Strathmore

The Strathmore Youth Theatre Company has begun its production of James and the Giant Peach.

The play, based off the Roald Dahl book of the same name, tells the surreal story of an orphan boy who enters a magical giant peach. In the Strathmore production, James is played by Damien Fitzsimmons.

The Strathmore Silhouttes held the first-ever gymnastics competition in Strathmore.

The Mother's Day Invitational took place at the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre on Saturday and featured 140 gymnasts from across Alberta.

"We had to rent the equipment, organize the equipment getting there, and finding judges, venues, and reaching out to all the gyms across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia," said Brianne Wilson, a volunteer and parent with the event.

Kinsmen Park was filled with people for the Addiction Resource Coalition's free community BBQ.

The event took place on Saturday and was done to help kick off National Mental Health Week, which runs between May 15 to 21.

"The event is to draw awareness of all the resources and supports that are available locally for mental health," said Crystal Gaudet, planning committee member with the group.  "This is our third year doing the event, and the turnout seems to be getting larger."

The union representing thousands of Alberta government workers has voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.

Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, said members have voted 90 per cent in favour of hitting the picket lines.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Smith said the goal remains to get a deal at the bargaining table.

"We do not want to have to use the clear strike mandate we have received, but we will, if necessary," he said, calling it a historic strike vote.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's chief of staff is sounding the alarm over Prime Minister Mark Carney's pick to head up the government's environment portfolio.

Rob Anderson took to social media Tuesday to air his misgivings about new Environment and Climate Change Minister Julie Dabrusin.

"Sit down for this one Alberta...Meet Canada's new Environment Minister," he writes.

Calgary legislature member Ric McIver is the new Speaker of the Alberta legislature.

McIver resigned as municipal affairs minister early Tuesday and soon after was voted into the Speaker's job by his peers, defeating Opposition NDP candidate Heather Sweet.

After the vote result was announced, McIver was ceremoniously dragged to the Speaker's chair by Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition NDP house leader Christina Gray.

Some jovial heel dragging on McIver's part meant Gray dropped his elbow and started pushing him from behind while Smith led the way.

For the first time, RCW will be bringing a cage match to Strathmore on May 23 at the Strathmore Ag Grounds Pavilion.

Steve Wilde is a wrestler with RCW and explained that the cage match is the real deal.

"You have to understand there's only one door. One way in, one way out. Unless you're climbing the cage and dropping 10 feet to the floor. So, it's do what you got to do, and yeah, you're in a cage."

RCW has been to Strathmore multiple times this year, and according to Wilde, Strathmore is the best place he has been so far.

Tom Jukes, the fire service advisor for Wheatland County, has given an update on the fire near Range Road 255.

The blaze was on Sunday evening at a home near the intersection of Township Road 244. According to Jukes, they were supported by firefighters from Strathmore and Rockyford.

"They arrived on scene to find a garage structure fully ingulfed in fire. Fire crews immediately took to defensive operations and were able to set up a water shuttle."

Jukes added that the firefighters got rid of the blaze in "a relatively short timeframe". 

A distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba will be invested into the Order of Manitoba this summer.

Dr. Digvir S. Jayas, an engineer and agrologist, has received multiple awards for his 30-year research and teaching career. He conducts research related to drying, handling and storing of grains and oilseeds and digital image processing for grading and processing operations in the Agri-Food industry.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his new cabinet today.

One of the new faces at the cabinet table will be 59 year old Heath MacDonald an MP from Prince Edward Island, as he takes on the role of Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister.

MacDonald was first elected as an MP in 2021 after previously serving in the Provincial Legislature

Kody Blois, who was appointed ag minister in early March following Carney's leadership win i
 was left out of cabinet.

Other key ministers of note relating to the ag industry :