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Good morning, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Thursday!
Morning cloud clears out through the day with a high near 18C this afternoon, dropping to a clear and cool evening.
Old Strathcona neighbours are pushing city hall to keep a rec centre promise years in the making, an Edmonton couple is stuck in the Caribbean thanks to a WestJet rebooking snag, and Canada said goodbye to a broadcasting legend many of us grew up watching. Here is what is making news across Edmonton and the surrounding areas today.
🏊 Old Strathcona Neighbours Push City Hall to Keep Its Rec Centre Promise
What is holding up the long promised Rollie Miles Recreation Centre in Old Strathcona?
Community advocates in Old Strathcona are pressuring city council to make good on a promise made when Scona Pool closed back in 2022, a commitment to build a new rec centre in the neighbourhood.
The proposed Rollie Miles Recreation Centre has been part of the city's plans for years without a confirmed build date.
Residents say they are tired of waiting and want council to commit to a firm timeline.
A story worth watching if you live anywhere near Old Strathcona.
✈ Edmonton Couple Stuck in the Caribbean as WestJet Rebooking Snag Drags On
What happens when the strike ends but your flight home still does not show up?
Elaine Schulz Charlery and her husband Timothy left Alberta in early July for a family reunion in St. Lucia, and now they are stuck there an extra week after WestJet's rebooking offer routed them through the United States, a route Timothy cannot legally take on his travel documents.
WestJet says the offered routing met its rebooking obligations, but a passenger rights advocate calls the stance unreasonable.
The couple is now booked to fly home Sunday, August 9, nearly a week later than planned.
A good reminder to know your rights before you fly.
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📺 Lloyd Robertson, the Voice Many Grew Up With, Dies at 92
What made Lloyd Robertson a fixture in Canadian living rooms for 35 years?
Lloyd Robertson, who anchored CTV National News for 35 years and covered everything from the fall of the Berlin Wall to September 11, has died at the age of 92.
Robertson began his broadcasting career in local radio in 1952 before becoming CTV's chief anchor in 1976.
Colleagues remember him as a steady presence who mentored generations of Canadian journalists.
A name many of us watched every night for decades.
💵 Most Canadian Businesses Already Raising Prices Ahead of the Bigger Tariff Deadline
How much of the tariff bill is already landing in your grocery cart?
A new KPMG survey of 359 business leaders found two thirds have already adjusted prices to cover added tariff costs, and that was before the 50 percent tariff on a wide range of Canadian goods takes effect August 19.
Thirty five percent of businesses passed along some of the tariff cost to customers, and 31 percent passed along the full amount.
Experts expect closer to 80 percent of the added cost to reach consumers over time.
Worth keeping in mind next time you are at the checkout.
🔐 US State Department Set to Close Its Winnipeg Consulate Among Five Closures Worldwide
Why is Winnipeg one of only five cities worldwide losing a US diplomatic post?
The US State Department has quietly notified Congress it plans to close five foreign posts, including the consulate in Winnipeg, as part of a broader downsizing not tied to any single event.
The other closures include posts in Japan, Indonesia, Cameroon and Grenada, with Winnipeg the only Canadian post affected.
The department says the move is meant to keep its diplomatic footprint efficient, not a response to any specific dispute.
One more thread to watch in an already tense trade relationship.
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Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬇6° lower than historical avg. Night ⬆2° lower than historical avg.
Edmonton Weather: Thursday August 6
Morning cloud clears through the day with a high near 18C this afternoon and a mainly sunny evening. Overnight lows dip to about 9C, so grab a light layer if you are out late tonight.
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Events Happening in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Thursday, August 6
🎶 Edmonton Folk Music Festival (Day 1) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 6 · ⏰ 4:30 p.m.–late · 📍 Gallagher Park, 9505 96 Ave NW
First day of the iconic hill festival with global sounds, food, and community vibes; single‑day Thursday tickets still available.
🥕 Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 6 · ⏰ 8 a.m.–3 p.m. · 📍 10310 83 Ave NW
Indoor, year‑round market with 130+ vendors of produce, baked goods, and makers.
🥕 Salisbury Farmers Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 6 · ⏰ 4–7 p.m. · 📍 52337 Range Rd 232, Sherwood Park
Weekly Thursday market with local food, trinkets, and producers.
🥕 124th Grand Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 6 · ⏰ 4–8 p.m. · 📍 108 Ave & 124 St NW
Street market with 60+ rotating vendors, fresh produce, and food trucks.
🎷 Von Bieker – Servus Patio Series Concert 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 6 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Servus Credit Union Place, 400 Campbell Rd, St. Albert
Outdoor patio concert with local and regional acts in St. Albert.
🎭 The Comedy Project: Improv Show 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 6 · ⏰ 7–8 p.m. · 📍 Grindstone Theatre, 10019 81 Ave NW
Fast, funny improv with audience suggestions and a tight ensemble.
Friday, August 7
🎶 Edmonton Folk Music Festival (Day 2) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 7 · ⏰ 4:30 p.m.–late · 📍 Gallagher Park, 9505 96 Ave NW
Second day of Folk Fest with bigger crowds and marquee evening sets.
🇨🇦 Cariwest Caribbean Arts Festival – Caribbean Village & Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 7–Sun Aug 9 · ⏰ All day · 📍 Downtown Edmonton & Churchill Square
Caribbean marketplace with food, crafts, and cultural vendors alongside the festival.
🎌 Animethon 2026 – Vendor Hall 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 7–Sun Aug 9 · ⏰ All day · 📍 Edmonton Convention Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave NW
Anime con with cosplay, panels, and a large vendor hall of art, merch, and snacks.
🍖 St. Albert Ribfest (with market/BBQ vibe) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 7–Sun Aug 9 · ⏰ All day · 📍 Century Casino Grounds, 24 Boudreau Rd, St. Albert
Free entry ribfest with BBQ, live music, and family activities.
🏎 Rock’N August (car show + pancake breakfast) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 6–Mon Aug 10 · ⏰ All day · 📍 Servus Credit Union Place, 400 Campbell Rd, St. Albert
Classic car show, music, pancake breakfast, and soapbox derby in St. Albert
SPOTTED IN EDMONTON 📷
Folk Fest kicks off on the hill at Gallagher Park tonight, the clouds are clearing out for a proper evening, and this is exactly the kind of day that deserves a photo. Whatever is catching your eye out there today, a blanket claimed early on the hill, a farmers market haul, a patio finally worth sitting on, snap it and hit reply.
I would love to see what today looks like through your eyes.