Edmontonian buys neighbouring house to prevent infill development – Edmonton | Globalnews.ca


When Mike Thomas’ elderly neighbour got sick and needed to sell his small bungalow on a wide lot in east Edmonton, Thomas immediately became concerned about the home being torn down and replaced with something much bigger.

Edmontonian buys neighbouring house to prevent infill development – Edmonton | Globalnews.ca

Thomas said he has invested a lot into his own bungalow over the years: an addition, gardens, a back patio and solar panels on the roof.

He felt like he had no avenue to stop a developer if they purchased the home to the south and wanted to build a multi-family housing complex.

“I would be losing enjoyment of my entire property,” Thomas said.

“My property value would plummet for resale — even if the house is nice — because I’ve got a monster next to me that completely blocks all the light.”

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So, he made a life-changing decision — risking his financial future by buying his neighbour’s home in the Bergman neighbourhood.

Thomas had to come up with $75,000 in three months to make the purchase.

“I’m not special and I’m not wealthy — and that killed me.”

He now rents the bungalow next door, at a discount, to a family of Ukrainian refugees.


Click to play video: 'Infill, taxes & public safety dominate Edmonton politics in 2025'


Infill, taxes & public safety dominate Edmonton politics in 2025


In 2023, the City of Edmonton changed zoning bylaws to allow for more multi-unit buildings up to three storeys in all neighbourhoods.

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The aim was to encourage a variety of development to be built more easily in residential areas.

Since then, there’s been mixed reaction to the increase in multi-unit buildings replacing single-family homes.

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Infill ended up being a contentious topic during the 2025 fall municipal election campaign after residents of established communities expressed concerns with property values, not enough parking, predatory developers, quality of builds and housing affordability.


Click to play video: 'Mixed reaction to Edmonton city council zoning bylaw changes'


Mixed reaction to Edmonton city council zoning bylaw changes


Some Edmonton homeowners in established, upscale areas like Crestwood and Glenora have even gone so far as to explore placing restrictive covenants on their properties to prevent future development.

The legally binding agreement goes on a property title and limits how a property is used or developed, even after it is sold to a new owner.

Neighbourhoods United has volunteers from 50 mature neighbourhoods who are amplifying their concerns about infill together.

Treasurer Dallas Moravec said their group knows of other frustrated residents doing something similar.

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“I’ve heard a few different communities who have started some of these investor groups who put together some money,” Moravec said. “They’re looking to protect their neighbours’ houses that potentially they want to sell.”

“It speaks to the unpredictability of the zoning bylaws.”


Click to play video: 'More proposed infill changes headed to Edmonton city committee'


More proposed infill changes headed to Edmonton city committee


Edmonton’s urban planning committee will be reviewing the city’s controversial zoning and infill policies on Feb. 9.

Reports indicate city staff recommend dropping the maximum number of units on a single lot from eight to six mid-block.

For more information, watch the video at the top of this story.

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Gus Lamont’s grandparents break their silence after police revealed one of his family members is now a suspect in his disappearance


Gus Lamont’s grandparents have broken their silence after police revealed one of his family members is now a suspect in his disappearance and suspected death.

Gus’s grandparents, Josie and Shannon Murray, said the family had ‘cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad’.

‘We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPOL Major Crime,’ they said in a joint statement from their separate lawyers.

The lawyers representing the pair said they would not participate in any interviews or comment further. 

South Australia Police said yesterday that a family member ‘who resides at Oak Park Station’ – not one of Gus’ parents – had withdrawn co-operation in the investigation, and that person is now a suspect. Police also confirmed they believe Gus is dead. 

After the announcement, Gus’ grandparents hired separate lawyers.

Josie hired Adelaide criminal lawyer Andrew Ey, while Shannon sought the legal services of Casey Isaacs, also from Adelaide.

Police have not made any arrests or laid any charges. It is common for witnesses to seek legal advice and it is not suggested either was involved in any wrongdoing. 

Gus Lamont’s grandparents break their silence after police revealed one of his family members is now a suspect in his disappearance

Gus Lamont, 4,  was last seen at his grandparents’ homestead at Oak Park Station, a 60,000ha property 40km south of Yunta, on September 27

Gus' grandmother Josie Murray

Gus’ grandmother Josie Murray 

Gus's grandmother Shannon Murray

Gus’s grandmother Shannon Murray 

Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, the officer in charge of the state’s Major Crime Division, said investigators had uncovered inconsistencies in accounts surrounding the day Gus disappeared. 

‘We have identified a number of inconsistencies and discrepancies with that information as it relates to timelines and the version of events provided to us by the family members.

‘As a result of these inconsistencies, and investigations into them, a person who resides at Oak Park Station has withdrawn their support for police and is no longer cooperating with us.’

Gus was last seen at his grandparents’ homestead at Oak Park Station, a 60,000ha property 40km south of Yunta, on September 27. 

Prior to today, police said he was in the care of his grandmother, Shannon, while his mother Jessica and  Josie were tending sheep about 10km away. 

Police said Shannon was the last person to see Gus, at about 5pm, when he was playing in the sand outside the homestead. 

When she went to call him inside about 30 minutes later, he had vanished without a trace. 

The family reported Gus’ disappearance to police three hours later.

Gus went missing form his family's sprawling sheep property in the middle of nowhere in outback South Australia, nearly 200 miles north of Adelaide

Gus went missing form his family’s sprawling sheep property in the middle of nowhere in outback South Australia, nearly 200 miles north of Adelaide

At the time Gus went missing, his father, Joshua Lamont, was living about two hours away from Oak Park and was not present when his son disappeared. 

A friend told Daily Mail that Joshua and Jess remain a couple but have a ‘commuter relationship’. 

Although hundreds of police officers, dozens of soldiers, a small army of volunteers and an Aboriginal tracker have scoured tens of thousands of acres of Outback, the blond, curly haired little boy has not been found.

The only trace of Gus was a single footprint found about 500 metres from the homestead – which police have since cast doubt on.


Defiant Hillary Clinton dares Republicans to hold Epstein showdown in public: ‘Cameras on’


Hillary Clinton is demanding that her forthcoming testimony before the US House Oversight Committee about ties to Jeffrey Epstein be held in public. 

‘Let’s stop the games. If you want this fight, @RepJamesComer, let’s have it—in public,’ the former Secretary of State noted in a Thursday morning post on X.

‘You love to talk about transparency. There’s nothing more transparent than a public hearing, cameras on. We will be there,’ the former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic nominee for president added.

Kentucky Republican Jame Comer, the Oversight Committee chair, on Tuesday announced that both Bill and Hillary Clinton would testify over their relationship with Epstein later this month.

After months of negotiations, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed to appear for a deposition before the House Oversight Committee on February 26 and former President Bill Clinton will comply on February 27.

Comer had planned to hold a closed-door deposition that would be transcribed and filmed. Clinton is demanding that the entire testimony be given in public and live on camera.

Hillary also noted in another X post on Thursday that for six months, she and her husband ‘engaged Republicans on the Oversight Committee in good faith’ and ‘told them what we know, under oath.’

The former Secretary of State additionally stated that the committee ‘moved the goalposts and turned accountability into an exercise in distraction.’

Defiant Hillary Clinton dares Republicans to hold Epstein showdown in public: ‘Cameras on’

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks during the Doha Forum in Qatar on December 7, 2025

Infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell at the Clinton White House. The image, from the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, shows Epstein and Maxwell speaking with then-President Bill Clinton at an event that took place in 1993 for donors to the White House Historical Association

Infamous sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell at the Clinton White House. The image, from the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, shows Epstein and Maxwell speaking with then-President Bill Clinton at an event that took place in 1993 for donors to the White House Historical Association

Later this month will be the first time a former president testifies before Congress after being served a subpoena.

President Donald Trump, who was a fellow known associate of Epstein’s, noted in a Wednesday interview with NBC News that he likes Bill Clinton, and was ‘bothered’ that Congress was going after him.

Trump also shared the following sentiment earlier on Wednesday during a press conference in the Oval Office about the Clintons’ testimony: ‘I think it’s a shame, to be honest. I always liked him. Her, she’s a very capable woman. She was better at debating than some of the other people, I will tell you that. She was smarter. Smart woman.’

In a media statement issued Tuesday, Comer stated that ‘Republicans and Democrats on the Oversight Committee have been clear: no one is above the law—and that includes the Clintons.’

A contempt vote before the full Republican-led House of Representatives loomed for the Clintons this week before they agreed to testify before Congress, and has now been canceled.

Comer said that the Clintons ‘completely caved and will appear for transcribed, filmed depositions this month.’

‘We look forward to questioning the Clintons as part of our investigation into the horrific crimes of Epstein and Maxwell, to deliver transparency and accountability for the American people and for survivors,’ Comer added.

Clinton spokesman Angle Urena posted on X Monday that the Clintons ‘negotiated in good faith’ with the committee and ‘look forward to setting a precedent that applies to everyone’ with their testimonies.


Підприємці активно подають заявки на енергодопомогу


За першу добу підприємці подали 2700 заявок на «Енергодопомогу ФОП». Ще понад 9000 заявок було у процесі оформлення. Про це повідомила Прем’єр­міністр Юлія Свириденко.

«Одноразову безповоротну фінансову допомогу до 15 000 гривень можуть отримати ФОПи 2—3 груп, які працюють у соціально важливих галузях і забезпечують людей ліками, продуктами та іншими базовими послугами. Програму спрямовано на підтримку малого бізнесу для забезпечення безперервної роботи в періоди відключень електроенергії», — зазначила очільниця уряду.Кошти можна спрямувати на придбання або ремонт генераторів та іншого енергообладнання, пальне для генераторів або оплату електроенергії для автономної роботи під час відімкнень.Подання заявок відбувається онлайн через портал «Дія», повідомляє Департамент інформації та комунікацій з громадськістю Секретаріату КМУ.