FortSask

It's a big weekend all around the area - even for National Parks.

Admission will be free to all visitors at Elk Island National Park on Canada Day (July 1).

Although there are no special group activities or interpretation programs specifically for Canada Day, there will be a flag raising ceremony and free snacks.

The flag raising ceremony starts a noon in the Astotin Lake Recreation Area, where visitors can join in singing the Canadian National Anthem as the flag is raised in the park.

The snacks will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Despite the lack of any barricades, the Highway 15 pedestrian walkway has not officially opened.

According to the River Valley Alliance, the bridge is still under construction.

"It was supposed to be open now," said Makennah Walker, communications and marketing manager with the alliance. "But with all that heavy rain we had a week back, it delayed the construction."

Walker added that most of the work is being done on the Sturgeon County side of the bridge.

"They're still working on trail connections to the bridge."

Dry conditions in many areas of the prairies remain an issue.

Weekly crop reports focus on the ongoing impact of the hot, dry conditions, which resulted in some seeds not germinating, and now the fact that crop stress could result in lower-than-expected yields.

In some cases, crop stress has resulted in some durum fields starting to head out at only ten inches tall.

Crops are maturing rapidly and in some areas are short and thin, as are some hay fields.

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP believes that the person killed in a burning vehicle in Sturgeon County earlier this week was the result of a homicide. 

On Monday (June 26) police were called to the scene of Range Road 230 and Township Road 554 after reports of a burning vehicle. 

Once they arrived, officers observed the car engulfed in flames. Upon extinguishing the blaze, mounties reported finding what they believed to be human remains. 

The remains were sent to the Chief Medical Examiner in Edmonton where they underwent an autopsy on Wednesday morning. 

Do you know who will be performing during Fort Saskatchewan's Canada Day celebration on Saturday? 

Legacy Park will be the place to be as there will be plenty of entertainment for people of all ages to enjoy. 

The afternoon slate from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the bandshell stage and will feature four artists: 

Fort Saskatchewan's Canada Day parade returns for yet another year on Saturday. 

Starting at 11 a.m., the parade features around 100 floats and is expected to last an hour.

Here's what you should bring:

• Lawn chairs and blankets for sitting on the route
• Weather appropriate clothing
• Canadian flags or red and white attire
• Bags for catching candy from the floats
• Sunscreen and bug spray

Here is the official parade route:

A heat warning has been issued for the region. 

Environment Canada says that temperatures will be reaching highs around 30 C on both today (June 29) and Friday. 

"It looks like it is going to be a two-day event with forecast highs of 30 C and 29 C today and tomorrow respectively," said Samantha Mauti, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. "Overnight lows are pretty warm with 17 C forecast for tonight and 15 C for tomorrow night." 

With this year's crop in the ground and the 2022-23 crop year coming to an end in a few weeks grain movement on the railways is starting to pick up again.

Assistant vice president of sales and marketing for bulk Elizabeth Hucker says in December of last year CPKC added 7300 high-capacity hopper cars to its fleet.

She says almost half of its hopper car fleet are now the new high-capacity hopper cars, which can carry 10  per cent more weight and 15 per cent more volume.

Canada Day is right around the corner.

On July 1 all across the province, there will be no shortage of parades, pancake breakfasts, and other festivities for all to enjoy.

Fort Saskatchewan is expecting a huge turnout for Canada Day with temperatures expected around 22 C, according to our forecast. You can read more about all of Fort's Canada Day plans by clicking here. 

Former pharmacist Sinan Hadi has made Edmonton's Most Wanted list.

Hadi was added to the list in February of 2023 and is wanted Canada-wide for several sexual assaults.

Edmonton police say Hadi was involved in a collision back in 2016. After the crash, he persuaded the female teenage victim to get into his vehicle, where he proceeded to sexually assault her.