Good Morning, Edmonton! ☀️

With the city basking in warm-weather-energy we are off to the races with outdoor events of all types: sports, music, dance, markets…you name it! There’s something for everyone this week, and I hope you get out to enjoy some of it!

A small ask…if you haven’t already, follow our instagram! Working on making it more engaging and useful over the coming weeks. This is all a one-man operation (so far), and every follower helps—so thank you!

Finally, it’s my Dad’s birthday, so a very happy birthday to a very special man.

Have a great week, everyone!

—Eric

🗑️ Grassroots cleanup crew is helping Edmonton shine a little brighter. Local group Litter Pickers has started hosting monthly community cleanups around the city, filling 22 garbage bags at Kinsmen Park in April and 17 more at Wilbert McIntyre Park in May. Their next meetup is June 14 from 2–4 pm at Ralph King Athletic Centre, inviting locals to pitch in, pick up, and take a little more pride in the places we share! Let’s help them out—follow their instagram here!

🍗 Popeyes serving Ben’s Meal for a meaningful cause. On Ben’s Day (yesterday, May 27th), all net proceeds from the special meal at 21 northern Alberta Popeyes locations went to the Ben Stelter Foundation, supporting cancer research, equipment, and wishes for young cancer patients. The campaign honours beloved Oilers superfan Ben Stelter, whose go-to order included chicken tenders, Cajun fries, mac-and-cheese, and a Coca-Cola.

🌳 An Edmonton student’s tree project just earned national recognition. Grade 12 student Josh Kirsch won a $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship after creating Ancient Roots Alberta, a website that tracks and documents heritage trees across the province. The platform already includes 374 verified trees, with Kirsch hoping it inspires more Albertans to look closer at the old, unique, and story-filled trees growing in their own neighbourhoods. Congratulations Josh!

🛒 A new Costco is coming to northeast Edmonton. The City has approved a permit for a new location at 289 Ebbers Blvd. NW, with the project valued at just over $28 million. The warehouse is also expected to include a liquor store, though opening details have not yet been released.

🆓 Edmonton Ukrainian Festival (May 29-30) 🇺🇦 Western Canada’s largest Ukrainian festival returns to Borden Park this weekend. UFest runs Friday, May 29 from 5–11 pm and Saturday, May 30 from 11 am –11 pm, bringing free Ukrainian dance, live music, pyrohy, kovbasa, kids’ activities, vendors, workshops, and UFest After Dark to 7507 Borden Park Rd NW.

🆓 Agora 1 Year Anniversary Market (May 29-30) 🛍️ Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 from 10 am –4 pm at 10906 105 Ave NW, with 25+ local vendors, sweet treats, mini tattoos, giveaways, hourly prizes, a charm bar, DIY paint workshop, vintage photo booth, and plenty of pink birthday-market energy!

🆓 William Hawrelak Park Grand Reopening (Saturday, May 30th) 🌳 After a major rehabilitation project, the park celebrates its grand reopening on Saturday, May 30th from 11 am–4 pm, with live performances, a mayor’s welcome and park blessing, food trucks, discovery zones, scavenger hunts, prizes, EPL pop-ups, Fort Edmonton activities, and more!

🆓 Community Tree Planting (Sunday, May 31st) 🌱 Root for Trees hosts Connect with our Roots on Sunday, May 31 from 1–4 pm at kihcihkaw askî/Sacred Land, where visitors can help plant native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers, enjoy bannock and tea, take in cultural performances, visit community exhibitors, and bring home a wildflower from the plant giveaway. Reserve your spot.

🆓 Seniors’ Week Kickoff (Monday, June 1st) 🎉 Head to Edmonton City Hall on Monday, June 1 at 10 am-1pm for the annual Seniors’ Week Kick-Off Event! This year is themed around connecting generations with intergenerational activities, community fun, local entertainment, and a welcoming start to the week.

🎟️ Riverhawks Home Opener (Friday, May 29th) ⚾ The Riverhawks are back in the River Valley! The boys open their 2026 home season at RE/MAX Field on Friday, May 29th at 7:05 pm against the Wenatchee AppleSox, with a Home Opener Party and pre-game Indigenous Celebration to kick off another summer of baseball, sunshine, and chaos at the ballpark. Tickets!

🎟️ International Children’s Festival of the Arts (May 29 - June 1) 🎭 The International Children’s Festival of the Arts brings four wonder-filled days to St. Albert! Running May 29 to June 1, the festival fills the downtown core with world-class performances, music, roving artists, hands-on activities, storytelling, dance, magic, BMX stunts, and plenty of creative chaos for kids and families. Get your tickets here.

🎟️ Dogs! A Science Tail (Until September 7th) 🐶 This exhibit at the TELUS World of Sciecne lets visitors explore how dogs see, hear, smell, communicate, and bond with humans through hands-on exhibits like training a virtual dog, racing against the world’s fastest pups, and digging up replica fossils. The exhibit is included with general admission and runs until September 7th. Showtimes and tickets here!

🎟️ Canada vs. Uzbekistan @ Commonwealth (Monday, June 1st) ⚽ Canada’s men’s national team is making one final Edmonton stop before the World Cup. The CANMNT takes on Uzbekistan at Commonwealth Stadium on Monday, June 1 at 7 pm, giving Edmontonians a chance to send Canada into its 2026 World Cup journey with a little extra noise, momentum, and belief! Tickets still available.

🎟️ The Black Keys: PEACHES ‘N KREAM World Tour (Wednesday, June 3rd) 🎸 The Black Keys are bringing the blues-rock heat to Rogers Place. The Grammy-winning duo stops in Edmonton on Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 pm for their PEACHES ‘N KREAM World Tour, with special guest Jeremie Albino opening the night. Tickets here!

With Hawrelak Park reopening this Saturday after a three-year closure, its fascinating backstory is worth revisiting.

Before it became one of Edmonton’s best-loved gathering places, the site was a former river valley gravel pit transformed into Mayfair Park under Mayor William Hawrelak — a wildly popular, scandal-shadowed mayor who resigned in 1959 after a misconduct inquiry, returned to office in 1963, was removed again in 1965, and later won one final comeback before passing away in 1975.

His scandals largely centred on land deals and conflict-of-interest allegations, including claims that he used his position to benefit himself and his associates financially. Still, his legacy is more complicated than the scandals alone: during Edmonton’s post-war boom, he helped push forward major civic projects and river valley spaces that continue to shape how the city gathers today.

The park was eventually renamed in his honour, leaving Edmonton with a river valley landmark whose history is almost as dramatic as the man behind it.

Dogpatch 📍 10158 90 St NW #101

Tucked into Riverdale just steps from the river, Dogpatch is a neighbourhood bistro and patio built for slow weekend brunches, casual weeknight dinners, and anytime drinks with friends. If you haven’t been, this is a place you have to visit!

The name nods to the area’s old “Dogpatch” community, while the restaurant itself leans cozy and current with scratch-made bistro eats, handcrafted drinks, weekend brunch, and that quietly tucked-away River Valley feel.

Make them your next outing!

📸 @dogpatchyeg
👉 Mon–Thu 11 am–10 pm | Fri–Sun 9 am–10 pm