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Good morning, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Wednesday!
Sun starts the morning before a risk of thunderstorms rolls back in this afternoon, a high near 18C easing to a low near 10C overnight.
Downtown Edmonton has people feeling hopeful again after the City Centre Mall sale, a city council committee is eyeing more dedicated parking spots for shared electric scooters, and more than 7,000 young athletes are competing across the city this week for the Alberta Indigenous Games. We also have Canada and the US racing to land a trade deal before next week's tariff deadline, and a closer look at just how much the Colombia earthquake death toll has climbed, plus the history of the seismic zone behind it. Plus today's Hit or Miss waiting for you below. Here is what is making news across Edmonton and the surrounding areas today.
🏙️ Edmontonians Feeling Hopeful as Downtown Development Picks Up
Could this be the turning point downtown has been waiting for?
Recent development activity, including Westrich Pacific's court approved purchase of the long struggling City Centre Mall, has residents feeling cautiously hopeful about revitalization after years of a quiet downtown core.
The mall fell into receivership last year, owing 140 million dollars to its creditor.
Plans include roughly 1,500 residential units and a rooftop spa where the old Hudson's Bay store once stood.
A hopeful sign for a downtown that has needed one.
🛴 More Parking Spots for Shared Electric Scooters Could Be Coming
Tired of tripping over scooters left on the sidewalk?
A city council committee heard Tuesday that more dedicated parking areas for shared electric scooters and electric bikes are likely on the way across Edmonton.
The goal is fewer scooters left blocking sidewalks and building entrances.
Councillors heard the change could roll out as part of ongoing shared mobility updates.
A small fix that could make sidewalks easier for everyone.
🏃 More Than 7,000 Young Athletes Competing Across Edmonton This Week
How many athletes does it take to fill a city with school spirit for nine days?
The Alberta Indigenous Games are underway across Edmonton this week, bringing more than 7,000 athletes aged 6 to 21 to compete in sports at venues around the city.
The nine day event is expected to generate roughly 28.5 million dollars in economic impact.
It has been held in the region since 2011 and keeps growing every year.
Worth cheering on if you spot the Games happening near you this week.
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🤝 Canada and US Racing to Land a Trade Deal Before Next Week's Deadline
Can both sides find common ground before the clock runs out?
Federal Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc met his American counterpart for the second time in less than a week as officials race to bring forward a workable deal before a new round of tariffs hits most Canadian goods on August 19.
Steel, aluminum, softwood lumber and the auto sector remain the biggest sticking points.
Those industries touch plenty of Alberta jobs directly.
Worth watching closely as that deadline gets even closer.
🌍 Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Passes 200
Just how often does an earthquake this powerful strike that part of Colombia?
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake near San Jose del Palmar we covered yesterday at 111 dead has climbed sharply overnight, with figures from different agencies now ranging from about 160 to well over 200 as search crews keep working through collapsed buildings.
Colombia's geological service called it the strongest earthquake to hit the country since record keeping began in the early 1920s.
That stretch of the Colombia and Ecuador coast is one of the most seismically active zones on Earth, producing four great earthquakes in the 20th century alone, magnitude 8.8 in 1906, 7.8 in 1942, 7.7 in 1958 and 8.2 in 1979, plus another 7.8 in 2016.
Keeping everyone affected in our thoughts today.
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Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬇6° lower than historical avg. Night 1° lower than historical avg.
Edmonton Weather: Wednesday August 12
Sun starts the morning before a risk of thunderstorms moves back in this afternoon, with a high near 18C. Showers continue into the evening and overnight, dropping to a low near 10C.
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Events Happening in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Wednesday, August 12
🚗 Midas Hot August Night (Drag Race) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 12 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 RAD Torque Raceway, 50342 Range Rd 253, Edmonton
Canada’s biggest single day drag race with earth shaking horsepower.
🌑 Solar Eclipse Viewing at RASC Observatory 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 12 · ⏰ From 10 a.m. · 📍 RASC Observatory, Coronation Park, 11425 142 St NW
Free partial solar eclipse viewing with solar telescopes and eclipse glasses.
🎭 Poetry Night at The Carrot 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 12 · ⏰ 7:00 p.m. · 📍 The Carrot, 10930 84 St NW
Community poetry reading in a cozy coffee shop gallery setting.
👮 Coffee with Cops (Community Walk) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 12 · ⏰ 7:00 p.m. · 📍 Eastwood Park, 8502 119 Ave
Relaxed conversation with EPS beat officers and bylaw; free food and beverage.
🧱 e² Young Engineers LEGO Summer Camp (Day 3) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 12 · ⏰ Daytime · 📍 Terwillegar Community Church
Middle day of sports and LEGO engineering for kids.
🚴 L’Étape by Tour de France (race day) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Tue Aug 11–Wed Aug 12 · ⏰ Daytime · 📍 Various routes near Edmonton
Spectator day for mass cycling routes; also good to mention for active readers.
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.
HIT OR MISS 🎯
L'Etape by Tour de France has cyclists filling routes around Edmonton today. In that spirit, a few local favourites: the River Valley multi use trails, the High Level Bridge crossing, the Mill Creek Ravine path and the Victoria Park loop.
Hit or miss on your favourite? Hit reply and tell us which route you would send a visiting cyclist to first.