FortSask

A special air quality statement has been issued for the region. 

Residents went to bed after enjoying a sunny start to the week but awoke to a smoky haze this morning. 

Environment Canada says that this smoke is coming from nearby wildfires and is affecting the area's air quality and visibility on the roads. 

According to the Fort Air Partnership, air quality today is expected to hit the high-risk zone. 

The City of Fort St. John in northeastern British Columbia has issued an evacuation alert telling all of its approximately 21,000 residents to get ready to leave in response to a wildfire that's grown to more than 130 square kilometres in size.

An update from the BC Wildfire Service Monday afternoon says the Stoddart Creek wildfire was burning out of control and continuing to spread.

The fire has previously triggered evacuation alerts and orders for other properties in its path in the Peace River Regional District since it was discovered on Saturday. 

This week, BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions announced 15 finalists for Growing Home with BASF, a new initiative supporting the organizations that help their rural communities thrive.

One organization of the five finalists in each of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba will receive $25,000 to further their important work.

Your community needs your support! From May 15-31, voting is open to the public to determine which organization in each province will receive a $25,000 investment.

The Fort Saskatchewan and Lamont Regional Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a candidate forum this week ahead of the provincial election. 

MLA candidates for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville will come together on Wednesday (May 17) at the Lions Mane Room at the DCC for a moderated forum. 

Confirmed candidates that will be in attendance for the forum include: 

A Sherwood Park man has been sentenced after being involved in several sports investment scams between 2016 and 2019. 

53-year-old Nickolas Ellis will serve seven years in prison for the crimes and has been ordered to pay $1.65 million in restitution. 

The most prolific of these scams was dubbed 'The Dynasty Project', a supposed subscription service that would provide subscribers with exclusive access to athletes before and after games. 

A Fort Saskatchewan hockey player is still coming to grips with being among the first players selected at the 2023 WHL Draft. 

Former Ranger defender, Keaton Verhoeff, was selected fourth overall on Thursday (May 11) by the Victoria Royals, making him their second-highest draft pick in franchise history. 

"I was pretty nervous, I knew I was going to go somewhere up there," said Verhoeff. "I was a little shocked for about five minutes and then it finally sunk in and I realized that I just got drafted to the WHL." 

A new amendment to a traffic bylaw could see tickets handed out for noisy vehicles.

“Council has heard many times over the years how excessive noise affects the quality of life and the ability to enjoy one’s own property with their family and friends," said mayor Gale Katchur. "Excessive noise can also create conflict between neighbours."

"Council approved the new Bylaw to give our enforcement agencies the tools they need to resolve the issue."

Crews were fighting multiple fires in the area.

Just before 6 p.m. on Saturday (May 13), Sturgeon County firefighters responded to a grass fire on Highway 825 near Nutrien. 

The fire was eventually put under control. 

Edmonton Fire Services also responded to multiple fires burning in north Edmonton near the following locations: 

• Ebbers Way near 37 Street
• Meridian Street at 178 Avenue
• East of Manning Drive near 200 Avenue 
• 137 Avenue and Manning Drive

No evacuation notices were sent out. 

The local Robin Hood Association branches have caught Oilers playoff fever. 

On Wednesday (May 10) the branches came together at their Sherwood Park location to host an Oilers tailgate party ahead of Game 4 of Edmonton's second-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights. 

The event took inspiration from the association's Green and Gold Day that they host with players from the Edmonton Elks football team. 

A group of Fort Saskatchewan kids raised thousands of dollars for the victims of the fires on Boxwood Bend.

On May 5 and 6, the kids set up their lemonade stand in the same neighbourhood as the blaze. 

"[My son] wanted to set up a lemonade stand to give the remaining first responders and investigators free lemonade because it was so hot out," said Melanie Redfearn, whose son Lukas spearheaded the idea.

"We then decided that because there was so much traffic, we should do it for donations to the families."