This CBC article linked below mentions something quite interesting -
if the COE used the same formula used by Stats Canada for its federal census, the population would end up as 992,812 (
official 972,223). Not only a lot closer to the 1M mark, but also that's a difference of 20,589. That's a little larger than either Beaumont or Spruce Grove. It's important to know that this census (and likely also past ones) only takes into account census forms which were completed and submitted.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmon...ince-1.5271704
Personally, I didn't expect the City of Edmonton proper would reach the 1M mark anyway. I was thinking roughly between 975,000 - 985,000, so that's a little less what I expected, but not hugely so. As to when, well, that's a little hard to say, but I'd definitely bet within 2-2.5 years.
Unless the Trans Mountain pipeline gets axed and/or the oil/gas industry gets hit big time by investors unloading even more (look what's happening to the oilsands) or a major oil price drop, I think the city proper will surpass the 1M mark before the 2021 federal census.