The Pulse: Feb. 27, 2026

This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a survey to gauge the economic effects of the Alberta separatist movement, a neighbourhood renewal plan for Beacon Heights, and a proposed development on the northeast end of Stony Plain aiming to create jobs.

The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce has launched a survey asking members of the business community to share their thoughts on how the rise of Alberta separatism is affecting them. The survey closes on March 5.

"While such discussions are part of democratic discourse, they may have implications for business confidence, investment decisions, and economic planning," the survey's preamble says.

This sentiment-gathering follows Elections Alberta's approval of Stay Free Alberta's campaign to collect signatures for a petition to call a referendum on whether Alberta should cease to be part of Canada. The petition, spearheaded by Mitch Sylvestre of the Alberta Prosperity Project, began canvassing on Jan. 3.

By May 2, the petition must gather 177,732 signatures, which represents 10% of the votes cast in the last provincial election. The signatures will then be reviewed by Elections Alberta, and if deemed successful, the petition will be submitted to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

The separatist push was preceded by the Forever Canadian campaign, a pre-emptive strike led by former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Thomas Lukaszuk that gathered more than 400,000 signatures on a petition posing the question "Do you agree that Alberta should remain within Canada?" Lukaszuk emphasized the economic consequences of separation in an open letter.

"History has shown us the economic devastation that results from discussions of separation or secession," he wrote, citing negative consequences in Quebec, the United Kingdom, and Spain's Basque region. "Alberta must not follow that path."

Forever Canadian's question could be put to a referendum alongside nine questions put forward by Premier Danielle Smith and the UCP. Those questions ask if the province should be given more control over immigration and appointed judges, whether access to social services should be revoked from non-citizens, and whether proof of citizenship should be required to vote, among other queries. The referendum will send Albertans to the polls on Oct. 19.

• The City of Edmonton's Downtown Action Plan Fund will distribute $3 million for revitalization projects. The initiative offers funding for beautification, recreational facilities, and one-off events, with up to $100,000 for events and beautification, and $250,000 for new amenities. Applications will be accepted over four intake periods, with the first closing March 23. Representatives from the Edmonton Downtown Business Association and Downtown Edmonton Community League expressed support for the initiative.
• Edmonton activated its extreme weather response on Feb. 26 as temperatures were expected to drop below -20°C. Environment Canada issued a snow squall watch for the area, warning of strong winds and limited visibility. City facilities open to the public, such as recreation centres and libraries, are available for warming and an expanded overnight shuttle service is available. The City noted that Al Rashid Mosque will not provide additional shelter spaces in observance of Ramadan. The response is expected to end on March 4.
• Alberta's Budget 2026 restores municipal grant funding to the City of Edmonton for provincial properties, fully reinstating payments after seven years of reductions. The grants, cut by the province in 2019 under then-premier Jason Kenney, had cost Edmonton about $16 million annually. Former mayor Amarjeet Sohi launched a campaign in 2024 to push for the funding's return, a sentiment echoed by Alberta Municipalities. Mayor Andrew Knack expressed appreciation for the move.
• The provincial government has allocated $30 million for the demolition of the old Royal Alberta Museum building in Edmonton, with completion anticipated by the 2028-29 fiscal year. Finance Minister Nate Horner said the status of the building is "status quo," as negotiations continue with an identified proponent interested in redeveloping the 1967-era building rather than tearing it down. NDP MLA Sarah Hoffman said the budget allocation sends a "terrible message" to those fighting to preserve the mid-century modern structure, which the National Trust for Canada lists as an endangered building.
• Alberta's provincial budget significantly increases the education property tax, with revenue from the tax expected to reach $3.6 billion in 2026-27. Edmonton homeowners will see a $154 increase for a median household, officials said. The budget also allocates $355 million for class size and complexity, including $55 million for a classroom complexity grant. The budget also includes funding to hire 5,000 teaching staff over three years.
• The Alberta government projected a $9.4 billion deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year in its 2026 budget, marking three consecutive years of deficits and increased borrowing. Finance Minister Nate Horner said the province must break its own fiscal restraint laws to handle population growth. The $83.9 billion budget increases spending for health and education but decreases overall municipal funding by 1%. Alberta Municipalities warned that it will lead to higher municipal property taxes. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the budget, citing increased fees for vulnerable Albertans and misplaced priorities.
• The Edmonton Police Service is looking for the driver of a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run that seriously injured a 31-year-old woman in the McCauley neighbourhood on Feb. 5. The driver of an SUV reportedly entered 107 Avenue from an alley west of 95 Street at 10:11pm, driving the wrong way, and struck the woman before fleeing south on 95 Street, police said. The woman was hospitalized with serious injuries. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
• The Edmonton Elks and Spruce Grove Saints will collaborate for "Green and Goals Night" on March 14 at the Thompson Family Arena at Heavy Metal Place in Spruce Grove. The Saints will play the West Kelowna Warriors starting at 6pm, with football-themed festivities beginning two hours before puck drop. The event will feature Elks players, the cheer team, mascots, and a kid zone.

On this day in 1967, the Edmonton Flying Club was recovering after a fire that destroyed all of its aircraft.

The organization, Canada's first licensed aviation club, got its start in 1927, flying out of Blatchford Field (which would later be named the City Centre Airport). The club moved out of the city for a couple of years during the Second World War to make room for wartime flight training. When it returned to Blatchford in 1944, it moved into Hangar 8, a 400-by-300-foot structure built by the Royal Canadian Air Force. Over the next couple of decades, the club would grow into the space, amassing a fleet of 14 airplanes and boasting around 250 students.

Every one of those planes was wiped out on Feb. 26. At around 7pm that evening, explosions ripped through Hangar 8, sparking a fire that spread quickly. Flames were reportedly seen as far as 16 kilometres away. It took 70 firefighters more than two-and-a-half hours to get the fire under control, which was made all the more difficult by smaller explosions in the hangar, believed to be from the fuel tanks of the burning planes.

Luckily, no one was seriously injured. By the time the fire was under control, a total of 35 planes had been destroyed, including four from Northward Aviation and other privately owned aircraft. In addition to losing its entire air fleet, the Edmonton Flying Club's offices were totally destroyed, as was Hangar 8. The fire was thought to have started in the hangar's boiler room.

One would think that having no planes would spell the end of the flying club. But its members were not going to give up. The day after the fire, the club's manager said they'd be back up and running in a day or two at a different airport. But it didn't even take that long: The club resumed flying lessons that very day, using a Piper Colt loaned by the Calgary Flying Club.

The club quickly rebuilt. Within a month, it announced plans to build a new facility. Work also began on securing new aircraft. By the end of the year, the club once again had 12 planes in its collection and had trained 152 private pilots and 26 commercial pilots.

Nearly 60 years after that devastating fire, the Edmonton Flying Club is still in the air, operating out of an airfield near Spruce Grove. Much of Blatchford Field has now been converted into residential development. Two years ago, fire once again struck the site, destroying Hangar 11, which was protected as a historic resource.

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.

• Feb. 27: The Librarians starting at 6:30pm at Garneau Theatre
• Feb. 27: LPW 45: A Fistful of Tights starting at 7pm at The Rec Room South Edmonton
• Feb. 28: Black Knot Buster starting at 11am at Bunchberry Meadows
• Feb. 28: Everything Gardening Seed Exchange starting at 11am at Strathcona County Library
• Feb. 28: Economics & Sustainability: Finding Common Ground starting at 11:30am at University of Alberta (TELUS International Centre)
• Feb. 28: Artists in Conversation: Amy Loewan starting at 2pm at Art Gallery of Alberta
• Feb. 28: Ritchie Community League Pub Night starting at 6:30pm at Ritchie Community Hall
• Feb. 28: Agent Thunder: An Improvised Espionage starting at 7pm at Grindstone Theatre
• Feb. 28: Get Us Together Presents: Midnight Peg Album Release starting at 7:30pm at The Aviary
• March 1: I Meant What I Said starting at 2pm at Varscona Theatre
• March 1: Thelma Johannes O'Neill Memorial starting at 2pm at Winspear Centre
• March 1: Pro Coro Canada: The Light of Paradise starting at 3pm at McDougall United Church

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• March 5-15: SkirtsAfire
• March 6: Jake's Gift at Horizon Stage Performing Arts Theatre
• March 12-14: Igloofest at Fan Park

Visit 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.

Did you miss a Mini this week? Catch up in the archive.