The Pulse: Jan. 28, 2026

New program pairs Edmonton startups with businesses that build

Jan. 28, 2026
By Colin Gallant

Edmonton Unlimited is looking to be the matchmaker connecting tech startups with businesses that want to innovate.

Build World Tech Venture Pilots aims to launch 10 pilots by September, with a mission to "to accelerate the integration of local innovation into the local economy." The scope of "built world tech" could include anything within construction technology, proptech, smart cities, infrastructure, or sustainable development.

"Edmonton has a very significant construction engineering ecosystem. We have some of the best construction engineering firms in the entire world — certainly in Canada," said program lead Zack Storms, citing construction leaders such as PCL and Stantec. "It's also a space that has lacked innovation. When you talk to people from construction engineering, they are all readily willing to admit that their industry suffers from a lack of innovation, and it's ripe for for a lot of opportunities with new technologies."

While applications were encouraged by Jan. 20, it's still possible to apply. Proposals are to be evaluated from February to June.

"This program is aimed at the entrepreneur," Tom Viinikka, the CEO of Edmonton Unlimited, told Taproot. "That's something that we really wanted to dial in and focus on: going to the entrepreneur and trying to help them with the thing they're doing. We don't want to be directive about what an entrepreneur does — I think that's counter to their nature — and so this is helping entrepreneurs step forward, increasing the resources that are available to them, and connecting them to customers."

Storms has been working to solicit built-world companies for the venture pilots while seeking pitches from startups. While the companies tend to face common challenges, their desire for tech mostly comes down to the bottom line.

"Safety is a big theme for the industry," Storms said. "Broadly speaking, a lot of the construction firms are very interested in how they can use various new AI or innovative IT technologies to make things more productive at the organization … I remember talking to one senior executive, and I asked, 'Do you have a list of problems you want to solve?' He said, 'Anything that makes us more money (is appealing).'"

Startups with shovel-ready pilots that aim to scale should apply, Storms said. While startups are not guaranteed a fee from pilot partners, Alberta's Ministry of Technology and Innovation has provided funding to help cover pilot costs, among other expenses. Neither Edmonton Unlimited nor the ministry would disclose the funding amount.

Four new works by women premiere at SkirtsAfire Festival 2026

This March, SkirtsAfire will proudly present four bold, brand-new works by women artists — stories that chart identity, belonging, healing, and resistance: Ms. Pat's Kitchen by Jameela J. McNeil; I Am Eagle by Matricia Bauer; Put Your Lips Together by Louise Casemore; and Things I Shouldn't Tell You by Shannan Calcutt.

Get your tickets!

Headlines: Jan. 28, 2026

Jan. 28, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim

City of Edmonton officials project property taxes could grow by nearly 44% by 2036, potentially increasing a $2,000 bill to $3,000. City council received long-term financial projections during its meeting on Jan. 27, to inform its 2027 to 2030 budget deliberations. Mayor Andrew Knack stressed the need to engage Edmontonians on reprioritizing resources and the additional demands of a growing city. Rising costs for maintaining service levels, infrastructure, and debt servicing contribute to the projected increases. Administration suggested strategies like reducing services, increasing user fees, or scaling back infrastructure renewal to mitigate the rate of tax increases.
A police disciplinary tribunal ordered the immediate termination of suspended Edmonton Police Service Det. Daniel Behiels on Jan. 27 for leaking confidential investigative files to CBC News. Behiels pleaded guilty to three counts of misconduct in February 2025, nearly four years after providing 60 gigabytes of sensitive documents to a journalist in January 2021. Fred Kamins, the tribunal's presiding officer, cited insubordination and breach of confidence, saying Behiels lacked "true contrition." Behiels said he acted out of "despair" and a "duty to warn" the public about alleged corruption after an investigation into Edmonton landlord Abdullah Shah concluded without charges.
Edmonton city council has designated the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre a Municipal Historic Resource as the facility reopened Jan. 27 after five years of renovations. Opened in 1970 and renamed in 2005 for its architect, the Expressionist-style building is recognized for its architectural and recreational significance. The rehabilitation upgraded major systems and added new amenities following a COVID-19 closure.
An Edmonton apartment building at 107 Avenue and 106 Street in Central McDougall, which the City of Edmonton shut down in December 2024 after the fatal shooting of a security guard, is getting closer to reopening. The owner has met minimum requirements for reinstating the business licence but must fulfill additional safety conditions. The building closed after security guard Harshandeep Singh, 20, was fatally shot on Dec. 6, 2024.
Rylex Machine & Supply Ltd. faces 12 charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was fatally injured on March 4, 2024, at its east Edmonton facility. The worker became tangled in a lathe's rotating workpiece. Charges allege the company failed to ensure worker safety, operate machinery per manufacturer instructions, perform adequate hazard assessments, and provide proper training and safeguards. Court records indicate the worker was allegedly wearing gloves and long sleeves, contravening safety regulations for lathe operation. The company is scheduled for its first appearance in Edmonton court on March 13.
The University of Alberta announced a partnership with the City of Edmonton and Diesel Tech Industries to research hydrogen-powered vehicles for the city's fleet. Led by David Gordon, the project aims to improve hydrogen and dual-fuel hydrogen diesel combustion in engines, focusing on maximizing hydrogen integration with minimal retrofitting. The initiative, funded by Emissions Reduction Alberta and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, supports Edmonton's ongoing efforts to reduce fleet emissions and aligns with the province's goal to increase hydrogen production.
A new greenhouse program at Edmonton's NorQuest College aimed at supporting individuals experiencing food insecurity is already at capacity and has a waiting list as of Jan. 28. The program began last year, with 70 students splitting their study time between online learning and hands-on lessons.
An Edmonton Global post cites Statistics Canada data showing the Edmonton region grew by 3% between July 2024 and July 2025, the fastest rate of any census metropolitan area in Canada. The region added more than 50,000 residents for a third straight year, driven largely by international migration, with inflows nearly 40% higher than Vancouver's. Edmonton also led the country in net inter-provincial migration for the first time in a decade and continued to post positive intra-provincial migration.
The Edmonton Police Service has charged four boys aged 12 to 16 in connection with fires and vandalism that occurred in northeast Edmonton in October 2025. The incidents included a fire at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Elementary/Junior High School on Oct. 19, causing $1,000 in damage. St. Clare Catholic Church was also vandalized twice, on Oct. 20 and Oct. 22, resulting in an estimated $190,000 in damages.
Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid visited Edmonton's Allendale School after the school won the Ben Stelter School Fundraiser, which has raised $285,000 among 50 schools this year. McDavid emphasized the work of the Ben Stelter Foundation in assisting families battling cancer, including efforts to bring proton therapy to Canada. The foundation was set up in the name of Ben Stelter, a young Oilers fan who died at the age of six in 2022 from brain cancer.
Real Canadian Wrestling dropped wrestler Stewy Seunnapha, known as Kato, after he dressed as a U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) officer for a Jan. 24 match in Edmonton. Owner Steven Ewaschuk said the company doesn't condone ICE violence. Seunnapha apologized for the outfit. "These actions were my own and do not reflect the views or values of Real Canadian Wrestling," he wrote.
Alberta's chief justices from all three court levels issued a rare public statement underlining the importance of judicial independence. The statement, published on the Alberta Courts website, followed Premier Danielle Smith's radio show during which she said she wished she could "direct the judges" regarding bail decisions. The justices emphasized that judicial independence ensures decisions are based solely on law and evidence, free from external influence.