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Good morning, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Thursday! 🌤️
The $100 energy rebate portal opened yesterday, the city is cleaning up after a rough moment online, and Burger Fest finally kicks off downtown today. Ottawa and Washington are still circling each other on trade, and oil prices keep twitching with every twist out of Doha. A mix of sun, cloud and a possible shower fits right in on a day like this. Grab your coffee ☕
🚨 City Pulls Youth Fellowship Post Over Racist Comments
Why did the City of Edmonton take down its own Facebook post?
A wave of racist comments hit a City of Edmonton post promoting its civic youth fellowship, and the city pulled it fast.
Mayor Andrew Knack condemned the remarks directly, saying those who posted them do not belong in this city.
The city has offered mental health support to the affected youth interns.
A tough moment, handled the right way.
💵 The $100 Alberta Energy Rebate Portal Is Open
How do you actually get your $100 energy rebate?
Albertans can now apply online for the one time payment meant to help with the cost of living.
You need to be 18 or older, have filed a 2025 tax return, and earn under $225,000 as a household.
Money lands by e transfer within about two weeks of applying.
Five minutes of paperwork for free money, worth doing today.
🌊 River Valley Trails Close Again as Water Rises
Which river valley trails are closed right now?
A provincial High Streamflow Advisory has the city closing low lying trails along the North Saskatchewan again.
Highlands Dawson, Capilano Gold Bar, Emily Murphy Kinsmen and the loop near Fort Edmonton Park are all shut.
Mill Creek trails at Jackie Parker Park and the Minchau area are closed too.
Keep pets and kids well back from the water this week.
🐦 Pigeon Owners Get New Rules Starting in January
What is changing for Edmonton's pigeon keepers?
The city's 94 licensed pigeon owners will need to join an association and tag every bird with a leg band.
The rule makes it easier to tell pet pigeons from wild ones.
It brings Edmonton in line with how other major Canadian cities handle pigeon keeping.
A small change with a surprisingly loyal group of Edmontonians watching closely.
Sound familiar?
Over 4 million people have had the same lightbulb moment.
Morning Brew is a free daily newsletter that breaks down what's happening in business, finance, and tech — clearly, quickly, and with enough personality to make it the best email in your inbox.
No yelling. No filler. Just the news, finally making sense.
🤝 CUSMA Deadline Comes and Goes With No Deal
What actually happens now that the CUSMA deadline has passed?
The US let the July 1 review deadline pass without committing to a long term renewal.
The deal stays in place, but a decade of annual reviews begins instead of a clean 16 year extension.
Alberta's energy, beef and agriculture exports remain exposed to the uncertainty.
Not a crisis today, but not resolved either.
🌱 China Slaps a Massive Tariff on Canadian Pea Starch
Why is China taxing Canadian peas now?
China imposed a 73.5 percent preliminary tariff on Canadian pea starch starting July 1.
China's Ministry of Commerce says the product was being sold below cost there.
It follows a similar dispute that already hit Canadian canola, another Prairie staple.
One more headache for Prairie farmers already watching the trade file closely.
🛢️ Oil Prices Wobble as US Iran Talks Continue in Qatar
Why does a meeting in Doha matter for Edmonton?
Trump said Wednesday that US Iran talks in Doha are going well, easing some of the tension from a weekend flare up.
Brent crude has swung sharply on every twist in the fragile ceasefire since mid June.
Oil prices feed directly into Alberta's royalty revenue, so this is one worth watching.
Small in the headlines, big for the provincial budget.
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YOUR TURN 💌
What does Edmonton need more of right now? Hit reply with one word or a full paragraph. I read every single one and it genuinely shapes what we chase next.
You already showed up this morning and read to this point, and I am grateful for that more than you know. If you want to do one more thing for this community, click through our sponsors today. They are the only links sitting outside the purple frames, and every click keeps us going. Can you spot them all three?
Edmonton local Weather
Day⬇ 2° lower than historical avg, Night⬆1° higher than historical avg.
Edmonton Weather: Thursday July 2
Thursday brings a mix of sun and cloud with a chance of showers or a stray thunderstorm moving in through the afternoon and evening, high near 24C and a low around 15C overnight. Keep an umbrella handy if you are heading downtown for the first day of Burger Fest.
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📅 Events Happening in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Thursday July 2
🍔 Downtown YEG Burger Fest kicks off
🗓 July 2 to 11 · ⏰ Regular restaurant hours · 📍 Eight downtown restaurants
Eight spots roll out their own $12 wagyu burger creations, from pho inspired to steakhouse style. Details
🌸 Grindstone Comedy Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 2–12 · ⏰ Various showtimes · 📍 Edmonton
A 10-day comedy festival featuring sketch, improv, clown, and stand-up acts.edifyedmonton
🌸 Street Performers Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 2 onward · ⏰ Daytime and evening programming · 📍 Churchill Square, Edmonton
Free family-friendly entertainment with circus acts, magicians, buskers, and other performers.edifyedmonton+1
🌸 YEG Burger Fest 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 2–6 · ⏰ Mealtime hours · 📍 Downtown Edmonton
Participating restaurants and bars are offering burger specials across the core.edifyedmonton
🌸 Streetcar Pop Up Concert 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 2 · ⏰ Sunset / evening · 📍 Edmonton Streetcar route
An intimate local-music event paired with a ride and river valley views.edifyedmonton
Friday July 3
🎪 Edmonton International Street Performers Festival
🗓 July 3 · ⏰ 5 PM onward · 📍 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Buskers and street performers take over the square for the evening. Details
🎤 A$AP Rocky at Rogers Place
🗓 July 3 · ⏰ 7:30 PM · 📍 Rogers Place
A big touring name lands downtown for one night only. Details
🌸 Grindstone Comedy Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 3 · ⏰ Various showtimes · 📍 Edmonton
The festival continues with more live comedy and workshops.edifyedmonton
🌸 Street Performers Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 3 · ⏰ Daytime and evening programming · 📍 Churchill Square, Edmonton
A strong free option for families and visitors.edifyedmonton+1
🌸 YEG Burger Fest 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 3 · ⏰ Mealtime hours · 📍 Downtown Edmonton
Still running at downtown venues.edifyedmonton
Saturday July 4
⚽ Canada faces Morocco, FIFA World Cup Round of 16
🗓 July 4 · ⏰ 11 AM MT kickoff · 📍 Houston, watch parties at ICE District Fan Park
Canada's first ever Round of 16 match. Details
🏎️ Horsepower for Hope: Infinite Hope
🗓 July 4 · ⏰ Daytime, free · 📍 Edmonton EXPO Centre
A free family event with race cars and modified vehicles. Details
🌸 Edmonton International Street Performers Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 4–13 · ⏰ Festival hours · 📍 Churchill Square, Edmonton
This is the official festival start date and one of the biggest free events of the week.edifyedmonton
🌸 Rice Howard Way Summer Block Party 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 4 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Rice Howard Way, Edmonton
Live music, patios, and open-street energy downtown.edifyedmonton
🌸 2nd Annual Traditional 2 Spirit Pow Wow 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 4 · ⏰ All day · 📍 Exhibition Lands Racetrack, Edmonton
A major cultural gathering listed in the local arts roundup.facebook
🌸 The Works Art & Design Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 4 · ⏰ Festival hours · 📍 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
The festival is still running and overlaps the weekend.edmonton
Surrounding area
🌸 Pigeon Lake Music Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 3–5 · ⏰ Various showtimes · 📍 Hilah Ayers Wilderness RV Park, Calmar
A regional outdoor music festival with a large artist lineup.songkick
🌸 Big Valley Jamboree 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 2–5 · ⏰ Festival hours · 📍 Camrose Regional Exhibition Grounds, Camrose
A major country-music festival just outside Edmonton.songkick
🌸 Canada Day overflow events 🎟️ Details
🗓 July 2–4 · ⏰ Varies · 📍 Edmonton and nearby communities
Some Canada Day programming continues into the first few days of July, especially regional family events and festival carryovers
Looking ahead
🎉 K Days returns July 17 to 26 at Edmonton EXPO Centre, with a food lineup that includes donut poutines and Area 51 taco burgers already making the rounds online. Details
SPOTTED IN EDMONTON 📸
Burger Fest kicks off today, and I want to see where you land first. Eight downtown spots are serving up their own $12 wagyu burger this week.
Snap a photo of your pick and hit reply. Best ones get featured in a future issue, and you might just talk me into trying yours next.