Good afternoon, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Saturday!
Mostly sunny skies hold through today with a high near 25C, a perfect one for anyone heading downtown for the Pride Parade or out to a farmers market. The Elks pulled off a wild comeback under the lights last night, tariffs went from maybe to actually overnight, and there is a genuinely moving story out of Ottawa worth slowing down for. Here is what is making news across Edmonton and the surrounding areas today.
Looking for today's full lineup of events, including the Pride Parade, the Dragon Festival and this weekend's farmers markets? Check the separate Weekend Events roundup already in your inbox. This issue covers the news.
🏈 Elks Win It On A Walk Off Field Goal After Trailing By Sixteen
Ever think a game is over before it actually is?
Vincent Blanchard kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Elks a 22 19 comeback win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Commonwealth Stadium Friday night, after Edmonton trailed 16 0 in the second quarter.
The win pushes Edmonton to 8 3 and keeps them on top of the CFL West Division.
It is their latest time in first place in any season since 2015.
A wild one for anyone who stuck it out to the final whistle.
♿ Alberta Triples Home Accessibility Grants
Ever wonder what it takes to make a home work for the whole family?
Alberta is raising the maximum grant for home accessibility modifications like ramps, stair lifts and widened doorways from 7,500 to 12,000 dollars a year, using 24 million dollars from a federal aging with dignity agreement.
The higher grant covers seniors and residents with mobility needs across the province.
Funding comes from a federal aging with dignity agreement worth 24 million dollars.
Good news for families weighing a big home change.
🎪 Rising Insurance Costs Are Squeezing Local Festivals
Ever wonder what it actually costs to keep a summer festival running?
Taste of Edmonton says its annual insurance bill has tripled to 15,000 dollars since before the pandemic, while the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival has held its size steady even as its donor base has grown from 34 to 840 monthly contributors.
Insurance and extreme weather coverage are driving costs up across the festival circuit.
Fringe's donor growth is one bright spot keeping the festival stable.
A behind the scenes look at what keeps summer here running.
🏒 Oilers Heading to Draisaitl's Hometown in 2027
Ever wonder what it would feel like to play a home game an ocean away from home?
The Edmonton Oilers will play two regular season games in Cologne, Germany during the 2027 28 season, giving captain Leon Draisaitl a chance to suit up in front of his hometown fans as part of the NHL's push into Germany.
The games are part of the NHL Global Series expanding into Germany.
Draisaitl grew up just outside Cologne before making his way to the NHL.
A fun one to circle on the calendar early.
🏳🌈 Canada's First National LGBTQ+ Monument Opens in Ottawa
Ever wonder what it takes to finally say sorry, in stone?
Thunderhead, Canada's new national monument honouring LGBTQ+ people persecuted by the government, including the Purge of military, RCMP and public service members from the 1950s into the 1990s, opened this morning near Parliament Hill with Governor General Louise Arbour in attendance.
The monument sits near Parliament Hill as a permanent national acknowledgment.
It marks decades of persecution that pushed people out of their careers and their communities.
A meaningful one worth knowing about.
💥 Talks Collapse, Fifty Percent US Tariffs Hit Canada
Ever watch a deadline actually run out?
Canada and the United States failed to reach a deal before the extended deadline, and fifty percent tariffs on a fresh slate of Canadian goods, including autos, alcohol and dairy, took effect just after midnight. Prime Minister Carney says he is suspending trade talks and will match the tariffs dollar for dollar, and Premier Danielle Smith called herself deeply disappointed.
The new tariffs target roughly 20 billion dollars in Canadian goods.
Alberta's economy carries real exposure here given how much trade crosses the border.
A story that will keep moving, we will keep you posted.
🛢 Iran Pushes Back As Toughest Ever US Sanctions Loom
Ever wonder what happens to gas prices when a standoff drags on this long?
Iran's foreign ministry is calling an incoming US sanctions package an overreach of what it called extraterritorial sovereignty, a response to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's vow of the toughest sanctions in history against Tehran. Oil prices remain elevated on the news, a real number for anyone watching Alberta's budget.
Brent crude has been climbing for two straight weeks on the sanctions threat.
Alberta's provincial budget leans heavily on oil price swings like this one.
Worth watching if you fill up locally or follow the province's bottom line.
Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬇4° higher than historical avg. Night ⬆7° higher than historical avg.
Edmonton Weather: Saturday, August 22
Mostly sunny skies hold through the day with a high near 25C, great conditions for the Pride Parade and anything else outdoors. Clear and calm overnight with a low near 17C.
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THIS OR THAT 🗳
Downtown for the Pride Parade and Festival, or out at Kinistinaw Park for the Dragon Festival? Hit reply and tell us where you are spending your Saturday, or if you are still replaying that Elks finish from last night.