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Weekly Edmonton Apr 13 - Apr 19, 2026

Playoff Fever & Pivotal Moments — Your Edmonton Week in Review

47 articles 1 month ago 155

🏒 Sports Highlights

Did you hear the Oilers are back in playoff mode? After narrowly missing the Stanley Cup the past two years, the Edmonton Oilers are gearing up for their tournament run against the Anaheim Ducks this Monday. With Game 1 at Rogers Place, excitement fills the air as fans wonder if this is finally their year to lift the trophy.

Could Draisaitl make a comeback? Leon Draisaitl’s potential return from injury remains uncertain, causing fans to hold their breath. His presence would be a game-changer in their playoff strategy that relies heavily on experienced players. Let's hope the medical team clears him soon!

Edmonton businesses are buzzing with playoff vibes! As the Oilers enter the playoffs, local businesses are seeing a surge in customers. Fans are ready to rally behind the team, proving once again why hockey is the lifeblood of this city.

🌍 Environment & Community

Mental health concerns at CSIS raised eyebrows this week. A report surfaced highlighting anxiety, fear, and potential reprisals among employees in Canada’s intelligence agency. As our world becomes increasingly complex, mental wellbeing in high-stress jobs is more important than ever.

A sanctuary for the unwanteds: FARRM raises funds for a new barn. This heartwarming story shines a light on an animal sanctuary's efforts to provide care for farm animals in need. As more animals face abandonment or medical challenges, support for such initiatives is crucial.

Edmonton's Lewis Farms rec centre might cost you more than you think. Estimates have soared nearly $32 million over budget. This could lead to raised taxes or cut services as the city considers how to manage the financial shortfall.

🚨 Safety & Crime

Threats about a school shooting? This week took a scary turn. A youth was arrested after making threats toward students at a central Alberta high school. Thankfully, quick action by the RCMP ensured safety, but it raises questions about safety in schools and community vigilance.

A tragedy struck in Brazeau County. A devastating house fire left a baby dead and a toddler missing, showcasing the rampant dangers that can arise in our communities. Our thoughts are with the families affected as investigations continue.

🍔 Consumer Concerns

Are you paying too much for your meat? Investigations reveal that certain companies are possibly overcharging, causing concerns for families watching their grocery budgets. Transparency in pricing is key to consumer trust.

Water in your gas? That's a no-go. Vehicle repairs skyrocketed this week after a local gas station inadvertently sold contaminated fuel, leaving many drivers stranded. Talk about a costly fill-up!

🏗️ Development and Future

Electoral boundary redraw might happen soon, but is it a good idea? Alberta’s governing party wants to reconsider its electoral map, a move some see as a ploy to secure votes ahead of elections. If history has taught us anything, gerrymandering can be dicey business.

The U of A sparks outrage with its decision to remove a beloved pipe organ. Students and alumni are weighing in, worried about losing a cherished piece of their university's heritage. Once gone, can it ever come back?

🎉 Good News

Celebrating 50 years with a sister's kidney? A tale of gratitude. Beverly Sharp-Samograd’s touching story of her sister’s kidney donation has inspired many, reminding us all of the power of family and love.

🙌 Community Initiatives

Unused items getting a second chance at life! Edmonton’s Reuse Centre is working hard to reduce waste and encourage responsible disposal through their great initiatives — a win-win for the environment and the community.

Source Articles (49)

Alberta looks to replace highway welcome signs with province-shaped placards

Tourists, truckers and others travellers could soon be greeted by new Welcome to Alberta signs when they cross into the province.

General Apr 16, 2026

40 hours of non-stop driving brings Alberta bison to their new home in Alaska

Dozens of Alberta-raised bison calves sent to Alaska as part of a relocation agreement with the state made it safely to their new home, but it wasn't without months of logistical work and a 40-hour trip on treacherous northern roads.

General Apr 16, 2026

Charges laid in 2024 death of worker who fell from Edmonton construction site

Jeremy Bird, a 32-year-old father of four, was fatally injured on April 14, 2024, while working on a residential apartment complex under construction in the city's north side.

General Apr 16, 2026

Former AHS CEO wants podcasters held in contempt for ‘harassment’ campaign

The former CEO of Alberta Health Services is asking a judge for legal protection and a contempt finding against two podcasters she alleges have run a campaign of harassment and intimidation against her in response to her ongoing legal action.

General Apr 16, 2026

U of A hits sour note with decision to remove venerable pipe organ from Convocation Hall

The University of Alberta plans to remove a beloved pipe organ from Convocation Hall to conduct a renovation that will improve accessibility for people with physical disabilities and mobility needs. The decision isn't a hit with some faculty members.

General Apr 17, 2026

Alberta wants to set aside commission report, strike MLA committee to look at 91-seat legislature

Alberta's UCP government wants to take another run at redrawing provincial riding boundaries, proposing to strike a new committee of MLAs to consider increasing the number of seats in the house by four.

General Apr 17, 2026
Calgary police investigating March shooting, seeking public assistance

Calgary police investigating March shooting, seeking public assistance

Calgary police are asking for the public's help investigating a shooting after two men showed up at the Peter Lougheed Hospital in late March with gunshot wounds.

Crime Apr 16, 2026
RCMP arrest youth after threats made to shoot students at Alberta school

RCMP arrest youth after threats made to shoot students at Alberta school

The Alberta RCMP have arrested a youth after threats were made over social media to shoot students at a high school in Stettler, east of Red Deer.

Crime Apr 16, 2026

From political rump to anti-separatism powerhouse: Inside a politico's bid to transform the Alberta Liberals

Veteran operative Stephen Carter wants to change the small party into a big referendum advertiser. He may change its name, too.

General Apr 17, 2026

Charter at a turning point as it turns 44

Canada's Justice Minister Sean Fraser says he has significant concerns with the way the provinces are overriding Charter rights by invoking the notwithstanding clause, and he's prepared to establish guardrails around its use as the document turns 44.

General Apr 17, 2026

Edmonton saw more hate-fuelled violence in 2025, despite fewer hate crimes: police

Edmonton police recorded a notable shift in reported hate crime last year: despite fewer total reports than the past few years, significantly more of them involved violence.

General Apr 17, 2026

Rural Alberta school saved amid ‘troubling trend’ of closures

The Grande Yellowhead Public School Division voted on Wednesday to keep Fulham Community School open, despite declining enrolment. The rural school in western Alberta is adopting agricultural-focused learning to attract more students.

General Apr 17, 2026

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen reflects on his mission — its challenges and its joy

Jeremy Hansen sat down with CBC News to share some of his insights, like how he felt during lift-off, the joy the mission brought him, and that one time he accidentally let a water bag explode in the capsule.

General Apr 17, 2026

Oilers claim playoff home-ice advantage in 6-1 rout of Canucks

Connor McDavid had four assists and rookie Matthew Savoie scored his first career hat trick as the Edmonton Oilers secured second place in the Pacific Division and home ice to start the first round of playoffs with a clutch 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

General Apr 17, 2026
Oilers confident they’ll be serious contenders

Oilers confident they’ll be serious contenders

The Edmonton Oilers will start their pursuit of a third consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup final at home on Monday and this time the Ducks are on the menu.

Sports Apr 17, 2026
Savoie, McDavid lead Oilers to clutch win

Savoie, McDavid lead Oilers to clutch win

Connor McDavid had four assists and rookie Matthew Savoie scored his first career hat trick as the Edmonton Oilers secured second place in the Pacific Division and home ice to start the first round of playoffs with a clutch 6-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

Sports Apr 16, 2026
No reported wildlife, water affected from leak near Cold Lake, Imperial Oil says

No reported wildlife, water affected from leak near Cold Lake, Imperial Oil says

An Imperial Oil spokeswoman says the pipeline leaked a bitumen emulsion — a mixture of the heavy crude oil, bitumen and water — within the company's leased area near Cold Lake.

Environment Apr 16, 2026
Watery gas suspected, dozens of vehicles repaired after fuelling up at south Edmonton Esso

Watery gas suspected, dozens of vehicles repaired after fuelling up at south Edmonton Esso

Dozens of vehicles with suspected water contamination in the gas tank are being repaired at mechanics across Edmonton after they fuelled up at a southside Esso station.

Consumer Apr 16, 2026
Alberta’s governing UCP to revisit proposed riding changes before next election

Alberta’s governing UCP to revisit proposed riding changes before next election

The NDP is accusing Danielle Smith's UCP government of gerrymandering — a process of designing boundaries around voting patterns to benefit one party over another.

Politics Apr 16, 2026

Winnipeg Jets go out with a whimper, ending season with 6-1 home-ice drubbing by Sharks

Macklin Celebrini set a San Jose Sharks' franchise record for points in a season after a goal and pair of assists in a 6-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

General Apr 17, 2026

Edmonton's Lewis Farms rec centre could cost nearly $32M more than original estimate

Edmonton’s under-construction Lewis Farms Recreation Centre has a new price tag — and the project could cost almost $32 million more than the city expected.

General Apr 17, 2026

Northern Alberta school project delayed due to high costs

The province is seeking cheaper construction options for a school in a northern Alberta hamlet following higher-than-expected costs. Shovels were originally expected to be in the ground for the project this month.

General Apr 17, 2026

Air Canada suspends Toronto and Montreal flights to JFK over jet fuel cost crisis

Air Canada has temporarily suspended flights from Toronto and Montreal to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as the war in Iran drives up fuel costs.

General Apr 17, 2026

Sexual assault charges stayed against Alberta spiritual leader, wife

Sexual assault charges against a self-styled spiritual leader and his wife in the Edmonton area have been stayed.

General Apr 17, 2026

Oil falls by 13% after Iran declares Strait of Hormuz open

Oil prices plunged by about 11 per cent on Friday, extending earlier losses, after Iran's foreign minister said that passage for all commercial vessels through the ‌Strait of Hormuz was open for the remaining ceasefire period.

General Apr 17, 2026
Alberta woman marks 50 years with sister’s donated kidney: ‘I’ve been very lucky’

Alberta woman marks 50 years with sister’s donated kidney: ‘I’ve been very lucky’

Beverly Sharp-Samograd received a kidney from her sister more than 50 years ago, which the Alberta woman says saved her life and allowed her to live it to the fullest.

Health Apr 17, 2026
Canada’s emissions reductions slowed in 2024, federal data shows

Canada’s emissions reductions slowed in 2024, federal data shows

A new report from the federal government says an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry in 2024 offset decreases in several other industries.

Environment Apr 17, 2026

Baby dead, toddler missing after house fire in Brazeau County: RCMP

A baby is dead and a toddler is still missing after they were unable to be rescued from a house that caught fire in Brazeau County, police said.

General Apr 18, 2026
SAIT layoffs highlight funding challenges at Alberta post-secondary schools

SAIT layoffs highlight funding challenges at Alberta post-secondary schools

A decision by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology to lay off 30 employees is highlighting the funding challenges faced by post-secondary institutions across Alberta.

Education Apr 17, 2026
Alberta’s FARRM animal sanctuary fundraising for new barn

Alberta’s FARRM animal sanctuary fundraising for new barn

The Farm Animal Rescue and Rehoming Movement (FARRM) is busier than ever and has plans to expand, but needs help reaching their goal of building a new barn.

Features Apr 17, 2026
Search underway for Alberta woman, 82, lost in Saskatchewan with her dog

Search underway for Alberta woman, 82, lost in Saskatchewan with her dog

Diane Cooper, and her Dalmatian, Halo, have been missing for more than 10 days. The 82-year-old Alberta woman is believed to have driven into Saskatchewan earlier this month.

Canada Apr 17, 2026
Ontario education minister considering social media ban for under 16s

Ontario education minister considering social media ban for under 16s

In an interview with Focus Ontario to discuss his overhaul of school board governance, Minister Paul Calandra said the government is planning the next wave of reforms.

Politics Apr 17, 2026
Edmonton fans and businesses prepping for Oilers’ playoff run

Edmonton fans and businesses prepping for Oilers’ playoff run

The countdown to the Edmonton Oilers' first playoff game is on, and businesses around the city are hard at work prepping for what they hope to be another long cup run.

Sports Apr 17, 2026
Online gambling in Alberta to grow as private sports betting allowed in

Online gambling in Alberta to grow as private sports betting allowed in

Two major players in the online sports gambling industry are moving to enter the Alberta market as the province prepares to open iGaming to private operators this summer.

Consumer Apr 17, 2026

Fear of reprisals, isolation, anxiety: Report documents mental health concerns at CSIS

Canadian Security Intelligence Service employees who came forward as part of an external study investigating mental health at the spy agency described a sometimes isolating and bleak environment "laden with stigma."

General Apr 18, 2026
Fast Ducks meet seasoned Oilers in playoff opener

Fast Ducks meet seasoned Oilers in playoff opener

When the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks open their first-round NHL playoff series Monday, it will be a complete reversal from 2017, the last time the teams met in the playoffs.

Sports Apr 18, 2026

Kananaskis ski resort aims for year-round operations in 2027

Nakiska Ski Area is proposing 30 kilometres of lift-serviced mountain biking trails, three kilometres of lift-serviced hiking trails, a sightseeing trail and mountain coaster.

General Apr 18, 2026

Another try to redraw electoral boundaries would create challenging timeline: Elections Alberta

Alberta's elections agency says a government decision to take a second run at redrawing provincial ridings will be a challenge as the clock ticks toward an October 2027 vote.

General Apr 18, 2026

Edmonton Oilers open playoffs against skilled, young Ducks team

When the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks open their first-round NHL playoff series Monday, it will be a complete reversal from 2017, the last time the teams met in the playoffs.

General Apr 19, 2026
NHL Stanley Cup playoffs begin with 3 Canadian teams in contention

NHL Stanley Cup playoffs begin with 3 Canadian teams in contention

The Stanley Cup playoffs begin Saturday as Canadian hockey fans rile up, with Ottawa opening play and Montreal and Edmonton also set to represent Canada.

Sports Apr 18, 2026

Giving unused items a second life at Edmonton's Reuse Centre

As Earth Day approaches, the Edmonton Reuse Centre is highlighting items people can donate instead of throwing in the trash. As the CBC's Nicole Healey explains, more items can be reused than some people realize.

General Apr 19, 2026

Bothered by bright headlights? Your time to tell Transport Canada is running out

Transport Canada's survey on headline brightness is open to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, and includes questions about travelling at night, driver behaviour and possible changes.

General Apr 19, 2026

Chips vs. fries: I speak English fluently and yet I am always translating

Wole Olayinka immigrated from Nigeria to Calgary four years ago. When he speaks English in Canada — a language he has spoken all his life — the very thing that should connect him becomes another layer of distance.

General Apr 19, 2026

Hive hopes: Northern Alberta beekeepers optimistic after years of low honey yields

Apiaries in northern Alberta have experienced challenging seasons for their bees in recent years. The Peace region suffered a 52 per cent drop in honey yields in 2024. Beekeepers are hoping this turns around when harvest rolls around this summer.

General Apr 19, 2026

What companies are overcharging for meat and how pricey petrol is impacting airfare

The CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need from the week.

General Apr 19, 2026

Queen Elizabeth’s 'legacy is locked in': 100th anniversary of her birth prompts nostalgia, commemoration

The commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's birth on April 21, 1926, offers what might be considered typical royal recognitions for such milestones. But the moment also offers an opportunity to assess the legacy of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

General Apr 19, 2026

Missing Alberta senior found dead in Saskatchewan, RCMP say

A Calgary senior, missing for nearly two weeks, has been found deceased in Saskatchewan.

General Apr 19, 2026
Draisaitl playoff watch continues in Edmonton

Draisaitl playoff watch continues in Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch won't yet say whether Leon Draisaitl will play in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Sports Apr 19, 2026
Oilers lean into playoff maturity, prep for Ducks

Oilers lean into playoff maturity, prep for Ducks

The Edmonton Oilers climbed a playoff mountain the last two years, but didn't plant their flag on the summit.

Sports Apr 19, 2026