The Town of Edson is maintaining its focus on infrastructure upgrades and flood mitigation going into 2026.
Flooding concerns have been one of the biggest challenges faced by the community in recent years, and Mayor Kevin Zahara said efforts to mitigate that challenge will continue in 2026. This will include sanitary sewer and road upgrades, such as a Water Degas upgrade, an A6 sanitary sewer line replacement and a 2 Avenue storm crossing replacement.
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Related: Edson town council approves 2026 budget with 2.7 per cent increase projected
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“Obviously, municipalities are also challenged with reduced provincial funding and the need to replace aging infrastructure with less dollars, so that’s always been a challenge and something that we have to balance with the wants and needs of the community,” he added.
Zahara said that with the economy and natural resource prices in their current state, he expects this trend in provincial funding to continue. As such, the town will continue to advocate and work with partners to secure municipal funding and ensure both growth and maintenance can continue.
Despite these challenges, the town was able to see the YCE Multiplex construction begin in 2025.
“This has been a project that’s been talked about in our community for over 20 years, and we were able to get shovels in the ground in the spring, and we now have structure going up. It’s a very exciting time for our community,” Zahara commented.
So far, he added, the project is running on schedule and expected to open in 2027. It was originally budgeted at $80.24 million, to be shared between Yellowhead County and Edson, but an increase to $86.77 million was approved in June to accommodate exchange rate fluctuations, labour shortages and a complete gymnasium design that had previously only been drafted.
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Read more:
- Edson and Yellowhead County break ground on YCE Multiplex project
- Edson and Yellowhead councils approve budget increase to YCE Multiplex project
- YCE Multiplex construction enters Phase Two
- Repairs ongoing following equipment impact with wall of Edson and District Leisure Centre
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Looking ahead to 2026, Zahara said Edson’s newly elected town council will focus on strategic planning and determine where to invest in the community over the next four years, ensuring “that we are getting value for every dollar that we’re spending as a municipal council.”
The 2025 Municipal Election, held in October, saw Zahara run unopposed for a third mayoral term. Two incumbent councillors, Peter Taylor and Greg Pasychny, were also reelected to council.
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Related: Official 2025 municipal election results: Edson
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