- Edmonton city councillors unanimously recommended selling a plot of land for $1 to NiGiNan Housing Ventures. The 0.3-hectare site, near Kingsway Mall along 106 Street NW in the Spruce Avenue neighbourhood, will house Ambrose Place II, a five-storey, 60-unit supportive housing development. The project, estimated at $30.7 million, is also recommended for $5.2 million in city funding. Keri Cardinal of NiGiNan Housing Ventures emphasized the need for culturally informed housing close to services for Edmonton's vulnerable population.
- Residents in southwest Edmonton's Windermere neighbourhood are debating a proposed rezoning for a lot at 100 Windermere Crescent, which would allow multi-unit, three-storey housing. Homeowner Ivan Kawulka is seeking to rezone his property from rural residential, with City of Edmonton administration supporting the change for increased housing diversity. However, most of the 113 residents who provided feedback oppose it, citing concerns about traffic, particularly on 170 Street, and preserving the neighbourhood's rural character. A public hearing is set for Aug. 18.
- The City of Edmonton will host a free Movies on the Square event at Sir Winston Churchill Square on Aug. 18, from noon to 8pm. The family-friendly event features a triple bill of Sonic the Hedgehog movies. Pre-movie entertainment includes a performance by Robyn Ashley, balloon creations by Demmi Dupri, and activities from the Edmonton Public Library. Food trucks will be on-site and attendees should bring their own lawn chairs.
- The Old Strathcona Business Association commissioned a new ultra-Canadian mural by radio host Lauren Hunter in Edmonton's Spur Line Alley near Whyte Avenue. Installed on the 115-year-old Richards Block, the acrylic-on-canvas artwork took more than two months to complete and features Canadian symbols and nods to Edmonton and Alberta. The art is part of a program designed to deter graffiti and vandalism, and the OSBA hopes it will encourage more foot traffic to back alley businesses.
- Edmonton police shot a 42-year-old man during a domestic disturbance at 102 Avenue and 121 Street NW on Aug. 13. Edmonton Police Service officers and Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to reports of a man barricaded in an apartment and threatening occupants with a machete and a sword. A witness observed a man on a balcony being assaulted before officers used a fire truck's aerial lift to approach, leading to shots being fired. The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized, with no injuries to officers or residents. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating the incident.
- Alberta recorded a record 317 organ and tissue donors in 2024, an increase from 273 in 2023, as medical teams boost awareness. Dennis Djogovic, medical director of Give Life Alberta North, attributes the rise to 2023 provincial mandatory referral legislation and the formation of Give Life Alberta. Organ donation advocate Heather Zirk stressed the importance of family discussions, as consent rates are around 50-60%. Currently, more than 500 Albertans are awaiting life-saving transplants.
- Alberta government ministers are pitching hybrid rural-urban ridings to the Electoral Boundaries Commission. Brandon Lunty, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, proposed new ridings for Leduc and Beaumont, suggesting flexibility to meet population targets. In contrast, Opposition NDP MLAs, including Edmonton-Castle Downs MLA Nicole Goehring, along with Edmonton city councillors Michael Janz and Keren Teng, advocated against drawing ridings across municipal lines, arguing that urban and rural communities have distinct needs requiring separate representation. The commission, which received 197 submissions, must submit its initial report by Oct. 28, with a final report due March 28.
Headlines: Aug. 14, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim