These are the stories that dominated Edmontonians’ interest this week. Le Diner en Blanc Never heard of the dresscoded French affair known as Le Diner en Blanc? That’s on purpose. The annual event is invite only (although it is publicly advertised) and held at a secret location. The University of Alberta Botanic Garden hosted this year. West Edmonton Mall, Canada made fun of by U.S. politician West Edmonton Mall was the butt of a joke by a United States politician commenting on the tariff war with Canada on Monday. “We’re not at war with Canada. How are we gonna be at war with Canada?” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said. “What are they ... they’re gonna take their two submarines from the Edmonton mall and sic them on us?” The submarine ride was removed from West Edmonton Mall in 2005. Dog owner sentenced in boy’s death Crystal MacDonald, whose two Cane Corsos attacked and killed an 11-year-old boy in her home in 2024, was sentenced Thursday to two years of house arrest. She was also handed a lifetime ban on dogs and 200 hours of community service. She was found guilty in May of criminal negligence causing death. The victim, Kache Grist, was visiting his father, MacDonald’s roommate, at the time of the attack. Poll captures referendum temperature A new poll has provided an early picture of Albertans’ sentiment on immigration and separation, two topics that will be featured in the October referendum. The majority of respondents supported immigration being included in the questions. Not sorry Red Deer Catholic school trustee Monica LaGrange no longer needs to apologize for comparing LGBTQ+ pride to Nazism, after Alberta’s highest court struck down the requirement by the school division. The court found a mandated apology amounted to compelled speech and set an impossible standard, since LaGrange doesn’t believe she acted inappropriately. However, the court dismissed her attempt to have the school board’s other rulings thrown out.
