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Good morning, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Thursday!
Showers greet the morning before a risk of thunderstorms moves in by afternoon, a high near 15C easing back to a mix of sun and cloud by evening, with a low near 11C overnight.
Edmonton's river valley trails are taking a beating after a summer of record rain, St. Albert has RCMP, EMS and firefighters training together this week, and a hospital right here in the city is now leading the country in complex hernia care. We also have a fast growing petition calling for the US ambassador's removal, northwestern Ontario now facing its worst wildfire season on record, and a look at both a deadly ferry disaster in Zimbabwe and the total solar eclipse that swept across Europe today. Plus today's Spotted in Edmonton waiting for you below. Here is what is making news across Edmonton and the surrounding areas today.
🥾 Record Rain Leaves River Valley Trails a Muddy Mess
Ever tried heading out on a trail that is not really there anymore?
The volunteer group that maintains Edmonton's unpaved trails says record rainfall this summer, 580 millimetres in June and July alone against a normal yearly total of 423 millimetres, has left slopes collapsed and paths flooded across the river valley and ravine system.
Several sections are blocked by downed trees or washed out completely.
The Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance maintains more than 150 kilometres of these trails under an agreement with the city.
Worth checking conditions before you head out this week.
🚔 RCMP, EMS and Firefighters Train Together at a St. Albert School
Ever driven past flashing lights and wondered what was really going on?
St. Albert RCMP, fire services and EMS are running joint crisis training in and around Hillgrove School this week, so residents are asked not to be alarmed if they spot cruisers and fire trucks on site since nothing is actually wrong.
The exercise is meant to sharpen how the three services coordinate if a real emergency ever happens there.
It runs over several days this week, so do not be surprised to see it more than once.
Good to know before you spot it on your commute.
🏥 Edmonton Hospital Now Leads the Country in Complex Hernia Care
Ever wonder where Canada sends its toughest hernia cases?
The Royal Alexandra Hospital's CHARGE program, a team pulling together weight loss specialists, personal trainers and radiologists, has treated more than 800 patients, and hospital programs elsewhere in the country are now modelling their own approach on it.
The collaborative approach is built specifically for the most complex cases in the province.
Programs across Canada are starting to copy Edmonton's playbook.
A quiet reason to be proud of our health care system today.
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📜 Petition Calling for the US Ambassador's Removal Passes 70,000 Signatures
How much pressure does it take to change diplomatic relations?
A petition launched by a Calgary woman calling on Ottawa to declare US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra persona non grata has passed 70,000 signatures and will be presented in the House of Commons this fall, accusing him of undermining Canada US relations and meeting with Albertans pushing separation.
The petition points to Hoekstra's repeated comments on Canadian political matters as the core issue.
It lands in the middle of an already tense stretch of trade talks with Washington.
Worth watching how Ottawa responds.
🔥 Northwestern Ontario Is Now Having Its Worst Wildfire Season on Record
How do you fight a fire season bigger than any before it?
Ontario fire officials report 110 active wildfires across the northwest, with this season's fires already burning through more than 7,250 square kilometres of forest, breaking the record set in 2021, while a Thunder Bay reception centre keeps supporting evacuees.
Eleven of the active fires remain out of control.
A restricted fire zone stays in effect across the whole northwest region.
Sending strength to everyone affected out east.
🚢 Death Toll Climbs to 44 After an Overloaded Ferry Capsizes in Zimbabwe
How does a boat built for 90 end up carrying far more?
A government run ferry crossing Lake Kariba capsized after being hit by strong waves, with 77 survivors reaching a small island and search crews still working the lake for more as the death toll keeps rising.
The vessel was only rated to carry 90 people.
Zimbabwe's president has declared a state of disaster over the tragedy.
Keeping everyone affected in our thoughts today.
🌘 The World's Only Total Eclipse This Year Just Crossed Europe
When was the last time totality touched mainland Europe?
A total solar eclipse traced a narrow path across eastern Greenland, the west coast of Iceland and northern Spain today, the first time totality has crossed continental Europe since 1999, with the best viewing lining up right alongside the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
Totality lasted up to two minutes and eighteen seconds along the path.
Edmonton caught a partial eclipse of its own yesterday, along with the same meteor shower peak.
A nice reminder to look up every now and then.
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YOUR TURN 💌
What is a spot in Edmonton or the surrounding area that meant something to you growing up that most people have probably forgotten about? A restaurant, a building, a corner of a park, a store. Hit reply and bring it back to life for a moment.
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Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬇9° lower than historical avg. Night ↔Same as historical avg.
Edmonton Weather: Thursday August 13
Showers greet the morning before a risk of thunderstorms moves in by afternoon, with a high near 15C. Skies ease back to a mix of sun and cloud by evening before showers return overnight, dropping to a low near 11C.
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Events Happening in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Thursday, August 13
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival (Opening Day) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 13–Sun Aug 23 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Old Strathcona (various venues)
North America’s largest fringe fest kicks off with 200+ shows, street performers, and festival food.dailyhive+1
🎤 Calvin Vollrath & the Gentlemen of Country Swing (Patio Series) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 13 · ⏰ 6:00 p.m. · 📍 La Cité francophone, 8625 91 St NW
Annual French Quarter patio concert with fiddle legend Calvin Vollrath and friends.edmonton.taproot
🎸 Daniel Caesar with 070 Shake 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 13 · ⏰ 7:30 p.m. · 📍 Rogers Place, 10220 104 Ave NW
Big R&B/hip‑hop crossover show at Rogers Place.
🎬 Horizon Drive‑In Movies at Valley Zoo 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 13–Fri Aug 14 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Edmonton Valley Zoo, 13315 Buena Vista Rd NW
Family‑friendly drive‑in movie nights at the zoo; tickets required.todocanada+1
🎬 Film Screening: Animal Nation – Caribou 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 13–Sat Aug 15 · ⏰ 6:00 p.m. · 📍 Royal Alberta Museum, 9810 103A Ave NW
Documentary screening about caribou and conservation at the museum.todocanada
🥕 124 Grand Market: Thursdays at 108 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 13 · ⏰ 4:00 p.m.–late · 📍 108 Ave & 124 St NW
Street market with 60+ rotating vendors, fresh produce, and food trucks.edmonton.taproot
Friday, August 14
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival (Day 2) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 14 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Old Strathcona (various venues)
Second day of fringe shows, street busking, and late‑night theatre.dailyhive
🎭 110% Wizard with Keith Brown 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 14 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Granite Curling Club, 8620 107 St NW
Comedy magic show mixing tricks and laughs; part of fringe programming.todocanada
🎬 Horizon Drive‑In Movies at Valley Zoo (Night 2) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 14 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Edmonton Valley Zoo, 13315 Buena Vista Rd NW
Second night of family drive‑in movies at the zoo.todocanada+1
🎬 Animal Nation – Caribou (Museum screening) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 14 · ⏰ 6:00 p.m. · 📍 Royal Alberta Museum, 9810 103A Ave NW
Repeat screening of the caribou conservation documentary.todocanada
🎭 Comedy at The Comic Strip 🎟️ Details
🗓 Fri Aug 14–Sun Aug 16 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 The Comic Strip, 1646 Bourbon St NW
Stand‑up shows every night during fringe week.
SPOTTED IN EDMONTON 📸
The Fringe kicks off today in Old Strathcona, and between that and yesterday's eclipse and meteor shower, there is a lot worth pointing a camera at around here this week.
Snap whatever catches your eye today, a street performer, a patio scene, a good sky, and hit reply. We might feature our favourites in a future issue.