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Happy May long weekend, Edmonton.
Yes, it is 8 degrees and yes, there may be snow before noon. That is just Alberta doing its thing, and today's issue has plenty to warm you up. From a City Hall standoff to a provincial privacy alarm, let us get into it.💛
Your Boss Said Come In. Your Mayor Said Stay Home.
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce told Mayor Andrew Knack it was time to bring city workers back downtown five days a week. He said no.
The Chamber sent Knack a letter May 11, co-signed by the provincial government and several real estate groups, calling for a phased end to hybrid work. Edmonton's downtown tax base has shrunk from 10% of city revenue to 5.2% since the pandemic.
At his first State of the City address Thursday, Knack said ending hybrid work would cost $5 to $10 million and that money is better spent getting more people living downtown full time.
"Our word still does have to matter," Knack said, pointing to the hybrid arrangement as a commitment made to unionized city employees.
Would you head back to the office five days a week if the call came? Drop your take in the comments.
Your Local Library Might Be in Trouble
Alberta's public libraries say Bill 28 passed this week and brought new obligations with no new money to carry them out.
The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries says the legislation changes how libraries are governed but includes no funding for the added requirements.
Edmonton Public Library CEO Pilar Martinez is calling on the province to consult with libraries before any new regulations are set under the amended Libraries Act.
The coalition warns that some libraries, especially in smaller communities, could be forced to close if additional funding does not follow.
When did you last walk through your local library? Does this worry you? Tell us below.
Alberta Just Gave Itself Permission to Sell Your Gambling Data
If you have a Play Alberta account, a new provincial law now allows your personal information to be sold to private companies.
Bill 31, which passed this week, carves out an exception to the Protection of Privacy Act allowing AGLC to sell customer data including demographics, location and betting behaviour.
Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod calls it a "concerning precedent" and the first time any Alberta public body has been permitted to sell personal information under the Act.
The province says customers can opt out before any sale happens. But 49 private companies are already lined up as Alberta opens its online gambling market to competition in July.
Do you use Play Alberta? Does this change anything for you? Drop your thoughts below.
Spray Parks Are Open, Yes, Even Today
Edmonton's 78 spray parks started opening today and we are choosing to be optimistic about that.
District parks open first today, with all 78 locations fully open by June 5.
Five outdoor pools follow, opening in stages between May 20 and June 20.
New this season: pools require advance payment before reserved swims and concessions will not be available on site.
Which spray park do your kids absolutely refuse to leave? Tell us in the comments.
Nearly 200 Former Canadian Diplomats Are Calling for Action on Israel
A letter signed by 190 former senior Canadian foreign service officers is demanding PM Carney impose "robust" sanctions on Israel.
The diplomats want Ottawa to review the Canada-Israel trade agreement and suspend a strategic partnership deal if conditions in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon do not improve.
They are also asking for legal action against Canadian companies helping build settlements Canada says are illegal under international law.
Senator Yuen Pau Woo noted that Canada, France and the UK jointly threatened "concrete actions" a year ago if humanitarian aid restrictions did not improve. Nothing has followed.
Should Canada take a harder line here? Tell us what you think in the comments.
Trump Left Beijing With a Long List of Claims and a Very Short List of Agreements
After two days of talks in Beijing, President Trump flew home touting "fantastic" deals while the US and China released statements that barely agreed on anything.
Both sides discussed trade, Taiwan and the Strait of Hormuz but gave contradictory accounts of what was decided. Beijing warned Trump not to overstep on Taiwan. Trump said China will buy more American oil.
Xi offered to help broker a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which directly affects Canadian supply chains and Alberta's oil sector.
Trump invited Xi to visit the US in September. Boeing aircraft deals were claimed but disputed, and a "strategic stability" framework was agreed on in principle.
Do you think this summit actually moved anything forward? Tell us in the comments.
YOUR TURN 💌
Got a tip, a story idea or something happening in your corner of Edmonton or the surrounding areas? Hit reply and let me know. I read every message and those tips lead to some of our best stories.
Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬇8° lower than historical avg, Night⬇4° lower than historical avg.
🌤️ Edmonton Weather - Saturday May 13th
Saturday kicks off the May long weekend at around 8°C with mainly cloudy skies and a 30% chance of afternoon showers. Northwest winds are gusting up to 50 km/h, so layer up and keep the campfire wood somewhere dry
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📅 Events Happening This Week in Edmonton
Saturday through May long Weeked (May 16–18)
🌸 MayDaze Carnival 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16–18 · ⏰ All weekend · 📍 Mill Woods Town Centre, Edmonton
A family carnival with ~50 rides, games, and fair food.🌸 Museum of Illusions 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16–18 · ⏰ Mall hours · 📍 West Edmonton Mall
A new interactive illusion exhibit that opened May 15.🌸 Sprouts New Play Festival for Kids 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16 · ⏰ Daytime · 📍 Westbury Theatre, Edmonton
24th annual festival of short plays for kids 12 and under.🌸 SpringFest 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16 · ⏰ Afternoon · 📍 Manning Town Centre, Edmonton
Free family afternoon with games, treats, and prizes.🌸 Edmonton Stingers vs. Vancouver Bandits 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16 · ⏰ 7:00 PM · 📍 Edmonton EXPO Centre Arena
A home basketball game for the Edmonton Stingers.🌸 YEGPin Pinball and Arcade Expo 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16–17 · ⏰ Event hours · 📍 Millennium Place, Sherwood Park
Large arcade & pinball expo just east of Edmonton.🌸 City of Edmonton Splash Day & ‘Free Willy’ 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 17 · ⏰ 3:00–5:00 PM · 📍 Rooftop fountain, City Hall
Free fountain turn-on with entertainment and games.🌸 Stand-Up Show at Grindstone Theatre 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16–18 · ⏰ Friday nights (and continuing weekends) · 📍 Grindstone Theatre, Edmonton
Weekly stand-up featuring comics from CBC, CTV, and festivals.🌸 Friendship Stand-Up Show at Rapid Fire Theatre 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16–18 · ⏰ Varies · 📍 Rapid Fire Theatre, Edmonton
Improvisers + stand-up comedians sharing the stage.🌸 Orcas: Our Shared Future Exhibit 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 16–18 · ⏰ Museum hours · 📍 Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton
Interactive exhibit with life-size orcas, fossils, and Indigenous art.
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THIS OR THAT 🗳️
It is the May long weekend. The temperature says 8 degrees and there is a chance of snow before noon. And yet here we are, Albertans to the core.
So we have to ask.
THIS: Head for the lake anyway. Set up camp. Light the fire. Wear every layer you own and blame Alberta in May. 🏕️
THAT: Stay in the city, find a patio with a heater, order something warm and call it a perfectly good long weekend. 🍺