Good morning, Edmonton!!!
Spring may be technically here but someone clearly forgot to tell the weather. While we wait for the thaw, we've got a Legion with locked doors and no answers, a housing deal that could change the game, and a Canadian astronaut two days away from the Moon. Let's get into it. 💛
🚶 Goodbye Diagonal: Edmonton's Scramble Crosswalks on Whyte Are Coming Down
If you've ever jaywalked diagonally across Whyte Avenue and felt very pleased with yourself, enjoy it while it lasts.
The City of Edmonton is removing all three scramble crosswalks on Whyte Avenue at 105 Street, Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard this year, replacing them with traditional crosswalks as part of new transit priority measures
Routes 4 and 8 along Whyte are only on time 67 and 79 per cent of the time on weekdays, and the city says scrambles add delays for everyone by requiring a third traffic signal phase
Pedestrian advocates are pushing back, noting that scrambles are safer because drivers and walkers never share the intersection at the same time, and that last year saw Edmonton's highest number of traffic deaths in a decade
Safer or faster? Edmontonians are going to have opinions about this one. What's yours?
Two Months Gone and Edmonton's Norwood Legion Still Won't Say Why It Closed
The doors have been locked since February 2 and nobody in charge is talking.
The Norwood Legion Branch 178, a community landmark in the Cromdale neighbourhood that has served veterans and their families since 1946, abruptly closed citing only "administrative reasons" with no further explanation given to members or the public
Legion president Steven Ewaschuk and other local management have declined all interview requests from CBC News, directing questions to the Alberta-NWT Command office, which promised a public statement after a membership meeting that has still not been announced
National organization officials told CBC this week that more details are expected to be released to the community soon, but that the situation is outside their jurisdiction
A place that called itself "the Fun Legion" and welcomed everyone deserves better than this kind of silence. Here's hoping answers come soon.
🗳️ Alberta's UCP Just Made It Harder to Launch a Referendum Near Election Time
The government that made referendums easier is now putting new limits on when you can use them.
Justice Minister Mickey Amery introduced a bill Monday that would create a two year blackout window around provincial elections, making it impossible to start a petition for a constitutional or policy referendum in the year before or the year after a vote
The change would not affect petitions already underway, meaning the current Alberta separation petition still has until May 2 to gather its roughly 178,000 signatures
This is the third time in less than a year the UCP has substantially amended its own citizen initiative legislation, and NDP critic Irfan Sabir said the constant changes are making a mockery of the process
With a fall referendum already scheduled and a separation petition still circulating, the timing of this change is raising eyebrows across the province.
Carney and Ford Just Announced $8.8 Billion to Make Homes More Affordable
Two governments that don't always agree shook hands on a very big housing deal Monday.
Prime Minister Carney and Ontario Premier Ford announced a joint $8.8 billion infrastructure deal to help municipalities cut development charges by up to 50 per cent for the next three years, with each level of government committing $4.4 billion over 10 years
Ontario will also temporarily remove the full 13 per cent HST on new homes valued up to one million dollars from April 1 through March 2027, with the combined measures estimated to reduce the cost of a new home by up to $200,000
Alberta is watching — Edmonton's housing crunch is real, and a deal like this signals what Ottawa might be willing to do coast to coast
🥫 Canada's Food Banks Are Running Out of Food. Some Are Now Rationing Visits.
Food banks across Canada are cutting back, with Saskatchewan's Moose Jaw food bank limiting households to one visit a month starting April 1 instead of the usual two
In BC, 90 per cent of food banks have seen food donations drop in the past year, and Food Banks Alberta says demand here at home is "unprecedented"
Visits across the country have climbed 150 per cent in some communities over four years, driven by working families squeezed by housing costs and the cost of living
If you've been thinking about donating, right now is a genuinely good time.
💥 Iran War Day 31: Trump Threatens to Wipe Out Iran's Energy Supply
One month in, and the stakes just got higher.
Trump posted Monday threatening to destroy Iran's power plants, oil wells and key infrastructure if a deal is not reached soon, while also saying he believes Iran has agreed to most of the US's 15 demands
US and Israeli strikes hit Tehran overnight and the Bushehr nuclear plant has been struck multiple times, with oil prices now up more than 50 per cent since the war began five weeks ago
The IEA is calling the Strait of Hormuz blockade the biggest oil shock in history — and with Alberta's energy sector watching every move, this is not a faraway story
🌕 Canada Is Going to the Moon in Two Days. Seriously.
NASA's Artemis II countdown began Monday, with launch set for Wednesday April 1 at 6:24 PM EDT and an 80 per cent chance of good weather
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen will become the first Canadian and first non-American to ever leave low Earth orbit, joining three NASA crewmates on a 10 day mission around the Moon and back
This is the first crewed lunar mission since 1972. Wednesday evening, clear your calendar
Edmonton local Weather
Day⬇5° lower than historical avg, Night ⬇4° lower than historical avg.
🌤️ Edmonton Weather - Tuesday March 31st
Tuesday is bringing a high right around 0°C with just a 10 per cent chance of flurries, so it should stay mostly dry out there. Not warm by any stretch, but layers and a good coat will see you through just fine. 🧥
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📅 Events Happening This Week in Edmonto
Tuesday, March 31
🏒 Seattle Kraken at Edmonton Oilers 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 31 · ⏰ 7 PM · 📍 Rogers Place
NHL showdown as the Oilers take on the Kraken at home ice.🎮 GameCamp Edmonton – March 2026 Edition 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 31 · ⏰ 7–9 PM · 📍 Edmonton Public Library – Stanley A. Milner (Downtown)
Monthly meetup for game developers covering various topics in game dev. Open to pros and hobbyists alike.🏛️ Peggy & Balmer: Alberta at the Edge of History 🎟️ Details
🗓 Mar 31 · ⏰ Evening · 📍 Bison Lodge (Pioneers Cabin)
Cultural experience exploring Alberta's history through art and storytelling🎬 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 31 – 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
🎯 Hit or Miss — Edmonton's Best Coffee Shops
Spring is technically here, which means Edmonton is either sitting on a patio with a latte or standing at a counter somewhere warm pretending the weather is fine. Either way, coffee is involved.
We want to know which spots are actually worth the line up and which ones are coasting on vibes alone.
Drop your verdict in the comments:
☕ Name your favourite local coffee shop in Edmonton or the surrounding areas and tell us — is it a Hit or honestly a bit of a Miss?
Bonus points if you have a hidden gem the rest of us have been sleeping on.