Unseasonably warm weather is making faces smile across the city this week — much unexpected for this time of year! Where are all the dreary scowls of people fed up with the cold?! It’s like I’m not even in Edmonton anymore…
The city is prepping for the hustle and bustle of the Lunar New Year and other upcoming winter festivals/events. Let’s put it all to good use and get out in the community this week!
Today’s Edition:
Council advances long-stalled development plans near Century Park
Winter road safety and election logistics resurface at City Hall
A mild February reshapes how the city is moving, gathering, and spending time outdoors
Winter festivals and cultural celebrations anchor the early-February calendar
Thoughtful local reading and familiar neighbourhood stops to carry you through the week
This Week In YEG
Edmonton city council approved rezoning at Century Park to unlock development on land that has sat largely dormant for two decades, moving forward with plans for mixed-use housing and retail.
Councillors are again discussing bringing back calcium chloride to manage icy roads after recent winter conditions sparked concerns about safety and vehicle corrosion.
ETS transit has rolled out free shuttle service to the Silver Skate Festival on the weekends of Feb. 7-8 and 14-16, with regular fare and park-and-ride connections available from South Campus Transit Centre.
An interim audit report has renewed calls from a city councillor to reinstate vote tabulators for municipal elections, citing long wait times and challenges certifying results under the current system.
Edmonton’s unusually warm February is easing snow cover and boosting outdoor activity, though some winter events are feeling the effects of the mild weather.
Events Coming Up
Silver Skate Festival — Feb. 6 to Feb. 16, 2026; ten days of winter art, outdoor skating, and river valley programming at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park.
Lunar New Year Extravaganza Year of the Horse — Feb. 7 to Feb. 8, 2026; celebrate Lunar New Year with performances and vendors at West Edmonton Mall (Ice Palace).
Togather Chinatown Arts Festival — Feb. 7 to Feb. 8, 2026; community festival with art, food, and cultural programming at Pacific Mall.
International Festival of Winter Cinema — Feb. 6 to Feb. 15, 2026; outdoor winter film screenings featuring both local and international films!
Galentine’s Floral Workshop with Blossoms and Bubbles — Feb. 12, 2026; hands-on flower arranging workshop at Community Natural Foods in Old Strathcona.
Worth Your Time
Edmonton Public Library’s latest Capital City featured creators — a quiet introduction to artists and writers shaping the city’s present tense. (https://www.epl.ca/2026/02/)
A small, absorbing City Archives piece on the river valley and green spaces — history sketched through place, pathways, and how Edmonton grew around the bends of the North Saskatchewan. (https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/edmonton_archives/river-valley-green-spaces)
Edify’s January/February 2026 issue, with winter-minded reading that suits this stretch of the season. (https://edifyedmonton.com/magazine/edify/january-february-2026/)
Local Finds
Duchess Bake Shop — the kind of pastry case that makes winter feel a little more elegant. (https://duchessbakeshop.com/)
Kaffa Roastery & Studio — a Garneau staple for carefully made coffee and the gentle hum of ambient conversation. (https://www.kaffaroasterystudio.com/)
Before You Go…
I’ve personally been enjoying the sun coming up in the mornings and my walks around downtown. We’ve been spoiled this winter.. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and week ahead.
Time will fly.
Until next time.
E. Lister