Reach

A new wave of aviation training has landed in Alberta. Prairie Aviation Training Center (PATC) is now using a VR flight simulator to help address Canada’s growing pilot shortage and its global impact on mission aviation.

The Fort St John RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in locating 56-year-old Steven Louis McPhee who is currently wanted on warrants for driving while prohibited under the Motor Vehicle Act and failing to comply with an order, section 490.031 of the Criminal Code.

Steven Louis McPhee is described as:

On July 17, at 9:55pm, the Fort St John RCMP received a report of a man flashing a pistol at a member of the public, while walking in the area of 87 Street and 99 Ave, in Fort St John.

Fort St John RCMP frontline officers immediately attended and located two individuals, one, a intoxicated man matching the description of the suspect with a pistol.

The man was arrested for Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose. A black pistol was located on the individual and seized by police. The pistol was later determined to be a BB pistol.

Council has declared an agricultural disaster in the County of Grande Prairie due to ongoing and severe drought conditions and low soil moisture levels affecting the region.

The decision comes at a critical stage in the growing season which is already showing significantly reduced hay harvests, poor tame pasture conditions, and marginal annual crop conditions. Reduced yields and quality are expected across the board for 2025.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer.

Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week.

Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks.

Tourism Dawson Creek is excited to announce a refreshed and expanded Historical Downtown Walking Tour, made possible by a Visitor Experience Grant from Destination BC.

As part of this project, 11 new plaques have been added to the tour, highlighting even more local stories and historic spots. Many of the original plaques have also been redesigned or replaced, especially those damaged by fire.

The City of Grande Prairie is completing traffic signal switchover work at the intersection of 116 Avenue and 102 Street on the evening of Tuesday, July 22.

Work begins at 8 p.m. and is expected to continue into the early morning hours of the following day, wrapping up by 3 a.m., weather permitting.

To minimize disruption at this busy intersection, the operation is scheduled overnight. During the work, the intersection will operate as a four-way stop, with signage in place to guide drivers.

The Kenn Borek Aquatic Centre (KBAC), including the climbing wall, will be closed for its annual maintenance shutdown from August 16 to October 10, 2025 and will reopen on October 11, 2025. This year’s shutdown will last eight weeks so we can complete some big upgrades and repairs that require additional time.

The head of an Ottawa-based Canadian Army regiment has been temporarily removed as part of an investigation into alleged online behaviour that the commander of the army says disgraced the military.

The commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa has been removed from his post in connection with a probe into the "Blue Hackle Mafia" social media group, Lt-Gen Michael Wright said in a statement to army ranks Wednesday and shared with The Canadian Press Thursday.

Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser.

One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment.

The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines.