Friday, May 9

• The Sturgeon County wildfire that has forced some Albertans to evacuate their homes doubled in size Thursday to roughly 3,000 hectares
  
  

• Thousands of Government of Alberta employees started holding votes on whether to follow the lead of Alberta's nurses and go on strike. 
  
  
• Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange is denying claims by the Alberta NDP that Bill 55 would carve a path towards privatized health care.
   
• In Sports, Robert Tychkowski and Gerry Moddejonge analyze the Edmonton Oilers' overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2.
  
  
• In Arts, Fish Griwkowsky highlights some of the events around Edmonton this weekend, and we review the Citadel Theatre's production of Little Women.

Thoughts or suggestions? Email rostad@postmedia.com

— Ramin Ostad

Wildfire in Sturgeon County grows as evacuation order expanded

A Sturgeon County wildfire doubled in size overnight to a total of approximately 3,000 hectares by Thursday afternoon. “The threat of further fire spread continues, with high wind in the forecast into tomorrow. The evacuation alert area remains unchanged and applies to everyone located east of Range Road 223 to the North Saskatchewan River and between Township Road 580 south to Township Road 570, including the town of Redwater,” said a news release from Sturgeon County.

Edmonton Chamber of Commerce eyes municipal future

The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce (ECC) departed from convention at its latest State of Our City event to have a more “frank, solutions-focused conversation” about the city’s future, which notably excluded the mayor. “We’re not here to beat anyone up, but we are determined that we’re not going to settle for the status quo anymore, and we’re going to drive this city forward,” said chamber CEO Doug Griffiths in his opening remarks to the audience.

Union representing thousands of Alberta provincial employees holding strike votes

Thousands of Government of Alberta employees will be holding strike votes starting Thursday. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), which represents 23,500 provincial employees, said the province applied on April 30 to lock out its members. After seeing the United Nurses of Alberta settle on a new deal and secure a 20 per cent wage increase, AUPE says its members deserve nothing less.

A kick to the head, or a 'distractionary technique?' Ex-Edmonton police officer takes stand in assault trial

A former Edmonton Police Service officer on trial for assault denied he kicked the alleged victim in the head, describing his actions as a “push” and a “distractionary technique” intended to get control of a resisting suspect. Oli Olason took the witness stand in his Court of King’s Bench trial Thursday and told jurors he believes he acted reasonably and proportionately while arresting Lee Van Beaver in an alleyway outside a south side coffee shop in 2021.

'Great joy': Election of first American Pope celebrated in Edmonton

Catholic leaders and parishioners across the province watched history unfold as Cardinal Robert Prevost was chosen as Pope Leo XIV, the first American ever to hold the role in history. Father Paul Kavanagh, speaking on behalf of Archbishop Richard Smith, called the moment one of “great joy” and said the quick election demonstrated the “gift of the Holy Spirit within this election today.” Bishop William McGrattan, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (shown above) noted the historical significance of invoking the name of Leo XIII.

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Braid: Former UCP minister Peter Guthrie says separatism campaign could severely damage economy

It’s not quite right to say Peter Guthrie is a thorn in the side of Premier Danielle Smith’s government. The former UCP minister is more like a stake through the heart. “Albertans now know Premier Smith intended to use the federal election as a platform to push her own agenda, the threat of a separation vote,” Guthrie tells me. “Immediately following Mark Carney’s victory, she introduced legislation designed to hold such a vote — coinciding with the launch of a petition by advocates pursuing the same objective.”

LaGrange denies Opposition accusations of Bill 55 hospital privatization

Opposition New Democrats said Thursday the Alberta government’s Bill 55 opens the door for private ownership of hospitals, something the government denies, stating such accusations amount to “empty fearmongering. ”The Health Statutes Amendment Act was introduced in the legislature last week and proposes hundreds of changes across its 332 pages of text, amounting to amending over 50 bills from 19 ministries.

Another Edmonton Oilers comeback puts Golden Knights in a stranglehold

If this was a mob movie set in the Vegas desert, the Edmonton Oilers would be lining their trunk with plastic and buying a couple of shovels. They haven’t quite “eliminated” the Golden Knights yet, but it wouldn’t hurt to get some holes dug. The Oilers put their second-round series in a death grip Thursday, posting a 5-4 overtime victory to take a 2-0 series lead back to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4. 

5 THINGS: Edmonton Oilers tighten grip on playoff series against Vegas

You will have to forgive the Edmonton Oilers if they don’t stop for directions. It’s the same playoff path they followed all the way to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last year. But if they appear a little lost after winning Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in overtime on Thursday, it’s probably because it’s only the second time the Oilers have taken a 2-0 lead in a best-of-7 playoff series since 1988.

Edmonton Oilers' foot soldiers winning the battles in this playoff run

This is the most ironic Edmonton Oilers playoff run ever. Their penalty killing, which was pretty much at the heart of last year’s Stanley Cup run, is leaking oil. Their legendary power play is 0-for-12 on the road and just whiffed on a five-minute opportunity in overtime Thursday. Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl aren’t carrying the team at all. In three of the past four Oilers wins, they combined for two points twice and one point once.

FascinAsian Film Fest, Muttart Mother's Day, shiny art and more to do this weekend

FascinAsian Film Festival: This first-ever Edmonton appearance of Winnipeg-born FascinAsian includes four features, 15 shorts and much more. After the sold-out opening ceremony, family drama Lucky Star plays Landmark City Centre 8 p.m. Friday, then Saturday it’s cancer drama Paper Flowers at 2 p.m., with free-diving documentary 7 Beats Per Minute at 7 p.m.
 

Review: Little Women at the Citadel Theatre full of engaging characters

Adaptations of classic works are tricky. In taking another crack at The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Jane Eyre or Anne of Green Gables, writers must convince an audience that the tale has contemporary relevance, while retaining enough connection to the original text to engage fans drawn to see the familiar story.

This space is dedicated to the fabulous and impactful photos taken by Postmedia photographers while they’re out and about town.

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A pedestrian tries to fix a giant 'Go Edmonton' sign set up at 100A Street and 101A Avenue on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Photo by David Bloom/Postmedia

Fans watch Game 2 between the Edmonton Oilers and the Vegas Golden Knights on the big screen at Public Plaza in Edmonton on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Greg Southam/Postmedia

Early wildfire season surprises some Alberta MLAs. Cartoon by Malcolm Mayes.