Strathmore

Pope Francis will be remembered by Canadian Catholics as a progressive leader whose approach to the papacy helped usher in a new era of Indigenous relations and make the church more responsive to its rank and file.

The Vatican says the pontiff died Monday at age 88.

Francis was the global leader of Canada's most popular organized religion. Nearly 11 million Canadians identified as Catholic in the 2021 census, second only to those without a religious affiliation.

The federal Liberals and NDP both released their costed campaign platforms Saturday as Elections Canada reported record turnout in the first day of advanced polls.

Nearly two million people showed up to cast a ballot on Friday, the first of four days for advanced voting in the federal election.

Elections Canada said in a social media post it will be making adjustments over the coming days to handle the high traffic after many voters were met with long lineups at polling stations.

Chestermere's 2025 municipal census will soon get underway.

"Collecting up-to-date information and data is an important and effective way to help plan for the needs of our growing and diverse city," the city said in a release.

"Census information is used by various different organizations, facilities, and shareholders to deliver a wide range of services including recreation programming & facilities, emergency services and major infrastructure."

According to the city, this year's data will be used to apply for potential grant funds.

A Calgary man has won $1 million.

Ming Zhu said he was stunned when he checked his ticket.

 “I checked [the ticket] again and again," he said. “Then I left the store and told the news to my wife," said a release from the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

“She didn’t believe me, so I used my laptop to show her on the website,” he continued.

According to Zhu, the couple plans to use the money to buy a new home. 

“I have bought tickets for many years, thinking, ‘I bought; I have a chance,’” he added.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre promised to strike down a key element of the Liberal government's environmental policy Friday as he and other party leaders got back on the campaign trail following the national leaders' debates in Montreal.

The campaigning Friday also coincided with the opening of the first of four days of advance polling across the country.

Both Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stayed in Quebec to make announcements Friday morning, while Liberal Leader Mark Carney made his way to Niagara Falls, Ont.

Strathmore residents will still have their garbage collected on Good Friday.

"The only holidays that affect garbage collection are Christmas Day and New Year's Day," the Town of Strathmore said in a statement.

The full schedule of collection dates can be found here.

The Supreme Court of Canada says a person must wait seven years after completely finishing their post-secondary studies before they can be released from student loan debt under the federal bankruptcy law.

The top court's decision came Thursday in the case of Izabela Piekut, who received government student loans in the course of three university programs from 1987 to 2003.

Piekut later returned to school and earned a master's degree in 2009 without the help of additional student loans.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney spent his first English election debate presenting himself as a safe pair of hands for a country in crisis — while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre sought to frame him as more of the same after a decade of Liberal government.

Carney, who is leading in the polls, became the main target of all his rivals' attacks early in Thursday's final debate of the election — a trend that carried over from Wednesday's French language debate.

There were no injuries after two separate fires occurred in Chestermere this week.

On Tuesday, April 15, fire crews responded to a house fire in the West Creek area.

Joel Fournie, platoon chief with Chestermere Fire Services, said the fire began in the basement along one of the walls.

"We did have extension all the way from the basement up until the second floor of that home, so the damage was quite extensive on the inside of the home."

Community partners in the Town of Drumheller are coming together to begin planning for the future of the World's Largest Dinosaur.

In late March, staff with the Drumheller & District Chamber of Commerce announced that Tyra, the massive dinosaur, will close at the end of its lease in 2029.

"The three organizations have taken the first step in working together to explore options at an initial meeting held earlier this week," the Chamber said in a release.