Every year the City of Edmonton auctions properties that have unpaid taxes and the event coming this fall has a famous local house on the list.
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event → auction → list
Overlooking Hawrelak Park and the North Saskatchewan River valley is 8638 Saskatchewan Drive — the historic, former home of original Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington.
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Drive → overlook → Pocklington
That’s where, on April 20, 1982, Pocklington and his wife Eva, along with two other people in the home, were held hostage at gunpoint for half a day.
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Pocklington → ’ → day
Eva was the intended target of the gunman, who was demanding millions of dollars from the high-profile NHL team owner.
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who → demand → owner
Global News, back then ITV, was on scene for hours during the high-profile hostage-taking, during which Eva escaped and was ushered away from the property by police.
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Eva → escape → police
“The killer took me in the garage,” she stated breathlessly while fleeing with the officers.
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she → take → officers
“I’m supposed to be getting in the truck.
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I → suppose → truck
And he said he’d go back and kill them if I tried anything.”
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I → say → anything
After nearly 12 hours, tactical officers snuck into the house and left a ransom to lure the suspect out.
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officers → sneak → suspect
Police also fired a single shot, which went through Pocklington’s arm and into the gunman.
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which → fire → gunman
Both suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
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Both → suffer → injuries
Pocklington gave shirtless a news conference about the ordeal from his hospital room, where reporters and photographers crowded around his bed.
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reporters → give → bed
“To me, that’s part of our history in the city.
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that → ’ → city
Peter, the Oilers, the epic things that probably went on in this house,” said Sally Munro, the realtor for the luxury home in the Windsor Park neighbourhood near the University of Alberta.
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Munro → go → Alberta
“It’s absolutely iconic.”
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It → ’ → ?
The original home on the lot was built in 1912 and Munro said it went through several transformations.
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it → build → transformations
The current home, built in 1952, is a 5,200-square-foot, three-storey Tudor-style mansion.
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home → build → 1952
It features seven bedrooms and bathrooms and two other half-baths.
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It → feature → bedrooms
There’s a basement wine cellar, sun room overlooking the river, multiple living rooms, an expansive patio and an outdoor pool that has seen better days.
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that → ’ → days
Pocklington sold the home in 1991 and it has been in that owner’s possession for the 35 years since.
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it → sell → years
The home is now on the city’s list of nearly 300 properties that may be included in the tax auction sale taking place Oct. 29 at city hall.
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that → include → hall
Per the Municipal Government Act, the city may hold a public auction of properties that have a caveat on the title due to unpaid property taxes that are overdue by at least a year.
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that → hold → year
So does that mean someone could score a good deal?
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someone → mean → deal
Not necessarily, Munro cautioned.
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Munro → caution → ?
All properties are auctioned at fair market value, as determined by an independent appraisal — and in addition to buying the house itself as-is, the unpaid taxes and any other outstanding fees must be paid, too.
“One thing I know about property taxes in the City of Edmonton: they take priority over everything.
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they → auction → everything
They always collect their money, their fees.
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They → collect → money
They always charge interest.
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They → charge → interest
Even as a senior, if you postpone your taxes, they will put a caveat on your home.”
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they → postpone → home
Munro said the current owner, nearing his 90s, has fallen behind and was not made aware of the tax deferral program for seniors.
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owner → say → seniors
If approved, the Alberta government will pay the residential property taxes directly to the municipality on a senior’s behalf.
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government → approve → behalf
The loan, with interest, is repaid when the owner moves or sells the home, or sooner if they wish.
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they → repay → home
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Smith → stand → U.S.
How is EI changing under Canada’s tariff relief plan — and is it enough?
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it → change → plan
“There are a number of people that believe they could buy it for what the outstanding property taxes are.
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taxes → be → it
But this city has definite guidelines,” she said.
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she → have → guidelines
“You can find out what the property taxes are that are owing, but you certainly can’t purchase this property for that.”
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you → find → that
The City of Edmonton assessed value for the lot is $2.7 million — which for 2026, translates to a municipal property tax bill of more than $28,000.
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which → assess → 28,000
Not all listings at the city’s auction sell — there are 26 properties on 2026 list that also appeared on the city’s 2023 tax auction list.
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that → be → list
“I love all the history of Edmonton and I love the history of this property,” she said, explaining she’s excited by the renewed interest in the property and the story behind the house.
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she → love → house
“Peter lived here many years — definitely through the iconic five Stanley Cups.”
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Peter → live → Cups
…and 14 more, not listed.
The Aporia
