Edmonton Daily Digest — Feb 4, 2026

Long lines and new rules made voting harder for some in Edmonton’s October 2025 municipal election — an interim report to city council found the move to a permanent electors register and hand-counted ballots, plus split paper ballots, helped cause delays and confusion. About 60% of voters finished in 30 minutes or less, 83% within an hour, but 16% waited over an hour and satisfaction fell to 24% (1–2 hours) and 14% (over 2 hours); the report calls for better hands-on training and an action plan before 2029.

Why the mayor of Wetaskiwin is banned from city hall remains murky after a private council session on Jan. 13 that lasted nearly two hours — council voted to bar Mayor Joe Branco from in-person meetings and from city hall. Global News couldn’t get clear answers: requests were redirected to the mayor (who is on vacation) and he hasn’t returned calls; Branco is in his first term after the October 2025 election.

Three-time Olympic freestyle skier Cassie Sharpe is heading to her third Winter Games in Milan-Cortina with a new outlook shaped by family life — she won gold in 2018 and silver in 2022, married fellow skier Justin Dorey, and welcomed daughter Louella in August 2023. Sharpe says motherhood makes competing more about enjoying the moment; she’s also working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and Corona Cero to get Canadians outdoors and is part of a program offering 1,000 free ski/snowboard passes.

A Calgary man, 35-year-old Jamal Borhot, was sentenced to 16 years in prison Wednesday after being convicted of three counts of participating in ISIS; the court heard he joined ISIS in Syria in 2013, recruited others and took part in violent acts. Judge Corina Dario said Borhot showed no remorse; he gets about four months’ credit for time served, can’t apply for parole until he serves half his sentence, and faces a lifetime weapons ban; his cousin Hussein received 12 years.

Anthony Calvillo will be the offensive playcaller for the Montreal Alouettes this season after being the team’s offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach, the club announced Feb. 4, 2026. Coach Jason Maas’s 2026 staff keeps nine returnees and adds A.J. Gass as linebackers coach; other CFL moves include Edmonton Elks extending defensive backs Chelen Garnes (through 2027) and Kobe Williams (2026) and Saskatchewan signing linebacker Josh Woods.

The Southern Alberta Mustangs will play a memorial game Sunday in Stavely after three players — JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso (both 18) and 17-year-old Caden Fine — died Monday when their car was hit by a gravel semi at a highway crossing. Fundraisers and GoFundMe donations (nearly $50,000 by Wednesday) are helping families; RCMP said the initial probe isn’t criminal and Alberta’s transport ministry will review the intersection for safety improvements.

A late-night smash-and-grab on Feb. 2 at 1:26 a.m. left Calgary jeweller Treasure Mountain reeling after thieves stole an estimated kilo of gold (roughly $140,000–$200,000 worth), owner Jami Hughes said. Security video shows bolt cutters and two suspects targeting a back showcase; police are investigating and Hughes says she’s considering closing the store after the loss.

Canada opened the Milan-Cortina Olympics with a mixed-doubles curling win (Brett Gallant/Jocelyn Peterman beat Czechia 10-5), but worry grew after snowboarder Mark McMorris, 32 and a three-time Olympic bronze medallist, crashed in big-air training at Livigno. Officials gave no immediate update on his condition; McMorris has a history of serious injuries (notably 2017) and big-air qualifiers were scheduled the next day.

Western Canada is having a taste of spring this week with records possible — Calgary and parts of Alberta could hit mid-teens Celsius (Calgary forecast to beat the 2009 record of 13.2°C), Edmonton around +11°C (normal about -5°C), and Regina/Saskatoon near 7°C. In contrast, eastern cities like Toronto and Montreal will stay below freezing with nights plunging into the minus teens.

Suncor Energy reported record upstream output in Q4 2025: 909,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day versus 875,000 a year earlier, with Fort Hills producing 178,200 b/d (up from 161,700). CEO Rich Kruger said soggy conditions didn’t stop operations; refineries ran at 108% of nameplate capacity and Suncor posted Q4 earnings of $1.48 billion ($1.23/share) with adjusted operating earnings of $1.33 billion.

RCMP confirmed one person dead and a homicide investigation on Louis Bull First Nation after a shelter-in-place was issued about 1 a.m. Wednesday and lifted roughly three hours later. Maskwacis RCMP said arrests were made and there’s no longer a public risk; the First Nation is about 90 km south of Edmonton and the situation is still developing.

Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser warned Wednesday that judicial appointments must stay free of political influence after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asked to be consulted on selections and hinted funding could be withheld. Fraser called an independent judiciary a "hallmark of democracy," said the current appointment process (with independent advisory committees) works well, and stressed provinces already provide helpful feedback.

The Alberta government will review the highway intersection near Stavely where three junior hockey players (JJ Wright, Cameron Casorso, both 18, and 17-year-old Caden Fine) died Monday after their car was struck by a gravel truck. The review will examine traffic and collision data, lighting and other factors; RCMP continue investigating and a benefit game is being planned for Sunday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 to go into the Olympic break on a three-game win streak, but winger Matthew Knies says the pause (play resumes Feb. 25) comes at an awkward time as the team was "starting to click." The Oilers’ penalties cost them late in the third (a 5-on-3) and special teams have been a recent issue; Edmonton finished an eight-game homestand 4-4-0.