The Pulse
April 2, 2026

A south-central Edmonton community is nearing the end of a fundraising push connected to the designation of its park as a municipal historic resource, aligning with upcoming city policy that aims to widen the definition of heritage.

"People really care about this park," said Kyrstie Green, president of the Windsor Park Community League. "I think this project has shown how it's really positive."

The league's North Park enhancement committee launched the Love Our Park campaign on Valentine's Day, and donations quickly brought it close to its target of $53,000. "We just kind of held our breath, and I had no doubt that we would raise the money, but I didn't think we'd get it in a month," committee chair Elaine Solez told Taproot.

The park is listed on the city's inventory of historic resources, meaning it's recognized as worth conserving but has no legal protection. A municipal historic resource designation would add legal safeguards against demolition or major alterations, and would make the project eligible for up to $75,000 in rehabilitation funding.

While the park has historic value, it's also used by a wide range of people — not just Windsor Park residents, but university students and other visitors who play spikeball and badminton, ride bikes, and have picnics on the great lawn, Green said. "Given the number of units coming into Windsor Park and all that conversation that's going on at the moment, this is a really great space for everybody in the community to use," she said.

The proposed upgrades aim to repair heritage-defining elements while making the park more friendly for seniors, gardeners, and people using strollers or mobility devices. Solez said the most costly change is repairing the retaining wall, which is described as one of the park's defining architectural elements. The terra cotta I-XL Roman bricks were shaped and fired in Alberta, and the same bricks were used to build some of the original homes in the Windsor Park neighbourhood.

Edmonton city council is expected to vote on designating the park as a municipal historic resource in May.

Meanwhile, the city is updating the heritage places strategy to broaden the definition of heritage beyond just buildings. Even though the new strategy has yet to be finalized, some non-buildings have already been recognized — the city designated Alexander Circle as a municipal historic resource in 2024, and added the Strathcona Rail Garden to the inventory in late 2025. Solez said the North Park was the first green space to be added to the inventory.

Administration is accepting feedback on the final draft of the strategy until April 19, and the update is scheduled to be presented to council for approval this summer.

The Windsor Park neighbourhood and the North Park mark an important chapter in how Edmonton developed. Windsor Park was virtually untouched until the post-war housing boom, when the city purchased dozens of lots. Windsor Park was redesigned from its original grid pattern into the more curvilinear style that was used in Edmonton's next generation of neighbourhoods.

Windsor Park is also linked with some of Edmonton's most prominent architects and city-builders.

• Edmonton Fire Rescue Services is inviting high-school students in Grades 10 to 12 to apply for its Fire Cadet program, offering first-hand experience for those interested in emergency services careers. Through a mix of classroom learning and hands-on activities, students develop leadership, teamwork, and employment skills, learn the importance of mental and physical wellness, and gain insight into the day-to-day work of a firefighter, the City of Edmonton said in a release.
• Boston Pizza on Jasper Avenue at 106 Street, a longtime fixture, closed this week amid ongoing concerns about downtown Edmonton's recovery. While some businesses see positive signs from ICE District events and returning provincial government workers, Rocky Mountain Ice House co-owner Wayne Jones said daytime business has slowly been recovering and evenings remain stagnant. Businesses also face property tax increases and new, higher patio fees. Quinn Phillips of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association said chain restaurants face competition from other local eateries, and noted that a newer Boston Pizza nearby remains open and is often busy.
• Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz is pushing back against a plan to remove scramble crosswalks from Whyte Avenue at Gateway Boulevard, 104 Street, and 105 Street, just five years after they were installed. The City of Edmonton plans to remove them to make way for dedicated bus lanes, aiming to speed up transit. Janz wants City officials to provide more data on the crosswalks' effect on transit delays. The City proposes replacing the scramble crosswalks with 90-degree crossings, new turn restrictions, and sidewalk curb extensions.
• Heidelberg Materials has completed the acquisition of BURNCO's assets in Edmonton. The acquired assets include six aggregates sites, two asphalt plants, a bitumen storage terminal, three ready-mixed concrete plants, and one rail-served cement distribution terminal. Oliver Patsch of Heidelberg Materials said the move strengthens its integrated footprint in the Edmonton market, expands its product portfolio, and will improve customer service.
• A second and final suspect has been charged with second-degree murder in the March 14 fatal shooting of Birinder Singh, a 22-year-old who came to Canada as an international student, as he drove with two friends on QE II Highway near Leduc. Police arrested Edmonton resident Deon Elias Libsekal, 23, on March 26 and charged him with second-degree murder and accessory after the fact. Investigators ruled out racial bias, robbery, road rage, gang initiation, and planning, and added that there was no prior interaction between the victims and the two people charged in connection with the killing.
• Alberta Teachers' Association President Jason Schilling expressed concerns about Bill 25, tabled by the Alberta government this week. The bill would mandate that teachers maintain neutrality, avoid political or ideological positions, restrict social topics, and allow only Canadian or Alberta flags in schools. Schilling questioned how sensitive subjects like the Holocaust could be taught neutrally. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said teachers will still be able to teach historical events objectively.

This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a project to return natural vegetation to parts of Edmonton, consultations on a neighbourhood area structure plan in the West 240 development, and continued budget input across the region.

The City of Edmonton has begun gathering input on naturalization efforts for this year, asking residents to populate interactive maps and share what plants they want to see in their area. Input from the southwest neighbourhoods of Allard, Cavanagh, and Callaghan, as well as Desrochers, is due by April 12. The survey is open in Chappelle and Heritage Valley until April 19.

"For more than 25 years, Edmonton has been reverting sections of City green spaces to a more natural state through naturalization," its website reads. "It may even be happening in a grassy area near you!"

The process of naturalization introduces more plants to a previously manicured area, allowing for the restoration of native flora and fauna, with no grooming. "These areas are not part of the regular mowing cycle, and may eventually be planted with trees, shrubs or wildflowers," its website reads.

The city's naturalization initiative goes hand-in-hand with its goal to plant two million trees by 2030. The city has planted more than 800,000 new trees and shrubs since 2021, with nearly 500,000 trees planted last year.

"This record planting season is great news for Edmonton," Minister Eleanor Olszewski said in a December news release. "It's the kind (of) simple, practical work that genuinely improves quality of life for families across our city."

The 2026 tree-planting season kicks off on April 8, with naturalization efforts in southwest Edmonton beginning in the fall.

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

• April 2: Table Top Games Night starting at 5pm at Earth's Refillery Coop
• April 2: Mosaics of Mariupol Presentation with Maryna Holovnova starting at 6pm at Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts
• April 2: Imagine a Progressive Future: A Community Dialogue starting at 7pm at St. Albert Inn and Suites
• April 3: Easter Egg Dip Dye with Edwin Aquino starting at 10am at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• April 3: Good Friday Sugar Shack Experience starting at 12:30pm at Chartier
• April 3: Jamaica Fish Fry starting at 1pm at Jamaica Association of Northern Alberta
• April 3: Good Friday with Pro Coro Canada starting at 7:30pm at All Saints Anglican Cathedral
• April 3-4: The Downtown Defrost at Churchill Square
• April 4: Easter at the Muttart starting at 12pm at Muttart Conservatory
• April 5: Repair Cafe starting at 11am at Earth's Refillery Coop
• April 5: Soul Speak starting at 7pm at Boa and Hare
• April 6: Easter Egg Hunt starting at 10:30am at John Walter Museum

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• April 13: Green Drinks - April at The Buckingham Pub
• April 18: Interwoven - Thriving at Work at Sisters Dialogue - Amanah
• April 23-24: Shumka: Back to Our Roots at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

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.

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