The Pulse: Aug. 18, 2025

Council is scheduled to discuss dozens of applications to rezone properties, the next council's calendar, and how the city uses social media.

There is a public hearing scheduled on Aug. 18, with a continuation next week on Aug. 28 and 29, and a council meeting scheduled on Aug. 19.

Here are key items on this week's agenda:

• A whopping 49 items are on the agenda for the public hearing scheduled for Aug. 18, 28, and 29. These items include rezoning applications for three properties in Belgravia, a rezoning application from developer Gene Dub for an apartment complex in Rossdale, a rezoning application that could see six single-family houses replaced with a four-storey apartment building a block from a future Valley Line LRT stop, a proposal for a 27-storey tower in Windsor Park, a proposed bylaw that would allow developers to widen arterial roads in Lewis Farms, and changes to the zoning bylaw that would introduce regulations to homeless shelters.
• Administration has drafted a new calendar for the upcoming council term that council is scheduled to review on Aug. 19. If approved, the changes would mean that future councils will get a summer break of four weeks instead of five; regular meetings will end at 5:30pm instead of 5pm; and there will be an extra day added to public hearing meetings, among other adjustments. "The number of public hearing items requiring postponement in 2025 indicates additional meeting days are required," reads a report about the changes. There have been public hearings that saw more than 100 Edmontonians attend in this council term, especially regarding rezoning applications, as backlash against infill development grows. Here is a list of administration- and council-driven reports and bylaws that are still due to council and committees in the coming months. If council approves this draft, it will vote on the official calendar at a meeting on Sept. 16.
• The City of Edmonton uses X (the social media formerly named Twitter) for emergency communication and real-time updates, Facebook for broad public reach and service awareness, and Instagram for community storytelling and visual engagement, according to a report about social media scheduled to be presented to council on Aug. 19. The City has the most followers on X at 273,000, and posts on that platform about 50 times per week. However, the City has recently reduced the number of times it posts on X and stopped paying for advertising on the platform. Some municipalities in Canada have stopped using X due to concerns about misinformation and polarization, the report said.
• City council is scheduled to hear from the public about the proposed North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan on Aug. 18. The plan renews, streamlines, and clarifies Edmonton's approach to planning the lands that are part of the river valley zone. The proposed plan identifies most of the river valley as open space and limits developments that may damage the environmental health or limit public access to the river valley. In December, council asked administration to do more internal consultation on the plan. Ansh Gulati with the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition argued in an op-ed that the proposed bylaw falls short of adequately protecting the river valley. Gulati said that the draft uses weak, non-binding language like "should" instead of "shall," eroding procedural safeguards, and that the bylaw fails to reflect the urgency of the city's acknowledged climate emergency or sufficiently protect biodiversity.
• Council will meet in private to discuss appointments to the City of Edmonton Youth Council and hear a membership update from the Edmonton Police Commission.
• The owners of a commercial lot south of Whitemud Drive between 105 Street NW and Calgary Trail NW have applied to rezone the property so they can redevelop the former Lowe's building and parking lot into housing. If the application is successful, the owners could develop buildings of up to six storeys tall on the 3.2-hectare western portion of the site. Council is scheduled to debate the application at a public hearing on Aug. 18.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

Also: What issues do you care about as you consider who to vote for in the 2025 municipal election, and why? The 2025 municipal elections are approaching. Let us know what matters, and read more about what we plan to do with what we gather.

• Valley Line West LRT construction near Stony Plain Road and 149 Street in Edmonton is raising accessibility concerns for residents. Paula Stephenson, who uses a walker, faces challenges navigating detours and changing bus routes. Disability advocate Zachary Weeks, vice-chair of the Accessibility Advisory Committee, noted similar issues at other construction sites but confirmed Edmonton city council is receptive to feedback. Sarah Feldman with Edmonton Transit Service acknowledged the inconvenience, adding that ETS is working to minimize disruptions and has implemented a temporary on-demand transit service.
• The City of Edmonton highlighted its investment of $27.5 million for 619 new and renewed affordable housing units through the Affordable Housing Investment Program. City council approved grants to support projects by the Governing Council of The Salvation Army in Canada (Grace Manor), Right at Home Housing Society (Millbourne Mews, Edmiston Street), Kingsway Crossing Developments Ltd. (Central McDougall), MPW Developments One Limited Partnership (Kennedale Industrial), and NiGiNan Housing Ventures (Spruce Avenue). The City has now supported 3,541 units since 2023, working towards a goal of 4,652 units by 2026.
• Uncertainty looms for parents as a potential teacher labour disruption could affect the upcoming school year. The Alberta Teachers' Association voted overwhelmingly for a strike in June, prompting the Teachers' Employer Bargaining Association to apply for a lockout vote. Formal mediation between the two parties is set for Aug. 26 to 29, ahead of the scheduled Sept. 2 school start.
• More than 8,500 people participated in the Edmonton Marathon on Aug. 17. Last year, organizers said about 6,500 people participated. The marathon raised more than $77,000 for local charities.
• Edmonton's 113-year-old Mustard Seed Church building, closed since October 2024, could be demolished this fall due to an unsafe structural assessment revealing major foundation and steeple issues. The building, which was a German and Reformed Dutch church, then a nightclub, and later donated to the Mustard Seed in the 1980s, will have a decommissioning ceremony in its parking lot on Aug. 27 at 10am. There are no current plans for what will replace the church.
• The Edmonton Police Service reported nine shootings in July, a decrease from 15 in June and 11 in July 2024. Despite the monthly decline, year-to-date shootings increased by 2.5% to 81, up from 79 during the same period in 2024. Police said eight of July's shootings were targeted, and three resulted in injuries, with no fatalities. Police also seized 50 firearms in July, bringing the 2025 total to 380.
• St. Albert RCMP is seeking the owner of a dog after a woman was attacked while walking her own dog on Aug. 14. Police responded to a report of a dog biting a woman in St. Albert. The woman sustained injuries in the incident. Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the dog or its owner to contact them.
• Air Canada flights remained cancelled on Aug. 17, as a labour dispute between the airline and its 10,000 flight attendants continued to ground planes. Despite a Canada Industrial Relations Board order for workers to return to work, the union announced plans to remain on strike, prompting Air Canada to suspend restart plans and cancel approximately 240 flights. In an update on the situation, Edmonton International Airport informed passengers they may see flight attendants demonstrating at the airport.
• Alberta's new paid COVID-19 vaccination program, which opened online pre-ordering on Aug. 11 for appointments beginning in October, is facing widespread criticism from health experts, advocates, and unions. James Talbot, former chief medical officer, warned the policy sabotages the immunization campaign by creating unfair barriers and limiting access. Premier Danielle Smith defended the move, citing efforts to reduce waste after many doses went unused last season. Details on specific qualifying conditions for free vaccines and the estimated $110 cost are still forthcoming.
• The Alberta Next Panel, chaired by Premier Danielle Smith, faced a polarized crowd in west Edmonton on Aug. 14. Attendees frequently jeered proposals, particularly one proposing to switch to an Alberta Pension Plan, though straw polls indicated majority support for the six initiatives. Moderator Bruce McAllister struggled with crowd decorum. Audience members also criticized the province's new expense disclosure policy, which Smith stated she was confused by and would consider reversing. This was the third of 10 planned town halls to discuss Alberta's relationship with the federal government.
• Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod said the province rejected two of her recommendations regarding access to information requests. In a May 2025 report, McLeod found 27 government departments used policies violating Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy laws. Dale Nally, the minister of Service Alberta, confirmed the province accepted most recommendations but not those limiting topics in requests or splitting multi-topic requests into new, fee-incurring ones.
• The Edmonton Oilers are nearing a pivotal moment with the next contract for captain Connor McDavid, expected to be a shorter three-to-four-year deal around $16.5 million annually, The Athletic reported. In its analysis, The Athletic suggested the shorter term may reflect McDavid's frustration with past roster decisions and the team's struggle to win a Stanley Cup. General Manager Stan Bowman and Coach Kris Knoblauch have improved defensive depth and added younger wingers, but the contract length will indicate McDavid's long-term commitment to the franchise.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Dragon Festival
• Movies on the Square Marathon starting at 1pm at Churchill Square
• Wild Mushroom Walks starting at 2pm at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Insert Laugh Here starting at 9pm at Granite Curling Club

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Aug. 19: Book Launch with Premee Mohamed at Audreys Books
• Aug. 22: Zoobrew Vol. 3 at Edmonton Valley Zoo
• Aug. 23: Pride Cup at ICE District

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

Test your crossword prowess and deploy a little of your Edmonton knowledge. Complete the puzzle.

The mini has a Fringe-y theme for the next little while in honour of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, which runs until Aug. 24. Enjoy!