Living in Edmonton is a weird, wonderful and sometimes frustrating experience. Every Wednesday This Is Edmonton brings you the most Edmonton stories you've never heard, and the context you need to understand what's going on in our city. Host Clare Bonnyman gets into it all, unpacking the essential, random and occasionally shocking things that are uniquely Edmonton.

One year ago, a devastating wildfire burned through Jasper. Around a third of structures in the mountain town were destroyed. Thousands of residents and workers were pushed out of their homes. So, how much can be done in 365 days? CBC reporter Liam Harrap and producer Ariel Fournier asked that question, and dug deep into what it looks like to recover from a wildfire. They share what they learned with host Clare Bonnyman.

Edmonton has always been a hotbed for arts and theatre, but our comedy scene is unmatched. Improv, standup and sketch have been a huge part of the scene for a long time, but in recent years, new comedy theatres and troupes are making their mark on the city. This week, host Clare Bonnyman dives into the capital city comedy scene with Bryon Martin and Jules Pepin of the Grindstone Comedy Theatre to talk about what makes this community tick.

Edmonton is known as a festival city, but our music-focused festivals really shine in the summer months. So, what kind of work goes into making a great music festival, and how are current geo-political tensions influencing musicians and the industry at large? Host Clare Bonnyman digs into Edmonton’s music ecosystem with Aimee Hill, one of the founders of Interstellar Rodeo, and an arts and culture worker in the city.

Indigenous dancers from across the Prairies spend the summer visiting communities for powwows. But it takes a lot of time, and a lot of work to prepare your skills. An Edmonton group hosts weekly practices to make sure dancers are in tip-top shape. This week, host Clare Bonnyman visits an inner-city powwow practice and speaks with dancer Danni Okemaw about her own dancing journey.

This episode first aired June 12, 2024

Students from the University of Alberta are advocating for Edmonton’s first 'Houseless Intensive Care Unit'. The idea is to provide 24/7 wrap around health-care for people experiencing homelessness, a demographic that disproportionately relies on emergency services. Host Clare Bonnyman sits down with two of the graduate students involved to talk about the project and the impact it could have.

Edmonton has a big place in Canada’s 2SLGBTQ+ history — but it doesn’t always get the credit it deserves. Now, there are people trying to change that. In recent years, projects highlighting Edmonton’s queer history and stories have gained traction, and there is work being done to preserve decades of activism and community for the next generation. Host Clare Bonnyman sits down with Ron Byers of the Rainbow Story Hub, to talk about Edmonton’s queer history and what’s so unique about our city’s story.

So the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers are in the Stanley Cup final — again. For the second year in a row, the city is full of blue, orange and cheers to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup home. But can they do it this time? Host Clare Bonnyman digs into how the playoffs pump our city up year after year. CBC’s Mark Connolly is in Florida talking with Clare about taking down the Panthers, once and for all.

Wildfire season has begun in Alberta, and already more than 4,500 people have been evacuated from their homes. There is planning and preparation across the province for these kinds of situations, but what do they look like in an urban setting? CBC producer Tanara McLean dug deep into Edmonton's plans and the many elements that make up preparation for a wildfire in the city.

Cadomin Cave has been closed to the public for more than a decade, but once a year researchers are allowed in to count the number of bats hibernating in Alberta’s largest bat cave. This yearly count has become increasingly important as a deadly fungus puts populations at risk. CBC reporter Wallis Snowdon hiked into the cave’s twisting chambers to bring us an exclusive look inside.