Urban Affairs

02/25/2025

After some modest gains were made through much of 2024, downtown vacancies skyrocketed in the final quarter of the year? Why did downtown give back all of its gains... and then some?

02/24/2025

Today is Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee's final day on the job. In this one-on-one interview, he looks back on six years at the helm of 's law enforcement efforts. (And why he thinks the "defund the police" movement is dead.)

02/12/2025

City of Edmonton crews fix hundreds of thousands of potholes every year. But, a new app, designed by a co-op student no less, has helped streamline the pothole-repair process.

02/11/2025

Former Michael Walters thinks that a greater emphasis on affordable, afterschool sports programs can help fight our addiction crisis. https://urbanaffairs.ca/frankly/our-addiction-crisis-could-use-a-sporting-intervention/

02/10/2025

While Canada and the United States have each hit pause buttons when it comes to a trade war, the president of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is calling for shoppers to do their best to help businesses prepare for 4 years worth of Trump volatility.

01/28/2025

Former city councillor Michael Walters has some advice for any of you out there who are thinking about running in the 2025 municipal election. Before completing the nomination form, think: WHY do I want to be a city councillor? https://urbanaffairs.ca/frankly/so-you-want-to-run-for-city-council/

01/27/2025

We're all pretty much behind a move to ban the sale of knives in convenience stores. But, when is a knife a weapon, and when is it a tool? That's the question.

01/14/2025

We're gonna have a federal election at some point in 2025, we're just not sure exactly when. But, will this feel like a lot like the 1993 federal election, when Brian Mulroney led Kim Campbell to be a lamb to the slaughter?

01/13/2025

So, you've spent the better part of a decade hating Justin Trudeau. Are you actually feeling empty... because he's leaving? Are you Captain Ahab without a whale?

12/20/2024

We sat down with Mayor Amarjeet Sohi for a year-end interview. We talked about the upcoming election, transit, development and social services in Edmonton.

The mayor sits down with Urban Affairs for a year-end interview

12/16/2024

An innovation at the University of Alberta to warm the extremities might be the thing to help tackle its record number of frostbite emergencies. https://urbanaffairs.ca/edmonton-ish/fighting-the-effects-of-the-cold/

12/14/2024

The face the Vegas Golden Knights this afternoon, and this is the first of two home games in a row when the bogey teams come to town.
https://buff.ly/3ZDbs8I

12/04/2024

The good news? The living wage — what the experts calculate someone needs to make in order to make ends meet in — is down $1.40/hr this year. The bad news? It's still more than $5/hr above the minimum wage in .

12/03/2024

Some of you are old enough to remember the classic TV show, The Six Million Dollar Man. Well, a real-life bionic lab is making great advancements at the University of Alberta. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him.

12/02/2024

Here's a story NOT to read while you're having lunch. Grovenor residents have been complaining to about strong sewer smells — and here's why we might hear more about smell complaints in the future.

11/20/2024

Our readers write: Is missing the mark on its plan to transform unused school lands into zones for affordable housing?

11/19/2024

Two attempts to build a West Ritchie "health hub" for at-risk populations have failed. The City and Province both want to see it happen, but why is it so hard to move services for the houseless outside of the Boyle-McCauley/Chinatown area?

11/18/2024

One of the last remaining military buildings in the Griesbach neighbourhood has avoided a date with the wrecking ball — it will get new life as a commercial space.