Happy Monday Neighbour!!
This Monday we have a story that will make you think twice about the bats in your backyard, a warning every Edmonton couple planning a wedding needs to hear, and some big news out of Winnipeg that hits close to home. Grab your coffee and let's get into it. 💛
🦇 Alberta's Bats Are in Trouble. And This Time It's Hit the Rockies.
A disease that has wiped out millions of bats across North America just showed up somewhere it has never been in Alberta before.
White-nose syndrome has been confirmed in three Rocky Mountain caves for the first time, and the fungus has moved beyond quietly spreading to actively killing bats, with one Alberta survey site already recording an 80 per cent population decline
The disease wakes hibernating bats mid-winter, causing them to burn through their fat reserves and starve before spring, and six of Alberta's nine bat species are fully vulnerable, including the little brown bat and northern myotis, both federally listed as endangered
Alberta's provincial bat specialist says eradication is not possible, but protecting key roost habitats gives populations a chance at slow recovery over time
Bats eat more than a thousand insects a night. Fewer bats means more bugs, more crop damage and a ripple through the whole ecosystem. This one matters even if you have never given bats a second thought.
💍 They Hired a Wedding Planner. Then the Nightmare Started.
Two Edmonton couples say they trusted the wrong person with the most important day of their lives.
Simply Perfect Events website
Both couples say their wedding planner repeatedly missed deadlines, gave excuse after excuse and failed to deliver on what was promised, leaving them scrambling to save their own weddings and now pursuing legal action to recover what they lost
The planner operated in Edmonton and accepted payment from multiple clients, raising concerns that others in the city may have had similar experiences but not yet come forward
CTV News Edmonton spoke directly with both couples, who are now warning anyone currently planning a wedding in the Edmonton area to do thorough research before handing over a deposit to anyone
If you or someone you know is in the middle of planning a wedding right now, this one is worth a read before you sign anything.
🚗 Your Car Insurance Bill Might Drop in 2027. Unless You Ride a Motorcycle.
Alberta's incoming no-fault insurance system just got its first real price check, and the news is mostly good, with one notable exception.
A new actuarial report prepared for the Automobile Insurance Rate Board projects that drivers of passenger vehicles could save around $366 a year on basic coverage under Alberta's care-first system, which replaces the current tort model starting January 1 2027 and focuses on faster medical benefits instead of lawsuits
Motorcyclists are looking at a different story entirely, with the report projecting their premiums could actually go up under the new system, since injury claims from motorcycle accidents tend to be more severe and costly to cover
The government says the $400 per year savings figure it originally promised has since been revised, and one Edmonton personal injury lawyer is publicly questioning whether the projected savings will hold up once the new system is actually running
You have about nine months before this kicks in. Worth knowing what it means for your specific situation before 2027 arrives.
The NDP Has a New Leader. Edmonton's Own Heather McPherson Came Close.
The result is in, and it was not the outcome this city was quietly hoping for.
NDP members voted Avi Lewis their newest federal leader at the party's convention on Sunday
Avi Lewis, a Vancouver documentary filmmaker and activist, won the federal NDP leadership on the first ballot this morning in Winnipeg, capturing 56 per cent of the total votes cast, Edmonton Strathcona MP Heather McPherson finished second with just under 21,000 votes in a race that also included three other candidates
Lewis, who holds no elected seat in the House of Commons, inherits a party reduced to just six seats after last year's devastating federal election loss, and the Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi was quick to post that Lewis becoming leader was "not in the interests of Alberta"
In his victory speech Lewis said the NDP comeback starts now, and called out the everyday financial pressures Canadians are facing, from housing costs to a global economy rattled by the Trump administration's trade moves and military adventures
McPherson now returns to Edmonton as the party's only Alberta voice in a federal caucus that barely exists. What she does with that is worth watching.
The Iran War Just Got a Whole Lot Bigger.
Five weeks in, and the conflict is now spreading in directions nobody wanted.
Yemen's Houthi rebels fired missiles at Israel for the first time since the war began, opening a brand new front in a conflict that has already killed thousands and displaced millions, both launches were intercepted, but the Houthis made clear they will keep coming in support of Iran
An additional 3,500 US Marines have arrived in the Middle East, reports are emerging that the Pentagon is preparing for possible weeks of ground operations inside Iran, and Trump said publicly the war is "not finished yet" and the US has thousands of targets left to strike
Regional foreign ministers from Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are meeting Monday to try to find a diplomatic off-ramp, but with Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade still strangling global oil shipments, the economic pressure on everyday Canadians, including Alberta's energy sector - is only building
When the world's biggest oil chokepoint is closed and the war is entering its second month, it is not just a foreign story. It is an Alberta story.
Edmonton local Weather
Day⬇6° lower than historical avg, ⬇7° lower than historical avg.
🌤️ Edmonton Weather - Monday March 30
Monday is bringing a high of around -1°C with a 30 per cent chance of flurries in the morning that should clear up by evening, so the worst of it will be gone before most people are heading out for the night. It is a cold one but nothing Edmonton cannot handle, layers in the morning and you will be just fine. ❄️
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📅 Events Happening This Week in Edmonton
Monday, March 30
🍷 Taste of Italy Wine Dinner 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 30 · ⏰ 6 PM cocktail hour, 7 PM dinner · 📍 XIX Nineteen (St. Albert)
A multi-course Italian menu paired with curated wines in an elegant setting.🎸 Josh Ritter 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 30 · ⏰ 8 PM · 📍 Arden Theatre (St. Albert)
Renowned folk/Americana singer-songwriter performing songs from his acclaimed catalog.😂 Rough Cuts FREE Comedy Night 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 30 · ⏰ 8 PM · 📍 River City Revival House (under Starlite Room)
Showcasing local comedy talent in a relaxed, supportive open-mic format.📚 Audrey's Book Club 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 30 · ⏰ 7–8:30 PM · 📍 Audreys Books (10342 124 St NW)
A curated book-club night for readers who want discussion plus community.Tuesday, March 31
🎬 Food Inc. 2 (Free Screening) 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 31 · ⏰ 7 PM · 📍 Earth's Refillery Coop & Cafe
Thoughtful Tuesday film series exploring food systems and sustainability.🎤 Eric Kane Release Show 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 31 · ⏰ 8 PM · 📍 Westbury Theatre
Launch party for his 2026 single "Right By My Side" with live performances.🔞 Smut Slam "Discovery" 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 31 · ⏰ 8 PM · 📍 9910 (105 St NW)
Adult-only storytelling open mic where real people share true, spicy stories.Wednesday, April 1
🚀 Artemis II Launch Party 🎟️ Details
🗓 Apr 1 · ⏰ 6–10 PM · 📍 TELUS World of Science
Watch party for NASA's crewed Moon mission launch with activities and exhibits.🍳 Thai Street Eats Cooking Class 🎟️ Details
🗓 Apr 1 · ⏰ 6:30–9:30 PM · 📍 Get Cooking (10426 124 St NW)
Learn Crab Fried Rice, Green Papaya Salad, and Pad See Ew in this hands-on class.🍫 Artisanal Truffle Making 🎟️ Details
🗓 Apr 1 · ⏰ 7–9 PM · 📍 Choco-Latte (10432 124 St NW)
Interactive chocolate workshop where you craft and take home gourmet truffles.😂 Maki Free Comedy Jam 🎟️ Details
🗓 Apr 1 · ⏰ 8 PM · 📍 Kinshi Rinji Restaurant (10135 117 St NW)
Popular midweek comedy night featuring local and touring comedians.🎭 The Revolutionists 🎟️ Details
🗓 Through Apr 5 · ⏰ 7:30 PM (Tue–Sat) · 📍 Varscona Theatre
Women-powered comedy set during the French Revolution by Lauren Gunderson.🌌 Lasting Impressions 🎟️ Details
🗓 Ongoing · ⏰ Various times · 📍 TELUS World of Science IMAX
Immersive 3D Impressionist art experience featuring Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh.🎭 The Wizard of Oz – Live Musical Tickets
📅 March 30 – April 12, 2026
🕢 Evening shows: 7:30 PM | Matinees: 1:30 PM
📍 Citadel Theatre, 9828 101A Ave, EdmontonThe Citadel Theatre brings the classic story of Dorothy and her journey down the Yellow Brick Road to life in a vibrant stage musical featuring iconic songs, colourful characters, and a magical adventure for all ages