The Pulse
Dec. 4, 2025

Officials in the fastest growing municipality in the Edmonton region in 2025 credit that growth to the appeal of regional life and economic opportunities, and the appeal to immigrants from specific communities looking to locate near those who share their backgrounds.

Beaumont's population is booming in part because of the lifestyle it offers residents, said Kendra Raymond, director of planning and development with the City of Beaumont.

"People move to Beaumont for a variety of different reasons. It's one of those rare places, I think, where you still see young children out walking without parents," Raymond said. "You can have that really high quality of life, you know your neighbors. You put something on social media, if you need something, and they reach out, you're just all taken care of."

The municipality is the eighth largest in the region, and the fastest growing in 2025. Its population grew by 22% between 2019 and 2024, outpacing Edmonton's growth rate of 12%.

Earlier this fall, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce noted in its State of the Economy report that nearly two-thirds of households in Beaumont have children at home, and the city's median age of around 35.5 is one of the youngest in the region.

Beaumont has traditionally been perceived as a "bedroom town," where families can find large, suburban-style homes with backyards and child-friendly amenities, while commuting to a larger city nearby for work. But the chamber report indicated that pattern could be changing; Beaumont's job count grew by 52% in the past five years.

The surge in population has created pressure on development and permitting. The city had issued nearly 500 building permits so far in 2025 for new homes as of September, more than the 360 that were approved in 2024. Raymond said the city has overhauled its internal processes to keep pace.

"We've had to make changes in terms of how we're responding to the influx of permits," Raymond said. "We've definitely been changing our staffing and restructuring with an idea of continuous improvement and being able to support people in getting a permit easier and faster."

Beaumont also has the second-highest share of immigrants in the region outside of Edmonton, at 16.4%. Raymond said newcomers often choose communities where they're likely to find people who share a culture and background.

"If they already have family or friends that are here, then we're kind of continuing to build on that, and we've definitely noticed that," she said. She added that the city has also begun recognizing more cultural holidays and traditions as its population diversifies.

• Edmonton city councillors made budget decisions on Dec. 3 that could push a 2026 property tax increase from 6.4% to 6.9%. Council voted to fund Explore Edmonton with $11 million annually from the tax levy, a 0.47% increase, providing ongoing financial certainty for the tourism marketing organization. It also allocated nearly $3 million to maintain Dedicated Accessible Transit Service levels, preventing a 10% service reduction, and about $500,000 for transit cleaning while paying a living wage. Additionally, revenue from an Old Strathcona parking lot will now go to general city revenue, and two more peace officers will be hired for downtown.
• The City of Edmonton's Animal Care and Control Centre is holding its annual PAWS for a CAUSE Pet Food Drive from Dec. 1 to 14. This initiative, supporting Edmonton's Food Bank, helps families provide food and supplies for their pets during the holiday season. Last year, the drive collected more than 8,000 kilograms of pet food. Donations of new, unopened pet food, cat litter, treats, leashes, and collars are accepted at various Edmonton locations.
• Negotiations are underway to redevelop Edmonton's old Royal Alberta Museum site after the province received six pitches, determining three were viable. The 58-year-old building, vacant since 2015, incurs $700,000 in annual maintenance and needs an estimated $75 million in deferred maintenance. Stuart Adams of the Save the Old RAM Task Force expressed encouragement, emphasizing the group's goal to preserve the building.
• The Edmonton Police Service has issued warrants for Matthew Edward Williams, 36, also known as Matthew Galpin, for uttering threats to cause bodily harm and criminal harassment. Williams is accused of repeatedly harassing and threatening women he met on dating and escort sites like Tinder and LeoList since 2022, allegedly using fake names, photos, and multiple phone numbers. He is already under release orders for similar investigations in Calgary and British Columbia, police said.
• An eastbound Valley Line LRT train in downtown Edmonton experienced minor delays on Dec. 3, after it was hit by the driver of a truck. The incident happened near the Churchill Stop, at 102 Avenue NW and 100 Street NW, in front of City Centre Mall. Edmonton police said the truck was travelling east on 102 Avenue when it turned northbound against a traffic light, striking the train, which had a green light. No injuries were reported. The City of Edmonton, TransEd, and Edmonton Police Service are investigating the collision.
• Alberta Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod said a pilot project by the Edmonton Police Service to trial facial recognition on body-worn video cameras requires her approval. While police contend it doesn't legally need approval for this 'proof of concept' stage, McLeod said that privacy laws apply to all technology testing involving personal information. The police service said it submitted a privacy impact assessment for the program involving up to 50 officers.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Rise & Serve: Start with Breakfast starting at 7:30am at Edmonton's Food Bank Annex
• Holiday Magic starting at 11am at Edmonton City Hall
• Business Model 101 Lunch and Learn starting at 11am at Edmonton Unlimited
• Beyond the Noise: Designing a 2026 that Aligns with your Purpose starting at 11am online
• Chocolate Wonderland Workshop starting at 4pm at Fort Edmonton Park
• Jingle & Mingle Holiday Mixer starting at 4:30pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Startup TNT Happy Hour starting at 6pm at Pub 1905
• Winter Wreath Workshop starting at 6pm at Latitude 53 Gallery
• Seattle Kraken at Edmonton Oiler starting at 7pm at Rogers Place
• Christmas Glow at Edmonton EXPO Centre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Dec. 15: The Vox Collective: Sing Your Heart Out at Garneau Theatre
• Dec. 18: HER Motherhood Shift at Fort Edmonton Park
• Dec. 20: Girl Brain, Actually at Roxy Theatre

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

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