Headlines: May 27, 2026

• Edmonton property owners will soon receive their 2026 property tax notices by mail or email. This year, a typical single-detached home assessed at $492,500 will pay about $426 monthly in combined property taxes. The City of Edmonton said 75% of property taxes will support municipal services, while the remaining 25% will contribute to provincial education funding. This year's municipal tax increase is 6.9% and the provincial education tax increase is 10.2%. The deadline for property owners to sign up for monthly payments is June 15.
• The City of Edmonton is calling on residents to help combat invasive weeds, which grow rapidly and outcompete native plants in Edmonton, affecting biodiversity. Key invasive weeds in the area include Himalayan balsam, creeping bellflower, purple loosestrife, and garlic mustard. The City is hosting more than 50 weed pull events this season. Resources on identifying and reporting invasive weeds, as well as regulatory information, are available for those interested in conservation efforts.
• A Court of King's Bench justice found Dennis Okeymow guilty of manslaughter for selling a gun used by 16-year-old Roman Shewchuk to kill Edmonton Police Service officers Brett Ryan and Travis Jordan in March 2023. This marks the first time in Canadian history someone has been found guilty of manslaughter in connection with gun trafficking. Justice John Little found Okeymow guilty of 10 offenses, including three counts of manslaughter, for selling the semi-automatic rifle to Shewchuk, who also injured others before killing himself. The verdict may influence future prosecutions related to firearms trafficking.
• The City of Edmonton has approved a permit for the construction of a new Costco location, set to be built in the northeast area of the city at Manning Town Centre.
• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services reported a 66% increase in fires at homes under construction and vacant properties from 2022 to 2025, with more than half deemed deliberately set. The Edmonton Police Service is investigating these fires, and some may be linked to "Project Gaslight," a probe into extortion targeting South Asian homebuilders.
• A dispute over Alberta separation and Indigenous treaty rights overshadowed the close of the Western Premiers' Conference in Kananaskis on Tuesday, as Premier Danielle Smith and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew sparred over the province's duty to consult First Nations on a proposed independence referendum. Smith defended Alberta's plan to appeal a court ruling that quashed a separatist petition over inadequate consultation, while Kinew said the responsibility lies with the provincial government, not petition organizers.

Correction: This file has been updated to correct an item about the new Costco.