Core Care is our hands-on approach to building a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming downtown. Led by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, Core Care includes three essential teams—Core Patrol, Downtown Ambassadors, and Downtown Shine—all working together to support the people and places that make our downtown vibrant.
Core Patrol
Supporting a safer downtown—every night.
Downtown safety is an ongoing concern, especially during overnight hours. Core Patrol is our way of addressing that need. Operating seven nights a week from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., two patrol vehicles staffed by peer support workers from Hiregood drive throughout downtown, including streets, alleys, and public spaces.
These patrols offer a visible, supportive presence for downtown businesses, residents, workers, and late-night visitors.
2024 by the numbers:
– Put out 99 fires without needing first responders
– Performed 1088 wellness checks
– Reported 549 property vandalism
Note: Core Patrol is not a replacement for Edmonton Police Service. In case of emergency, please call 911.
Downtown Ambassadors
Our help desk on legs.
Downtown Ambassadors are the friendly faces you’ll see walking through the core. They’re here to help people navigate downtown—whether it’s by giving directions, suggesting a great place to eat, or answering questions about local businesses, events, and amenities. They’re like a mobile information booth, always ready to assist.
Where you’ll find them: Ambassadors walk throughout the downtown core Monday to Saturday, covering areas with the most foot traffic and visitor needs.
On Saturdays, you can also find them stationed at the Downtown Farmers Market Info Tent during market hours.
2024 by the numbers:
– The Ambassadors walked 7415km
– Completed 114 wayfinding assists (from August to December)
– Interacted with 341 individuals (from August to December)
Downtown Shine
Keeping downtown clean, every day.
Downtown Shine is our dedicated litter removal team working to keep the core clean and inviting. Delivered in partnership with HireGood and the City of Edmonton, this service operates seven days a week, focusing on litter pickup and safe needle removal.
2024 by the numbers:
– 1,831.5 bags of garbage were collected
– 2,342 needles were safely removed
“We notice weekly the elevated cleanliness of the street. We’ve even had the cleanup crew tell us they noticed a mess on our property in the back and cleaned it up for us!”
– Jorel Pepin, Owner/Founder, Fawkes Coffee, 104 Street
If you spot litter or debris on public property, you can report it through the Edmonton 311 app.
