The Pulse: March 5, 2026

The organization behind the bright pink "It's your choice" sign on the QEII has launched a Patreon account to allow its supporters to make recurring donations for abortion advocacy across the region.

"I had so many requests from people to be able to donate on a monthly basis," Erica Posteraro, founder of AB for Abortion, told Taproot. The organization's Patreon offers members a community chat, pre-sale to future events, and discounted merchandise.

Posteraro's organization aims to provide accurate resources and education while advocating for abortion awareness across the province.

"(People are) very surprised to learn that one in four people who can get pregnant have had an abortion or will have an abortion in their lifetime," she said, citing a study from the Guttmacher Institute. "It is just so common, and it is incredibly safe."

The billboard that started it all is on a stretch of highway between Edmonton and Calgary that has long been peppered with pro-life signage. That's what inspired Posteraro to create AB for Abortion.

"The messaging is meant to shame people, (to) vilify what is a very normal healthcare procedure," she said. "I wanted to change the narrative a little bit away from Alberta just being this regressive, conservative province … If this project has taught me one thing, it's that we're not, really. There are a ton of progressive people here."

To secure funding for the billboard, AB for Abortion set up a GoFundMe in July 2024. The campaign jumped from $6,000 to over $40,000 in just a few days. "I was floored," Posteraro said. "I knew then at that moment that there was a lot to harness here to propel the project forward."

AB for Abortion put up the billboard less than a year later.

"When it went up, and I drove out there, watching it get installed, I was crying, and it was a big moment," she said. "It was that for thousands of people."

• Chinatown businesses urged Edmonton city council to restore street parking on 101 Street, describing the bus lane conversion as "bike lanes on steroids," and arguing that it significantly harms businesses. Rizwan Mohiuddin, representing the businesses, emphasized difficulties for seniors with mobility issues, who must use unsanitary alleyways for parking. Ward Karhiio Coun. Keren Tang confirmed that a review is slated for a March 23 committee meeting, which could overturn the decision. Mayor Andrew Knack proposed restricting parking during peak hours only. Businesses also called for better cleanup from social services.
• The Edmonton Police Service financial crimes unit kicked off fraud prevention month on March 4 at the Central Lions Seniors Recreation Centre in Edmonton, warning about the growing threat of AI-powered scams. Edmontonians lost $58 million to fraud in 2025, primarily to investment schemes, according to the police service, but only 5-15% of incidents are reported.
• Curtis Wright, a Canadian-born U.S. permanent resident from Edmonton, has been held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centre in Texas since November after returning from a trip to Mexico. Authorities cited decades-old misdemeanor convictions to launch deportation proceedings, despite Wright having renewed his residency and crossed the border without issue in recent years. His family says he has been moved between multiple facilities and faces poor conditions. They have filed a habeas corpus application seeking his release while he fights the case. A deportation hearing is scheduled for March 6.
• The Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA) was in Court of King's Bench in Edmonton on March 4 to seek a temporary injunction against the province's "Back to School Act" (Bill 2). The ATA argues the legislation, which forced striking teachers back to work using the notwithstanding clause, violates its constitutional rights. If granted, the injunction would pause Bill 2, potentially allowing teachers to resume strike action after a three-week pause. Justice Douglas Mah is scheduled to issue a decision on March 13, with a full constitutional challenge slated for September.
• Alberta MLAs adopted new legislative rules after government house leader Joseph Schow introduced changes to standing orders on Feb. 24. Schow said the updates aim to increase debate time, but Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi argued that they limit discussion and consolidate government power. Passed 43-16, the changes include a new programming motion for debate allocation and restrict Opposition written questions to three at a time, extending government response deadlines up to 120 sitting days.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Build Her Up: Skilled Trades Conference starting at 9am at NAIT
• Women In Tech & Innovation: Give to Gain starting at 11am at Edmonton Unlimited
• Intentional Discussions with Entrepreneurs from across Alberta Series starting at 12pm online
• Chamber New Member Mixer starting at 1pm at Plaza Bowling Co.
• Preparing For Financing | Business Learning Series starting at 1pm online
• From Above and Below: Mapping the Planet with Next-Gen Environmental Intelligence starting at 4:30pm at 9910
• Strategies for Resistance Through Queer and Trans Joy and Solidarity starting at 5pm at MacEwan University
• Perfecting Your Pitch with Colin Christensen starting at 5:30pm online
• Live WTJ: Podcast recording and Reception starting at 5:30pm at Westbury Theatre
• Mbehcho: Home of the Dene Thaʼ starting at 6:30pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Starting Seeds Indoors: Grow Healthy Transplants for Your Edmonton Garden starting at 7pm at Queen Alexandra Community Hall
• A Common Tryst starting at 7:30pm at The Common

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• March 15: Behind the Apron: Creative Sustenance with Titilope Sonuga at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• March 21: ArtBus 2026 at Allard Hall
• March 24: Life Skills: Métis Money Moves at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)

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.

This week's puzzles were made by guest constructor Jeff Nachtigall, a longtime supporter of Taproot. Be like Jeff.