Lacombe

Grain movement on CN Rail lines has been fairly consistent over the last few weeks.

CN's Assistant Vice-President of Grain says demand remained strong right through April.

David Przednowek says we haven't seen that seasonal drop-off for seeding, but that could be because spring seeding has been slow to develop.

Farm Credit Canada has been studying farmland rental rates as compared to farmland values.

Data shows the national rent-to-price ratio in 2023 was 2.52%, reflecting a negligible decline from the previous year. 

FCC Senior Economist Justin Shepherd says in 2023 we saw some fairly strong farmland value growth across the prairies, especially in Saskatchewan as well as Manitoba,
while Alberta had a little bit slower growth, but it was still positive.

Farmers have started turning their attention to spring seeding as they wrap up soil tests, check moisture, prep equipment, start doing some pre-seed burnoff, seed treatments
and start planting.

Some producers have slowly started their seeding operations hoping to take advantage of whatever moisture they can, while others are getting ready.

Rain and snow over the last few weeks have been a welcome sight but more is needed after a fairly dry winter resulted in a lack of snow cover in many areas. 

McGill University says the camp set up by pro-Palestinian student activists on the institution's grounds in Montreal violates both school policies and the law.

More than two dozen tents had been pitched at the school's downtown campus as of Sunday afternoon, with a steady stream of visitors stopping by to drop off donations and supplies.

McGill said Monday morning that the number of people who have set up tents on campus has tripled since Saturday, and many of them, if not the majority, are not members of the school community.

Central Albertans will spend the month of May getting physically active for a cause.

Cycle for Central Alberta, an event created by the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation, helps raise funds for Children’s Rehabilitation Services, a facility in downtown Red Deer providing speech therapy, physical therapy, and other services to young people in the community.

Red Deer Public Schools (RDPS) students got to flex their creativity during the Young Writers’ and Creators’ Conference.  

On April 26, about 250 Grade 4, 5, and 6 students from across the division attended the conference with authors, writers, artists, and creators at Oriole Park Elementary School.  

On Feb. 21, 2024 in the Red Deer Court of Justice, Isolation Equipment Services Inc. pleaded guilty to one charge under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code for failing to take measures to eliminate the potential danger of equipment or material that was dislodged or moved. The Crown withdrew 28 other charges under OHS legislation. The company was sentenced on April 24.

Red Deer County is advising residents and motorists that on Wednesday, May 1st, from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM crews will be performing maintenance on the railway crossing on Airport Drive in Springbrook.

Affected Areas (1)

Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) is the first post-secondary institution in the province to offer an accelerated pathway for health care professionals to complete the Practical Nurse Diploma program.  

The program is designed for Canadian and internationally educated nurses or health care professionals interested in completing the Practical Nurse program at a faster pace.   

The City of Lacombe is inviting residents, schools, community groups, and local businesses to join in a city-wide litter cleanup for Pitch-In Week.  

This year, Pitch-In Week runs from April 29 to May 5.  

On April 30, residents are encouraged to join in a 20 Minute Makeover from 2 p.m., to 2:20 p.m.