EDMONTON – (July 27, 2026) Edmonton is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, and the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce says that story is at risk of being drowned out by a wave of Downtown business closures that are entirely preventable. 

"Edmonton's growth story is real, and it's one of the best in Canada right now," said Doug Griffiths, President and CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. "But that story is being overshadowed by Downtown, and it doesn't have to be. When we see nearly 20 businesses close their doors in the core this year, that's not just a Downtown problem, that's a city problem, and it's one the City has the tools to fix. We'd like to see the City take steps to fix this problem, with a particular focus on safety.” 

In a public safety survey conducted by the Chamber amongst our members over the past few months, 58% of businesses said they did not feel safe operating their business in Edmonton. In the last year, 44% have spent at least $500 to fix damages caused by vandalism, break ins, or shoplifting, while 24% said they spent more than $2,500. 

The Chamber recognizes that business openings and closures are a normal part of any healthy economy, and Edmonton continues to see new businesses choosing to open Downtown. But if multiple businesses close for every one that opens, the city’s business community never gets ahead. 

Our members have consistently raised construction disruption, public safety concerns, and the state of public space Downtown as factors actively driving foot traffic and customers out of Downtown. These are issues the City cannot afford to leave unaddressed any longer, and they are issues the Chamber has always advocated for solutions on. 

“Seeing so many of these restaurants shut their doors is tough for us at the Chamber to see,” said Edmonton Chamber Vice President of Economy and Engagement, Heather Thomson. “The Chamber’s advocacy for small businesses Downtown has always been consistent. We want to see more people back Downtown on a regular basis. We want to see more people working Downtown and living Downtown, and we need to see these priorities reflected in City’s policies and approach to the business community.” 

The Chamber endorses the Downtown Revitalization Coalition's call for Edmonton City Council to declare downtown economic stabilization an immediate priority and give Administration a clear mandate to act now.  

• Public safety: Continued and expanded investment in a safe, welcoming Downtown core, treated as a foundational economic pillar rather than a separate issue from economic development. 

• Construction coordination: Downtown businesses considered primary stakeholders when planning construction, ensuring better coordination and sequencing of Downtown construction, with business access and customer disruption treated as core project requirements. 

• Construction site standards: Higher standards for construction sites, including cleanliness, pedestrian access, fencing, signage, and daily maintenance. 

• Business relief measures: Free on-street parking in the downtown core for the remainder of the 2026 construction season, waived patio permit fees for Downtown businesses for the rest of the year, and investment in the public realm, streetscapes and shared spaces that make downtown a destination. 

The Chamber would like to see these priorities reflected in the City's long-term budget planning. 

Despite the recent flurry of business closures, the Chamber celebrates the new businesses that have come Downtown and the entrepreneurs who continue to take a chance and start something new. They are what makes this city great. 

The Edmonton Chamber has convened a Fiscal Task Force of senior Edmonton business leaders to develop an independent, business-informed City 2027–2030 budget. That work will be shared publicly ahead of Council's fall budget deliberations. 

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