The devastating F4 tornado that tore through Edmonton on July 31, 1987, the day forever known as Black Friday still echoes in the hearts of this city 39 years later..and the recent weather events this summer I’m sure have been a chilling reminder for many. Twenty-seven lives were lost that afternoon, and the storm remains one of the costliest natural disasters in Canadian history. For so many of us who call Edmonton home, including my own family and friends, the memory has never fully faded. If you ever find yourself near Hermitage Park, I encourage you to pause at the beautiful monument there. It is a simple, often-overlooked place of remembrance, a space that honours those who were taken and stands as a quiet testament to the resilience of a community that refused to be defined by its grief. Out of that tragedy also came something lasting and protective: Alberta’s Emergency Alert System. Born from the hard lessons of that day, it continues to help keep people safer when severe weather threatens. In that way, the memory of Black Friday still serves as a reminder that Edmontonians and Albertans look after one another, and that the losses of the past have helped shape a more prepared future. #yeg #yegweather #yegblackfriday