Here's the latest from Taproot Edmonton
Few Albertans will approach the ballot box this October intending to elect a weak mayor, but that's exactly what they will get.
Tickets for The Weeknd's July 19 concert at Commonwealth Stadium included a $1.50 surcharge from Edmonton Transit Service that was aimed at simplifying fare enforcement and encouraging people to use LRT rather than drive.
![A group of eight firefighters pose for a photo with a woman wearing red, black, and white at the centre.]](https://taprootyeg.blob.core.windows.net/photos/2025/07/24/katchur-4696.jpg "After 15 years as mayor, Katchur seeks council seat in 2025")
Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Gale Katchur said she is "heartbroken" to be ending her 15-year streak as mayor but will run for election as a city councillor in 2025, not mayor.
Those organizing to stop, slow, or change infill told Taproot they want new housing in mature neighbourhoods to be smaller, the pace of developments to calm, and for neighbours to have more say in what gets built in their communities.
A new pop-up venue called The Hub on Whyte Avenue and the latest round of the Vagabond pop-up at Under the High Wheel are just two of several culinary pop-ups emerging across Edmonton this summer.
An architect of Unison, a City of Edmonton tool that uses artificial intelligence to map data from safety incident reports to predict where responses will be needed and inform what those responses should be, said that after several years in use, the tool is now coming into its own.
After marking her 30th anniversary with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, executive director Cheryl Whiskeyjack told Taproot she's still working to build a future in Edmonton where social-service systems work better and people regularly get what they need.
Though all municipalities must follow Alberta's Local Authorities Election Act for the upcoming elections on Oct. 20, they all have options within those rules to put their own spin on things.
A Pembina Institute report found that the Alberta Electric System Operator saw more electricity production cancelled than pitched in 2024.
