Good afternoon, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Tuesday!
Partly sunny skies take over this afternoon with a high near 24C, genuinely one of the nicer days we have had in a while.
One day remains before a fresh round of fifty percent tariffs is set to hit unless a deal comes together, and Prime Minister Carney called yesterday's talks with President Trump very intense and delicate. Closer to home, an Edmonton couple is fighting cable cancellation fees after a wildfire took their house, Alberta Avenue wants empty storefronts to start paying their share, and downtown business owners say they are covering their own security costs. Here is what is making news across Edmonton and the surrounding areas today.
📺 A Wildfire Took Their Home, Then the Cable Bill Followed
Ever think a phone call could sting almost as much as the fire itself?
An Edmonton couple whose home was destroyed in a recent wildfire are now stuck fighting a hefty fee just to cancel their cable, on top of everything else they lost.
The cancellation charge landed while they were still sorting out what came next.
It is reopening a bigger conversation about how providers handle disaster situations.
A reminder to check the fine print long before you ever need it.
🏚️ Empty Storefronts on Alberta Avenue Might Start Costing Owners
Ever wonder why a storefront sits empty for years at a time?
The Alberta Avenue Business Association wants city council to charge vacant commercial properties the same levy that paying businesses already cover, arguing empty buildings invite disorder while owners get a tax break.
Mayor Andrew Knack says administration is looking at treating empty sites as pending businesses.
The push comes as the avenue keeps working to fill its remaining storefronts.
Worth watching if you walk that stretch often.
🔒 Downtown Businesses Say They Are Footing the Bill for Their Own Safety
Ever add up what safety actually costs a small business?
Downtown business owners told a public safety forum this week that they are paying out of pocket for cameras, repairs and extra security, and asking every level of government for more help with vandalism and break ins.
The Downtown Revitalization Coalition says increased patrols have helped but have not solved the bigger problem.
Owners want a longer term plan, not just a heavier police presence during peak hours.
A conversation worth following if you spend any time downtown.
⏳ One Phone Call, One Day Left Before Steep New Tariffs Hit
Ever wonder what a single phone call sounds like right before a deadline?
Prime Minister Carney spoke with President Trump Monday and called the trade negotiations very intense and delicate, with a fresh round of fifty percent tariffs on Canadian goods set to take effect just after midnight Wednesday.
Carney says Canada has a plan that covers all eventualities if the tariffs land anyway.
The list runs from cement to hockey sticks to dairy products.
Something to watch closely over the next day.
🛒 One Hundred Dollars Now Barely Fills Two Small Grocery Bags
Ever leave the grocery store wondering exactly where your money went?
Grocery prices in Canada have now outpaced the overall cost of living for eighteen straight months in a row, though the climb has slowed slightly compared to earlier this year.
A hundred dollar grocery run today buys noticeably less than it did a year ago.
Experts say the slowdown is real, but relief is not showing up at the register yet.
A budgeting gut check worth having tonight.
🦠 Congo's Ebola Outbreak Just Became the Deadliest in the Country's History
Ever wonder how fast an outbreak can outrun the systems built to stop it?
Congo's current Ebola outbreak has now killed more than twenty three hundred people, making it the deadliest the country has ever recorded and the fastest growing outbreak on record anywhere.
There is no approved vaccine or treatment for the rare virus strain driving this outbreak.
Health workers are battling bad roads, misinformation and threats from armed groups while trying to reach affected communities.
Sending strength to everyone working to bring this under control.
🕊️ A Rare Handshake Moment in the Push for Gaza Peace
Ever see two sides finally agree on just one thing?
US envoy Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Monday after sitting down with Hamas leadership in Egypt, and the two agreed a US general should oversee Hamas's disarmament as part of the broader peace plan.
The meeting followed rare direct talks between Kushner and Hamas's new leader in Egypt.
Netanyahu has said any deal must ensure Hamas is genuinely disarmed.
A small step, but a real one, in a long and difficult process.
YOUR TURN 💌
What is something happening in your neighbourhood right now that we should know about? A business opening, a road that has been dug up for six months, a community moment worth sharing. Hit reply. The best tips shape future issues.
Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬇1° higher than historical avg. Night ⬆4° higher than historical avg.
Edmonton Weather: Tuesday, August 18
Partly sunny skies continue into the afternoon with a high near 24C, and clouds thin out further this evening. Overnight stays calm and clear with a low near 14C.
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 in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Tuesday, August 18
🎶 Sing in the Park 🎟️ Details
🗓 Tue Aug 18 · ⏰ 7:00 p.m. · 📍 William Hawrelak Park, 9330 Groat Rd NW
Community sing‑along in the park; relaxed, family‑friendly evening.edmonton.taproot
🎹 Duelling Piano with Cam Hinton & Randi Boulton 🎟️ Details
🗓 Tue Aug 18 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Lions Centennial Park, Ponoka
Free summer concert with interactive piano show; bring a chair or blanket.goeastofedmonton
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival (Week 2) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Thu Aug 13–Sun Aug 23 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Old Strathcona (various venues)
Mid‑week fringe shows across 40+ venues; great night to catch smaller productions.dailyhive+1
🧑🎨 Edmonton Mural Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 Sat Aug 15–Mon Sep 15 · ⏰ Daytime · 📍 Various venues, Edmonton
Month‑long public art festival with mural and food tours; ongoing this week.
🪶 Treaty No. 6 Cultural Activities (Day 2) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Tue Aug 18 · ⏰ Daytime · 📍 Edmonton & area
Complimentary cultural sessions (land skills, bannock/tea teachings, traditional games); registration required.activistagenda+1
🎵 Sounds from the Valley: Family Night 🎟️ Details
🗓 Tue Aug 18 · ⏰ 7:00 p.m. · 📍 Snow Valley (Edmonton area)
Free family concert in the valley; casual outdoor vibes.edmonton.taproot
Wednesday, August 19
🏌 CPKC Women’s Open (Day 1) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 19–Sun Aug 23 · ⏰ Daytime · 📍 Royal Mayfair Golf Club, 9450 Groat Rd NW
Canada’s Women’s Open Championship with top LPGA players; tickets required.dailyhive
🎭 Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 19 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Old Strathcona (various venues)
Mid‑week fringe shows; good night for smaller, experimental productions.dailyhive+1
🧑🎨 Mural and Food Tour – Old Strathcona 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 19 · ⏰ 6:00 p.m. · 📍 SouthBARK on Whyte, 8210 104 St NW
Guided tour of murals plus local food stops; art + eats combo.edmonton.taproot
🎷 Garden Concert: YEG Byrds 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 19 · ⏰ 7:00 p.m. · 📍 Anglican Parish of Christ Church, 10135 119 St NW
Local band playing in a garden‑concert setting; relaxed evening out.edmonton.taproot
🪶 Treaty No. 6 Cultural Activities (Day 3) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 19 · ⏰ Daytime · 📍 Edmonton & area
Final day of free cultural workshops and activities; check schedule for locations.activistagenda+1
🏒 Fort Edmonton Park: Treaty 6 Reenactment & Pop‑up Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 Wed Aug 19 · ⏰ 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. · 📍 Fort Edmonton Park
Historical reenactment of Treaty 6 signing, powwow performances, and pop‑up market.reddit
TRIVIA TUESDAY 🧠
Edmonton's Muttart Conservatory has stood over the river valley since 1976, its four glass pyramids each holding a different climate, from arid desert to tropical rainforest.
Have you been inside all four? Hit reply and tell us your favourite pyramid.