The Pulse
Aug. 27, 2026

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack continues to believe in a regional approach to economic development, even though five municipalities have left Edmonton Global and three more are on their way.

"My view has always been we are stronger together … especially on the economic development side, and I think Edmonton Global is a great entity to deliver on that," Knack told Taproot. "But each municipality, they'll make their own choice on that."

Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Sturgeon County, Parkland County, and Devon all left in 2025. Leduc County voted to leave in December 2024; Gibbons did the same in November 2025, and Beaumont followed in December. A two-year notice period is required before they can formally exit. The other shareholders are Edmonton, the City of Leduc, Morinville, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, and Stony Plain.

The agency has now had Daryn Edgar at the helm as its second-ever CEO for close to a year, and it has unveiled new strategic and business plans that emphasize accountability and return on investment.

Shareholders in Edmonton Global pay fees based on their population and tax base. In 2024, the total amount was $5 million annually; Edgar told Taproot that each municipality's contributions have "stayed pretty steady" despite the departures, though adjustments may be coming.

Knack, who was appointed vice-chair of the shareholders group in May, said he understands that different municipalities have different priorities, and that may be a factor in decisions to exit, though Edmonton Global has worked to engage with them as individuals with specific assets. But you can't please everyone all the time.

"Unless you're going to put out almost unlimited money, you do have to prioritize," he said. "You do have to focus your resources on the areas that have the greatest opportunity for return on investment, and so I think that's the whole body of work that Edmonton Global is doing — recognizing that as much as it would be wonderful to try to be everywhere and do everything, that's not really practical."

Neither Beaumont nor Leduc County would comment on Edmonton Global's refresh, as Edgar has described it. As for Gibbons, Mayor Rick Henderson told Taproot his council has not been swayed. Edmonton Global's scope doesn't address the town's key hurdle for economic development: land suitable for major development. Annexation is what it would take to lure Gibbons back to Edmonton Global, Henderson said.

"For us to hit that global market and say, 'Hey, we have a perfect place, we're in close proximity to shipping, there's a great highway to get in and out of town, there's a great workforce around us,' and all that kind of stuff, definitely, we need some more land to attract that kind of industry."

• Edmonton city council's infrastructure committee rejected administration's proposal to drop 14 planned routes from the city's $100-million active transportation network expansion, leaving the existing plan in place. More than 60 people registered to speak, and most supported continuing the expansion, as the province prepares legislation that could affect municipal authority over bike lanes.
• Edmonton Public Schools will temporarily move 170 Grade 8 students from Killarney Junior High School to Hardisty School and provide free busing after a July storm damaged the school's roof and left at least 12 classrooms unavailable for the start of school. The division hopes students can return by winter break.
• Record rainfall in June and July delayed several major city construction projects, including the Yellowhead Trail freeway conversion, Valley Line West, and Capital Line South. The city is seeking reimbursement through a provincial program for 90% of about $42 million in eligible uninsurable storm costs.
• A city survey found that 72% of respondents said Edmonton doesn't have enough public washrooms, while 53% rarely use existing facilities because of cleanliness and safety concerns. The city manages 160 public washrooms. Most are downtown or near the river valley, while some neighbourhoods have few or none.
• The Low Level Bridge could be replaced between 2029 and 2031, with the southbound span demolished afterward and the historic northbound bridge retained for active transportation. Coun. Michael Janz questioned funding the project in the 2027 to 2030 capital budget because the bridge is not at full capacity and the city faces other budget pressures.
• The University of Alberta will move its nearly 50-year-old Casavant organ from Convocation Hall to the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Picture Butte. The instrument memorializes faculty and students who died during the First and Second World Wars. The university will arrange for its professional dismantling and storage until the congregation completes the new facility it is designing around the organ.
• The Edmonton Oilers expect four players to miss training camp: goaltender Frederik Andersen, defenceman Alec Regula, and forwards Mattias Janmark and Matt Savoie. Andersen and Savoie are recovering from injuries sustained during off-season training, while Janmark and Regula are recovering from medical procedures.
• Actors Karl Urban, Emilie de Ravin, and Terri Hawkes cancelled their appearances at Edmonton Expo, bringing the event's celebrity cancellations to seven. Organizers attributed Urban's and de Ravin's cancellations to schedule changes.
• Edmonton sisters Chayla Rain and Chyana Marie Sage were eliminated from The Amazing Race Canada. They called the outcome "absolutely devastating" but said they gave the contest their all.
• Alberta Premier Danielle Smith created a cabinet committee to consider the province's response to new U.S. tariffs and rejected calls to tax or restrict Alberta oil exports. She urged Ottawa to resume trade talks before Canadian retaliatory tariffs take effect Sept. 8.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• ECAMP Curiosity Walking Tours - Strikes, Struggles and Success starting at 12pm at Royal Alberta Museum
• Held Together: Art and Performance in Support of Mental Health starting at 1pm at The Aviary
• In Conversation: How do you want to be remembered? starting at 5:30pm at Royal Alberta Museum
• Patio Series - Marcus Trummer starting at 6pm at La Cité francophone
• 650 Light Years Away starting at 7pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns (Westbury Theatre)
• The Sad Saga of the Edmonton Interurban Railway starting at 7pm at Grindstone Theatre
• Plaza Series: Say You Knew Them When! The Return of Amplify and Halfway Home starting at 7pm at Arden Theatre
• Deep Partial Lunar Eclipse starting at 8:30pm at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton
• Lumber starting at 9pm at Fringe Theatre Arts Barns (Westbury Theatre)

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Sept. 8: Thoughtful Tuesday: Sugarcane at Earth's Refillery Coop
• Sept. 11: Promises & Prosecco After Dark at The Creative Hive Event Centre
• Sept. 13: Tee Up for Tails Charity Golf Tournament at The Ranch Golf & Country Club

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 1-Across? Here you go.