Edmonton Daily Digest — Jan. 26, 2026

Hat trick and a second-period explosion: Mattias Ekholm scored three times and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Anaheim Ducks 7-4 on Monday (report first published Jan. 26, 2026). Connor McDavid and Zach Hyman each had a goal and an assist, Leon Draisaitl added four assists, Tristan Jarry stopped 36 of 40 shots, and the Oilers (27-19-8) scored four straight goals from defensemen — a club rarity last seen in 2004 and 1985.

Winter storm in the East is stranding travellers in Edmonton: Severe snow and freezing temps in Ontario and the East Coast have caused knock-on delays at Edmonton International Airport (YEG), with 23 arrivals and 25 departures cancelled over three days; some passengers had to rebook to alternate airports like Hamilton, said travellers such as Carling Marlok.

Courtroom drama stalls Chinatown double-homicide trial: On Monday, accused Justin Bone stood up in court and fired his defence lawyer — the latest of several dismissals since 2022 — in the trial over the May 18, 2022 killings of Ban Phuc Hoang and Hung Trang. The judge (Justice Paul Belzil) adjourned, an amicus counsel is on standby, and the trial was set to resume Tuesday amid emotional statements from victims’ families.

Couple urges Alberta to expand life-changing Parkinson’s treatment: Garry Henderson, 66, who was diagnosed in 2016 and suffers frequent dystonia, wants access to Vyalev — a continuous levodopa infusion (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa) on a portable pump — which was approved in Alberta in 2024 but is currently only running in Calgary while Edmonton’s Kaye Clinic rollout is delayed. Experts say 5–10% of Parkinson’s patients might benefit; advocates note annual staffing costs would be a few hundred thousand dollars but could reduce hospital visits long-term.

Canadiens captain says team ready to welcome queer players: Montreal’s Nick Suzuki told Quebec TV the Habs would openly welcome any player who comes out, speaking on Tout le monde en parle alongside Juraj Slafkovsky, Alexandre Texier and Oliver Kapanen ahead of the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics. Suzuki and teammates stressed inclusion, noting hockey has been working on Pride nights and programs like You Can Play — though an openly gay NHL player has yet to appear.

Sleeping motorist carjacked, chase ends with two arrests: Shortly after midnight on Jan. 22, RCMP say two people allegedly used a shotgun to carjack a sleeping man on Highway 36 near Two Hills, firing at a rear window; the vehicle was later spotted and pursued to Cold Lake (about 180 km away). John Sauve, 20, and Linda-Joyce Wood, 20, both of Saddle Lake First Nation, were arrested; police seized a modified shotgun and say Sauve faces 13 charges while Wood faces nine.

Hundreds line up to sign Alberta separation petition in Calgary: Stay Free Alberta set up at the Stampede grounds on Monday seeking nearly 178,000 signatures by May for a referendum on leaving Canada, drawing long lines and mixed motives (some want to join the U.S., others don’t). The NDP’s Naheed Nenshi urged MLAs to pledge support for Canada, an Ipsos poll shows about 29% of Albertans favour separation but fewer remain committed after weighing consequences.

Mass casualty response after children fall ill at hotel pool in Canmore: Around 30 children showed symptoms such as vomiting after swimming at the Canmore Inn and Suites during a minor-hockey tournament on Sunday; emergency crews declared a mass-casualty incident, treated many on site, and sent 10 kids to Canmore hospital and one to Alberta Children’s Hospital. Firefighters’ air monitoring detected elevated chlorine levels traced to the building’s mechanical room, which was ventilated and cordoned off while contractors checked safety.

Calgary bobsledder honoured for Indigenous representation: Eden Wilson, a Métis brakewoman from Calgary who’s been on the Canada Bobsleigh Team for about six years, was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame — an honour she says is about representation. Wilson also works full-time at KidSport to reduce barriers for kids in sport.

Federal agri-research centre in Lacombe to close amid federal cuts: Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada will shut the Lacombe Research and Development Centre (in operation since 1907, with over 100 employees) as part of closures of seven centres and wider public-service cuts; notices to 1,043 affected AAFC employees were issued Jan. 22 and AAFC says about 665 positions will be reduced. Lacombe County calls the move a loss of a century of research and is urging Ottawa to pause and consult, while wind-down could take up to 12 months.