The Pulse
Oct. 1, 2026

As Strathcona County aims to attract more visitors with its newly launched Go Strathco brand, agritourism is an important piece of the puzzle, advocates say.

The county doesn't have mountains, but it does have farms and people who are willing to invite visitors in.

"There's a massive opportunity for agriculture and agricultural operators to tap into this market," said Eiblis Doherty, Strathcona County's senior economic development officer for tourism. "This is really an opportunity for (farmers) to be able to stay in that lifestyle and stay connected to the family farm in the area that they grew up in by diversifying into this."

Go Strathco is the latest step in the county's 10-year tourism strategy, of which agritourism is a pillar. It is meant not only to attract tourists to the splendours of the area, but also to alert businesses to their visitor-economy potential.

"When we began … it wasn't uncommon for me to approach a business and find they didn't believe they were even involved in the tourism industry," Doherty told Taproot after the Go Strathco's launch. Now producers have a cohesive brand to tap into, as well as Doherty's deep expertise in the area, which she happily shares with anyone in an effort to contribute to the region's $2.6-billion visitor economy.

"It's very collaborative," Doherty said in an interview. "'A rising tide floats all ships' is really how we look at it here in the capital region — I've actually helped and supported operators in areas outside of Strathcona County. At the end of the day, if there's a small business somewhere that gets a little bit of information, gets a little bit ahead, based on any of the work that (we and others are) doing, that's really what the goal is."

Bar OA Farms, a flower farm near Fort Saskatchewan, is prominently featured on the Go Strathco site. Since planting the seeds for Bar OA in 2017 in northeast Edmonton, co-owner Bryanna Kumpula-Yung has learned which gardens to tend to.

"When we first started, I started doing farmers' markets — I realized really fast that that was not the thing that I was passionate about," she said. "You pack up all your stuff, you haul it all to a market, you hope people show up. If it's smoky outside and they don't come, or if it's raining, then you have all this product that you've cut. Now you're trying to discount it to push it out to sell it. I was like, 'I didn't want to grow up to be (doing this).'"

Instead, she hosts visitors at Bar OA, puts on farm dinners and workshops, and offers subscriptions and arrangements for special occasions. Even so, farming is at the mercy of the elements, and this summer's disastrous weather prevented Bar OA from participating in Alberta Open Farm Days in August.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney joined First Nations and Métis leaders in Edmonton on Sept. 30 to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and honour residential school survivors and children who died at the schools. Speaking at Fort Edmonton Park, Carney said the legacy of the residential school system remains relevant and called reconciliation an ongoing process. Treaty 6 Grand Chief George Arcand Jr. said misinformation obstructs healing, while Otipemisiwak Métis Government president Andrea Sandmaier urged people to challenge residential school denialism.
• Edmonton city councillors are considering whether sanctioned outdoor encampments could be an alternative to dismantling homeless camps. Speakers at a council committee meeting, including members of the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition, called on the city to fund outdoor spaces for unhoused people, while chief bylaw officer David Jones warned such sites could cost as much as heated shelters and become hot spots for gang activity. Jones said bylaw officers have issued 7,904 trespassing tickets so far in 2026, along with about 1,900 property bans.
• The Edmonton Police Service has issued Canada-wide warrants for Scot MacDermid, who is wanted on charges related to the alleged abduction of his two children. Police asked the public for tips to locate the father and children.
• Tesoro Caffè Bar is returning to Edmonton's downtown on Jasper Avenue, 15 years after it closed. Owner Franco Maione said he hopes the café will add vibrancy to the core. "I know there's been a lot of doom and gloom in the area as of late. But I'm more of an opportunistic person, and I just see the future potential more long term for what downtown is gonna bring," Maione said.
• Elders at Edmonton's kihcihkaw askî Indigenous cultural site saw a nearby spring as a sign of reconciliation taking root, CBC reported. Co-founder Lewis Cardinal discovered a natural spring near the site's sweat lodge in 2024, which he describes as a sacred gift from the land. The site, which opened in 2023 after a 17-year campaign, hosts ceremonies, cultural teachings and school visits for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Organizers are now exploring ways to develop the spring for ceremonial use as interest grows in creating similar urban Indigenous spaces across Canada and internationally.
• The Alberta government extended the application deadline for its $100 Alberta Energy Rebate to Oct. 31, giving eligible residents another month to apply. The province said more than 1.45 million Albertans had applied for or received the rebate and added the 2025 Notice of Assessment as an online payment-verification option.
• Municipalities in Alberta say it is unclear who is responsible for enforcing rules on referendum signs after provincial legislation removed much of their authority to regulate election advertising. Edmonton amended its Public Spaces Bylaw in March to remove provisions specifically governing election signs after the province introduced the changes. Elections Alberta says it oversees the content of referendum advertising but not its size, placement or damage, while the provincial government says rules apply to signs on provincial highways. Dylan Bressey of Alberta Municipalities said the lack of clear enforcement authority has left municipalities "in the wild west" ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum.
• Edmonton Oilers coach Mike Babcock said the team had "serious work to do" after its season-opening loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Sept. 29. He said Edmonton needed to correct defensive lapses after giving up three goals in four minutes in the third period.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• AgeTech Discovery Day starting at 2pm at WE Seniors Community Cafe
• NOW // The Evolution of Edmonton Infill starting at 5pm at 10166 100 Street NW
• Igniters Cycle-Three Launch starting at 5:30pm at El Corazon (Keswick)
• Retro Craft Night: 1940s edition starting at 5:30pm at Royal Alberta Museum
• Top 20 Pitch Night starting at 6pm
• Indigenous RPM "Revolutions Per Minute" starting at 6pm at CKUA
• The Perfect Match — screening and reception starting at 6:30pm at MacEwan University (Allard Hall)
• Book Launch with Satya Brata Das starting at 7pm at Audreys Books
• Dark Decadence, A Cab Co Takeover! starting at 7:30pm at The Common
• Connie Kaldor starting at 7:30pm at Arden Theatre
• Jay Gilday starting at 7:30pm at Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts
• 'NICE' District Comedy Night starting at 8pm at Banquet

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Oct. 14-18: NorthwestFEARFest at Garneau Theatre
• Oct. 17-18: Edmonton Short Film Festival at Landmark Cinemas 9 (Edmonton City Centre)
• Oct. 18-25: Edmonton Games Week

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.

Learn more about things like 1-Across and 4-Down in the Taproot Edmonton Calendar.