The Pulse
June 18, 2026

Alternatives to fast fashion — cheap, trendy clothing that clogs thrift stores and landfills — will be on display at Edmonton's second annual sustainable fashion show on June 19.

"I want to be able to show the public (what) it looks like addressing textile waste," said Josephine Nakafeero, founder of the Edmonton Sustainable Fashion Show and a designer herself at Jose House of Creations.

Studies suggest people buy about 60% more clothes than they did 20 years ago, but they keep them for about half as long. The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water on Earth behind agriculture, and it is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions — more than the aviation and shipping industry combined. Research from the University of Waterloo found that Canadians throw away nearly 500 million kilograms of fabric each year.

"It's overwhelming, and the numbers are really scary," Nakafeero told Taproot. "It's sad that not so much is done."

Nakafeero said she launched the sustainable fashion show last year because she saw a gap. There are many opportunities to explore the circular economy — a system designed to eliminate waste by keeping products and materials in circulation — but clothes weren't a big enough part of the conversation, she said.

"Not so much attention was put on textile waste, and so with that in mind, as a sustainable fashion designer, I realized I needed to address that through my skill set."

The event at the downtown branch of the Edmonton Public Library will feature Nakafeero's upcycled fashions alongside those of seven other designers: Wing Sem of Growling Stitch; Yvonne M. Nakabira of Naiga Made; Louise Houghton of Awry Studio; Fely Aagader; Alexandra Myshalova and Chantal Duval of Welded Hanger; and Noah Milo and Yron Keith of Jonas.

• The City of Edmonton has launched a 2SLGBTQIA+ safe spaces action plan to enhance inclusivity over four years. The plan, unanimously approved by city council on June 17, involves making facilities sensitive to diverse community needs. Mayor Andrew Knack emphasized the critical timing of these initiatives amid restrictive provincial laws affecting transgender rights. A $750,000 budget will be available to support community groups and discussions are ongoing for continued funding. In 2024, 50 hate crime incidents were reported in Edmonton alone.
• Environment Canada issued a funnel cloud warning for Edmonton and its surrounding areas, including St. Albert and Sherwood Park, on June 17. The agency cautioned that weather conditions were conducive to the formation of funnel clouds. Residents in affected regions are advised to remain vigilant and prepared for sudden weather changes, which could lead to the development of funnel clouds or even weak landspout tornadoes.
• Edmonton Public Schools has approved a locally developed Arabic language course, offering students language classes from elementary to high school. While this initiative aligns with attempts to integrate diverse language education, the board is reconsidering language course requirements generally. Alongside this, families expressed disappointment over the cancellation of international school travel.
• Two Edmonton students face charges for creating AI-generated, sexualized images of classmates using photos taken without consent from social media and personal captures. The ALERT Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit led the investigation after a teacher reported the incident in March. The two 14-year-old boys were charged with making and possessing child sexual exploitation materials and voyeurism. This case marks the second instance investigated by ICE where AI was used for sexual exploitation at a school. Edmonton Police Service and Zebra Child and Youth Advocacy Centre also participated in the investigation.
• A report from Alberta's child and youth advocate, Terri Pelton, urged the province to strengthen supports for homeless children and youth. In 2025, the office handled more than 100 cases, but the true number of homeless youth is likely higher. The report highlighted systemic issues, with many youths coming from unstable homes or aging out of systems. It recommended a youth-specific homelessness strategy, enhanced data collection, and specialized shelter support as essential measures to address this crisis.
• The Edmonton Oilers have announced their pre-season schedule, ahead of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, which now includes 84 games. The pre-season features four games from Sept. 19-26 against Western Canadian rivals. The Oilers will face the Winnipeg Jets twice, hosting them on Sept. 19 at Rogers Place and playing away on Sept. 22. Edmonton will visit the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 24 and conclude the pre-season at home against the Calgary Flames on Sept. 26.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Navigating Property Events: Response, Recovery & Restoration starting at 9am at EPCOR Tower
• Percolating Perspectives with Dr. Murtaza Haider starting at 9:30am at University of Alberta (Peter Lougheed Hall)
• Bike 2 Climb starting at 11am at Boulders Climbing
• Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Month starting at 11:30am at Beaver Hills House Park
• ECAMP Curiosity Walking Tours - Strikes, Struggles and Success starting at 12pm at Royal Alberta Museum
• MNP Workshop Series: Fundamentals of Financial Position for Startup Founders starting at 12pm at Edmonton Unlimited
• Queer & Trans Business in Alberta: Pride, Power & Community starting at 12pm online
• Drop-In Sketching: Animals for Indigenous History Month starting at 5:30pm at Royal Alberta Museum
• Canvas + Poetry – Transcendence starting at 6:30pm at Art Gallery of St. Albert
• Nightbird Alley starting at 7pm at The Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse
• The Dungarees present Five Days in July: Blue Rodeo Tribute starting at 7:30pm at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts
• The Larks Summer Sing starting at 7:30pm at Alberta Avenue Community Centre

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• June 23: Edmonton Trivia with Taproot Edmonton at Earth's Refillery Coop
• Jun3 25: Nerd Nite #94: We're Making it Gay
• July 4: Summer Block Party at Rice Howard Way

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.

Find plenty of celebrations pertaining to the answer to 1-Across in the Taproot Edmonton Calendar.