Lacombe

Doctors are calling for restrictions on sports betting ads, saying they are setting youth up for a future of problem gambling.

An editorial published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday says the ads are everywhere during sports broadcasts and that the legalization of online gambling has made every smartphone a potential betting platform.

Editor Dr. Shannon Charlebois says even though betting sites say they're only for people 19 years of age and older, youth are being inundated with advertising that equates enjoying sports with betting.

Skateboards, bikes, scooters and inline skates will soon roll into Ponoka’s new multi-use skate park as the town hosts its grand opening tomorrow.

The celebration runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at 4515 50 Street and will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a food truck with complimentary vouchers.

Following public consultation, the park was upgraded to include a 38-metre-long skate run, vert and pyramid ramps, and landscaped gathering and seating areas.

More information is available on the town’s website.

The Village of Clive is warning residents after receiving reports of door-to-door sales representatives from a solar power company operating without a hawker’s permit.

Village officials say vendors are required to carry a valid Hawker’s License issued by the municipality and provide photo identification upon request.

Residents are advised not to open the door if they feel unsafe and to maintain a barrier with a clear escape route.

Anyone approached by a salesperson without a valid business license is asked to report it to the village office during business hours.

Politicians and hockey stars are mourning the loss of hockey legend and former federal politician Ken Dryden, who passed away Friday at age 78 after a battle with cancer.

Dryden, 78, was a Hall of Fame goaltender who won six Stanley Cups backstopping the Montreal Canadiens as well as minding the cage during Canada's generation-defining victory at the 1972 Summit Series against the Soviet Union.

Air Canada flight attendants have massively rejected the employer's wage offer following a vote on a new contract that ended Saturday.

Flight attendants at Air Canada wrapped up voting at 3 p.m. ET  on the tentative new contract, with 99.1 per cent voting down the airline's wage offer. 

The airline says the wage portion will now be referred to mediation as previously agreed to by both sides.

Here are the Council highlights from the August 28, Lacombe County meeting.

Lacombe County Council Highlights

2024 Municipal Indicators
Lacombe County met or exceeded all but two indicators — Investment in Infrastructure and Infrastructure Age — in the 2024 Municipal Indicators report. Alberta Municipal Affairs deems the County “not at risk.”

Policy Updates

• Staff Retirement Policy (AD (14)) – Expanded eligibility and adjusted award amounts approved.

A newly recruited urologist is now providing enhanced urinary system care for residents of Red Deer and surrounding communities.

Dr. Uday Mann has joined Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and the Central Alberta Urology Clinic, offering comprehensive urologic care.

A urologist treats conditions related to the urinary tract and male reproductive system using both medical and surgical approaches. Mann’s expertise includes kidney stones, enlarged prostates and laparoscopic surgery.

Ken Dryden, the Hall of Fame goaltender whose long resume in and out of hockey included six Stanley Cup victories and helping backstop Canada's generation-defining victory at the 1972 Summit Series, died Friday at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer.

A key member of the Montreal Canadiens' 1970s dynasty, Dryden's career in the spotlight was only just getting started when he retired from the game — and while at the top of his own game — in his early 30s.

There will be a temporary road closure on 42 Avenue (between 43 Street and 45A Street) in Ponoka on Saturday, September 6 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Kinsmen Downhill Derby.

Motorists are reminded to drive with caution in the area, observe road signs and watch for pedestrians.

The Kinsmen Downhill Derby is a fun family event where spectators can watch go-cart races down 42 Avenue in the Riverside neighbourhood of Ponoka from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, please visit the Kinsmen Club of Ponoka Downhill Derby Facebook page @PonokaDownhill.

A new report argues the rise of gig work, artificial intelligence and rapid population growth are souring job prospects for Canada's youngest workers.

The Desjardins Economics report, released Thursday, comes as Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre cites decades-high youth unemployment levels to attack an immigration program for temporary foreign workers.

Statistics Canada's latest labour force survey shows the unemployment rate for young people aged 15 to 24 hit 14.6 per cent in July — a nearly 15-year high outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.