by the end of the year, and we look at the City's new mowing map.
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How Taproot is approaching the election
Taproot co-founder Karen Unland returns to the show to talk about how we are approaching the 2025 municipal election and the impact we hope to have. We've also got clips from an interview with Coun. Michael Janz about infill.
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Can you get rid of the Rapidfire segment next?
We're back with a discussion about changes we are making for election season. Namely, Troy will take a hiatus from the show. We discuss why and what that means for the show going forward.
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Blog Posts
Updates on what Taproot Edmonton has been up to recently.
What we heard at our election listening sessions
Throughout May and June, we hosted five listening sessions dubbed "What's on your mind, municipally speaking?" to hear from Edmontonians about the issues that matter most to them in the 2025 municipal election.
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Housing Complex a finalist for Collaboration of the Year
Housing Complex — Taproot's series on what works, what doesn't, and what can be improved about Edmonton's housing system — has been named a finalist in the Collaboration of the Year category at the 2025 LION Publishers Sustainability Awards.
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A progress report on Taproot’s election project
Much has happened since last we spoke about our election plan, so here's an update on what we've done so far and what's to come.
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