The Pulse: Aug. 19, 2025

Viral food reviewer Ramneek Singh is organizing a GoFundMe for Chutney, which was one of 25 businesses damaged by arson at the Mill Woods 34 Plaza in April.

"When that fire happened, it was a blow to our community," Singh told Taproot. "I think Chutney is the crown jewel of that community right now, because it makes the best food. On top of that, (owner Riaz Khan) is a beautiful man, and we don't have too many Pakistani restaurants in Edmonton, especially mom and pop restaurants."

Singh's campaign has raised $7,900 of its current $9,000 goal since April. In fact, the fundraiser has exceeded the original goal of just $2,000 because of the outpouring of support for Chutney, he said. Singh added that Khan plans to eventually reopen the existing Chutney location and open a second one, which will be more like a banquet hall, at Mill Woods Town Centre.

You may recall Singh from his ongoing butter chicken odyssey project, in which he planned to score 50 butter chicken offerings at restaurants in Edmonton and beyond in 2024. He has reviewed approximately 43 restaurants so far, and said that welcoming a child and buying a home during the odyssey has somewhat slowed his progress. Singh originally gave Chutney a 4.75/5 rating.

Singh is hoping to build more support for other South Asian restaurants in Edmonton, too, with a new event series called Butter Chicken Bash. It's a series of culinary collaborations with restaurants, and it begins with a sold-out soirée at Mezbaan Indian Bistro on Aug. 29. He said the next bash will likely happen in October at a venue to be determined, but for the first one, he and Mezbaan are launching a collaborative butter chicken recipe during a party with tunes curated by Singh. He said the dish will be generously spiced and the chicken will have the bone in it. It's a more authentic take on butter chicken than some in Edmonton that have been adapted for the white, Western palate, he said.

"Butter chicken is not supposed to be pieces of rubber and tomato soup," Singh said. "The chicken is supposed to be cooked in a clay oven, and I've really tried to emphasize bone-in butter chicken now, because bone-in butter chicken is supposed to be the real butter chicken. I've noticed that more restaurants are introducing it back to their menu."

As a food reviewer with a following, Singh underlined that his praise has to be earned. Restaurants sometimes offer him money or free products in exchange for positive restaurant reviews, he said, and he always declines. He pays for his own meals, allowing him to highlight the good and bad. In an Aug. 12 review of Kashmiri Delight, for example, Singh said he tried a "fart-flavoured lassi," but ultimately scored the restaurant 5.10/5 and called its bone-in butter chicken one of the best in Edmonton.

His stance on receiving free food in exchange for attention is part of what led to the Butter Chicken Bash. Singh said the owner reached out to him due to his fandom when the restaurant was struggling to make sales. "They were talking about getting bloggers to come out and giving them free food, and (I said), 'You shouldn't give away your art for free — that's not ethical,'" Singh said. "(Instead, we planned) an event where everybody pays, because the easiest way to benefit a restaurant is to pay for your meal."

Singh gets a healthy dose of attention for his passion for restaurants and ribald culinary commentary. Since Taproot's story in March 2024, he said, the most high-profile instances might be his appearance on the PBS food-and-travel show, Pat Jinich Explores PanAmericana, and a potential food show of his own that's still in the conceptual phase. Singh also showcased his cinephile tendencies in a Quentin Tarantino-inspired episode of the docu-series, Eating Edmonton, during which he examines the cuisine of southeast Edmonton with host Salvador Garcia.

As far as the arson at Chutney goes, a spokesperson for the Edmonton Police Service told Taproot that no arrest has been made. The service has posted images of a suspect, though. The post describes him as a white male, six feet tall, who was driving a white Ford F-150 with a red maple leaf decal.

• Edmonton city council discussed updating rules for river valley development and conservation on Aug. 18, aiming to balance protecting North America's largest urban green space with increasing public access for a growing population. Kecia Kerr of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society voiced concerns about weakened environmental protections, reduced council scrutiny for developments under 10,000 square metres, and a lack of binding environmental limits. She highlighted that Edmonton's river valley has lost 4% of its natural areas since 2005. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi also sought clarification on permitted development sizes and plans for upgrading existing facilities within the valley.
• Homeowners in Edmonton's river valley are implementing FireSmart steps to reduce the risk of wildfires. This initiative helps residents protect their properties by taking preventive measures, which is particularly important for homes located near natural areas within the city's extensive river valley system.
• Nine Edmonton mayoral candidates laid out their platforms in an online forum on the weekend, tackling issues such as taxes, spending, housing, and bike lanes. Candidates were split between promising change at city hall and highlighting political experience, with many criticizing the outgoing council for overspending and poor communication with residents. Some pledged to freeze property taxes, cut projects, or halt new bike lanes, while others emphasized balanced budgets, housing growth, and collaborative governance. The two-hour event, hosted by LCC Media, offered voters a chance to compare messages from those vying to replace outgoing Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
• The City of Edmonton launched a new email subscription service to send notifications on permit approvals and rezoning applications to residents. This service aims to keep residents informed about projects and permits within their specific neighbourhoods.
• Edmonton Air Canada customers encountered confusion regarding compensation policies on Aug. 18 due to an ongoing labour dispute between the airline and its flight attendants. A federal board deemed their strike illegal, but the workers defied a return-to-work order and remained on the picket line.
• Edmonton's professional wrestling scene is active and thriving with Top Talent Wrestling (TTW), owned by veteran wrestler Justin Lawrick, who performs as The Healer. TTW hosts sold-out events at Midway Music Hall featuring characters like champion Weston King, The Omen, and Ava Lawless, providing dramatic entertainment to a passionate fan base.
• The Alberta government plans to install solar energy systems at five correctional facilities, including the Edmonton Remand Centre, Edmonton Young Offender Centre, and Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre. The plan aims to save an estimated $1 million annually by offsetting approximately 80% of each facility's energy use. A government spokesperson said the preliminary budget ranges from $10 million to $50 million, with bids expected later in 2025 or early 2026.
• Alberta is one of three provinces that has not signed the federal government's $10-a-day child-care program extension, and is negotiating a new deal. The province's current five-year agreement, signed in November 2021, expires on March 31. The province is proposing an income-tested system, provincial management flexibility, and public funding access for both non-profit and for-profit providers. Krystal Churcher, chair of the Association of Alberta Childcare Entrepreneurs, supports the province's stance.
• Edmonton's Michelle Plouffe announced her retirement from her international basketball career on Aug. 18. Citing a knee injury and a diminished desire to play, Plouffe, alongside her twin sister Katherine, helped build Canada's 3x3 basketball program into one of the world's best, culminating in their historic qualification for the Olympics. The sisters previously transitioned from 5-on-5 basketball in 2019, with a FIBA 3x3 Women's Basketball Series held at West Edmonton Mall. Plouffe plans to remain involved with the team in a different role.

The co-hosts of Episode 319 of Speaking Municipally explored the insulting remarks a former Edmonton Police Commission chair reportedly made to city councillors, the unlikely ban for cars on 76 Avenue at the Mill Creek Ravine, and an ongoing push to hush vehicles. Here's a quick snapshot.

1. McDougall's campaign against councillors

The co-hosts discussed a Tyee story that reported ex-Edmonton Police Commission chair John McDougall has made personal insults to city councillors online and in text messages. McDougall has reportedly called Coun. Michael Janz an "awful human being" and Coun. Anne Stevenson a "colossal nightmare," while Coun. Erin Rutherford said in the story that McDougall's remarks frightened her. Though the Tyee reported that the relationship between city council and the police commission has improved since McDougall's departure, as well as the departure of former Edmonton Police Service chief, Dale McFee, it also pointed out that McDougall has made the comments during the lead up to the 2025 municipal election. The hosts said that McDougall, who announced he was moving to Europe last year and initially planned to keep his post with the commission, faces few repercussions.

"It's a little too bad that all this is happening after he's already retiring in Portugal and can't really face any consequences for his actions, other than a poor legacy," co-host Stephanie Swensrude said. "It's too bad that it didn't happen while he was in Edmonton."

2. Call to remove vehicles from 76 Avenue ignored

City council's urban design committee unanimously approved an environmental impact assessment on Aug. 12 that plans to allow drivers to cross the Mill Creek Ravine via 76 Avenue as part of a renewal and replacement project for the existing bridge. The decision follows a call from Paths for People to close the crossing to drivers, which Taproot reported on in January. It was an idea that the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition and others supported. Council has yet to approve the assessment, Swensrude said, but added the vote to approve is a formality. Nathan Binnema told the committee that closing this part of 76 Avenue would only slightly increase existing traffic on 82 Avenue NW and 63 Avenue NW.

"(It would be) nothing crazy," co-host Mack Male said in agreement with Binnema. "That's a manageable increase in traffic to both of those routes, and as alternates, they're not that far away. It's not going to add that much travel time."

3. Decibels cause councillor noise

At the same urban planning committee meeting, Coun. Michael Janz issued a notice of motion calling for the city to spend $50,000 to acquire SoundVue technology to monitor excessive vehicle noise, which is subject to fines starting at $1,000. Janz said the measurement system is already used in New York City and London, England, that vehicle noise is sometimes a byproduct of speeding and dangerous driving, and that current enforcement efforts are not solving the problem. Janz stressed the tech would be deployed to issue warnings only, at least at first.

Male said he wondered if this is the same tune council has been singing since a two-year pilot that monitored traffic noise, which began in 2020, while noting that tech has become more sophisticated since then.

"The (prior) technology didn't do a great job. It couldn't tell the difference between different sources of noise or identify the vehicles … There was one instance of enforcement," Male said. "Maybe it's time to look at this again."

The Aug. 15 episode also includes discussion of people spreading love for Edmonton Transit Service, the financial struggles of community leagues, and Taproot's election project. Listening and subscription options are all right here.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• MIT REAP Edmonton Town Hall #2 starting at 4pm at Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute
• Ardrossan Farmers' Market starting at 4:30pm at Ardrossan Memorial Hall
• Sketch Night at The Carrot starting at 6pm at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• Book Launch with Premee Mohamed starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Aug. 22: Zoobrew Vol. 3 at Edmonton Valley Zoo
• Aug. 23: Pride Cup at ICE District
• Aug. 23: Augtoberfest at Heritage Park Pavilion

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!