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Headlines: July 21, 2026

· The Pulse
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  • The City of Edmonton activated its extreme weather response due to poor air quality, with the Air Quality Health Index reaching 10 or higher. The response, expected to last until July 22, could be extended if conditions persist; city facilities were open for vulnerable residents to seek relief from the conditions. The City also said an extreme heat response was expected to be activated on July 22.
  • The City of Edmonton and EPCOR are temporarily closing the west sidewalk and northwest approach of the High Level Bridge beginning July 20 at noon to complete necessary repairs for slope stability following heavy rainfall. Expected to take three days, the work involves drainage infrastructure repair to stabilize the slope, affecting pedestrians and cyclists on this busy route. To fully cross the bridge, pedestrians must use the southeast staircase and then cross to the west sidewalk. The City will provide updates on the closure as works progresses.
  • Downtown Edmonton is losing two more established restaurants, with arcade bar Greta set to close on July 26 and Bündok announcing its closure after nine years, adding to a series of recent restaurant departures from the core. Business owners cited prolonged construction, reduced downtown office traffic and rising operating costs as key challenges, renewing calls for improved access and measures to revitalize the city's downtown economy.
  • A federal court directed Correctional Service Canada to record temperatures and seek authorization to install air conditioning at the secure unit of the Edmonton Institution for Women. Inmate complaints of extreme heat go back about two decades; temperatures caused "panic attacks, psychological distress, and sleep deprivation," the court found.
  • An unexpected electrical issue at Saputo's Edmonton facility disrupted milk production, causing bare shelves and purchase limits at some stores in the province. Small businesses said they were entirely cut off from new deliveries; Saputo expected service to return to normal by the end of the week.
  • U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra told an Edmonton conference that Alberta and Saskatchewan make the "most compelling" case for supplying United States oil needs. The U.S. must find three to four million more barrels per day over the next decade, Hoekstra said. He expects a Canada-U.S. trade deal to eventually be reached and suggested the two countries could partner on critical minerals.
  • Elections Alberta opened applications to vote by mail in the Oct. 19 referendum, with the deadline to apply set for Oct. 9. The special ballot is available to all eligible Alberta electors, including students studying away from home.