Strathmore

Family members of patients allegedly brainwashed decades ago at a Montreal psychiatric hospital are afraid they're running out of time to get compensation because the federal government and the McGill University Health Centre have filed motions to dismiss their lawsuit.

Glenn Landry's mother, Catherine Elizabeth Harter, was among the hundreds of people to receive experimental treatments under the MK-ULTRA program, funded by the Canadian government and the CIA between the 1940s and 1960s at Montreal's Allan Memorial Institute, which was affiliated with McGill University.

In a haunting message from beyond the grave, Métis Elder Sonny James MacDonald recounted being incarcerated for more than two years at an Indian Hospital in Edmonton in the 1940s for tuberculosis treatment, suffering abuse and isolation as a child.

"After the surgery … they took it upon themselves … that they should take my pajama bottoms off to prevent me from walking around," MacDonald, a renowned carver who died in 2021, said in a video clip taken from a documentary released that same year. 

The Calgary Stampede will welcome over 35 youth 4-H clubs from across Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan to the city this weekend.

The 27th annual 4-H Rodeo will run at the Nutrien Western Event Centre.

On Saturday (Sept. 21) eager participants ranging in age from nine to 20 years old will expand their rodeo skills through a series of clinics taught by industry experts.

Siksika Nation has announced a new initiative to address homelessness and supportive housing in the community.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Thursday (Sept. 19) at the Siksika Support Centre between the nation and Inn from the Cold, a Calgary non-profit that provides programs on homelessness prevention, emergency family shelter, and more.

The Agra Risk Wheatland Kings went 3-1 in the preseason and will kick off their regular season on Friday against the Mountain View Colts.

Puck drop for the game goes at 8 p.m. at the Didsbury Memorial Complex Arena.

Cody Holdaway, general manager of the Kings says the tone in the office and locker room is a lot different compared to last year.

"I think the boys are doing to surprise people tonight and I think the Kings are going to be a force to be reckoned with this year."

Farmers now have 63 per cent of the provincial crop in the bin, up from the five and ten-year averages of 43 and 38 per cent.

Harvest progress varies from 80 per cent complete in the South to 73 per cent in the Central Region, while the other areas are now 50 per cent complete.

The Strathmore Overnight Shelter was looking for a letter of support from the town at a recent council meeting.

The support letter asked Strathmore Town Council to approve operating hours at the overnight shelter to 24 hours a day while expanding the number of client beds. The letter was presented by Elizabeth Karp, executive director of the shelter.

The rain will continue throughout the day on Friday, but it should clear up by the end of the night.

Here are some fun events running in Strathmore this weekend.

Folks across Strathmore and Wheatland County are getting ready to get their golf on.

You might want to bring your jacket and umbrella as rainstorms are expected.

The annual True North Drive for a Difference charity golf tournament in partnership with 104.5 More Country will be teeing off on Friday afternoon with registration beginning at noon.

The golf tournament will showcase teams of four people working together to raise funds for The True North Society to help end the cycle of domestic abuse in the community.

Over 500 kids at Crowther Memorial Junior High School ran for a cause during the school's annual Terry Fox Run.

The event took place on Thursday (Sept. 19).

Glenda Sorensen, a teacher at the school says the institution has had a Terry Fox Run for as long as she can remember.

Last year they raised over $3,000 for the run.

"It's a beautiful afternoon in the fall to take a moment to think about those in your family who have battled cancer or someone you know," says Sorensen. "It's also a great community-building event for our school."