Latest news with #CTVNewsEdmonton
CTV News
26 minutes ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Community run kicks off ‘the Friendly Marathon' in August
The 2025 Servus Edmonton Marathon medal was unveiled at the community run on July 29, 2025. (Darcy Seaton/CTV News Edmonton) Eager runners took to Ice District's streets to get the blood flowing in anticipation for a 34-year-old Edmonton marathon's largest event to date. The Servus Edmonton Marathon's unique structure offers Edmontonians the chance to celebrate athleticism and community in what's been dubbed the 'friendly marathon' on Aug. 17. In preparation, organizers created a 5 km community run, held on Tuesday, to help participants and volunteers get in the know about the main event. 'The marathons become much more of a year-long conversation … people register as early as January,' said Brian Torrance, who's with growth and marketing for the marathon. He said there are more than 8,500 people registered this year. Last year, 6,500 signed up. 'We're thrilled … it's our largest ever,' Torrance said. They're always looking for volunteers, though, which is partially where the community run comes in. A medal and t-shirt reveal on Tuesday, Torrance said, is meant to generate interest and excitement in getting involved with the races. They anticipate over 15,000 downtown spectators on the day of the races. 'There's a global popularity around marathons,' he said. The Servus marathon is known for its approachability: a fast, flat course that features five race distances: a marathon, half marathon, 10, 5 and 1 km race. This year, the Servus marathon is hosting the 2025 and 2026 Athletics Canadian Half Marathon championship, which will bring even more athletes into the city of champions. So far, Servus has raised more than $50,000 for local charities this year. Online registration closes at midnight on Aug. 11.
CTV News
an hour ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘Every child is such a gift': 4th annual Youth Teepee Summit hosts Maori
Indigenous dancers are seen at the Youth Teepee Summit in Edmonton on July 29, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Darcy Seaton) Carmen Hatfield said her heart is full after the fourth annual Youth Teepee Summit kicked off its first day in the Edmonton river valley Tuesday. 'Every child is such a gift,' said Hatfield, who is the summit's executive assistant. The summit brings together Indigenous youth from across the province to connect, participate in cultural, physical and education activities, and interact with elders and speakers. But this year, 70 Maori youth from Aotearo (commonly referred to as New Zealand), were also part of the festivities. 'It's incredible to have them here,' said Hatfield. 'It's going to be really inspiring to see their culture … and we can teach each other (our) ways.' TEEPEESUMMIT Indigenous drummers are seen at the Youth Teepee Summit in Edmonton on July 29, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Darcy Seaton) The Maori youth are in Edmonton for the 2025 All Nations Volleyball Showcase that ran from July 25 to 28. 'It's really important for us to make sure that we connect the people of these lands and waters,' said coach Ngaakohu Paapuni. 'They get to sit and listen and learn the narratives of this particular generational knowledge that I think will help benefit our young people in terms of indigeneity around the world.' TEEPEESUMMIT Ngaakohu Paapuni, a Maori volleyball coach speaks to CTV News Edmonton at the 2025 Youth Teepee Summit on July 29, 2025. (Darcy Seaton) Taiki Pou, one of the Maori youth, said the trip has served as an opportunity to experience other Indigenous cultures. 'It's been really cool getting to see the powwow dances, smudging and all these Indigenous experiences from this land and comparing and contrasting them to what we have back home in New Zealand,' Pou told CTV News Edmonton.
CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Edmonton weather: has it really been THAT cool this summer?
An aerial view of the downtown skyline in Edmonton in the summer 2025. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton) There's been a lot of chatter about the lack of heat this summer. But, that's more perception than reality when you look at the numbers and there's some recency bias playing into that perception. Edmonton's had some hot summers the past few years and the past ten days haven't been overly warm in the city. That said – we're actually pretty close to the long-term averages for temperatures. The month of May was three degrees warmer than average (and had three 30 C days). 30 C days June and July are almost exactly on par with the long-term averages and with one 30 C day in July bringing our annual total to four…THAT is right in line with 'average'. 25 C days We HAVE had significantly fewer days with highs 25 C or hotter in July (than the recent past). We're at nine, so far in July of 2025. That's the fewest since 2020 (when we had 10). We'll likely get to a total of 11 or 12 by the end of this month, but that's still a far cry from the TWENTY that we had in July of last year. July 2023 had 15, July 2022 had 17 and July 2021 had 21. Looking at May, June AND July…we've had 22 days of 25+ C heat (on track for 24 or 25). That would put us in line with 2024, but well behind 2023 (41 days) & 2021 (35 days). 2022 and 2020 both had fewer – 19 and 14 respectively. As I mentioned earlier, we've had four 30 C days so far in 2025 (with the chance to get one or two more before the end of this month). Summer averages The long-term average for Edmonton in an entire year is four 30 C days. For the months of May/June/July - 2023 had five. 2022 had two. 2020 had none. But LAST year, we had ELEVEN 30 C days in May/June/July. AND…in 2021…we had 19! So…despite how it may 'seem' like a cool summer – we're actually on par with a 'normal' summer when it comes to both average temperatures and the number of 'hot' days. It just might not feel that way because of the hot summers of the past few years and the lack of heat in the past week or two.
CTV News
a day ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Province working to improve highway intersection east of Edmonton that was site of death
The intersection of highways 16 and 855 two kilometres south of Mundare, Alta., on July 28, 2025. Less than a week ago, Bernie and Allison Palsitt were preparing for their daughter's graduation party. Now, they're planning her funeral. Annya Palsitt excelled in sports, loved to paint and planned to become a teacher. '(She) was such a spitfire; the energy she had was just amazing,' Allison told CTV News Edmonton on Monday. 'You couldn't persuade her to do something unless she really wanted to do it, and she set her mind to do so many things.' But the 17-year-old's bright future was cut short last week in a highway collision 75 kilometres east of Edmonton. Annya was on her way home Friday to the family farm near Mundare from work as a camp counsellor when her vehicle was hit by a semi-trailer while crossing Highway 16 on Highway 855. Annya Palsitt Allison and Bernie Palsitt hold a poster celebrating the recent high school graduation of their daughter, Annya, who died in a highway crash on July 25, 2025, south of Mundare, Alta. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton) 'Hug your kids and tell them how much they mean to you because you never know when the last time is,' Bernie told CTV News Edmonton. The highway intersection two kilometres south of the town has been a problem spot for years, says Mundare Mayor Cheryl Calinou, even though improvements to it have been made over time, including flashing signs, better lighting and rumble strips to warn about the crossing. 'It's always been an ongoing concern because it's such a bad intersection,' Calinou told CTV News Edmonton. 'So many fatalities, accidents almost weekly. It's been horrible.' Devin Dreeshan, Alberta's transportation minister, told CTV News Edmonton in a statement a study was recently done to see what improvements could be made to this intersection, including the need for an interchange. Detailed design work is expected to start as early as 2026. Once that is complete and funding is in place, Dreeshan says construction could be completed within a two-year window.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
‘Standing hand-in-hand': South Asian community uniting amidst targeted crimes
Buttar Gusharan, the general manager and journalist at My Radio 580, speaks to CTV News Edmonton on July 27, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Connor Hogg) Ahead of a town hall Monday that will address a spike in crimes against Edmonton's South Asian community, Buttar Gusharan said people standing together in solidarity. 'We are standing hand-in-hand and we are willing to face any challenge,' Gusharan told CTV News Edmonton Sunday. Gursharan is the general manager and a journalist at My Radio 580. He said while his community is staying strong, many are trying to stay under the radar to avoid getting targeted. 'We have lost 14 accounts on the radio directly,' said Gusharan, adding that South Asian businesses are afraid of having their name, telephone number and locations public. 'I know many people who are afraid.' Many in the community are looking to move out of the country because they do not feel safe, Gusharan said. The goal of the town hall is to strengthen the relationship between police and the community and ensure members feel comfortable reporting crimes to police. While he hopes the town hall will fortify that relationship, Gusharan says more needs to be done. 'The government needs to come up with some solution very soon,' he said. 'In a peaceful country like Canada, there is lawlessness, and that scares me.' Edmonton police announced the town hall earlier this month after a surge in crimes against the city's South Asian community. Police say the incidents are believed to be tangentially related to Project Gaslight, a series of 40 arson, extortion and shootings targeting South Asian homebuilders in 2023 and 2024. Investigators believe the current scheme is being run in a similar way to Project Gaslight, with higher ranking gang members ordering younger members to commit the crimes. It is believed that one of the players could be the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The India Counter Terrorism law enforcement agency said that gang's leader, Bishnoi, operates his syndicate from jails in different states, in India and through an associate in Canada. Gusharan said the threats will often start with extortion over the phone where the victim is asked to provide a large amount of money. The perpetrators will go so far as to contact employers, colleagues, friends and family in order to get money from the victim. B.C. Premier David Eby has called on the federal government to designate the gang as a terrorist organization in Canada. When the Edmonton police held a town hall last year, Gusharan said it was a 'game changer.' 'Lots of people came out to support, the police gave us all the information and there was trust built,' he said. The town hall will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the Southwood Community League. Capacity is limited and anyone who wishes to attend is encouraged to register online. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Connor Hogg and Karyn Mulcahy
