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Good morning, neighbour!
We have got a lot to get through today. There is a wildfire forcing families out of their homes just northwest of Edmonton, a massive hack that hit right here at the University of Alberta, and a federal committee fighting to save a research centre that has been feeding Alberta since 1907. Plus Dunkin' Donuts just declared war on Tim Hortons, and we want to know whose side you are on. Let us get into it.💛
Families Are Out and at Least One Home Is Already Gone
A wildfire near Whitecourt has forced about 140 families from their homes, with at least one house confirmed lost and the fire still not contained Tuesday night.
The West Ridge subdivision blaze sits at 51.5 hectares, roughly 180 km northwest of Edmonton, with fire danger rated Extreme across the entire Whitecourt Forest Area
Night-vision helicopters and crews worked through the night and have built containment lines around about 90 percent of the fire
The evacuation order is still in effect, with a tentative re-entry date of Thursday May 14 while the cause remains under investigation
Do you know anyone in the Whitecourt area?
💻 Someone Hacked Your Kids' Campus Platform. Here Is What Happened.
Canvas, the online learning platform used at the University of Alberta, was hacked and data from an estimated 275 million users was stolen before a deal was reached Tuesday.
Hacker group ShinyHunters hit nearly 9,000 schools globally, with U of A, UBC and U of T all directly named
The University of Alberta took Canvas fully offline and warned all users not to log in
Instructure reached a deal with the hackers and says the stolen data was destroyed, with no customers to be extorted
If your family uses Canvas, a password change is a reasonable precaution. Have you been caught in a data breach before?
🌾 Ottawa Plans to Close a 119-Year-Old Alberta Research Centre. A Federal Committee Just Said No.
A House of Commons committee is pushing back on the federal plan to close the Lacombe Research and Development Centre, which has served Alberta farmers since 1907.
The centre employs more than 100 people focused on beef and pork research that directly supports Alberta's agriculture industry
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced the closure as part of a plan to cut 40,000 public service jobs
Workers face potential layoffs as early as May 23 and the union warns the shutdown will damage farmers and Canada's food security
Do you think Ottawa should reverse this decision?
Canadian Sniper Rifles Are in Russian Hands. CSIS Just Paid a Visit to the Company That Made Them.
Canadian-made sniper rifles are showing up in Moscow stores and in the hands of Russian soldiers, and CSIS has now visited the Quebec company that made them.
CSIS visited Cadex Defence after Global News found its rifles in Moscow, product tags still on, and in the hands of Russian snipers credited with dozens of kills
CSIS briefed Cadex on how Russia is evading Canadian sanctions through third parties and shell routes
Over two dozen Cadex rifles are listed in stock on a Moscow retailer's site right now, and Ottawa cannot explain how they got there
Does it concern you that Canadian weapons are ending up in Russian hands?
🍩 Dunkin' Donuts Is Coming Back to Canada and It Took a Shot at Tim Hortons on the Way In
Dunkin' Donuts is officially coming back to Canada with 600 to 700 locations planned, and the CEO took a direct shot at Tim Hortons on the way in.
Foodtastic CEO Peter Mammas signed the master franchise deal, with the first location expected late 2026 or early 2027 after the chain left Canada in 2018
He plans to open one new Dunkin' per week within 12 months, with nearly 200 locations earmarked for Quebec alone
Mammas said Tim Hortons has "lost its way," that young people no longer identify with it and that "they are even making pizza"
Dunkin' fan or Tims loyalist? Let us know.
Zelenskyy Just Named Canada in a Military Drone Deal
Ukraine has started preparations for a military drone deal with Canada, Zelenskyy announced Tuesday.
Zelenskyy posted the announcement on social media, naming Canada among more than 20 countries in similar negotiations
Canada and Ukraine already have a letter of intent for defence co-production, but this is the first time drones have been named specifically
Canada's defence and foreign affairs ministries had not responded to requests for comment at time of publication
Do you think Canada should be part of this deal?
🛢️ The Iran Ceasefire Is on Life Support and Oil Just Climbed Back Above $107
President Trump said Monday the ceasefire with Iran is on life support, and oil markets wasted no time responding.
Brent crude rose 3.4 percent to $107.77 as Trump called Iran's latest proposals garbage, pushing hopes for a Strait of Hormuz deal further out of reach
Saudi Aramco's CEO warned the oil market may not normalize until 2027 if the Strait stays blocked past mid-June
Canadian inflation hit 3.8 percent in April, its highest in nearly three years, and your gas bill is part of why
How are you managing the higher costs?
YOUR TURN 💌
We are always looking to grow this little community, and you are the reason it works.
If you know someone who would enjoy The Urban Brief, today is the day to send it their way. Forward this email, share the link or just tell them about it over coffee. Every new neighbour who joins makes this newsletter a little more worth reading for everyone.
Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬆7° higher than historical avg, Night⬆5° higher than historical avg..
🌤️ Edmonton Weather - Wednesday May 13th
Another warm and sunny day is on the way for Edmonton and surrounding areas on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to climb to around 22 degrees Celsius. A light breeze is in the forecast, making it a lovely day to get outside before the weekend.
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📅 Events Happening This Week in Edmonton
Wednesday May 13th
🌸 Lunch & Short Film at the ATB Financial Arts Barns 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13–15 · ⏰ Lunchtime programs · 📍 Edmonton
A special lunch-and-film series running Wednesday through Friday.🌸 Reggae Up North 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13 · ⏰ 11:00 AM–10:00 PM · 📍 Old Strathcona, Edmonton
A free street-party style music and food event.🌸 Mamma Mia! 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13–15 · ⏰ Evening showtimes vary · 📍 Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
A touring musical production in Edmonton.🌸 FascinAsian Film Festival 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13–15 · ⏰ Various showtimes · 📍 Edmonton
A film festival with multiple screenings over the three-day span.🌸 YEGPin Pinball and Arcade Expo 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 14–15 · ⏰ Varies · 📍 Millennium Place, Sherwood Park
A large arcade and pinball expo just east of Edmonton.Farmers’ markets
🌸 Beverly Towne Farmers’ Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13 · ⏰ 3:00 PM–7:00 PM · 📍 Riverview Crossing Shopping Centre, Edmonton
A Tuesday market kicking off the week with local vendors.🌸 Bountiful Farmers’ Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13–15 · ⏰ Friday, Saturday, Sunday · 📍 3696 97 Street NW, Edmonton
A year-round market open throughout this period.🌸 Southwest Edmonton Farmers’ Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13 · ⏰ 3:30 PM onward · 📍 Terwillegar Recreation Centre parking lot, Edmonton
A Wednesday evening seasonal market.🌸 Orchards Farmers’ Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 13 · ⏰ Second and fourth Mondays only, so not open in this window
Not included as a live pick for May 13–15.🌸 Leduc Farmers Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 14 · ⏰ 10:00 AM–1:30 PM · 📍 Leduc Recreation Centre, Leduc
A nearby Thursday market south of Edmonton.🌸 124 Grand Market 🎟️ Details
🗓 May 14–15 · ⏰ Thursday and Sunday formats, depending on location
The seasonal market is beginning, with Sunday service later in the season
Are You Ready to Actually Retire?
Knowing when to retire means knowing what it costs, how long your money needs to last, and where the income comes from. When to Retire: A Quick and Easy Planning Guide helps investors with $1,000,000 or more work through all of it.
HIT OR MISS 🎯
Edmonton's Best Ice Cream Spots
Summer has not officially arrived but your taste buds did not get the memo. We are talking soft serve, hard scoop, gelato, novelty bars, the whole lineup. It is time to settle this.
Hit or Miss: Where is the best ice cream, gelato or frozen treat spot in Edmonton and the surrounding areas?
Drop your go-to in the comments. Name the spot, the flavour if you have a favourite, and whether you think it is a Hit or a Miss. We will round up the top picks in a future issue.
Edmonton, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Leduc, Fort Saskatchewan, all neighbourhoods welcome. Let the great ice cream debate begin.