Lacombe

The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation is pleased to announce that it has been named the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open Community Partner with the potential to receive up to $250,000 in matching donations.

“The combined efforts of the Foundation and CPKC, fueled by the generosity of Central Albertans, will result in enhancements to Red Deer Hospital’s cardiology department and improvement to the heart health of our community,” said Manon Therriault, Red Deer Regional Health Foundation Chief Executive Officer.

The Whisker Rescue is now accepting donations for the annual Garage Sale fundraiser.  

“All of the proceeds that we get from the sale provide medical and foster care for our rescue cats,” said Diane Webber, Whisker Rescue Garage Sale Coordinator. 

The fundraiser started 25 years ago in a backyard and has continued to grow. 

The long-awaited Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is complete and the Canada Energy Regulator has given the go-ahead for the project to open.

The regulator said Tuesday it has approved the last remaining "leave to open" applications submitted by Trans Mountain Corp., the Crown corporation behind the project. Approval of these applications was required before the expanded pipeline could begin shipping oil. 

Also on Tuesday, Trans Mountain confirmed that Wednesday, May 1 will mark the commercial start date for the expansion. 

Motorists are advised of a partial road closure in Timberlands North beginning May 1. The northbound lane of Thorburn Avenue from Toye street to Township Road 384 will be closed from May 1 to May 21 to accommodate water and sanitary infrastructure construction.

During this phase of construction, access to the retail centre from Thorburn Avenue will be right-in, right-out only, no left turns will be permitted. Access to the commercial area via Timberlands Drive and 30 Avenue is encouraged.

Motorists are advised to obey all signs and to expect minor delays.

Officials at McGill University are awaiting word from Montreal police, following a request to help clear a pro-Palestinian encampment on the school grounds.

The call for assistance comes after efforts to persuade the protesters to end what the school has called an illegal action failed.

The demonstrators say they have no intention of dismantling their tents until McGill, as well as nearby Concordia University, divests from all companies that are "profiting from genocide."

The Central Alberta Buccaneers have announced that they will be returning to ME Global Athletic Park in Lacombe for all of their home games in the 2024 season.

Paul Jensen, the Chairperson for the football team says it's a great thing. "We're really excited to be back in Lacombe this year to play all of our home games there. We received our schedule from the league and found it worked out better for the organization to settle down in Lacombe for practices and games this year. We're really excited to come back." 

According to Statistics Canada, the 2024 Census Test will begin the following week.

The procedure involves testing the revised census questions and collection methods two years before the next census.

The Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture are scheduled to start collecting data on May 6, 2024, and end in late June. All information gathered will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will not be shared with third parties or kept for later use.

Do you know an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to the agriculture industry in Alberta?

If so, you may want to consider nominating them for Alberta's Agriculture Hall of Fame.

Alberta's Agriculture and Irrigation Branch inducts up to three individuals every two years who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the ag sector. 

Candidates will have made a significant province-wide impact on the industry.

Since it began in 1951, the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame has recognized 141 individuals

A Chinook’s Edge teacher has been recognized as the Town of Innisfail’s Mentor of the Year.  

Grade 5 and 6 teacher at the Innisfail Middle School, Erin Holt, received the award for her work in implementing a ski program for students.  

Over the past two years, more than 200 students have participated in the program, going to the Innisfail ski hill, and learning from Holt and other certified instructors.  

Just before 10:00 am, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Rocky Mountain House and Caroline areas.

The statement says that significant snowfall is expected over the next few days. 

Snow over southwestern Alberta will taper off later this morning. Heavy snow is expected to begin this evening along the foothills then spread to the east and continue through Wednesday. Total amounts of 10 to 25 cm are possible by Thursday morning.

The highest amounts will fall west of Highway 2.