First Snow Arrives, the Bank of Canada Hikes and the Flames Visit the Oilers

Published 10 days agoΒ β€’Β 7 min read

First Snow Arrives, the Bank of Canada Hikes and the Flames Visit the Oilers

Issue No. 221: Edmonton gets its first real snow, the Bank of Canada raises its rate, and the Flames visit the Oilers tonight.

Good morning, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Wednesday!

Light snow is on the way again this afternoon with a high near minus 2C, so grab your boots and give yourself a little extra time on the roads. The Bank of Canada raised its key rate, the Flames visit the Oilers tonight, and the RCMP is looking into Alberta health contracting.

Looking for something to do tonight? The Battle of Alberta is on at Rogers Place, and A Creature Feature Cabaret runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Whyte Avenue. Scroll down for the full lineup of events too.

We recommend taking a look at Shortform, they turn thousands of non fiction books into quick, easy to read guides so you can pick up the big ideas in minutes

🌨️ Edmonton Wakes Up to Its First Real Snow

Edmonton and area woke up to the first major snowfall of the winter, just days before Halloween.

  • A few centimetres are on the ground, and light snow is expected to keep falling through Wednesday across central Alberta.
  • It is a chilly, breezy morning, and the fresh snow has made some Halloween lawn displays a little spookier.

Snow tires on yet? Hit reply and tell us how your commute went. See the first snow photos and story​

πŸ’ The Battle of Alberta Is Back at Rogers Place

The Calgary Flames visit the Edmonton Oilers tonight for the first Battle of Alberta of the season.

  • The Flames arrive as the hotter and more surprising team so far this season.
  • The Oilers are looking to bounce back after a 4 to 3 loss to Detroit on Monday and a 7 to 2 defeat to Toronto on Saturday.

Who takes it tonight? Hit reply with your score prediction. Read the game preview​

🚨 RCMP Looking Into Alberta Health Contracting

Court documents show the RCMP is investigating possible fraud, breach of trust and money laundering tied to health care contracting in Alberta.

  • The details come from an October 15 letter filed in former AHS head Athana Mentzelopoulos's wrongful dismissal lawsuit, and none of it has been proven in court.
  • Justice Minister Mickey Amery says the government will cooperate fully, while NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi is calling for a public inquiry.

Is an inquiry the answer? Hit reply and tell us where you land. Read the full story​

πŸ›οΈ An Outspoken UCP MLA Is Stepping Down

Shane Getson, the UCP MLA for Lac Ste. Anne Parkland, is resigning from the Alberta legislature.

  • The two term backbencher cited personal and family reasons for leaving.
  • He was known for plainspoken comments that often rankled the NDP Opposition.

Will his exit shift the mood at the legislature? Hit reply and tell us. Read the full story​

πŸ’° The Bank of Canada Just Raised Its Rate

The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate to 2.5 per cent this morning, its first hike in more than three years.

  • The bank says more increases might be needed to stop soaring energy costs from fuelling broader inflation.
  • That could show up in variable rate mortgages and lines of credit.

Variable or fixed, how is your budget holding up? Hit reply and tell us. See what the bank said​

🀝 Canada and Europe Sit Down in Montreal

Prime Minister Mark Carney and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meet in Montreal Thursday and Friday to launch a year of formal talks on a deeper partnership.

  • Topics on the table include critical minerals, defence, clean energy, technology, and natural gas, hydrogen and nuclear power.
  • The summit lands on the 10th anniversary of CETA, and Quebec's premier is in a public dispute with Ottawa over his role.

What would a closer tie with Europe mean for Alberta energy? Hit reply and tell us. Read the summit preview​

πŸ• A B.C. Rescuer Dies Saving Animals in Ukraine

Jesse Adams, founder of Victoria's RainCoast Dog Rescue Society, has died after a drone struck the vehicle he was using to move animals in eastern Ukraine.

  • His team is estimated to have evacuated about 1,000 animals from Ukraine, on top of thousands more rescued back home.
  • Victoria Humane Society director Penny Stone called him a force of nature.

Hit reply if you would like to share a kind word for his team. Read his story​

πŸ—³οΈ Israel's Election Ends in a Standoff

Israel's election is too close to call, with early exit polls showing no clear path to power for either side.

  • Exit polls put the blocs led by Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Gadi Eisenkot at about 51 seats each, though final results may differ.
  • Turnout topped 77 per cent, the highest since 1999, and coalition talks could take weeks.

Want us to keep following this one? Hit reply and let us know. Follow the results​

Edmonton Weather: Wednesday, October 28

Light snow this afternoon adds another 1 to 3 cm with a high near minus 2C, though it feels closer to minus 7C with northwest gusts up to 30 km/h. Another centimetre or so falls tonight, so give yourself extra time on the roads. See the full forecast​

Hit or Miss 🎯

Trivia Tuesday answer: the Alberta Legislature Building officially opened in 1912, on September 3, so B was the right pick. Nicely done if you got it!

With the first real snow of the season on the ground, nothing beats something warm. A big bowl of soup on a snowy day, hit or miss?

Hit reply and tell us your favourite cold day comfort food in Edmonton or the surrounding areas, whether it is a bowl of pho, a pot of soup or something with extra cheese.

Feature My Business

Do you have a business you'd like us to show case or shine a spotlight on? Tell us about it by submitting a request here ➑ urbanbrief@theurbanbriefedmonton.com

Events Happening in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas

Wednesday, October 28

πŸ’ Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Wed Oct 28 Β· πŸ“ Rogers Place, 10220 104 Ave NW
Catch a Battle of Alberta as the Oilers face their provincial rivals on home ice. See the ticket listing for puck-drop time.

πŸŽƒ A Creature Feature Cabaret 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Wed Oct 28 Β· ⏰ 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Β· πŸ“ Rooster Kitchen + Bar, 10732 Whyte Ave NW
Enjoy a Halloween-themed evening of song, dance and comedy featuring emerging Edmonton artists. Food and drinks are available at the venue.thegatewayonline+1

πŸ“š Learn Downtown: Convivencia and the Art of Sharing Space 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Wed Oct 28 Β· ⏰ 12:15 p.m. Β· πŸ“ Stanley A. Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Sq
Spend your lunch hour exploring the idea of convivencia and how people share space through this downtown learning event

🚲 Inclusive Transportation Book Launch 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Wed Oct 28 Β· ⏰ 7 p.m. Β· πŸ“ Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science, University of Alberta
Join a book-launch event focused on inclusive transportation at the University of Alberta.

Thursday, October 29

Thursday, October 29
October 29, 2026
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Come practice before the big night
Neuro Wise Edmonton ADHD Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
Free to Attend
Registration required at
​https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/halloween-how-to-trick-or-treat-practice-tickets-2001268108786​

🎨 Free Admission at the Art Gallery of Alberta 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Thu Oct 29 Β· ⏰ 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Β· πŸ“ Art Gallery of Alberta, 2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq
Explore the gallery’s exhibitions for free during its last-Thursday-of-the-month admission evening.

πŸŽƒ DARK at Fort Edmonton Park 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Thu Oct 29 Β· ⏰ Gates open 6:30 p.m. Β· πŸ“ Fort Edmonton Park, 7000 143 St NW
Step into the final weekend of DARK, featuring haunted attractions, scare zones, roving entertainment and seasonal food. Haunts operate from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.travelandtourworld+1

🎭 Alice by Laura Wade 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Thu Oct 29 Β· πŸ“ Second Playing Space, Timms Centre for the Arts, University of Alberta
Catch ABBEDAM’s imaginative, darker take on Lewis Carroll’s familiar story during its short October run.

Friday, October 30

πŸ₯• Bountiful Farmers’ Market 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Fri Oct 30 Β· ⏰ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Β· πŸ“ 3696 97 St NW
Stock up on local groceries, fresh baking, prepared meals and artisan products before Halloween weekend.

🎧 Scream 2026 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Fri Oct 30 Β· ⏰ 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Β· πŸ“ Edmonton EXPO Centre, 7515 118 Ave NW
Kick off Halloween weekend at a large-scale dance event with live electronic music and Halloween production. Review admission and age requirements before booking.

πŸŽƒ DARK at Fort Edmonton Park 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Fri Oct 30 Β· ⏰ Gates open 6:30 p.m. Β· πŸ“ Fort Edmonton Park, 7000 143 St NW
Spend Halloween eve exploring haunted attractions, scare zones and after-dark entertainment. Haunts open at 7 p.m.travelandtourworld+1

🎭 Alice by Laura Wade 🎟️ Details​
πŸ—“ Fri Oct 30 Β· πŸ“ Second Playing Space, Timms Centre for the Arts, University of Alberta
See a University of Alberta student-and-alumni cast bring Laura Wade’s emotional reimagining of Alice in Wonderland to the stage.

Our mission is to help Edmonton and the surrounding communities stay informed without wading through the noise. We believe in real stories over clickbait, and neighbours over headlines. The Urban Brief delivers only the local news that matters, verified, straightforward and written with care, so you feel more connected, more informed and more at home in your own city.