The Pulse
Jan. 22, 2025

Alberta New Democratic Party leader Naheed Nenshi does not currently hold a seat in the Alberta Legislature and has announced he will run for Rachel Notley's recently vacated seat in Edmonton-Strathcona in a by-election.

Nenshi is synonymous with Calgary thanks to his 11 years as mayor and has confirmed he is not moving to Edmonton in a social media post. "This doesn't mean I'm leaving Calgary behind!" Nenshi wrote.

How can he run to represent an Edmonton riding, then? To find out, Taproot caught up with Duane Bratt, a professor who teaches international relations and public policy at Mount Royal University in Calgary.

"It's up to voters, and we replicate the British parliamentary system," Bratt told Taproot about Nenshi's decision and options.

Bratt said Nenshi, who won the NDP leadership in June and did not run to be a member of Alberta's legislative assembly in the 2023 provincial election, fits the definition of a "parachute candidate" in this scenario. Such candidates are people who parachute into a riding located far from where they live in order to secure election to a legislature. Other examples of parachute candidates in Alberta include Premier Danielle Smith, who returned to the legislature by winning a by-election in Brooks-Medicine Hat in November 2022, after already being handed Alberta's premier role by winning the United Conservative Party leadership contest to replace former leader and premier, Jason Kenney, in October 2022.

Notley, who led Alberta as premier from 2015 to 2019 and the NDP from 2014 until 2024, vacated the Edmonton-Strathcona seat on Dec. 30. The rules dictate the United Progressive Conservative government must call a by-election by June 30. It has yet to do so.

Bratt said provincial candidates have always been allowed to run in any riding, regardless of where they live, and that holds true federally as well. Bratt also said Nenshi's choice of where to run makes sense for political reasons, and that the UCP has options to add politics to it all, too.

Nenshi, for his part, said in a post that running in Edmonton does not change much about who he is. "While still proudly Calgarian, I'm already dividing my time between the two cities and I'm looking forward to learning more about Edmonton," he wrote in his social media post.

Why Edmonton-Strathcona?

Bratt said Nenshi's decision of where to run makes sense. "It's the safest NDP riding in the province," he said. The numbers back him up. Notley held the seat for nearly 17 years. In the 2023 election, Notley running for the NDP received 80% of the vote, and Edmonton-Strathcona received the lowest number of votes for the UCP of any riding.

• Thousands of striking education support workers employed by Edmonton Public Schools and Sturgeon Public School Division are expected to rally outside the Centre for Education on Jan. 22. The workers, represented by CUPE Local 3550 and CUPE Local 4625, are demanding higher wages. They have been on strike since Jan. 13.
• The historic Old Citadel on 102 Street in downtown Edmonton, home to The Starlite Room and River City Revival House, is for sale for $3.8 million, though the businesses themselves are not included in the sale. Co-owner Tyson Boyd hopes the music venues can continue to operate under new ownership, despite financial challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, inflation, and fewer tours. The building is known for its unique architecture and rich history as an Edmonton cultural venue.
• The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society will close its Edmonton shelter due to operational constraints and will shift its focus to its Calgary location. The decision has raised concerns among other Edmonton animal rescues that fear it will strain the city's already overwhelmed animal welfare system. The organization says it will continue supporting Edmonton through its foster home network while centralizing operations to enhance services in Calgary.
• Edmonton is among three Canadian cities profiled in Momentum Mag for its promotion of winter cycling. Initiatives like the Free Studded Tires Program offered by Bike Edmonton and the City of Edmonton's WinterCity Strategy aim to make winter cycling more accessible, reduce car dependence, and enhance quality of life. A participant in Bike Edmonton's program posted on Reddit about their experience cycling in winter conditions.
• Three Edmonton-based companies, PCL Construction, AIMCo, and EPCOR, were included on a list of Canada's Top Employers for Young People due to their strong programs and initiatives aimed at supporting early-career professionals. PCL was recognized for its mentorship and leadership programs, AIMCo for its rotational training and student loan repayment assistance, and EPCOR for its focus on skill development through mentorship and job rotation.
• The Edmonton Police Service has installed a digital billboard at 107 Avenue and 101 Street seeking information on the disappearance of Jeannine Ermineskin, who went missing in January 2022. The effort, supported by Native Counselling Services of Alberta and REACH Edmonton, aims to generate community tips about Ermineskin's last known whereabouts. She was last seen on CCTV footage at the TD Bank in Edmonton City Centre. Police ask anyone with information to contact them or Crime Stoppers.
• The Alberta Court of Appeal has overturned the acquittal of Richard Leonard Walker, who was previously found not guilty of assaulting Edmonton Police Service Const. Anton Golosov, and has ordered a new trial. The initial trial judge ruled Walker acted in self-defence after being unlawfully detained, but in its ruling the appeal court found legal errors in the judgment. Walker's lawyer plans to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, arguing the arrest lacked reasonable grounds.
• The Edmonton Police Service is seeking the extradition of Maninder Singh Dhaliwal in connection with an extortion and arson scheme targeting South Asian home builders. Dhaliwal was arrested on separate criminal charges in the United Arab Emirates in late 2024. Investigators allege he directed a criminal organization that carried out crimes through local recruits when extortion demands went unmet. The investigation, dubbed "Project Gaslight," has already led to multiple arrests.
• In his latest column for Postmedia, Keith Gerein wrote that the ongoing political tension between city council and the Edmonton Police Commission risks hindering the effectiveness of the Edmonton Police Service and the City of Edmonton's ability to attract a new police chief. The latest controversy erupted after the police service requested a provincial inquiry into two of council's appointees to the commission.
• Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid's three-game suspension offers an opportunity for other players on the team to contribute more offensively. "(Coaches are) going to rely on other guys a little bit more than usual, and I think that creates certain excitement for those individuals," Leon Draisaitl said. "Obviously, Connor takes on a lot of the offence for us (and in) his all-around game." McDavid's absence could also help Draisaitl's effort to win the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to a team's most valuable player. In a statement, the Oilers organization said they are "disappointed" and "share in fans' frustration" over McDavid's suspension.
• The Edmonton Oilers hosted their annual Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night at Rogers Place during their game against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 21. The event featured special tributes and proceeds from the 50/50 draw will support 4 Wing Military Family Resource Centre Society.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Starting A Business | Business Learning Series starting at 12pm online
• Winter Mixer starting at 4:30pm at Kitchen Craft Edmonton
• Discover and Validate starting at 6pm online
• Information Sessions: Individuals & Collectives Grant starting at 6pm online
• Town Hall with Mayor Daneluik starting at 6:30pm at Ecole Secondaire Beaumont Composite High School
• Whiskies of the World Part 2 starting at 7pm at Canadian Liquor Store
• Polar Bears in a Warming Arctic starting at 7pm online
• Winterruption 2025 (Until Jan. 26)
• Bea (until Feb. 9)

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Jan. 29: Trade Connections: Women Leading and Building Canada's Future at Ernest's Dining Room
• Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Afro-Canadian Extravaganza and Gala at Days Inn and Suites by Wyndham
• Feb. 2: Edmonton Oilers Skills Competition at Rogers Place

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.