The Pulse
June 12, 2026

This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes open houses about Leduc's proposed annexation of land in Leduc County, requests for feedback about street safety in several Edmonton neighbourhoods, and a survey about quality of life in Edmonton.

The City of Leduc says it is nearing completion on technical studies of its proposed annexation of up to 38 quarter-sections of land in Leduc County. The city will host open houses on June 17 and 18 for both affected owners and the general public. It will also open an online survey on June 17.

The City of Leduc initiated the annexation process in February 2025, proposing to expand its municipal boundary to the south and southeast to prepare for growth over the next 50 years. The process involves completing several technical studies, a financial impact assessment, public engagement, negotiations between the affected municipalities, and an application to the Land and Property Rights Tribunal, which makes a recommendation to the provincial government for the final decision.

Leduc's population reached just shy of 40,000 in 2025, a 17% increase over five years. The city said it is growing at the high end of historic projections, and it is processing more development applications than ever. "This level of development activity is absorbing land quickly and is a trend that demonstrates the urgent need for the city to plan for future growth," the city said.

Sentiment was largely positive or neutral in the first round of engagement, the city said. Most questions were focused on the annexation process and timelines, and several affected landowners said they were excited to sell their land sooner.

Some affected landowners and interested residents said they were concerned about what this means for the destruction of productive agricultural land. The city said annexation only changes which municipality governs a property and doesn't force a landowner to develop.

When the city first announced its intention, Leduc County Mayor Tanni Doblanko said she didn't see how annexation would benefit the county. The county called for a collaborative approach through joint planning.

The city said it will start municipal negotiations alongside public engagement this year. A key focus of the open houses will be the city's growth management study, which looks at how much land is needed for the next 50 years. The sessions are not meant to determine whether or not annexation happens, but rather to give residents a chance to learn more and ask questions.

• The City of Edmonton will carry out LRT track rehabilitation at the 51 Avenue and 111 Street intersection from June 24 to June 29 as part of its LRT Renewal Program. The work will include closures and lane reductions, including a full closure of 51 Avenue at 111 Street from June 24 at 10pm until June 29 at 6am. LRT services will be suspended between South Campus and Century Park stations. Replacement bus service will be provided. Residents near the site may experience noise, and drivers should plan for traffic disruptions.
• Edmonton city council reversed its decision to directly charge community leagues for stormwater management fees. On June 8, after listening to volunteer concerns, Coun. Jon Morgan moved to simplify the payment system. Previously, EPCOR billed the city, which then recouped part of the cost through a tax levy on the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues. Council had provided nearly $1 million to alleviate the financial burden, but many leagues still struggled with the new charges. An updated plan is due on Sept. 25.
• Explore Edmonton has launched two new tourism initiatives aimed at encouraging visitors to extend their stays and spend more time exploring the city. The programs include the Edmonton Explorer, a hop-on, hop-off trolley-style bus service operated by SunDog Tour Co. that will connect 20 attractions, hotels, and entertainment districts beginning June 15. Explore Edmonton also unveiled the Discover Edmonton Pass, which bundles admission to major attractions such as Fort Edmonton Park, the Muttart Conservatory, and TELUS World of Science - Edmonton. The agency says the initiatives are designed to boost the visitor economy and help conference attendees and other travellers experience more of the city.
• Alberta's police watchdog, the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), is investigating a letter from the Edmonton Police Service requesting the overturn of a plea deal in the manslaughter case of Ashley Rattlesnake. Rattlesnake pleaded guilty to the death of eight-year-old Nina Napope Dumais. The letter, sent by interim Chief Warren Driechel and lawyer Megan Hankewich, opposed the plea in favour of a murder trial. Justice Jody Fraser cited the letter as a mitigating factor during sentencing.
• Edmonton Oilers alternate captain Darnell Nurse has requested a trade, feeling it's time to move on, Sportsnet reported, citing sources. Despite having a full no-trade clause until July 1, 2027, Nurse has reportedly provided a short list of teams he'd consider.

On this day in 1971, Sir Winston Churchill Square was half-dug up to fix its irrigation system.

Even before the square was there, the area had been the centre of Edmonton's civic life. The Rice Street Market, where the Stanley A. Milner branch of the Edmonton Public Library now stands, drew crowds every weekend to buy produce, fish, and other goods.

Eventually, more civic buildings would spring up around the square: City Hall, the police headquarters, Chancery Hall, and others. The square got its current name shortly after Winston Churchill's death in 1965, as part of a flood of Alberta landmarks named after the British prime minister.

Around the same time, discussions started on a new look for the civic square in time for Canada's centennial celebrations in 1967. One of the proposed plans was a multi-storey hybrid of a public park and shopping centre. It would have had a heavily treed plaza at the ground level, surrounding a large illuminated bubble. Underneath the dome would be a spiral ramp leading down to a two-floor, $5-million shopping complex, looking out to either a skating rink or perhaps a stage.

That vision didn't come to fruition. What ended up happening was a much more modest "lawn and garden" idea — lots of green space, with grass, trees, and flowers stretching out in front of City Hall, giving much more of a park feel than a traditional square.

Churchill Square underwent a few more changes and updates over the years. But it was another centennial anniversary that led to its biggest renovation, this one in time for Edmonton's 100th birthday as a city, to be celebrated in 2004.

The original design for the renovation got pretty mixed reviews in 2002. The grassy areas, which were often trampled and damaged by the festivals and events held on the square, were replaced with paved sections, which residents were mostly fine with. But the large walls and pillars meant to create the feeling of an "urban room" in the centre of the city drew some fervent criticism. Sen. Paula Simons, then an Edmonton Journal columnist, argued that the plan made the square feel cold and closed off from the street around it, even going so far as to call its aesthetics "disturbingly fascistic."

Eventually, the critics won out. The original plan was reworked: the walls came down, the square was opened up, and grass and trees were added. And a waterfall was added to the west side of the square, because Edmonton loves an artificial waterfall.

The redesigned Churchill Square remains the centrepiece of Edmonton's civic district. And as the site of many of the city's summer festivals, concerts, and other events, it is once again approaching its busiest time of year. It hosts free weekly salsa dancing lessons through June, and The Works Art and Design Festival will bring visual arts and music to the square from June 20 to July 1.

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.

• June 12: Edmonton Riverhawks vs Yakima Valley Pippins: Baseball Goes Bollywood starting at 7pm at Re/Max Field
• June 12: Rising Sounds – A Celebration of New Voices starting at 7:30pm at Mile Zero Dance
• June 13: TENNISfest starting at 11am at Edmonton EXPO Centre
• June 13: Indigenous Artist in Residence Final Showcase by Arsene Arcand starting at 5pm at ArtsHub Ortona
• June 13: Carrot by Moonlight Annual Fundraiser starting at 6pm at Santa Maria Goretti Centre
• June 13: Edmonton Stingers vs. Scarborough Shooting Stars: Filipino Heritage Night starting at 7pm at Edmonton EXPO Centre
• June 14: Fyrefly's Annual Mayor's Pride Brunch starting at 10am at Fort Edmonton Park
• June 14: Pathways: Mêskanâs - Celebrating Indigenous Culture starting at 10am at University of Alberta Botanic Garden
• June 14: Grow Together Community Gathering starting at 10:30am a Victoria Park
• June 14: Ride of the Fancy Women starting at 11:15am
• June 14: The Greatest Hits: 20 Years of Fierce Art and Soul starting at 6pm at Winspear Centre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 20: 3-on-3 Community Basketball Tournament at O-day'min Park Pavilion
• June 20-July 1: The Works Art & Design Festival at Churchill Square
• June 20-21: National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations

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.

If you ever miss a puzzle, you can catch up in the archive.