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In 1943, Edmonton became a crucial hub for the construction of which massive military project during WWII?

Happy Monday! 🥂

The overcrowding situation at local hospitals is the conversation this week.

Lets get to the story!

The Edmonton Buzz Team 🐝

Edmonton’s hospital overcrowding has hit a critical level, with emergency room wait times soaring and patients facing delays of up to eight hours or more for care.

Hospitals like Misericordia and Northeast Community Health Centre report extensive backlogs, underlining the severity of the crisis.

The Alberta Medical Association, led by Dr. Paul Parks, has raised alarms, describing hallways as “death zones” where preventable deaths have already occurred.

The Alberta NDP is urging the provincial government to declare a state of emergency following revelations of multiple preventable deaths linked to lengthy waits.

Growing demand from Edmonton’s population, staffing shortages, and seasonal surges have all contributed to the overwhelming pressure.

Alberta Health Services now offers real-time wait time updates online, but experts stress that deeper, systemic reforms are urgently needed to safeguard timely care for all residents.

1. Outdoor and Nature

2. Shows & Entertainment 📺

An Evening with The Grapes of Wrath (Acoustic Duo Show): Tom and Chris Hooper strip things back to just the two of them for an acoustic set of the band's catalogue — a different format from their full-band shows.

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 8:00 PM Location: The Starlite Room, 10030 102 St NW Cost: Tickets from $69 Click for details

Dopethrone with Mizmor, Tribunal & Hard Charger: Four bands covering doom, sludge, and adjacent territory. Dopethrone are a long-running Montreal act; Mizmor is a Portland-based solo project that has been building serious momentum in that world.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 7:00 PM Location: The Starlite Room, 10030 102 St NW Cost: Tickets available online Click for details

The Mahones – Sing the Songs of Shane MacGowan: Toronto Celtic punk band the Mahones run through the late Pogues frontman's songwriting catalogue. Expect a participatory and rowdy crowd.

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 7:00 PM Location: The Starlite Room, 10030 102 St NW Cost: Tickets available online Click for details

The Fray + The Strumbellas (Summer of Light Tour): The Fray bring their current tour to the Jubilee with Edmonton's own Strumbellas in support. One of the better mid-size venues in the city for this kind of show.

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026, 8:00 PM Location: Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 11455 87 Ave NW Cost: Tickets via Ticketmaster Click for details

Dayseeker + Northlane (Pale Moonlight Tour, with Wind Walkers & sace6): Post-hardcore and metalcore night at Midway Music Hall. Dayseeker headlines their Pale Moonlight Tour with Australian heavy act Northlane in direct support and two local openers rounding out the bill.

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026, 6:00 PM Location: Midway Music Hall, 6107 104 St NW Cost: Tickets via Live Nation Click for details

3. Arts, Crafts & Culture 🎭

Wayfinders: A Constellation of Women Artists (Art Gallery of Alberta): The AGA's current feature exhibition runs through May 31, bringing together works by women artists examining themes of navigation, identity, and place. Open Wednesday through Sunday — the mid-week to Friday portion of this week falls within regular hours.

Date: Wednesday–Friday, May 20–22, 2026 Hours: Wed 11 AM–5 PM | Thu 11 AM–7 PM | Fri 11 AM–5 PM Location: Art Gallery of Alberta, 2 Sir Winston Churchill Square Cost: $13.33 adults Click for details

Death: Life's Greatest Mystery (Royal Alberta Museum): A travelling exhibition from Chicago's Field Museum featuring 100+ objects covering how humans across cultures have understood death throughout history. Includes a whale fall diorama. Runs through September 7.

Date: Open May 18–22, 2026 Location: Royal Alberta Museum, 9810 103a Ave NW Cost: Included with general admission Click for details

Fort Edmonton Park: Canada's largest living history museum takes visitors through Edmonton's history from a fur trade fort in 1846 through to the 1920s, with costumed interpreters and period-accurate structures across multiple streets and eras. Open Wednesdays to Sundays.

Date: Wednesday–Friday, May 20–22, 2026, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Location: Fort Edmonton Park, 7000 143 St NW Cost: $27.90 adults Click for details

124 Grand Market (Artisan & Maker Vendors): The Thursday market on 124th Street runs every week through October with 60+ rotating stalls from local artisans, makers, and specialty producers. May 21 is the fourth market of the 2026 season.

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 4:00–8:00 PM Location: 124th Street & 108th Avenue Cost: Free to browse Click for details

• Museum of Illusions (West Edmonton Mall): Opened May 15, this new attraction at WEM features interactive optical illusion installations including the Infinity Room, the Ames Room, and others. A couple of hours of hands-on entertainment for kids and adults.

  Date: Open daily, May 18–22, 2026 Location: West Edmonton Mall, 8882 170 St NW Cost: Admission required (check website for rates) Click for details

   

  TELUS World of Science – Dogs! A Science Tail (IMAX): The 2026 summer IMAX feature at TWOSE explores how dogs perceive and experience the world through their senses. Regular planetarium and science programming also runs throughout the week.

  Date: Daily, May 18–22, 2026 Location: TELUS World of Science, 11211 142 St NW Cost: Admission + IMAX ticket required Click for details

   

  Teen Photography Skills Class (Edmonton Public Library): A two-part Studio Lab photography class for teens exploring creative and technical skills. Check the EPL website for the branch location and registration.

  Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Location: Edmonton Public Library (check branch on registration) Cost: Free Click for details

   

  Teen Movie Night – Superman (Edmonton Public Library): Screening of the newest Superman film at the library, with pizza and snacks provided. Open to grades 7–12.

  Date: Friday, May 22, 2026 Location: Edmonton Public Library (check branch on registration) Cost: Free Click for details

Salsa in the Square: Every Wednesday evening through June 24, Sir Winston Churchill Square runs free outdoor Latin dance lessons and social dancing. Each week rotates through a different style — cumbia, bachata, mambo, and others. All skill levels welcome.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, 6:00–8:00 PM Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square NW Cost: Free Click for details

The Commercial on Whyte (Live Blues, Funk & Soul): Whyte Ave's home of live blues and funk programming has a free show Thursday and a ticketed show Friday night. Check the site for specific acts this week.

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026, 8:00 PM (Free) | Friday, May 22, 2026, 9:30 PM (Ticketed) Location: The Commercial on Whyte, 10329 Whyte Ave NW Cost: Free (Thu) / Tickets required (Fri) Click for details

Emo Night Edmonton: A DJ night at the Starlite Room dedicated to emo and pop-punk tracks from the mid-2000s era and the bands surrounding that scene.

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026 Location: The Starlite Room, 10030 102 St NW Cost: Tickets online Click for details

Edmonton Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba & Zouk Social Dance: A Friday night social dance gathering open to all skill levels, organized through Meetup. Check the event listing for the venue and entry cost.

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026, 7:30 PM Location: Edmonton (see event page for venue) Cost: See event listing Click for details

Beer Yoga at Endeavour Brewing: A one-hour yoga class with instructor Barbara Leah Meyer (E-RYT500) followed by a pint of craft beer from Endeavour Brewing & Coffee Roasters. Located in St. Albert, about 20 minutes from Edmonton.

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026 Location: Endeavour Brewing & Coffee Roasters, St. Albert Cost: Ticket includes yoga + 1 pint Click for details

Edmonton Elks Fan Day + Open Practice: The Elks open training camp to the public at Fuhr Sports Park in Spruce Grove, with a live practice alongside fan activities including balloon artists, face painting, alumni autograph sessions, BBQ, ice cream, and a photo booth. Spruce Grove's city council has officially declared May 18 Green and Gold Day.

Date: Monday, May 18, 2026, 10:00 AM–2:00 PM Location: Fuhr Sports Park, Spruce Grove (~35 min west of Edmonton) Cost: Free Click for details

Edmonton Ideas Event: A community ideas and networking gathering. Check the Meetup listing for this week's topic and venue details.

Date: Monday, May 18, 2026, 4:00 PM Location: Edmonton (see event listing for venue) Cost: See listing Click for details

Edmonton Badminton Drop-In: A casual recreational badminton session open to all skill levels. Runs twice this week — Tuesday and Friday evenings.

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 6:20 PM | Friday, May 22, 2026, 6:30 PM Location: Edmonton (see event listing for gym) Cost: See listing Click for details

The Social Set: A social gathering at The Pendennis Weddings and Events venue Friday evening. Check the listing for format and admission details.

Date: Friday, May 22, 2026, 6:00 PM Location: The Pendennis Weddings and Events, Edmonton Cost: See listing Click for details

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

Edmonton's War on Speed: Are the 40 km/h Speed Limit Reductions Actually Making Streets Safer?

The Alaska Highway (Edmonton served as "Gateway to the North" for supplies).

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