Page 14 - 08_Oct-2025

2020-2025
THEN&NOW
Where four of our most talked-about
cover subjects are today by OMAR MOUALLEM
# 01
URBAN. BUSINESS. STYLE. LIFE. EDMONTON.
# 10
URBAN. BUSINESS. STYLE. LIFE. EDMONTON.
# 19
URBAN. BUSINESS. STYLE. LIFE. EDMONTON.
OCTOBER 2020
PM 41354037
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0 $ 7 E D I F Y E D M O N T O N . C O M
A M A N , B R O K E N
TEN MONTHS L ATER, A WIDOWER
SEARCHES FOR THE TRUTH ABOUT
THE IRAN AIR DISASTER
SEPTEMBER 2021
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 $ 7 E D I F Y E D M O N T O N . C O M
T R U E
C O L A S H L E Y C A L L I N G B U L L
C E L E B R AT E S
I N D I G E N O U S C U LT U R E
T H R O U G H FA S H I O N
S U M M E R 2 0 2 2 $ 7 E D I F Y E D M O N T O N . C O M
U R S
OUT OF THE BLUE
JASON KENNEY OPENS UP ABOUT HIS TIME AS PREMIER, A JOB HE SAYS HE NEVER WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE
“A Man, Broken”
(October 2020)
Edify’s first cover featured Javad
Soleimani, whose wife, Elnaz Nabiyi,
was among 176 killed when Iran’s
military downed Ukraine International
Airlines Flight PS752. She was one
of 10 victims tied to the University
of Alberta community, which later
dedicated a memorial on Rutherford
Quad. Meanwhile, Soleimani channelled
his grief into activism — producing
a documentary about his late wife,
gathering new evidence for an
independent inquiry, challenging the
RCMP’s refusal to open a criminal probe
and pressing for justice in Canadian and
international courts. Underscoring the
“long and difficult time” for justice that
Soleimani foresaw, the pursuit has been
marred by Iran’s evidence manipulation,
harassment of families and what Ottawa
has called “sham trials.” As of September
2025, the International Court of Justice
case is advancing, while the International
Civil Aviation Organization case is paused
pending Iran’s appeal.
PM 41354037
EDIFY-September-2021-01-cover.indd 1 EDIFY-September-2021-01-cover.indd 1 8/11/21 1:14 PM 8/11/21 1:14 PM
“True Colours”
(September 2021)
When Ashley Callingbull appeared
on Edify’s cover, she was already a
trailblazing Cree model, actress and
activist whose story of resilience and
cultural pride had inspired Indigenous
women across Canada. Internationally,
she was best known as the first Canadian
to be crowned Mrs. Universe — a
contest distinct from the better-known
Miss Universe because it welcomes
married women like Callingbull, as well
as mothers and expectant parents, to
compete. Miss Universe changed its rules
shortly after the story ran, clearing the
way for Callingbull to become the first
Indigenous woman to win Miss Universe
Canada in 2022 — a victory that took
her to the international stage, where
she placed 12th. In the same year, she
broke another barrier as the first First
Nations woman to appear in Sports
Illustrated’s famed swimsuit issue. Now
an in-game host for major pro sports and
author with a forthcoming memoir she
continues to break barriers and hopes to
launch a foundation supporting women
and children escaping violence.
SUMMER 2022
PM 41354037
EDIFY-Summer-2022-01-cover.indd 1 EDIFY-Summer-2022-01-cover.indd 1 6/16/22 10:33 AM 6/16/22 10:33 AM
“Out of the Blue”
(Summer 2022)
Our Edify cover featuring outgoing
Premier Jason Kenney became our
most polarizing ever, sparking outrage
so intense that readers swore off the
magazine (literally and figuratively) and
people at events refused copies outright.
Yet those who dismissed it by the cover
missed a story written by an outspoken
queer writer, who called Kenney’s
right-wing populism and policies
“repugnant” for their impact on queer,
racialized and disabled communities.
At the time, Kenney was clinging to a
leadership review he would lose by time
of publication, clearing the way for his
resignation. He’s since taken private-
sector advisory roles but continues to
resurface as a commentator. Lately he’s
warned that Alberta separatism and
anger-fuelled populism are corrosive
to conservatism — an irony not lost
on observers who note he helped plant
those very seeds, and that his critiques
often seem aimed at his more divisive
successor, Danielle Smith — our next
cover subject! (just kidding)
14 EDify. OCTOBER.25