The Pulse: May 5, 2026

Elsa Robinson's The Garden, with a tree as its centrepiece

Arts awards celebrate Edmonton's creative best

May 4, 2026
By Karen Unland and Sara Sheydwasser

An artist who created a monumental garden rooted in memories; a filmmaker who told the story of a barrier-breaking hockey player; a writer who took a playful look at stock photography; and a musician whose record explores ambition, love, nostalgia, and growth — those are the winners of this year's Edmonton Arts Prizes.

The Edmonton Arts Council distributed $100,000 in prizes at a ceremony at the Garneau Theatre on May 4, with $15,000 going to each winner and $5,000 going to each of two runners-up in four categories.

Rapper ARDN, who won the City of Edmonton Music Prize, expressed gratitude for all who "keep pushing the culture forward in Edmonton" as he accepted the award for his album Keep Your Eye on The Sparrow. The album also received a JUNO nomination in January.

"There's a lot of talent that hasn't been tapped into," ARDN told an appreciative crowd. "There's a lot of stories that haven't been told. To be a part of that, to be able to contribute to it, means a lot."

The runners-up for the music prize were Cikwes for Nehiyaw Iskô, and Joe Nolan for Luv in the New World.

Multidisciplinary artist Elsa Robinson received the Eldon + Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize for her art installation The Garden. The piece reflects Robinson's Jamaican heritage and culture, using a mixture of media ranging from fibre to stone.

Surrounded by family members, Robinson included in thank-yous her mother for telling her to forget about paying off the house and to focus on her happiness. She also thanked the Edmonton arts community for "pushing me to work harder and harder and to dig deeper and deeper" to do her best work.

Runners-up in the visual arts category were AJA Louden for Enoch's Fireweed, a tufted tapestry depicting an Afrofuturist vision of hope, and Kiona Callihoo Ligtvoet for a painting inspired by her grandfather's land called when chokecherries are ready on top the hill.

An Unforgettable Night. A Powerful Purpose.

Experience CRESCENDO on May 9 at the Winspear Centre — where music and storytelling support mental health in our province. Featuring powerful vocalists, a full orchestra, band, and choir, CRESCENDO is more than a show — it's a movement bringing hope, healing, and real impact.

Buy Tickets

Headlines: May 5, 2026

May 5, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim

The City of Edmonton has postponed a planned controlled burn at Jan Reimer Park due to forecast wind gusts of up to 31 km/h, which could affect fire control and smoke management. The City has not set a new date for the 19-hectare burn, part of its wildfire mitigation strategy. The delay comes after a weekend wildfire destroyed at least three homes in nearby Sandy Beach, prompting a local state of emergency and heightened regional fire restrictions.
The City of Edmonton has launched a Community Climate Adaptation Micro Grant to support neighbourhood-level efforts to prepare for climate change. Groups of at least three residents and eligible organizations can apply for up to $5,000 to fund projects such as emergency preparedness, wildfire education, and climate-resilient landscaping. The program aims to build local resilience while increasing awareness of sustainable adaptation practices. The City will host information webinars on May 12 and 13 for those interested in applying.
The Edmonton Regional Airports Authority recently hired lobbyists in March to align the Edmonton International Airport with Canada's defence industrial strategy and secure funding. The effort comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney's multi-billion-dollar defence spending announcement in March. As a member of the Edmonton Region Defence Alliance, YEG aims to attract defence funding and jobs to the Edmonton region, leveraging its strategic northern location and growth potential. The Department of National Defence and YEG also began negotiations in 2024 for a new Royal Canadian Air Force facility in the region.
A record $93.5 million donation will fund the University of Alberta's Women and Children's Health Research Institute over the next decade, marking the largest gift in the university's history. The funding includes $70 million from the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation and $23.5 million from the Alberta Women's Health Foundation to support research and clinical advances. Leaders say the investment will help close longstanding gaps in women's and children's health, including underfunded areas such as the perinatal period and chronic conditions affecting women. The institute, which brings together more than 400 researchers, has already driven breakthroughs in areas such as autism screening, gene therapy and safer pediatric care.
The Alberta government is investing $2 million to plan an expansion of Strathcona County Hospital that would add up to 120 inpatient beds, with space for 32 more in the future. Health Minister Matt Jones said the project aims to reduce the need for more than 100,000 Sherwood Park-area residents to travel to Edmonton for in-patient care. The proposed expansion would also include surgical suites, diagnostic imaging, endoscopy rooms, and expanded lab, pharmacy, and mental health services.
Alberta's wildfire risk escalated to very high or extreme on May 4, due to dry conditions and high winds, with 25 wildfires currently burning across the province. The province has deployed additional resources, including over 550 firefighters and 18 waterbombers. Residents in Parkland County, west of Edmonton, remain on evacuation notice, and several communities near Edmonton have issued fire advisories or bans.
Stay Free Alberta delivered 301,620 signatures to Elections Alberta on May 4, exceeding the 178,000 required to prompt a provincial referendum on separation. Premier Danielle Smith has previously indicated she would consider a referendum if enough signatures are verified. However, signature verification was paused by an Alberta judge due to a court challenge from First Nations groups arguing treaty rights violations. Elections Alberta will also implement new verification steps following concerns about electoral list misuse by Centurion Project, another separatist group.
The Edmonton Elks announced that they signed five players from their 2026 CFL draft class. The new additions include wide receivers Carter Kettyle and Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald, linebackers Justin Pace and Yunus Larry, and offensive linemen Chris Pashula and Matthew Ljuden. Darien Newell, a 2025 CFL Draft pick, also joined the club. Training camp for the Elks officially opens on May 10 at Clarke Stadium.