The Pulse
Feb. 5, 2025

The group that reviews development designs in specific locations across Edmonton is refining the principles it follows and could expand its oversight to include corridors like Alberta Avenue, Stony Plain Road, and major freeways.

The Edmonton Design Committee evaluates the architectural and urban design of new developments along Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard, the main corridors in and out of the city's south, as well as along parts of 99 Street NW, 109 Street NW, and Whyte Avenue NW. The committee also reviews developments in core neighbourhoods like Riverdale, Rossdale, and Wîhkwêntôwin, and on sites that cover more than one hectare and are located within 400 metres of a transit station.

Similar committees exist in other cities like Calgary and Vancouver. Edmonton's was established in 2005 shortly after former mayor Stephen Mandel declared that Edmonton should no longer build "crap."

"That was Mayor Mandel's rallying cry — 'No more crap needs to be built' — because we're a big city, and we should not pretend we're a frontier shack on the railroad anymore," said Shafraaz Kaba, a senior sustainability consultant with Stok Canada and a founding member of the committee. Kaba served on its board for more than a decade, under its official mandate to "improve the quality of urban design" in Edmonton.

"The design committee was originally created to make sure it focused on major corridors visitors would (use) coming into our city, and the centre of our city and, frankly, important neighbourhoods or streets like Whyte Avenue or Jasper Avenue," Kaba said. "(It was to) really emphasize we cannot get it wrong where the majority of people are going to get their first impression of our city and where most of the activity or energy is happening."

For the past year, the committee has engaged with the design, building, and development industries to review where it evaluates developments and the urban design principles it uses in those reviews.

The committee is considering realigning its boundaries with the nodes and corridors system that was introduced in the City Plan and formed the bones of the district planning policy. This would add Stony Plain Road NW, 97 Street NW, 118 Avenue NW, and 137 Avenue NW to the committee's oversight area. Another option is to add priority growth areas to the committee's scope, as these areas are currently targeted for increased density. Either option would only slightly increase the committee's workload, according to a report detailing the proposed changes.

The committee may also start to review projects adjacent to large transportation corridors like Anthony Henday Drive, Whitemud Drive, and Yellowhead Trail, as they are highly visible both to residents and visitors travelling through Edmonton. While large sites are currently only reviewed if they are within 400 metres of a transit station, the scope changes may mean the committee would review all large sites, regardless of their proximity to transit.

• City council approved a new bylaw to restrict the sale of knives in Edmonton convenience stores. The bylaw will take effect for individual stores when they renew their business licences. It won't apply to businesses such as sporting goods retailers and kitchen supply stores.
• Edmonton city council unanimously approved a rezoning application for the site of the vacant St. Anthony School in Old Strathcona despite opposition from residents. Beljan Development plans to build an eight-storey mid-rise building on the property.
• Edmonton city council approved the designation of the McClory Residence, the Brennan Residence, and the South Side Market as historic resources. The city now has 190 designated Municipal Historic Resources.
• U.S. President Donald Trump's top economic adviser, Kevin Hassett, cited Edmonton as an example of Canada's drug crisis "spilling into the U.S." and said that was the impetus for proposed tariffs on Canadian goods, not a trade dispute. In response, Mayor Amarjeet Sohi noted that Edmonton is disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis and argued for more provincial support. The proposed tariffs have been paused for 30 days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump spoke earlier this week.
• Porter Airlines is expanding its service to include four new daily routes from Hamilton, including one to Edmonton. The new routes will start in June.
• The Alberta government announced the Alberta Disability Assistance Program, a new support program for people with disabilities who can work. The program is expected to begin in July 2026 and will exist alongside the current Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. The province has not yet released details on benefit amounts and eligibility criteria.
• Edmonton photographer Shane Turgeon won the grand prize from Canadian Geographic's 2024 Photos of the Year for his stunning wildlife images. Turgeon said he began his photography career by taking images with his iPhone and later expanded into professional gear when he took an interest in taking pictures of the night sky.
• Robert Westbury, a prominent Edmontonian known for his contributions to education, business, and philanthropy died on Jan. 22 at the age of 88. He was involved with a variety of organizations, including the SEEDS Foundation, TransAlta Utilities, TELUS, Northlands, the Citadel Theatre, and the Edmonton Fringe Festival. He was invested into the Order of Canada in 2011 and inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2012.
• The AIMCo Foundation awarded $384,100 in community grants to 20 Alberta charities focused on delivering financial literacy programming. The Africa Centre, Bissell Centre, and YWCA Edmonton were among the grant recipients.
• The Alberta Cancer Foundation marked World Cancer Day on Feb. 4 by announcing that donations made in February will be matched up to $200,000 by the AGAT Foundation. The funds will support the Patient Financial Assistance Program, which helps Albertans with costs associated with cancer care.
• Third-party advertiser Take Back Alberta has been fined $112,500 by Elections Alberta for violations of election financing rules, including breaking fundraising rules and improper bookkeeping. The organization's founder, David Parker, was fined $7,500 for three violations.
• Edmonton-raised soccer star Alphonso Davies has agreed to a new contract with Bayern Munich, according to a report in The Athletic. The contract would keep him with the German club until 2030.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Winter Walk Day
• Edmonton Realtor Forum starting at 11:30am at Westin Edmonton
• Preparing For Financing | Business Learning Series starting at 1pm online
• Information Sessions: Individuals & Collectives Grant starting at 2pm at Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre
• Stay Spicy Talks & Mixer: Fearless Leadership in 2025 starting at 4pm at EPIC Market
• Global Health Fundraiser starting at 5pm at University of Alberta (Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre)
• nêhiyawêwin (Cree Language) Classes starting at 6pm online
• 2040: Film screening with expert commentary starting at 6:45pm at Metro Cinema
• Irrational Comedy starting at 7:30pm at Irrational Brewing Company

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Feb. 13: To Paris ~ With Love: A Midnight in Paris Themed Evening at Continental Treat Fine Bistro (Downtown)
• Feb. 18: Shaping Energy Future Competitiveness online
• Feb. 21: Edmonton Conversation Café - Discussions on Mental Health at Aum Cafe

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