The Pulse
July 16, 2026

Essentials

30°C: Sunny in the morning and early in the afternoon then a mix of sun and cloud with 30% chance of showers in the afternoon. Risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Fog patches dissipating in the morning. High 30. Humidex 34. UV index 7 or high. (forecast)
Teal/Black: The High Level Bridge will be lit teal and black for Taste of Edmonton. (details)
5:30pm: The Edmonton Stingers play the Scarborough Shooting Stars at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. (details)

A playground with a wide, gently sloped ramp into the play area

City would benefit from more inclusive playgrounds, says advocate

July 16, 2026
By Darcy Hoogers

As Edmonton city council gets ready to set its next four-year budget, playground reviewer Jill Footz has a wish.

"It would be great to get a truly inclusive playground built on the south side of the city," the founder of Edmonton Playgrounds told Taproot.

Edmonton has two inclusive playgrounds, but they're both on the north side: Clareview Recreation Centre Playground at 3704 139 Avenue NW and Kensington School Playground at 13410 119 Street NW. Both are designed not only to be accessible to children who use wheelchairs or walkers, but to include all children, regardless of their abilities.

The Clareview playground, built as part of Canadian Tire's Jumpstart Inclusive Play Project, has wide ramps, rubber surfaces, and interactive charts in American Sign Language and braille. There are bucket-seat swings with harnesses, as well as a roller slide that is friendly to children with cochlear implants and a quiet zone where kids can take a break without leaving the playground. Plus there are picnic tables, benches, and sheltered tables for caregivers.

"Offering that access to everyone is the gold standard," Footz said.

City councillors seem interested in exploring the possibilities. On June 30, executive committee unanimously passed a motion from Coun. Keren Tang directing city administration to prepare a report showing the time and cost of integrating an inclusive playground strategy within existing city policies and procedures. The report is due on Oct. 21.

"It is true, some of those (inclusive playground) materials are more costly," said Tang, whose Ward Karhiio is in south Edmonton. "If this means less playgrounds per year but creating something that more people can be included in, then it's worth the strategy and development."

Administration recognizes the need, but as Tang acknowledged, inclusive elements cost money.

"I think we need to be looking at inclusive playgrounds across the city," Suzanne Young, the city's director of open spaces planning and design, told Taproot before Tang introduced her motion. "(B)ut at the end of the day, we have a really constrained budget … so, unfortunately, it's going to be pretty narrow in terms of what we can deliver."

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Headlines: July 16, 2026

July 16, 2026
By Mariam Ibrahim

TELUS World of Science - Edmonton will remain closed until about November due to substantial flood damage, which has resulted in the temporary layoff of nearly 70% of its workforce. The severity of the flood requires extensive cleaning and repairs. CEO Constance Scarlett noted the financial strain caused by the shutdown, as the centre relies heavily on admissions for revenue. The centre is working on a phased reopening plan and has begun discussions with Civic Service Union 52 on staff recall processes.
The World Triathlon Cup returns to Edmonton from July 16 to 19 at the newly renovated Hawrelak Park. More than 900 amateur and elite athletes will compete, with amateur races also serving as qualifiers for the 2027 World Triathlon Multisport Championships. Edmonton Transit Service will offer free shuttle service on July 18 and 19 during specified hours between the University of Alberta and Hawrelak Park.
Parts of Yellowhead Trail in Edmonton flooded again due to an overnight storm. The Edmonton Police Service advised drivers that traffic was affected between 121 and 156 Streets. City of Edmonton crews, Edmonton Fire Rescue Services and EPCOR were working to clear debris and reopen the road.
Edmonton's 20-year flood mitigation strategy, developed in collaboration with EPCOR, aims to mitigate extreme weather impacts by enhancing the city's drainage system. Now in its sixth year, the $1.6 billion project includes infrastructure improvements to manage stormwater effectively. Initiatives involve installing dry ponds, updating sewers, and adding eco-friendly sidewalk bump-outs.
Killarney School in north Edmonton sustained significant roof damage due to an overnight storm. The storm, which brought heavy rain and winds, caused flooding inside the junior high school. Edmonton Public Schools is assessing the damage. Staff and families have been advised to avoid the school while the it is being inspected.
Edmonton city Coun. Michael Janz is facing criticism for Instagram posts that some say spread misinformation about Israel. The Jewish Federation of Edmonton accused Janz of demonizing Israel and, by extension, the local Jewish community. "Like many Edmontonians, I've been horrified by the genocide in Palestine and the numerous well-documented war crimes committed by the state of Israel," Janz said in a statement to Global News, adding he will continue to share reports about Gaza.
The Edmonton Oilers will open the 2026-27 NHL season at home against the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29 at Rogers Place. The Oilers will then travel for a return game on Oct. 1 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The full 84-game schedule will be released July 16 at 11am.