🚑 Breaking & Incidents
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Edmonton records historic summer rainfall and rising cleanup tab. Environment Canada says Edmonton has received 533.8 millimetres of precipitation through June and July, a summer record compared with 417.1 mm in 1953; the City now expects storm cleanup costs of $20–30 million so far this summer.
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Insurance advisers list concrete steps for homeowners coping with flood damage. Local insurance experts provided guidance for Edmonton homeowners on documenting damage, filing claims and dealing with contractors after this summer’s flooding; the article lists specific claims procedures and common pitfalls to avoid when estimating repair costs.
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Overdue B.C. hiker found dead in Waterton Lakes National Park after search. Parks Canada reported search-and-rescue began July 23 for 81-year-old Bob Toothill, last seen July 19 on Rowe Lakes Trail; teams used K9 units, drones and thermal imaging before recovering items and locating him in Waterton.
💼 Economy & Business
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WestJet flight attendants begin strike; airline suspends most bookings. CUPE local 8125 says roughly 4,400 WestJet flight attendants are on strike after bargaining failed; WestJet has suspended air travel bookings and says Encore flights continue while the suspension remains in effect through Aug. 5 unless a deal is reached.
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Edmonton competitor hit with thousands in rebooking costs amid strike uncertainty. Edmonton dog-agility business owner Anneli Hilton rebooked flights earlier from Edmonton to Ottawa for the Aug. 5 nationals, incurring extra hotel and car costs estimated at $1,000–$1,500, after WestJet warned of possible service disruption linked to the labour dispute.
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Pembina confirms interest in proposed West Coast oil pipeline during construction. Pembina says it entered a non-binding deal to take a 10 per cent stake during construction, with an option for another 10 per cent in operation; CEO Scott Burrows framed the move as strategic pending possible federal designation this fall.
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Loblaw reports sales boost tied to generic GLP-1 drug demand. Loblaw’s corporate results show higher profits driven in part by sales of a lower-cost, generic GLP-1 treatment, as bargain-seeking shoppers bought the retailer’s private-label products.
🏈 Sports
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Elks fall to 6-2 after narrow loss to Riders; season record slips. Edmonton dropped a close game to Saskatchewan to move to 6-2 on the season; the result followed last week’s dramatic 57-yard Blanchard field-goal win and keeps Edmonton in the West Division conversation.
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Mark Kilam credited with culture change that turned the Elks into contenders. Since being named head coach in Dec. 2024, Kilam has led Edmonton from a combined 18-50 over four seasons to a first-place run, with players and staff citing cultural shifts and improved preparation.
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Commonwealth Games judo champion Julien Frascadore named Canada’s closing-ceremony flag-bearer. Judo gold medallist Julien Frascadore was selected to carry Canada’s flag at the Games’ closing ceremony; the appointment followed his title performance in Birmingham.
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Canada’s 4x100m relay teams advance to Commonwealth Games finals. Canadian men’s and women’s relay squads qualified for the finals at the Commonwealth Games, reaching the weekend medal rounds after their preliminary heats.
🚨 Crime & Public Safety
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Six-year sentence handed down in fatal 2024 Whyte Avenue stabbing. A man convicted in the July 2024 stabbing on Whyte Avenue received a six-year prison sentence this week after the court found him guilty in the fatal incident.
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High River man charged with second-degree murder in domestic homicide appears in court. Jarret Stobbe, 36, appeared via video at the Calgary Remand Centre facing charges in the death of 36-year-old Cayla Bleeker; his next court date is Aug. 7 and a GoFundMe has been started for Bleeker’s two daughters.
🏥 Health
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University of Alberta first in province to use Health Canada‑approved ‘kidney in a box’ tech. The XVIVO Kidney Assist Transport, approved late 2025, was deployed at the U of A Hospital; Dr. Max Levine said the device introduces oxygen to donated kidneys’ circulation to reduce injury and improve recovery for recipients, with over 300 Albertans waiting for a kidney.
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Measles case counts decline in Alberta but experts warn risk remains. Provincial public-health specialists report measles activity has quieted this summer, yet they emphasize continued vigilance because pockets of under-immunized people could sustain outbreaks.
🏛️ Government & Politics
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Provincial premiers press Ottawa to start urgent talks on RCMP’s future. Multiple premiers have told the federal government they want negotiations to begin immediately on changes to RCMP governance and funding arrangements, saying the issue requires urgent federal-provincial talks.
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Conservative MP and party leader call for national missing‑person alert framework after Calgary case. MP Mike Lake and Pierre Poilievre urged Canada-wide formal alerts for vulnerable missing children after the July disappearance and death of an 11-year-old boy named Parker in Calgary, arguing the current systems need standardized protocols.
🎨 Community & Culture
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Two Alberta food banks switch to grocery-style service to boost client choice. Two Alberta food banks have adopted grocery-style models that allow families to select their own food items, aiming to increase dignity; the story names the programs and outlines operational changes.
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Two years after Jasper’s Big Bad fire, key attractions have reopened. The article reviews which Jasper tourist sites have reopened since the fire two years ago, listing specific attractions and reopening timelines for visitors to plan returns.
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Canada’s federal terminology shift from ‘Aboriginal’ to ‘Indigenous’ recounted by leaders and advocates. Longtime Indigenous leaders reflected on decades of change in federal language and policy, tracing when and how public institutions moved from using ‘Aboriginal’ to ‘Indigenous’ in official usage.
🌦️ Weather & Roads
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WestJet begins parking planes as potential strike deadline approaches. Ahead of the Aug. 2 midnight labour deadline, WestJet has started parking aircraft and cancelling flights; the company warned of growing operational impacts if a contract isn’t reached.
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New integrated licences are lengthening waits at Alberta registries. Alberta registry offices are reporting longer wait times after the province rolled out integrated driver-licence and ID services, with customers experiencing delays as staff adapt to new processes.
