- Edmonton city council will discuss a proposal on Aug. 13 for a downtown student housing incentive program. Funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Accelerator Fund, the program would provide grants of up to $30,000 per new student unit. According to a City of Edmonton report, building permits could be issued for approximately 500 housing units by November 2026. Lindsey Butterfield of BILD Edmonton Metro said that between MacEwan University and NorQuest College, roughly 30,000 students enter the downtown core daily.
- Edmonton restaurants are experiencing a slowdown after a surge in sales during the Edmonton Oilers' playoff run, Postmedia reported. ATB economists say restaurant spending increased by 5.2% in the first five months of 2025 compared to 2024, but restaurant owners have noted a decline since then. Economists suggest factors such as household budget tightening, increased travel to Banff and Jasper, and poor patio weather due to rain have contributed to the slump.
- Boardwalk Real Estate Investment Trust, a major landlord with nearly 12,500 units in Edmonton, reported a 6.2% revenue increase in Alberta, citing strong demand for affordable housing. CEO Sam Kolias said the demand is partly due to "better than expected" immigration numbers. Boardwalk's Edmonton average is $1,514 per month, which Kolias says is the most affordable in Canada.
- CTV News explored how Edmonton malls are responding to the recent closure of Hudson's Bay stores, which left over a million square feet of retail space vacant. Unlike past retail exits, these large spaces are proving harder to fill. Potential replacements include pickleball courts, upscale dining, libraries, and multi-use redevelopments.
- After being closed since 2023 for extensive renovations, Hawrelak Park is set to reopen in late 2025. The $133 million rehabilitation project, which addressed outdated infrastructure, included replacing underground utilities, upgrading the Heritage Amphitheatre, and adding gender-neutral washrooms. The City of Edmonton is currently adding finishing touches such as sod, plantings, and paved pathways.
- According to Statistics Canada's June 2025 labour force survey, Alberta saw the highest employment gains across Canada, increasing by 1.2% with 30,000 jobs added. This marks the second increase in three months, bringing the total to 2,594,100 employed Albertans, and dropping the province's unemployment rate to 6.8%. University of Alberta economics professor Joseph Marchand noted that trade discussions and geopolitical climate haven't impacted the province's unemployment rate. Nationally, employment increased by 83,000, raising the employment rate to 60.9% and dropping the unemployment rate to 6.9%.
- Manav Singh Heer pleaded guilty to arson, extortion, and conspiracy related to the Project Gaslight case, which targeted South Asian home builders in Edmonton. Heer admitted to committing arsons at homes of four developers, and to shooting at a security guard's car. The extortion scheme, which began in the fall of 2023, involved demands for cash and violent threats. Alleged ringleader Maninder Dhaliwal is in Dubai and is the subject of an extradition request.
- The First Nations Health Consortium hosted its fourth annual Youth Teepee Summit from July 29 to 31 at the Northeast River Valley Event Centre in Edmonton. The summit brought together 400 Indigenous youth and chaperones from across Alberta to participate in cultural, physical, and educational activities, engaging with Elders and inspirational speakers. The summit included cultural experiences such as dream catcher making, bannock on a stick, and performances by traditional dancers.
- The Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists launched the first Black health journal in Canada in Edmonton. The Canadian Nigerian Medical Journal will share diagnoses, treatments, and research pertaining to the Black community to improve health outcomes for Black Canadians. Editor-in-chief Moses Ademola hopes the journal will offer unique insights from the Black medical community. The journal's deputy editor, Segun Oyedokun, said the peer-reviewed international medical journal will be available in print and open access.
- Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said the Alberta government will look to Ontario as it considers ways to affect bike lanes in Edmonton and Calgary, following a court ruling deeming the Ontario government's plan to remove Toronto bike lanes unconstitutional. Dreeshen said he wants coordination between the Alberta government and municipalities regarding road networks. Keith Heslinga of Bike Edmonton was encouraged by the Ontario court decision and hopes the province will reconsider its stance.
Headlines: Aug. 5, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim