Alberta Optometrists Can Now Perform Surgery!

Alberta optometrists can now perform surgery in-clinic — a Canadian first! 👁️🚀

Edmonton Buzz Team :)

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Trivia Question❓

Which city directly to the southeast of Edmonton serves as the seat of Strathcona County and is often called the "Industrial Heartland" capital of Canada?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Happy Thursday! 🥂

Optometrist Surgical Procedures Now Available in-Clinic.

Lets get to it..

The Edmonton Buzz Team 🐝

Our featured story

In the news this week

Alberta is set to become the first Canadian province allowing qualified optometrists to perform select minor surgical and laser procedures in-clinic

Alberta is making history in eye care — and Edmonton residents will be among the first to benefit.

Starting November 2026, Alberta becomes the first province in Canada to allow qualified Doctors of Optometry to perform select surgical and laser procedures directly inside their community clinics.

Approved treatments include stye removal, eyelid lesion removal, peripheral iridotomy, selective laser trabeculoplasty for glaucoma, and Nd:YAG capsulotomy for post-cataract clouding — procedures that previously required specialist referrals and lengthy waits.

With over 950 optometrists practising province-wide, the expanded scope creates a distributed care network that brings treatment closer to patients — especially those in rural communities where specialist access has long been limited.

Authorization requires rigorous training, supervised practice, and individual certification. This is a smarter redistribution of care — not a compromise of it.

For Edmonton patients managing conditions like glaucoma, faster community-level access could mean the difference between preserving vision and losing it.

What's happening?

Things to do this weekend

1. Outdoor and Nature

Walk: Mill Creek Ravine to Louise McKinney Park & Back:
A guided river-valley walk with Xplore Wilderness.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 10:00 AM
Location: Mill Creek Ravine to Louise McKinney Park
Cost: Not listed (Meetup RSVP)
Click for details

Halloween at Magrath:
A lit outdoor trail that is more atmosphere than scare, with treat stations on Halloween night. Donations support the university's student food bank.
Date: Through October 31, evenings
Location: Magrath Campus, 6240 Ada Blvd
Cost: Free (donations welcome)
Click for details

Spooktacular Acreage:
More than 200 lit Halloween inflatables on a Parkland County acreage, with stroller-friendly paths.
Date: Through October 31, 6–9 PM
Location: Spruce Grove
Cost: Free (food bank donations welcome)
Click for details

Hawrelak Footbridge – Quesnel Bridge Loop:
An evening river-valley walk with the Active Living Club.
Date: Thursday, October 29, 6:30 PM
Location: Hawrelak Park area
Cost: Not listed
Click for details

Walk and Talk (Language Practice in the River Valley):
A relaxed walk where you practise languages outdoors.
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2:00 PM
Location: Edmonton river valley
Cost: Not listed
Click for details

2. Shows & Entertainment 📺

The Phantom of the Opera: Live Organ & Film:
Organist Dennis James accompanies the 1925 silent classic live on the Davis Concert Organ.
Date: October 30–31, 7:30 PM
Location: Winspear Centre
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Horizon Drive-In Halloween Edition:
Halloween-themed movies on a drive-in screen at the Valley Zoo, costumes encouraged. Oct 29 starts with Scooby-Doo and The Addams Family; the weekend runs to Hocus Pocus, Ghostbusters and Scream.
Date: October 29–31, 7:00 PM start each night
Location: Edmonton Valley Zoo
Cost: Ticketed (price not listed)
Click for details

Rocky Horror Picture Show (Shadow Cast):
A full shadow-cast screening with costumes, singalongs and audience participation.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 11:59 PM
Location: Metro Cinema
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Yaga, by Kat Sandler:
A comedic whodunit that twists the Baba Yaga legend into a small-town mystery.
Date: Through November 1
Location: Shadow Theatre
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Candlelight: Halloween Classics:
A string quartet plays Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, The Addams Family, Danse Macabre and Thriller by candlelight.
Date: Friday, October 30, 8:45–10:00 PM
Location: McDougall United Church
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

3. Arts, Crafts & Culture 🎭

Wenda Salomons: gesture / Raymond Thériault: Urban Portraits:
Two gallery exhibitions on at once.
Date: Through November 21
Location: Harcourt House Artist Run Centre
Cost: Free / pay-what-you-can
Click for details

Kelly Andres: Gleaning the Blue-Green:
A visual art exhibition.
Date: Through December 5
Location: Mitchell Art Gallery
Cost: Free / pay-what-you-can
Click for details

Interior Motifs:
A craft exhibition.
Date: Through October 31
Location: Alberta Craft Council
Cost: Free / pay-what-you-can
Click for details

To Know Us:
A community and multi-disciplinary visual art installation.
Date: Through December 1
Location: City Hall
Cost: Free / pay-what-you-can
Click for details

India Film Festival of Alberta 2026:
Several days of Indian cinema.
Date: October 30 – November 1
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Not listed
Click for details

4. Family Activities & Kid-Friendly 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Scare on the Square 2026:
A family Halloween afternoon on the plaza, run as City of Edmonton plaza programming.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 12:00–4:00 PM
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: Not listed (city programming, likely free)
Click for details

Indoor Trick-or-Treat at Sherwood Park Mall:
A free three-hour trick-or-treat on Halloween afternoon.
Date: Saturday, October 31, afternoon (check listing for hours)
Location: Sherwood Park Mall
Cost: Free
Click for details

Edmonton Halloween House Map:
A map of the city's best-decorated Halloween houses for a free walk or drive.
Date: Through Halloween
Location: City-wide
Cost: Free
Click for details

Maisie's Magical Halloween House:
A free walk-through house that is gentle enough for younger kids.
Date: October
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Free
Click for details

Pumpkins After Dark:
A one-kilometre path past more than 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins, with no jump scares. Final night is October 31.
Date: Through October 31, 6:30–11:00 PM
Location: Borden Park
Cost: Ticketed (kids 3 and under free)
Click for details

5. Night Life🌜

SCREAM 2026:
Canada's biggest Halloween music festival: two nights, four stages and 40+ electronic artists.
Date: October 30–31
Location: Edmonton EXPO Centre
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Hip Hop Halloween:
DJs Lugz and Grego spin hip-hop and R&B classics, with candy and costume prizes.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 10:00 PM – 2:30 AM
Location: The Common, 9910 109 St NW
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Juicy Moon: Rave to the Grave:
A Halloween queer dance party with Calgary's DJ Die&Go, plus drag. Costumes encouraged.
Date: Friday, October 30, 10:30 PM – 2:30 AM
Location: The Grindstone, 10019 81 Ave NW
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Halloween Weekend: Blade Blood Rave:
Goth techno, industrial and dark electronic sets. Ticket includes a drink. 18+.
Date: Friday, October 30, 9:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Location: Rocky Mountain Icehouse, 10516 Jasper Ave NW
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

A Very Haunted Halloween: Fruit Loop:
A costume party with drag, dancers, DJs and a costume contest with prizes.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 8:00–11:00 PM
Location: Starlite Room, 10030 102 St NW
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

6. Sports⚾

Edmonton Oilers vs. New York Islanders:
A home NHL game at Rogers Place.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 12:00 PM MDT
Location: Rogers Place
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Edmonton Oil Kings vs. Kamloops Blazers:
A WHL home game on Halloween.
Date: Saturday, October 31, afternoon (sources list 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM; confirm puck drop)
Location: Rogers Place
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Edmonton Oil Kings vs. Red Deer Rebels:
A WHL home game.
Date: Sunday, November 1, 4:00 PM
Location: Rogers Place
Cost: Ticketed
Click for details

Edmonton Badminton Drop-in:
A Friday-night drop-in session.
Date: Friday, October 30, 7:10–9:30 PM
Location: John A. McDougall School
Cost: CA$6
Click for details

Co-Ed Volleyball (Saturdays):
A recurring Meetup volleyball session.
Date: Saturday, October 31, 4:00 PM
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Not listed
Click for details

7. Meetups👬

Free Bachata Class:
A free dance lesson with the Edmonton salsa, bachata, kizomba and zouk group.
Date: Sunday, November 1, 1:00 PM
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Free
Click for details

Free Sahaja Meditation: Inner Peace Workshop:
An introductory meditation workshop.
Date: Thursday, October 29, 7:00 PM
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Free
Click for details

Languages and Beer:
Practise languages over drinks and food.
Date: Friday, October 30, 7:00 PM
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Not listed (buy your own drinks)
Click for details

WJSCL Open Arts Night:
A community night for artists, gamers and makers.
Date: Friday, October 30, 6:00 PM
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Not listed
Click for details

Edmonton Make New Friends: First Sunday Meetup:
A monthly social meetup, this month at 4 PM, not 5.
Date: Sunday, November 1, 4:00 PM
Location: Edmonton
Cost: Not listed
Click for details

7. Food, Drink and Happy Hours🍿🍾 🍻🍔

Our Food & Drink, and Happy Hours sections are now featured exclusively in our sister publication Edmunchie.com : Click here

It's getting hotter...

This Week's Weather

Weather: Edmonton, Oct 29 – Nov 1, 2026

📅 Thursday, October 29, 2026
🌨️ Cloudy with a passing morning flurry
High: −1°C | Low: −8°C
Summary: A cold, grey start with a brief flurry early on and light northwest winds.

📅 Friday, October 30, 2026
⛅ Partly sunny and chilly
High: 2°C | Low: −5°C
Summary: A bit of sun and almost no chance of precipitation, a good day for the Halloween warm-ups.

📅 Saturday, October 31, 2026
🌤️ Some clouds, then sunshine
High: 4°C | Low: −6°C
Summary: The mildest day of the stretch, with a dry afternoon for trick-or-treating. Wear layers, because it drops below freezing after dark.

📅 Sunday, November 1, 2026
🌥️ Some sun, then turning cloudy
High: 4°C | Low: −4°C

Summary: Dry and calm with light winds and clouds building later. Clocks also fall back an hour overnight.

Period summary: Expect a chilly, mostly dry Halloween weekend. It starts with a flurry on Thursday, then turns sunnier and a touch milder by Saturday. Dress warm for the evening outdoor events.

📡 Weather data sourced from The Weather Network — retrieved October 29, 2026

In coming...

Permanent Daylight Saving Time in Edmonton Alberta

Airport loyalty program options in Edmonton

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

Sherwood Park

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