The Pulse: Aug. 22, 2025

Taproot's listening work with voters in the lead up to the 2025 municipal election in October reveals that many see active transportation infrastructure as an election issue.

At least 150 respondents told Taproot that active transportation infrastructure, like bike lanes and multi-use pathways, is a top election issue. While some said they were against bike lanes, most said they support adding and maintaining safe active transportation options. Some wanted infrastructure to feature better design and connections to other areas. Many suggested active transportation is interconnected with other city concerns, like transit, infill housing, and sprawl. Several specifically said they were concerned that the provincial government would interfere with the city's decisions on bike lanes. Others said they want to see data that proves that bike lanes are needed.

Earlier this year, we launched our listening campaign at several in-person and virtual events, as well as a 2025 election question on our site. We have been gathering responses ever since, and at last count, more than 800 people have provided them. The listening was built around a simple question: "What issues do you care about as you consider who to vote for in the 2025 municipal election, and why?"

One person told Taproot they were looking for a candidate who supports active transportation. "Utilitarian cycling in Edmonton is getting better all the time and we should keep building that capacity. Edmonton drivers are feeling the squeeze as roads get more congested, especially in densifying neighbourhoods like Ritchie," they said. "Multi-modal transport is the future! Communauto car share, cycling, transit, scooters, everything is needed to reduce personal car trips."

Another said they wanted to examine the voting record of incumbents on active transportation. "Which candidates are supportive of expanding bike lanes? Protected bike lanes? Which candidates have campaigned against or disparaged active transportation infrastructure in the past? Which candidates use public or active transportation themselves? Occasionally, or as a regular part of their daily activities?"

Still another emphasized they wanted high-quality bike infrastructure. "I would love to see bike lanes that don't just end, leaving cyclists on busy roads," they said.

A handful of respondents said they doubted whether the city's investments correlate to the number of people using active transportation infrastructure.

"I do not want taxpayer dollars wasted on pet projects," one said. "I want an accountability of the usage of the $100 million debt funding for the bike lanes. I want statistics to show the actual ridership numbers, and whether the program needs to be adjusted and by how much."

Beyond listening to voters, Taproot has worked to explain some of the intricacies of active transportation as we approach the 2025 election.

• The Edmonton Pride Parade will return to downtown Edmonton on Aug. 23 from 1pm to 3pm. The event will begin at Churchill Square and wind through downtown to Fan Park at ICE District, where post-parade festivities will continue. Extensive road closures will be in effect from 10am to 4pm. Edmonton Transit Service advises using LRT and anticipating bus detours.
• Edmonton residents are using restrictive covenants as a legal tool to prevent multi-unit infill developments in their neighbourhoods. This practice allows neighbours to legally restrict higher-density housing options in an effort to maintain the existing character of their communities.
• The Chinatown Business Improvement Area and local businesses have criticized the City of Edmonton's plan to establish a new transit lane on 101 Street between Kingsway and 107A Avenue. Starting construction in September, the southbound lane will operate from 6am to 6pm, eliminating daytime on-street parking for eight businesses. While the City aims to improve transit reliability, businesses argue the parking loss is "completely crushing," as the space is essential for customer access and deliveries. The business association has submitted a petition opposing the City's suggestion of alternative parking.
• An overnight fire destroyed Architectural Clearinghouse, a family-owned discount construction supply store in Edmonton's Kingsway area, on Aug. 21. Edmonton Fire Rescue Services responded to the two-alarm blaze near 119 Street NW and 115 Avenue NW at 9:32pm on Aug. 20, taking until 2:35am to bring it under control. Brenda Mydlak, whose family has owned the business since 1994, expressed grief over the loss of their livelihood, which reclaimed and resold discounted construction materials. No injuries were reported.
• The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that happened Aug. 12. ASIRT said an Edmonton Police Service officer shot an armed suspect inside an apartment near 121 Street and Jasper Avenue NW after police responded to a report of a man with weapons. An officer positioned in a fire truck bucket outside the building, discharged their firearm, hitting the suspect. The man was taken to hospital for injuries before being taken into custody. ASIRT is now investigating the officer's use of force.
• The Alberta government pledged $895,000 through its sports event grant program to support nine national and international competitions in Edmonton, St. Albert, Calgary, and Camrose between August and December. The funding assists organizations with facility rentals, venue enhancements, and promotional campaigns. Upcoming events in the Edmonton area include the Pan American Canoe Championships and Canadian Cross Triathlon Championships in Edmonton, and the Canadian BMX Championships in St. Albert.
• U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, particularly on steel and aluminum, are significantly affecting Alberta small businesses, with more than 70% reporting higher expenses. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business released findings on Aug. 21, indicating that nearly 20% of small businesses may close within six months if the tariff situation persists. Heather Thomson of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce said that investment is stalling, raising concerns about potential layoffs in Edmonton by mid-2026. Alberta is the third-hardest hit province by the tariffs.

On this day in 1967, the fortunes of Edmonton's struggling municipal airport were looking brighter.

The 1960s were a turbulent time for Blatchford Field, but that hadn't always been the case. The airfield wasn't just physically located in the heart of the city. For decades, it had also been the centre of both Edmonton's aviation industry and its history.

Opened in 1927, it was the first licensed municipal airfield in Canada. The ability to fly in people, cargo, and mail not only connected Edmonton to other cities, but also established the city as the gateway to the North. That link only grew stronger during the Second World War, when Blatchford served as a vital part of the Northwest Staging Route. During the war years, Allied forces used the airfield to transfer thousands of aircraft and supplies through Edmonton to support the Soviet Union and other European allies.

Following the war, Blatchford's runways remained busy. A growing oil and gas industry meant more people were flying to and from Edmonton, and the airfield was also used as a stopover for some American routes headed across the Pacific. But it soon faced competition.

There have been growing calls for another, larger airport to handle Edmonton's increasing air traffic. That movement gained momentum after a crash at Blatchford Field, which killed both pilots involved. Edmonton's mayor at the time, William Hawrelak, said Blatchford's runways were not long enough. An investigation into the crash agreed runway length was a factor.

In 1960, the Edmonton International Airport was opened, with runway lengths more suited to heavier planes. It almost meant the end of Blatchford. The original plan was to close Blatchford in 1963, when the EIA's passenger terminal was finished, but it ultimately remained open. The airfield struggled with profitability for most of the next decade, but it found a valuable niche. While it couldn't match the scale of the EIA, its central location offered convenience for some business travellers, and urgent cargo.

The 1980s and '90s, however, saw less traffic coming into Blatchford. Massive jumbo jets were becoming common for air travel. Blatchford's runways were too short to handle them, and the surrounding towers in Edmonton's downtown presented another limiting factor. In 1995, a plebiscite was held to determine the airport's future. Voters supported keeping the airport open but moving all scheduled passenger flights to the EIA. The airport remained open for things like private aviation, training, charter flights, and medical flights.

In 2009, city council voted to fully close the city airport. There was talk of an attempt to force another plebiscite, but it failed to materialize. In 2013, a privately owned Cessna became the last plane to take off from Blatchford Field before it officially closed. It wasn't the last one to land there, though, as a small plane made an unplanned landing in 2015 after a mechanical failure.

The land that once hosted Canada's first licensed airfield was divided in several ways. Some was granted to the Edmonton Aviation Museum, and some was offered to NAIT to allow it to expand. Much of it was set aside to develop the neighbourhood of Blatchford, planned as a carbon-neutral community for about 30,000 people. The project has experienced delays and roadblocks for roughly a decade, though construction is continuing to progress. In the meantime, Edmonton's International Airport has continued to expand to nearly 7,000 acres, and it is aiming to attract visitors as an airport city in its own right.

This clipping was found on Vintage Edmonton, a daily look at Edmonton's history from armchair archivist Rev Recluse of Vintage Edmonton.

Here are some events happening this weekend in the Edmonton area.

• Aug. 22: Zoobrew Vol. 3 starting at 5pm at Edmonton Valley Zoo
• Aug. 22: Friday Nite Live - Addi John starting at 7pm at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• Aug. 23: Downtown Farmers' Market starting at 10am
• Aug. 23: Jerk and Jollof Fest starting at 12pm at Borden Park
• Aug. 23: Edmonton Food Bike Tour starting at 12:30pm at The View
• Aug. 23: Chinatown After Dark starting at 6pm at China Marble Restaurant
• Aug. 24: Dragon Ball starting at 5pm at Edmonton Convention Centre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Aug. 25: Student Founders: Launch Showcase at Edmonton Unlimited
• Aug. 27: Opera al Fresco at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• Aug. 30: In the Woods Music Festival at SebaHub Recreation and Event Centre

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!