Karen Bartko
Online Journalist
Karen has worked at Global Edmonton since 2006, and has been an online journalist covering stories across Alberta for more than 10 years.
She is grateful for the privilege of covering stories in the community she was raised in, at TV station she grew up watching each day.
She got her start as a studio assistant running the teleprompter, before becoming an ENG video editor for four years.
She then spent three years on the overnight team as a writer for Global News Morning Edmonton.
Karen joined the online team in 2014. She lives for breaking news and also enjoys the fast pace of the digital world, creating videos and crafting original content for social media.
She grew up just outside Edmonton in Parkland County and graduated from the Radio and Television Arts program at NAIT in 2008.
Outside of work, Karen enjoys cooking, reading, killing plants gardening, travelling the world and taking in Edmonton’s numerous summer festivals.
Karen is a pop culture geek who indulges in a long list of TV shows and can frequently be found scouring Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Reddit. She would also never say no to a good glass of wine.
Contact Karen Bartko
Video Archives
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Raw video of wildfire damage in Jasper, Alta.
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Will Alberta’s renewable energy changes help or hinder development?
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60-year-old Edmonton elementary school set to get 1st playground
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The downside of a snowless winter on Edmonton businesses that rely on it
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Southwest Edmonton school wins Connor McDavid visit after raising $15k
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Alberta premier invokes sovereignty act on green electricity, concedes it’s for symbolic effect
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Edmonton’s single-use-bylaw expected to remain even after plastic ban ruling
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Adopt a Pet: Duke the dog
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Peaches the fat, diabetic cat swims to slim down in Edmonton
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Southwest Anthony Henday Drive bridge construction in the final stretch
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Edmonton Titanic historian weighs in on the missing submersible
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Wet, heavy snow snarls traffic on Highway 40 near Grande Cache, Alta.
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Firefighters from South Africa break into song and dance as they arrive in Alberta to help
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200 more South African firefighters arrive in Edmonton
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Deadly stabbing of child, woman in Edmonton believed to be ‘completely random’
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Heat wave driving demand for air conditioners in Alberta
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Growing wildfires west of Edmonton prompt expansion of evacuation orders
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‘You will always be the love of my life’: Wife of late Alberta RCMP officer
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Young boy makes a miraculous recover with the help of Glenrose Foundation
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COVID vaccines set to expire in Canada & Umbilical cord ‘milking’ can help newborns
Author Archives
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$200M River Cree expansion highlight’s Enoch Cree Nation’s economic successFrom hundreds of hotels rooms to more conference space, a pool and Canada's first Top Golf location, the River Cree expansion is being celebrated on Enoch Cree Nation.Consumer1 hour
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There’s a $250M plan to upgrade Commonwealth Stadium — but no money to make it happenA busy few weeks at Commonwealth Stadium has football fans and music lovers wondering if the 46-year-old facility will get a makeover. The city says there's a plan — but no money.ConsumerSep 5
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Teen handed over weapons and ran away before fatal police shooting in Wetaskiwin: ASIRTHoss Lightning, 15, handed over knives and was initially cooperative but ran away when Mounties determined he was at risk and should be taken into custody, ASIRT said in an update.CrimeSep 5
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‘This man 100% was aiming to kill’: How 3 teens survived a drive-by shooting in St. AlbertA fun night driving with friends turned into a near-death encounter for a trio of teenagers in St. Albert this past September long weekend when they were shot at by a man in a van.CrimeSep 4
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Alberta First Nation condemns shooting death of 15-year-old, calls for RCMP resignationsHoss Lightning, who had just turned 15, was shot and killed in Wetaskiwin after allegedly calling 911 for help and now his family is speaking out.PerspectivesSep 3
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Teenage boy hospitalized after overnight drive-by shooting in St. AlbertA 17-year-old boy was shot while a girl and another boy were injured when their vehicle was the target of a drive-by shooting on the south side of St. Albert, RCMP said.CrimeSep 2
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Miette Hot Springs to reopen in Jasper National ParkParks Canada said the hot springs area on the eastern side of the park is unaffected by the Jasper wildfire complex and the nearby Utopia wildfire is now extinguished.FireAug 16
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RCMP insist murder suspect who fled after shooting near Calgary is still in Alberta, reward offeredRCMP don’t believe Elijah Blake Strawberry has fled to another province. He is wanted for second-degree murder in the death of Colin Hough and attempted murder of another man.CrimeAug 16
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Broke and broken: Canada’s public transit in critical funding state, report saysThe analysis looked at the budgets, revenue sources and long-term plans for transit in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.ConsumerAug 16
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Hiker reported missing in Kananaskis Country found deadA 24-year-old man from Calgary died from a suspected fall and was found in the Rocky Mountain wilderness area west of the city on Monday morning.CanadaAug 13
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Alberta manhunt: 1 murder suspect arrested in Edmonton, other still on the runElijah Blake Strawberry, 28, has been identified as one of the suspects wanted in a rural shooting near Calgary that left a county employee dead and a utility worker injured.CrimeAug 12
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Joseph Chlala, Alberta murder suspect wanted on Canada-wide warrant, arrested in U.S.Joseph Chlala, 23, was arrested in New York state earlier this week and handed over to Canadian police. He is accused of killing a man in a southwest Edmonton alley in June 2023.CrimeAug 9
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1 dead, several others injured in 4-vehicle crash on QEII south of EdmontonA fatal crash south of Edmonton on the QEII Friday afternoon left one person dead, sent several others to hospital and shut down a section of Alberta's busiest highway.TrafficAug 9
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Motorcyclist, 35, hospitalized after crash involving cube van on Winterburn RoadThe major collision investigation unit was at the scene at Winterburn Road and 115th Avenue, where a heavily damaged black motorcycle lay in the middle of the intersection.TrafficAug 9
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Alberta manhunt: Person of interest sought, rural residents asked to look for stolen quadAlberta RCMP are asking for the public's help to both identify a person of interest in the Rocky View County homicide and keep an eye out for a stolen quad.CrimeAug 9
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Alberta aesthetics clinic calls for regulatory body after reprimand by Health CanadaA Sherwood Park aesthetics clinic is under fire for providing unauthorized cosmetic procedures treatments, however the owner says she thought she was qualified to do so.HealthAug 8
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Fares could rise after Calgary hailstorm damages planes, forces airlines to cancel flights: expertsA significant scale-back will likely boost demand at other airlines and push up ticket prices during the peak summer travel season.ConsumerAug 8
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Supreme Court won’t hear appeal of trucker convicted in Edmonton hotel killingCanada’s highest court won't hear a conviction appeal from former Ontario truck driver Bradley Barton in the 2011 death of Cindy Gladue at an Edmonton hotel.CrimeAug 8
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Jasper wildfire: Parts of Highway 16 and Highway 93 reopen to trafficOn Friday, Highway 16 through Jasper will reopen to all traffic during daylight hours while Highway 93 will reopen from Saskatchewan Crossing to the Columbia Icefield.CanadaAug 8
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Scooting the suburbs: Edmonton expands e-scooter riding zones to more areasElectric scooters and e-bikes are set to expand to more areas of Edmonton, as the city has approved expanding riding zones.ConsumerAug 8
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Edmonton convenience store shut down after raid uncovers drugs, weapons: policePolice said over $200,000 in cash, weapons and drugs like cocaine and meth, along with 28,000 illegal cigarettes, was seized from Bibi 16 Convenience Store in central Edmonton.CrimeAug 7
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Mortar launcher, grenades found after stolen truck tracked to spot north of CalgaryA stolen Chevy Silverado, a mortar launcher, several white phosphorous grenades, a dozen 7.62 mm round magazines and other weapons were found near Olds in Mountain View County.CrimeJul 30
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Ashley Callingbull is the 1st Indigenous woman to win Miss Universe CanadaThe model, actress and TV host from Enoch Cree Nation previously broke barriers at Mrs. Universe in 2015 and was the first Indigenous woman to appear in Sports Illustrated.EntertainmentJul 29
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Emotions overflow as South African firefighters arrive to help fight Alberta wildfiresThe more than 200 firefighters broke out into song and dance as they disembarked their flight and exited the international arrivals doors at Edmonton International Airport.FireJul 29
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Jasper damage map released as park’s largest wildfire in 100 years ragesResidents and businesses of the townsite inside Jasper National Park found out Saturday for certain whether or not they have anything to return to.FireJul 27