Strathmore

Mark and Karin Elford of Wood Mountain ranch near the Saskatchewan/Montana border, and have been named the Saskatchewan Stock Growers 2025 TESA winners.

Since 1996, TESA, or The Environmental Stewardship Award, has recognized producers who go above and beyond standard industry conservation practices and set positive examples for other cattle producers and the general public.

The Liberal plan to give first-time homebuyers a tax break on a newly built home could have substantial impacts on housing affordability — with a few caveats — a new analysis finds.

The Liberal government introduced legislation on June 5 to eliminate the GST portion from new home sales of up to $1 million for first-time buyers, which works out to as much as $50,000 off the cost of a new build or a substantially renovated unit.

For homes sold above $1 million, the GST relief is phased out as the price tag nears $1.5 million.

A government push to steer Canada Post and the union representing 55,000 mail workers toward common ground hit a big pothole Monday.

As an increasingly acrimonious impasse drags on, Canada Post rejected a framework put forward by the union for a binding arbitration process, which Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu asked the parties to work toward just five days earlier.

The Lead by Example Powwow took place in Strathmore over the weekend.

Between June 6 and 8, the Strathmore Ag Grounds were filled with Indigenous dancers, local vendors, and food trucks, for a weekend of song, dance, and other activities.

The event was created by Melodie Ayoungman-Hunt four years ago, following the death of her son Kristian.

Bubble Tea Brewers celebrated their 2-year anniversary as a business. 

The Strathmore tea shop officially turned two on Sunday (June 8). To mark this accomplishment, the shop handed out free watermelon drinks and gave customers a chance to win a $25 gift card by spinning a prize wheel. A new banner was also featured for customers to write messages on.  

"It's a great milestone for us," said Archel Alfar, owner of Bubble Tea Brewers. Her passion for bubble tea and her Filipino heritage led her to her role in the franchise.

The Strathmore Spartans senior boys football team kicked off its preseason over the weekend.

On Saturday (June 7) the Spartans were playing a scrimmage against the Drumheller Titans at the Strathmore High School football field.

"It's a glorified practice," said head coach Danny Warrack. "We go out, knock some rust off, get our confidence up."

Because of the nature of the game, the teams did not keep score and instead used the matchup to review their team's playstyle.

The ongoing wildfire situation stretches from northern Ontario right across the prairies, with the threat to homes and communities and thousands of people being evacuated.

The Assistant Vice-President of Grain for CN, David Przednowek, says they are monitoring the situation very closely as their rail lines run through the north.

CN reports they've had some delays moving grain in and out of the Port at Thunder Bay but are also doing what they can to help with the wildfires. 

Hope Bridges Society is getting ready to host a free community concert.

The show takes place on Tuesday (June 10), as the group welcomes country singer Michela Sheedy.

Janice Littlefair is the coordinator with the Hope Bridges Society, and she explained why they chose Sheedy.

Tyrrell Riding Academy held a special benefit event over the weekend.

On Saturday (June 7) dozens of riders made it out to the academy to take part in the event, which was raising funds for local rider Jessica Fuchs.

Fuchs had just moved into her first home when it was burned down in a fire.

"It was only two days into moving in when it happened," said Fuchs. "It was pretty sad."

Plant 2025 is virtually complete in Alberta, other than a few acres in the Peace region.

Manglai a product co-ordinator with the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation put together the latest report, adding there were very few weather interruptions, just a few localized showers.

In terms of crop development, almost all crops are ahead of average. The soil conditions are trending drier, but there's hope that producers could see some significant impact with June rains.