Jonny Wakefield
@jonnywakefield.bsky.social
Edmonton Journal/Sun reporter on the justice beat, covering courts, crime, policing and corrections. American who moved to Canada, stray cat re-homer and (hopefully not totally insufferable) distance runner.
Pinned
Jeff Kent is a serial conman who defrauds women. Does he deserve the harshest punishment in Canadian criminal law?
Jeff Kent is a romance fraudster who bilks women out of their life savings. An Alberta judge just deemed him a dangerous offender.
edmontonjournal.com
My latest long read: Jeff Kent is a serial conman who bilks vulnerable women out of their money. He’s the first fraudster in Canadian history to be deemed a dangerous offender and locked up indefinitely.
He’s also someone who used to regularly call me from jail
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/j...
He’s also someone who used to regularly call me from jail
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/j...
Reposted by Jonny Wakefield
Latest from @jonnywakefield.bsky.social — Three years' prison for violent offender arrested in Edmonton with 3D-printed gun #yeg
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/d...
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/d...
Three years' prison for violent offender arrested in Edmonton with 3D-printed gun
Leading police on a foot-chase with a 3D printed gun in his pocket has landed a man with a history of violence with three years' prison.
edmontonjournal.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Latest from @jonnywakefield.bsky.social — Three years' prison for violent offender arrested in Edmonton with 3D-printed gun #yeg
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/d...
edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/d...
Is it too late to share Phil Collins’ New Year’s greeting about how Phil Collins will never attempt to contact you
January 7, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Is it too late to share Phil Collins’ New Year’s greeting about how Phil Collins will never attempt to contact you
Reposted by Jonny Wakefield
Colleague Jo Horwood and I tried to find out, how many books were pulled off Alberta school shelves as a result of the gov't order? And what books were they?
Turns out, the names of the books are a secret #AbLeg #AbEd
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Turns out, the names of the books are a secret #AbLeg #AbEd
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta school divisions remove handful of titles from shelves as new school library rules take effect | CBC News
A newly enacted provincial order on school literary materials prompted some divisions to remove a couple of dozen books from school shelves, but the names of those titles are secret.
www.cbc.ca
January 7, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Colleague Jo Horwood and I tried to find out, how many books were pulled off Alberta school shelves as a result of the gov't order? And what books were they?
Turns out, the names of the books are a secret #AbLeg #AbEd
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Turns out, the names of the books are a secret #AbLeg #AbEd
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Jonny Wakefield
New documents show while the University of Alberta was under mass budget cuts that resulted in layoffs and a 100% cut to child care funding, the president was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on travel
Expenses have doubled since he took office
Expenses have doubled since he took office
U of A president's expenses higher than previous president and other institutions - The Gateway
President and Vice-chancellor Bill Flanagan spent $506,901.01 on travel and hospitality in his first term, higher than other presidents.
thegatewayonline.ca
January 7, 2026 at 4:34 PM
New documents show while the University of Alberta was under mass budget cuts that resulted in layoffs and a 100% cut to child care funding, the president was spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on travel
Expenses have doubled since he took office
Expenses have doubled since he took office
Perhaps "military takeover of Greenland" could have been followed by something along the lines of "which we believe would be bad irrespective of its impact on inflation reduction efforts."
The White House is laser focused on threatening a military takeover of Greenland.
Where’s the same focus on lowering costs?
Where’s the same focus on lowering costs?
January 7, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Perhaps "military takeover of Greenland" could have been followed by something along the lines of "which we believe would be bad irrespective of its impact on inflation reduction efforts."
News: among the Alberta gov's changes to AISH is a requirement recipients be assessed by a medical review panel, which will decide whether to move them to a program that pays less.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
Why some Alberta AISH recipients fear incoming medical review panels
Many disabled Albertans are waiting for details of the Alberta UCP government's plan to reform its flagship AISH income assistance program.
edmontonjournal.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:27 PM
News: among the Alberta gov's changes to AISH is a requirement recipients be assessed by a medical review panel, which will decide whether to move them to a program that pays less.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
We don't know how the panel works or who's on it, but we know it won't be appealable.
Grim!
CNN is covering the Kalshi prediction markets as though they are news
January 7, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Grim!
A former Alberta Health Services board member claims his opposition to the firing of the agency’s former chief executive officer in 2024 made him a target for what he describes as an intimidation campaign led by a pair of podcasters, court records show. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Ex-AHS board member claims he was targeted for supporting Mentzelopoulos: Court documents
Sandy Edmonstone says he's been the target of smear campaign after supporting the former AHS CEO's and refusing to fire her.
edmontonjournal.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:13 AM
A former Alberta Health Services board member claims his opposition to the firing of the agency’s former chief executive officer in 2024 made him a target for what he describes as an intimidation campaign led by a pair of podcasters, court records show. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
For the evening crowd
News: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is suing the Alberta gov over steps taken to enable a separatist referendum, saying it did so despite knowing it would violate treaty.
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation sues over independence referendum, claims government 'conspired' with separatists
A First Nation in northwest Alberta is suing the provincial government ahead of an anticipated separation referendum.
edmontonjournal.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:30 AM
For the evening crowd
Reposted by Jonny Wakefield
'A stain on our communities': Local venue The Aviary's future uncertain after fire in unoccupied building next door
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
'A stain on our communities': Local venue The Aviary's future uncertain after fire in unoccupied building next door
The immediate future of central Edmonton cultural nexus The Aviary is uncertain after a fire next door on Sunday.
edmontonjournal.com
January 5, 2026 at 9:00 PM
'A stain on our communities': Local venue The Aviary's future uncertain after fire in unoccupied building next door
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
News: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is suing the Alberta gov over steps taken to enable a separatist referendum, saying it did so despite knowing it would violate treaty.
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation sues over independence referendum, claims government 'conspired' with separatists
A First Nation in northwest Alberta is suing the provincial government ahead of an anticipated separation referendum.
edmontonjournal.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:50 PM
News: Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation is suing the Alberta gov over steps taken to enable a separatist referendum, saying it did so despite knowing it would violate treaty.
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Suit also contains a summary of statements from separatists re: seeking Trump admin support edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Alberta workers owed $3.7 million in unpaid wages in 2025 apple.news/Aa405e03RQ5e...
Alberta workers owed $3.7 million in unpaid wages in 2025 — Edmonton Journal
Alberta courts rendered 400 judgments for unpaid wages in 2025, amounting to $3,714,977 being owed to workers, an 84 per cent increase from the amount of money owed last year
apple.news
January 5, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Alberta workers owed $3.7 million in unpaid wages in 2025 apple.news/Aa405e03RQ5e...
Great moments in "pivot to affordability"
January 3, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Great moments in "pivot to affordability"
Better later than never: my 2025 book stack. Gonna try something new: going back to pages I dog-eared for one reason or another and sharing the interesting bits
January 1, 2026 at 12:03 AM
Better later than never: my 2025 book stack. Gonna try something new: going back to pages I dog-eared for one reason or another and sharing the interesting bits
Breaking from @stephenraitz.bsky.social: Rosie’s, the Whyte Ave karaoke institution, is under new ownership and rebranding as “Chiers,” an apparent portmanteau for “Chicken and Beers” www.instagram.com/reel/DS3hkVb...
Stephen Raitz on Instagram: "Part 2 of Rosie’s Karaoke update. @chiersedmonton has soft launched and it’s the new Rosie’s. Please put a hold in your calendar for every weekend of 2026."
Rosie's Karaoke, a beloved spot for weekend nights out, has undergone a transformation. The new ownership has brought a fresh look and feel to the establishment, while maintaining its commitment to pr...
www.instagram.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Breaking from @stephenraitz.bsky.social: Rosie’s, the Whyte Ave karaoke institution, is under new ownership and rebranding as “Chiers,” an apparent portmanteau for “Chicken and Beers” www.instagram.com/reel/DS3hkVb...
Edmontonians: is there any reason to get a roof rake to clear off some of this snow? Older house with a recently redone roof and gutters, but there’s just a ton of snow up there and it makes me nervous for ice dams.
December 29, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Edmontonians: is there any reason to get a roof rake to clear off some of this snow? Older house with a recently redone roof and gutters, but there’s just a ton of snow up there and it makes me nervous for ice dams.
News: Prashanth Sreekumar died in an Edmonton hospital eight hours after he arrived with severe chest pains. An ER doctor and longtime Alberta political figure says his case illustrates the dire state of Alberta's emergency departments. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
A man died after waiting 8 hours in an Edmonton ER. How did the system get here?
The death of a man who spent hours in an Edmonton ER is an illustration of the dire state of Alberta's health care system, a physician says.
edmontonjournal.com
December 28, 2025 at 9:26 PM
News: Prashanth Sreekumar died in an Edmonton hospital eight hours after he arrived with severe chest pains. An ER doctor and longtime Alberta political figure says his case illustrates the dire state of Alberta's emergency departments. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Edmonton has had 32 traffic fatalities in 2025, tying a 10-year high. A lot of blame is being levelled at the province for removing photo radar, but according to Paths for People, none of the 11 pedestrian fatalities, at least, had anything to do with speed. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
'Egregious speeds': Edmonton's new police chief confronts a brutal year on the roads
As of Friday, 32 people have died in collisions on Edmonton roads in 2025. Tickets for speeding are up, as are charges for impaired driving.
edmontonjournal.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Edmonton has had 32 traffic fatalities in 2025, tying a 10-year high. A lot of blame is being levelled at the province for removing photo radar, but according to Paths for People, none of the 11 pedestrian fatalities, at least, had anything to do with speed. edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Spent a decent portion of Christmas fuming at Richard II for being an absolute clod. Irredeemable. Terrible king.
December 26, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Spent a decent portion of Christmas fuming at Richard II for being an absolute clod. Irredeemable. Terrible king.
Watching an nba broadcast and it turns out I am still capable of being shocked by the quantity of sports betting ads!
December 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Watching an nba broadcast and it turns out I am still capable of being shocked by the quantity of sports betting ads!
Annual reminder that the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album is the only Christmas album that will make you want to run through a damn WALL www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDMs...
Mannheim Steamroller - Good King Wenceslas (Audio)
YouTube video by MannheimSteamVEVO
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Annual reminder that the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album is the only Christmas album that will make you want to run through a damn WALL www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDMs...
News from the last court sitting of 2025: a 22-year-old who shot up a house as part of a sprawling extortion plot targeting Edmonton’s Indo-Canadian community will likely be deported to a country he left as a child after finishing his sentence edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
Project Gaslight member who shot up house, pointed gun at cop likely to be deported after 7-1/2 year sentence: lawyer
A man who shot up the house of an Indo-Canadian homebuilder while a police officer was inside will likely face deportation after his sentence.
edmontonjournal.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:17 AM
News from the last court sitting of 2025: a 22-year-old who shot up a house as part of a sprawling extortion plot targeting Edmonton’s Indo-Canadian community will likely be deported to a country he left as a child after finishing his sentence edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...
The shots of Rogers Place from the north side will never not confuse me
December 24, 2025 at 2:12 AM
The shots of Rogers Place from the north side will never not confuse me
Bonkers story from @matthewblack.ca: Lawyers for a former AHS board member claim a self-described political fixer, along with an indy publisher, have been paid to smear their client in an effort to discredit & dissuade him from testifying in the wrongful dismissal suit from the agency’s former CEO.
Former AHS board member claims podcasters paid to smear him ahead of Mentzelopoulos testimony
Lawyers for a former Alberta Health Services board member claim a political fixer and a publisher have been paid to smear their client.
edmontonjournal.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Bonkers story from @matthewblack.ca: Lawyers for a former AHS board member claim a self-described political fixer, along with an indy publisher, have been paid to smear their client in an effort to discredit & dissuade him from testifying in the wrongful dismissal suit from the agency’s former CEO.
Sharing again so I can get more "really how is this news I stand with Mark Carney!" replies
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s directive to prioritise British over Canadian spelling in government communications has catalysed Canadian linguists to organise a protest
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Canadian linguists ask prime minister to stop spelling like a Brit
After a plethora of British spellings emerged in the government’s budget, academics and editors urged him to utilize, not utilise, Canadian English.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Sharing again so I can get more "really how is this news I stand with Mark Carney!" replies