- The City of Edmonton is activating its extreme weather response starting Aug. 25, as temperatures are expected to climb above 30C until Aug. 29. The response is expected to continue until Sept. 1. Measures include 28 drinking water stations, additional water at transit/LRT stops, peace officers distributing bottled water to vulnerable populations, and open city facilities (libraries, pools, and recreation centres) serving as cooling centres with free water and N95 masks. Fire advisories are in place for surrounding counties and Elk Island National Park.
- The Edmonton Police Service is treating the disappearance of Samuel Bird, a 14-year-old Indigenous boy from Paul First Nation, as suspicious. Bird was last seen on June 1 in west Edmonton's Canora neighbourhood. Insp. Sean Anderson from the major crimes branch said in a release that the investigation is open and that police are committed to finding Bird, whose prolonged absence without a phone or money is out of character. The Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations has requested a formal "search and recovery" designation to enhance resource access for the family's ongoing efforts.
- The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has smashed its all-time ticket sales record by selling 138,500 tickets and returning a record $1.47 million directly to artists, surpassing its 2019 milestone. More than 490 performances sold out. Despite this success, organizers warn that long-term sustainability requires more than box office revenue. The Fringe is seeking to reach 1,000 monthly donors to fund free community programming. A 2025 Holdover Series will run from Aug. 27 to 30.
- Edmonton city council is recruiting members for the Edmonton Police Commission to provide civilian oversight of the Edmonton Police Service. The non-political body seeks professionals with financial, legal, information technology, or human resources experience, alongside an understanding of public accountability and board operations. Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resumé, and two references by Sept. 21. The search comes after two previous appointees resigned following concerns from the police service over potential conflicts of interest.
- Edmonton city council approved a $50,000 pilot project to test cameras and microphones that can identify vehicles exceeding noise limits. Coun. Michael Janz said the technology will provide data to better target problem areas and could eventually support ticketing if provincial laws change. However, critics argue the project is costly and diverts funds from more immediate safety measures. Experts note the technology is effective and reliable but caution it offers only a localized fix, while broader enforcement and urban planning are needed to address systemic noise and health impacts.
- Edmonton's suburban retail market is thriving and steady, contrasting with ongoing efforts to revive downtown, according to James Young, vice-president of retail services for CBRE. CBRE's Canada retail rent survey for the first half of 2025 indicates mixed-use suburban rental rates rose to $36 per square foot, particularly in the southwest, while downtown's mixed-use urban rates remained unchanged at $33-$42 per square foot. Young said more residential activity is needed downtown to stimulate demand.
- Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum is scheduled for major demolition work starting in summer 2026, expected to take about two years. The vacant venue costs the city more than $1 million annually to maintain. Edmonton has allocated $35 million for the demolition.
- The City of Edmonton is seeking input from migrants through an online survey, launched in August 2025, to inform an action plan for its migrant inclusion policy. The initiative aims to address challenges for Edmonton's migrant population, which makes up one in three residents, including those with undocumented status. Challenges often involve accessing city services, housing, health care, and work accreditation. Cynthia Palmaria of Migrante Alberta, a grassroots group, welcomed the survey, which closes Sept. 15.
- Thousands gathered in Edmonton for Ukrainian Independence Day on Aug. 24 to show support for Ukraine. "It's a bittersweet time because obviously Ukraine is still at war defending its freedom," Orysia Boychuk of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council told CTV News.
- Edmonton's Aurora Academic Charter School has seen an uptick in enrolment interest from parents hoping to avoid disruption from a potential Alberta teacher strike. Superintendent Ian Gray attributes this to charter school teachers generally not being part of the Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) bargaining group. Aurora is full with a 2,800-student waiting list, primarily due to space limitations. In June, Alberta teachers voted 94% in favor of a strike, seeking better classroom sizes, resources, and wages. The ATA and the government will return to the bargaining table on Aug. 29, ahead of the Oct. 7 strike deadline.
- The University of Alberta celebrated 19 Indigenous undergraduates on Aug. 23 for their environmental research, including a project focused on assessing wildfire hazards. This recognition is part of an internship program designed to connect Indigenous students to research and career opportunities.
- Lee Easton, president of the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations, and Shauna MacDonald, president of the Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association, published an op-ed in Postmedia outlining six crucial steps to restore Alberta's post-secondary education system. They advocate for ending political interference in campus decisions, investing in vital rural institutions, and restoring research competitiveness with stable, ideology-free funding. The authors also call for predictable operating grants, strengthening university governance, and funding a broad skill base across all disciplines.
- The Alberta government is updating its fall COVID-19 vaccine program into a two-phase plan starting in October, to streamline access and reduce vaccine wastage. Phase 1 provides free vaccines to eligible high-risk Albertans, including continuing care residents, home care clients, individuals 65+, healthcare workers, and those with underlying medical conditions. Phase 2 makes vaccines available to all other Albertans for a $100 administration fee.
Headlines: Aug. 25, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim