The Pulse
May 6, 2026

With $1.2 million from the Alberta government joining the growing pot of funding for defence, companies are finding ways to tailor their existing work for that industry.

"The experience that we've had involves that unique (place) between things that are defence-related and things that are infrastructure- or community-related," RUNWITHIT Synthetics CEO Myrna Bittner said during her winning pitch at the Rapidly Enabling and Advancing Disruptive Innovation (or READI) competition, which took place during the Alberta Aerospace & Defence Summit in Edmonton on May 4. Bittner cited work with American government agencies that straddles the line between defence and other fields.

The winning pitch earned Bittner a plaque made from Morinville grain elevator wood and the prestige of being selected in a room full of industry leaders. The competition was judged by representatives of Boeing Canada, SkyAlyne (which manages training for the Royal Canadian Air Force), and BDC. Vancouver's M2M Tech, which provides secure AI for mission-critical industries, came in second. SpectraCann, Elementiam, and Phase Metron also pitched at the summit, put on by Alberta Aviation, Aerospace and Defence.

RWI, as it's called for short, makes synthetic twins, which combine geography and multi-layered datasets to produce visualized simulations to model the future. Their latest covers all of Canada.

"If you've ever wondered what would happen if you put Google Earth together with SimCity, and you got to play as grownups, dial forward, have some agency in the future, look for opportunities to invest better, to have more resilience, to respond to security scenarios and develop civilian infrastructure — that's been our life for the last 12 years," Bittner said.

The company has worked with the American government and defence bodies such as the U.S. Air Force, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Much of that work took place before interest in dual-use technologies heated up. In February, the federal government released Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy, backed by billions in spending.

At the summit on May 4, the province announced $1 million for Alberta Aviation, Aerospace and Defence to support a new initiative called Leading Industry Forward Together, or LIFT. It's meant to "help position Alberta-based businesses as key players in growing the sector and competing for national and international defence industry contracts." Another $200,000 went to Community Futures Entre-Corp for work on a drone testing range in southern Alberta.

"Alberta's government is investing in defence and dual-use industry development to help grow innovation, support jobs and position Alberta companies to compete in domestic and global markets," Joseph Schow, Alberta's minister of jobs, economy, trade, and immigration, said in a release. "With strong industrial capabilities, skilled labour and innovation capacity, Alberta is well-positioned to support Canada's defence and security objectives while building a more resilient and diversified economy."

• Edmonton city council unanimously approved a 25-storey podium-style high rise at 11630 87 Avenue in the Windsor Park neighbourhood. Developers reduced the height from an initial 32 storeys after community feedback. The project, located near the Health Sciences/Jubilee LRT station, could begin construction in late 2027. While some residents expressed concerns over traffic, supporters of the development highlighted the location's transit access and university proximity.
• More than half of Edmonton's bus fleet, 537 out of 879 40-foot buses, are operating beyond the 15-year average lifespan, with a transit advocacy group reporting that over 56% are in poor condition. Emily Stremel of Edmonton Transit Riders hopes the City will replace 75 buses annually until 2030 to avoid expensive repairs and a potential 13% reduction in bus services. Coun. Jon Morgan supports a gradual renewal to balance maintenance costs with new bus acquisitions, noting that full renewal could cost $300 million.
• Residents in Edmonton's Grovenor neighbourhood are pushing back against planned road changes aimed at improving cycling, arguing they will reduce parking and make driving more difficult. The city plans to begin work this spring, adding bike lanes, lowering speed limits, installing speed bumps and converting some streets to one-way traffic. Some locals say the changes are unnecessary given current cycling levels and worry about limited parking as new housing is added, while others feel they were not adequately consulted.
• The Edmonton Police Service won an effort to overturn a human rights tribunal decision that found the police service discriminated against Yousef John and Caesar Judianga. Court of King's Bench Justice John Little found that the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal 2024 ruling, which awarded $80,000 to the two men, was "unreasonable" and "not internally coherent." The tribunal had found the police service liable for racial discrimination due to "unconscious bias" regarding a May 5, 2017, incident where the men, both Black, were arrested after reporting a crime. Little tossed out the decision and damages, opting not to order a new hearing.
• Dozens of people gathered on Alberta Avenue in Edmonton on May 5 to mark Red Dress Day and honour Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people. Organizer Fran Chalifoux called for greater awareness and action, sharing the loss of her 13-year-old niece Sierra, who was killed in 2020. Participants carried signs bearing the names and photos of victims as chants of "no more stolen sisters" echoed through the vigil.
• Edmonton's 124 Street Grand Market will launch its season with a block party on May 14 featuring live entertainment, food trucks, and more than 50 local vendors. The event begins at 4 p.m. along 108 Avenue and 124 Street, offering free, family-friendly programming. Organizers say the market, now in its 15th year, focuses on building community connections alongside supporting local businesses. The market will continue weekly on Thursdays, add Sunday markets starting June 7, and host additional pop-up events throughout the summer.
• The University of Alberta Hospital and Stollery Children's Hospital emergency departments expanded a one-bag, one-visitor policy. The measure, first implemented at the Royal Alexandra Hospital following a violent incident, restricts patients and visitors to a single bag and one support person each. Officials said the policy aims to reduce clutter, maintain clear walkways, ensure space for patient care, and decrease crowding and noise. Exceptions will be made for patients requiring additional support and for essential medical or childcare items.
• The Edmonton Police Service is seeking witnesses to a fatal two-vehicle collision that happened in west Edmonton on April 30 at about 1:30pm. An 82-year-old man driving a 2026 Toyota Camry, with a 78-year-old female passenger, was struck by a 29-year-old man driving a 2010 Mazda3, while exiting Whitemud Drive onto northbound 170 Street. Initially, no injuries were reported, but the 78-year-old woman's condition worsened, and she died in hospital on May 3. Investigators ask anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact police.
• St. Albert RCMP are investigating an alleged hate-motivated assault on Ali Wahad Noor, 56, which happened on May 1. Noor reported that after leaving the Muslim Association of St. Albert, a driver blocked his vehicle at Poirier Avenue and Parkwood Drive, used racial slurs, insulted Islam, and punched him, causing him to lose consciousness and suffer injuries. Police arrested a suspect who was later released, and charges are now under review by Crown prosecutors. Somali community leader Ahmed Abdulkadir highlighted a rise in similar hate-motivated incidents against Muslim people in the Edmonton region.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Connected Care in Alberta: Optimizing Digital Health Across Agencies starting at 8am at Holiday Inn - Gateway Blvd
• ScaleUP Coffee Community Takeover starting at 9am at Edmonton Unlimited
• Canvas for Hope Fundraising Luncheon starting at 11am at Winspear Centre
• Be Brave Luncheon starting at 11:30am at Edmonton Convention Centre
• Salsa in the Square – Merengue Night starting at 6pm at Churchill Square
• Chill-able Wines: Reds vs Whites starting at 6pm at Color de Vino
• Tour of ZERO CARBON building that uses solar and geothermal starting at 6:30pm at 9211 41 Avenue NW
• Democracy's Second Act - Author Talk starting at 7pm at Musée Héritage Museum
• Soul of a Nation starting at 7pm at Capitol Theatre
• Book Launch with Katharine Weinmann starting at 7pm at Audreys Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• May 12: Screenwriting with Eric Janvier: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Process at Art Gallery of Alberta
• May 15: Friendly Fridays - May Edition: Collaboration by Design at Reimagine Architects
• May 30: Outrun the Stigma Annual Run 2026 at Kinsmen 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.

Need a hint for 10-Across? You'll find it here.