This is Edmonton

Edmontonians are experiencing a massive amount of infill — but it’s revealing some cracks in the city’s communication. This week on the show, CBC reporter Katie Teeling looks at how neighbours are being consulted and communicated with about development projects happening on their street. They dig into a project in Laurier Heights, and how residents there have questions about how the city can better explain what’s happening and why.

Here in the city, we have a strong connection to the Rocky Mountains. Many Edmontonians even consider Jasper, kind of like a backyard, but we're certainly not alone in our love of elevation. CBC’s Liam Harrap did a deep dive into the country’s peaks and the unique ways people celebrate, enjoy and study them. He sits down to break down his show “Mountain Love."

This year has been anything but normal for Edmonton’s summer festivals. Storms have already cancelled multiple outdoor concerts and shows, and smoky skies are now threatening one of the biggest festival weekends of the year. In this episode, we’ll hear how organizers are making contingency plans for bad weather. Plus, we'll do a deep dive into the work required to put on major music shows and discuss external factors that significantly impact producers.

Part of this episode originally aired on July 9, 2025. 

The City of Edmonton is considering bus rapid transit, or BRT, as a new future transit option. It’s been an idea before, but a new city proposal looks at two routes that could make serious changes to Edmonton’s streets. CBC reporter Emily Williams dives into the BRT debate, and explains why this option is back on the table.

All is fair in love, war and referendums… or is it? As Alberta approaches the Oct. 19 vote and the question of separating from Canada, emotions are high, and having conversations across the political spectrum can be difficult. However, it’s more important than ever to come together and talk about it. University of Alberta political science professor Jared Wesley offers practical advice on how to talk to our neighbours about politics and why this conversation matters.

Did you know that back in the day your weekend shopping sprees could be cut short? The Lord’s Day Act was a federal law that said businesses could not open on Sundays — but an Alberta drug store took this issue to court. Now your Sunday morning grocery run goes smoothly. We dig into R. v. Big M Drug Mart Ltd.

After a three-year closure, William Hawrelak Park is up and running again this summer — and Edmonton is pretty excited. The more than 60-hectare green space is one of the river valley's gems, but how did it get its name? CBC’s Sean Newton takes a deep dive into Edmonton’s history, introducing us to William ‘Wild Bill’ Hawrelak and exploring how he shaped the city we know today.

Clothes moths may seem like an old-timey issue, but these tiny bugs can have a big impact on your home. Here in Edmonton, they’re making themselves known. We speak to a CBC reporter about her battle with the pests and how she enlisted the help of beneficial insects. Additionally, an entomologist and an exterminator weigh in on what you need to know about these infuriating creatures.

What happens when Edmonton’s new neighbourhoods grow, and the city tries to manage traffic safety? For residents in the Maple Crest community, they were met with massive delays. The city put a new four-way stop on one of the only ways out of the neighbourhood, increasing a five minute commute to 45 minutes. But how did that happen? How can we design new communities better so they can grow with their residents and not create more traffic trouble in the city?

There’s a team in Edmonton that responds to crisis calls from across the city and meets people where they’re at. And yes, that does make them sound like superheroes. But now you can watch them in action. The 24/7 Crisis Diversion Dashboard is an animated map created by a partnership of agencies, that shows where and when people in our city call for help, and how the team gets them what they need. Kelly Husack, director of community initiatives with Reach Edmonton, joins Clare to talk about how this system works, and why they wanted the public to see their work play out.