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Good morning, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Saturday, neighbours!
The Elks pulled off something this city has not seen since 2017 last night, coming back from 17 points down to seal a 3-0 start. Gibbons voted loud and clear to stay a town. Three wildfire crew members lost their lives when their plane went down in the Northwest Territories. And the US struck Iran again this morning after a drone hit a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, throwing ceasefire talks back into uncertainty as Alberta watches what it means for oil prices. Grab your coffee and settle in 💛
🏈 Your Elks Are Unbeaten and Making It Look Exciting
How did the Edmonton Elks pull off a comeback win in Winnipeg to go 3-0 in 2026?
Cody Fajardo found TJ Luther on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 53 seconds left as the Edmonton Elks came all the way back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-18 Thursday night, going 3-0 for the first time since 2017.
Justin Rankin rushed for 106 yards and now leads the entire CFL with 281 yards on the season, chasing a milestone no player in the league's history has ever hit
Fajardo completed 25 of 35 passes for 267 yards and put it best after the game: "We're not playing our best ball all four quarters. But we're playing our best ball at the critical times."
Are these Elks for real? Hit reply and tell me what you think about this start to the season.
🗳️ Gibbons Voted 68.5% to Stay a Town, But the Province Still Has Final Say
What did Gibbons residents decide in the June 2026 town viability plebiscite?
After a two-day plebiscite, 68.5 percent of Gibbons residents voted to remain an independent town and reject dissolution into Sturgeon County, with 937 ballots cast in one of the most consequential decisions this small community north of Edmonton has faced in its history.
The result is non-binding. Under Bill 28, the provincial minister of municipal affairs still makes the final call on whether Gibbons stays a town, and councillors are now watching closely to see if the province respects what residents said
The town inherited a $15.3 million debt after last fall's election and had faced warnings of a 30 to 42 percent tax increase under the provincial review's figures, which council disputed as based on outdated information
Should the province respect the vote? Hit reply and share your take.
✈️ Three Wildfire Crew Members Killed When Their Plane Went Down Near Fort Simpson, NWT
What happened to the wildfire crew near Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories in June 2026?
Three people were found dead Wednesday night after their fixed-wing bird dog aircraft, part of a wildfire suppression team fighting a 100-hectare blaze near Fort Simpson, NWT, crashed about 50 kilometres from town in a loss that has shaken Canada's entire wildfire community.
The Turbo Commander AC960, known as Bird Dog 104, flew ahead of air tankers to map safe drop paths over the out-of-control fire. The Transportation Safety Board, RCMP and NWT coroner have all been called in to investigate what went wrong
Identities of the three victims have not been released out of respect for their families. NWT Fire said: "We will honour those who lost their lives in the line of duty at the appropriate time and in accordance with the wishes of their families."
Three people went to work to protect communities from wildfire and did not come home. Worth pausing on that today.
⚡ The US Just Struck Iran Again After a Drone Hit a Cargo Ship in the Strait of Hormuz
Why did the US strike Iran again in June 2026 after a ceasefire was in place?
The US struck missile and drone locations and coastal radar sites in Iran on Friday after Tehran launched a drone that hit a container ship near the coast of Oman, a move President Trump called a "foolish violation" of the ceasefire reached just last week, throwing renewed uncertainty into oil markets Alberta has been watching closely.
The International Maritime Organization halted its operation to move stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz after the attack, with about 500 vessels still in the area. A week of growing confidence that the strait was reopening had hit what marine analysts called "its first significant test"
The US and Iran are still negotiating a permanent agreement under a 60-day window. Oil prices had been easing toward pre-war levels before Friday's strikes, and the fragile deal between the two sides means Alberta's energy sector is watching every development for what it signals about the months ahead
Do you think this latest escalation changes anything in the long run? Hit reply with your take.
YOUR TURN 💌
What is going on in your corner of Edmonton or the surrounding area this rainy Saturday? A business worth knowing about, a community moment nobody is covering, a story we should be tracking. Hit reply. The best tips go straight into next week's story shortlist.
One more thing. We have one sponsor in today's issue and I want to be straight with you about how this works. Every unique click on their link counts toward keeping this newsletter free, so it genuinely means something when you go take a look. More than that, I want your honest opinion. Does this sponsor feel like a fit for our community? Hit reply with a yes or no and tell me why. Your feedback is exactly how I decide who we work with going forward. Their link at the top, above the morning greetings, outside the purple frames.
Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬇ 7° lower than historical avg, Night ⬆ 4° higher than historical avg.
🌧️ Edmonton Weather: Saturday June 27th
Saturday brings steady rain and gusty winds, with temperatures sitting around 15 to 17°C through the day. Thunderstorms are expected to roll in by afternoon with gusts reaching up to 50 km/h, and if the weekend totals hit the higher end of the forecast, Edmonton could shatter a June rainfall record that has stood since 1914 before Sunday night.
Feature My Business
Do you have a business you'd like us to show case or shine a spotlight on? Tell us about it by submitting a request here ➡ [email protected]
📅 Events Happening This Week in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Friday June 26
🌸 North American Cup Series: Lead & Speed 🎟️ Details
🗓 June 26–28 · ⏰ All day · 📍 Louise McKinney Riverfront Park, Edmonton
Free spectator access to a major sport climbing competition.edmonton
🌸 Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery 🎟️ Details
🗓 June 26–Jul 3 · ⏰ Museum hours · 📍 Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
An immersive exhibition exploring how cultures understand death and remembrance.edmonton
🌸 Summer of soccer in ICE District 🎟️ Details
🗓 June 26 · ⏰ All day · 📍 Fan Park @ ICE District & ICE District Plaza, Edmonton
Free World Cup watch parties continue downtown.edmontondowntown
Saturday June 27
🌸 The Works Art & Design Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 June 20–Jul 1 · ⏰ Festival hours · 📍 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
A free, family-friendly art festival that overlaps the weekend.edmonton+1
🌸 Edmonton International Jazz Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 June 25–27 · ⏰ Various showtimes · 📍 Multiple Edmonton venues
The citywide jazz festival continues through the weekend.edmonton
Surrounding areas
🌸 Edmonton-area regional events 🎟️ Details
🗓 June 25–27 · ⏰ Varies · 📍 East of Edmonton communities
The regional calendar continues to list community and festival programming in nearby towns.goeastofedmonton
🌸 World Cup watch parties 🎟️ Details
🗓 June 25–27 · ⏰ Multiple match times · 📍 ICE District Plaza, Edmonton
If you’re building a nightlife/watch-party list, this is one of the strongest ongoing downtown options.
Coming Up
🌸 Canada vs. Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 🎟️ Details
🗓 Sunday June 28 · ⏰ Noon PT · 📍 Los Angeles Stadium
Canada is still in the World Cup and heading to LA for the knockout round. Find a watch party near you and cheer them on.
THIS OR THAT 🗳️
Canada plays South Africa in the Round of 32 tomorrow and you have a big call to make. Hit reply with your answer:
A) Watch from the couch — wrapped up, warm drink in hand, rain hammering the windows, just you and the match.
B) Find a bar or watch party — strangers turning into neighbours the second Canada scores, because some moments are just better together.
Couch or crowd? Reply with A or B and tell me who you think wins the match while you are at it.