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Headlines: July 9, 2026

· The Pulse
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  • Major tech company Meta has announced plans for a $13 billion data centre in Sturgeon County, making it Canada's largest data centre project. The facility will use a closed-loop, liquid-cooling system, to minimize water use, consuming less than a typical regional golf course. Mayor Alanna Hnatiw highlighted benefits, such as local jobs and economic diversification. Porponents of the project say it is expected to catalyze further development, and will positively impact Alberta's power grid by reducing overall transmission costs for ratepayers. Capital Power will supply 250 megawatts of energy for the development. The project is expected to create 3,000 construction jobs and 300 operational jobs and provide $250 million in annual benefits to Alberta. While praised for boosting AI infrastructure, critics worry about natural gas reliance affecting local energy prices.
  • Coordination between the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Police Service has reduced abandoned vehicles on city streets by 73% over the past three weeks, thanks in part to additional storage at the Police Seized Vehicle Impound, the City said in a release. The number of vehicles waiting to be towed fell from 682 in June to 181 in July. A phased approach helps clear the backlog, prioritizing vehicles that pose safety risks. An active towing queue is now publicly available on the city's website.
  • Blake Desjarlais has stepped down as chief of staff to Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack, just three months after his appointment. Desjarlais, a former MP credited as the first two-spirit representative in the Canadian House of Commons, cited mutual agreement and respect in the decision to leave. Desjarlais previously served as an NDP MP for Edmonton-Griesbach but lost his seat in 2025. Knack commended Desjarlais's service and expressed confidence in his continued commitment to the community.
  • Amid Edmonton's ongoing population boom, a new report by Avison Young highlights 6.3% population growth in Beaumont, which is leading the greater Edmonton region. Leduc County and Spruce Grove also saw significant increases, attributed to interprovincial moves from Ontario and B.C. Brandon Imada of Avison Young cited affordability and infrastructure as key draws, noting that lower taxes make development attractive. While BILD Edmonton Metro advocates for expanding neighbourhoods south of 41 Avenue SW, Coun. Michael Janz warned that increased city budget burdens, especially in police and transit, could result.
  • Justin Bone, accused of two murders in Edmonton's Chinatown, testified that he remembers nothing about the incidents due to methamphetamine use and hallucinations. Arrested more than four years ago for the deaths of Ban Phuc Hoang and Hung Trang, Bone testified that prior to his arrest, he had been using methamphetamine and wandering the city. Despite surveillance footage and deliberate actions noted by the Crown, Bone said that his memory is unreliable. The trial continues, with Bone's defense expected to present additional evidence.
  • Rocco Caterina, a former Edmonton city council candidate, was arrested and charged with possessing child sexual exploitation materials following an international investigation led by Norway's National Criminal Investigation Service, CBC News reported. Caterina was detained in Stony Plain on May 27 by Alberta's Law Enforcement Response Teams as part of a probe involving suspects from 14 countries. The investigation used cryptocurrency tracing to identify users of illicit dark web content. Caterina, who unsuccessfully ran for city council in 2017, is the only Canadian charged so far. His court appearance is set for July 15.