McDavid, AI & First Nations — Edmonton's Week in Review.

West Coast oil pipeline becomes 1st project designated in national interest

The federal and Alberta governments have announced that a proposed pipeline carrying one million barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the B.C. coast has become the first project designated in the national interest.

Alberta educators grapple with referendum lessons in the face of neutrality law

In Brett Dibble’s Grade 12-level social studies classes, lessons about Alberta’s 10 fall referendum questions are among the first issues students dived into this school year.

A decade of Rogers Place. Is Edmonton better off?

Rogers Place was meant to revitalize downtown Edmonton, but has that happened? As the arena marks its 10th anniversary, the CBC’s Brennan Klak explores its complicated history, its controversial ownership model and whether the Oilers Entertainment Group has too much power in downtown Edmonton.

'I don't really believe it yet': Canada's Joshua Kutryk and Crew-13 astronauts on their way to ISS

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is in 'high spirits' for Thursday's launch to the International Space Station

Just six months after Jeremy Hansen launched on the Artemis II mission, another Canadian is ready to blast off into space, this time for a six-month mission.

Biometric monitoring installation by Grande Prairie police aims to improve safety in holding cells

The Grande Prairie Police Service is installing contactless biometric monitoring technology in eight holding cells to help prevent death and serious injuries of people in custody.

Alberta men convicted in Coutts border blockade lose appeals

The Alberta Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals of two leaders of the 2022 Coutts border blockade who were convicted of mischief and weapons offences.

Edmonton man charged for alleged death threat against Canada's prime minister: RCMP

Police arrested a 44-year-old Edmonton man accused of threatening to kill Prime Minister Mark Carney, RCMP say.

Edmonton man charged after online death threats made against Prime Minister Carney

RCMP Supt. Matt Johnson says criminal actions online have real-world consequences, regardless of whether they're made behind a screen.

Astronaut from Alberta heads to space

A Fort Saskatchewan astronaut is on his way to the International Space Station. CBC’s Tristan Mottershead was with Edmonton space fans as Joshua Kutryk lifted off on his first mission.

Deal reached to reopen shuttered Howe Sound pulp mill, union says

A union representing B.C. pulp mill workers says it's welcoming news that a shuttered facility in Howe Sound is set to reopen later this month.

Canadian astronaut reaches International Space Station for six-month mission

NASA says the Crew 13 mission had the fastest flight ever to the International Space Station, taking just under eight hours to reach the facility.

Edmonton teen carjacked during Facebook Marketplace exchange

An 18-year-old who thought he was helping his brother with a Facebook Marketplace sale instead found himself being the victim of an armed carjacking in southwest Edmonton.

ASIRT looking into Edmonton woman’s allegation of unprovoked police assault: ‘Smashed my face’

Alberta's police watchdog is looking into a complaint from a woman who alleges unnecessary force was used during an interaction with Edmonton police in August.

It's the biggest Alberta separatist account on the internet. It has links to a movement leader

The account Rise of Alberta is anonymous and drives four times as much engagement as the next most popular account.

Trump's trade rep sounds pessimistic about deal with Canada, saying issues are 'quite difficult to resolve'

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says he regularly speaks with his Canadian counterpart, but that the two sides have reached an impasse on some trade irritants and there's no sign of a resolution any time soon.

Oilers, Canucks take lessons from wild games

Neither the Vancouver Canucks nor the Edmonton Oilers were entirely happy with their first two games of the season. 

McDavid comes up big as Oilers down Canucks 9-7

Connor McDavid scored his first goal of the season and tallied four assists as the Edmonton Oilers outlasted the Vancouver Canucks for a wild 9-7 victory on Thursday. 

Mayors, First Nations chiefs in Alberta's oilsands region react tentatively to West Coast pipeline designation

Political leaders in Alberta’s oilsands region say they hope the potential one million barrels of oil per day that could flow through a new West Coast oil pipeline will also bring jobs and economic spinoffs.

Alberta referendum panel at U of A brings out heavy hitters

The province is weeks away from the Oct. 19 referendum, asking Albertans to vote on 10 questions about the constitution, immigration and separation. CBC Edmonton is partnering with the University of Alberta Students’ Union (UASU) to live stream a student-focused discussion about what happens after the vote.

What Cornell's alleged rape case and the Hockey Canada trial's striking parallels reveal

Several legal experts note there are some striking similarities between the alleged gang rape case unfolding at Cornell University this week and last year's Hockey Canada sexual assault trial in London, Ont., which saw all five players acquitted.

Alberta separatists say Ottawa prioritizing pipeline doesn’t halt independence push

In just over two weeks, Albertans will go to the polls in an Oct. 19 referendum on whether to stay in Canada or launch a second, binding referendum on separating.

Legal battles mount over the off-reserve Millennium Scoop

Courts countrywide are grappling with the complex question of whether federal and provincial governments can be sued for the stark overrepresentation of Indigenous children in the off-reserve child welfare system, delivering dizzyingly mixed results.

Alberta Mountie found not guilty of using database to help Rwanda

RCMP Const. Eli Ndatuje was charged under the Criminal Code and the Security of Information Act for alleged illegal use of the police database but has been found not guilty.

Lockdown lifted at West Edmonton high school

Ross Sheppard High School was placed on lockdown while police investigated a weapons complaint.

Carney, Smith say new West Coast pipeline could get oil companies building again

It's been a relatively quiet decade in Alberta's oilsands, but the federal and provincial governments believe a new West Coast pipeline coupled with policy shifts might help turn up the volume. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith say that if oilsands companies start building again — as they hope — it will be different this time around.

What Happens Next? A panel discussion on Alberta’s referendum

A panel discussion with Keith Wilson, Marie Gordon and Jason Kenney moderated by Edmonton AM's Tara McCarthy.

Stephen Harper warns Alberta separatism will bring 'no benefit'

Former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper cautioned against the prospect of Alberta separation in a column Friday, writing that even voting just to "send a message" would represent a fraught approach.

Calgary mayor to bring forward plan for Green Line path through downtown, across river

Calgary's mayor says he plans to pitch his vision for the Green Line's path through downtown in the near future. He believes the city can partner with Ottawa on an underground portion for the project, despite pushback from the provincial government.

Babcock takes blame as Oilers struggle defensively

Scoring goals is not a problem for the Connor McDavid-led Edmonton Oilers. Keeping the puck out of their net is another matter, despite new coach Mike Babcock stressing defence throughout training camp.

Another oilsands boom? Smith, Carney say this time Canada will be ready

The last boom from the mid-2000s to 2010s came with the side-effects of cost inflation, labour scarcity and housing shortages — the industry has changed significantly since then.

2 injured in CNRL gas plant fire east of Calgary; 1 in critical condition

STARS air ambulance said a man in his 70s was transported from the gas plant, about 88 kilometres east of Calgary, to hospital in critical condition.

Dedicated river valley space for homeless encampments debated in Edmonton

The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition wants to see a few dedicated encampment sites with clean drinking water, washrooms, trash cans and a safe needle disposal site.

What does Elections Alberta's compliance agreement with Forever Canadian mean?

A compliance agreement between Elections Alberta and a group campaigning for Alberta to remain in Canada means the organization is required to disclose certain referendum advertising expenses and contributions.

Internal documents detail Ottawa's economic worries over Alberta referendum

Internal federal documents offer insights into how Ottawa is assessing the economic fallout from the possibility of Alberta separating from Canada and becoming an independent state.

Hosting a radio show taught me immigrants came for Canada, not a separate Alberta

As the host of Red FM, Rishi Nagar has heard from many listeners who, like him, are immigrants to Canada and don't want Alberta to separate.

Canada bet billions on an EV boom. Was it too much, too soon?

The federal and provincial governments bet billions on the rapid rise of the electric vehicle industry. But major EV and battery projects in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have since been delayed, cancelled, suspended, substantially changed — and in one case, gone bankrupt — as automakers and suppliers adjust to weaker-than-anticipated demand.

RCMP officer found not guilty of leaking police data to help Rwanda

An RCMP officer who was accused of illegally accessing a police database to pass information on to Rwanda’s government was acquitted of all charges on Friday.

Stampeders hold off Riders to continue hot run

Dave Dickenson may feel jinxed with challenges but the Calgary Stampeders head coach and general manager nailed two crucial challenges in Friday's 37-31 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Alberta considers new regional air service subsidies

After commercial air traffic was ended to Medicine Hat and Lethbridge earlier this year, the government of Alberta is working on a subsidy program to bring in smaller carriers — an important step to take advantage of increased defence spending that could flow to areas with remote Canadian Forces bases.

Canada scores a dairy win on U.S. soil as farmers grumble about Trump's trade war

At the World Dairy Expo in Wisconsin, the political tension between Canada and the U.S. is — more or less — set aside as farmers from both sides of the border focus on their best bovines. But even so, CBC News found some Americans in the crowd who take a dim view of the Trump administration's trade war.

Eyes on AI as factor in Alberta referendum

If you ask a popular artificial intelligence chatbot and a search engine whether taxes in an independent Alberta would be higher, it might say yes.

Oilers top Kraken 3-1 for second straight win

Connor McDavid had a goal and an assist to give him nine points through three games as the Edmonton Oilers won their second game in a row, defeating the Seattle Kraken 3-1 on Saturday.

Panelists make cases for and against Alberta separation

Alberta leaders on both sides of the aisle debated about separation Friday evening, joining CBC Radio’s Edmonton AM host Tara McCarthy for a panel discussion ahead of the provincial referendum.

Does Canada have ‘no core identity’ or a Judeo-Christian one? Identity drives referendum debate at this church

CBC News sat down with congregants of Calgary’s Southside Victory Church to understand how their individual faith perspectives shape how they’ll vote in the Alberta referendum.

Mark Carney for Nobel Peace Prize? Probably not, but his name's out there

If relations between Canada the U.S. are cool now, the temperature could plummet if Prime Minister Mark Carney were to win the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize this year.

Merilainen making most of chance with Canucks

Goaltender Leevi Merilainen wants to make the most of the opportunity the Vancouver Canucks have given him.

Oilers find defensive footing in win over Kraken

The Edmonton Oilers have proven they can get it done without running and gunning.

Canada's spy agency shakes up hiring process to 'meet operational needs': documents

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service is shaking up its hiring process to meet operational needs, internal emails show — a signal the service continues to face recruitment issues.

Edmonton eyes making Transit app’s premium version free for riders

City council is considering a plan to purchase a four-year subscription to the trip-planning app Transit, so Edmontonians could access its premium version for free.

New data centre permit raises concern for some residents in nearby northern Alberta town

Some nearby residents are raising questions about a development permit recently issued for a data centre north of the city of Grande Prairie. The County of Grande Prairie council is expected to discuss rules around such permits on Monday.

‘Silence could be consent’: Alberta First Nations push to get out vote for referendum

Angel Houle, who has never voted in a provincial election, is helping outfit First Nations' leaders with everything they need to get out the vote on Oct. 19.