Latest news with #CityOfEdmonton


CTV News
10-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Edmontonians angry at city response after public tree damages car
Eryn Dodd said her car was damaged by a city-owned tree when a branch fell off it. The tree in question had been reported to the city weeks earlier as possibly sick. (Supplied) Some Edmonton residents are frustrated by the city's response after one of its trees damaged a vehicle more than two weeks after it was reported as a problem. Grovenor resident Callan Wassenaar said he sent in pictures of a sick tree on his boulevard about a month ago after the City of Edmonton sent out newsletters asking residents to look out for emerald ash borer (EAB) infestations. 'Several of the limbs were dead or dying, a lot of the EAB symptoms were showing. Small shoots near the bottom of the tree, dead branches and that sort of thing,' Wassenaar said. 'Sixteen days later, the tree came down and damaged our neighbour's vehicle.' That neighbour was Eryn Dodd, who moved in next door about a month ago. She said she was looking out her window and saw the branch fall. 'It was pretty big. It smashed my windshield,' Dodd said. Grovenor tree damage ash borer Eryn Dodd said her windshield was smashed in by a branch that fell off a City of Edmonton tree that her neighbour reported as possibly sick two weeks earlier. (Supplied) Dodd has filed a claim with the city to pay for the damage, which cost her about $500. The city said it will take up to four months to investigate and make a decision. Dodd said the city should pay because it owns the tree and knew from Wassenaar's report that there was a problem with it. 'It's not really that hard to put together, like a tree from the city fell and broke my windshield,' she added. A City of Edmonton representative told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday that the city can't comment on a specific claim. In a statement, Mark Beare, director of infrastructure operations, said city trees are assessed every two years and that arborists are ready to respond at any time to hazards like broken or downed limbs that are reported through 311. Grovenor tree damage ash borer Damage can be seen on a city-owned tree in Grovenor after a branch came off of it. (Nav Sangha/CTV News Edmonton) 'Several times this season, crews have responded to storm damage across the city. This is typical for this time of year and we are not seeing any trends out of the ordinary,' Mark Beare, director of infrastructure operations said. Beare said EAB has not yet been found in Edmonton, but that it is monitoring for the pest and residents with concerns over it or Dutch elm disease – including dying branches – should contact 311. According to Wassenaar, branches have continued to fall off the tree, prompting him to make multiple follow-up reports to 311 since the initial complaint. Grovenor tree damage ash borer Grovenor resident Callan Wassenaar says multiple branches have fallen off this city-owned tree in his neighbourhood. He has made several reports about it, but said the city's response has been slow. (Supplied) Wassenaar said he has also reported seven other ash trees in his neighbourhood he believes are showing signs of EAB infestation. He's frustrated with how long it's taking the city to investigate, since tampering with a city tree could get him fined. 'They're the ones that issued the EAB alert, they should be the ones going out and dealing with the trees when people like myself report them,' he said. 'If we're reporting them and they're not doing anything about it, then what's the point of reporting,' he added. Both him and Dodd are concerned the tree – and others in the area – could do more damage while they are 'stuck waiting on the city' to follow up on the 311 reports. 'Thank God it was only my car. What if it was a person or me getting out of the car,' Dodd said. 'It's crazy,' Wassenaar said. 'I try not to walk on the sidewalks even near the trees right now, because that's how concerned I am about them.' Waassenaar said the tree that damaged the car was recently looked at by a city forestry officer, but he doesn't yet know what will happen with it.


CBC
14-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Keeping Dutch elm disease in check
In August, 2024, Dutch elm disease was found in Edmonton for the first time. Since its introduction from Europe to North America in the 1930s, the disase has destroyed millions of elm trees. Mike Jenkins tells what plans the city has for managing the pest this summer. He is a senior scientist in the city's Integrated Pest Management Lab.


CTV News
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Stony Plain Road and 124 Street reopens
The intersection of Stony Plain Road and 124 Street has reopened after being closed for more than a month for Valley Line West LRT construction.


CTV News
10-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
City, transit union reach tentative agreement
The city and ETS workers reached a tentative agreement on Monday following months of negotiations. ETS workers are represented by the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 569. The ATU will hold a ratification vote with its members in the coming days. The City of Edmonton did not provide further details as the process is still ongoing. 'Both parties are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that balances the needs of Edmonton transit workers while considering the sustainability of city finances,' said a statement issued by the city Tuesday. The city and the ATU began negotiations on Aug. 14, 2024, and have met for 17 bargaining and mediation sessions since then. The last contract ended on Dec. 30, 2023. The tentative agreement, which needs to be ratified by both parties before coming into effect, will cover a four-year term from Dec. 31, 2023 to Dec. 11, 2027.


CTV News
29-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Street sweeping, parking ban ends Friday evening
Trucks are seen in an Edmonton neighbourhood cleaning the streets. (Supplied) The City of Edmonton says spring street sweeping and the residential parking ban will come to an end Friday at 5 p.m. Crews cleaned more than 6,200 kilometres of roadways, bike lanes and major pathways since starting the sweep on April 14. 'Due to an increase in the number of snow events and freeze/thaw cycles in the region during the winter season, 230 per cent more traction material was applied to roadways and active pathways,' said the city in a Thursday statement. 'This resulted in a larger amount of debris on the roadways, requiring more passes and slower speeds during spring street sweeping.' Crews will continue to respond to notifications in areas requiring further sweeping. Residents are encouraged to call 311 to report areas with heightened levels of debris. Regular weekly sweeps will be conducted in business improvement areas and other high-speed roadways throughout the season.