Lacombe

The Globe and Mail is reporting that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce he is stepping down as Liberal party leader as early as Monday.

Trudeau has faced mounting calls for his resignation from MPs in his caucus as public opinion polls have continued to put the governing Liberals trailing far behind the Conservatives.

The Globe report says three sources, who weren't authorized to speak about the matter publicly, did not know a specific timeline but they expected Trudeau would announce his plans before a national caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

Due to an unexpected clinical personnel shortage and inability to secure temporary coverage, the Stettler Hospital and Care Centre emergency department (ED) will be temporarily closed:

• Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. to Jan. 7 at 8 a.m.
• Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. to Jan. 10 at 8 a.m.

During times when the ED is closed, nursing staff will remain on site in the emergency department, providing assistance in redirecting/referring patients to alternate emergency departments in neighbouring communities, or other appropriate levels of service, as needed.

The Red Deer Rebels almost came back to halt their losing skid Saturday night at the Peavey Mart Centrium...almost.

Red Deer was going into the match on a five-game losing streak, and unfortunately lost 4-3 in overtime.

Ten minutes into the first period, the home team was already down 2-0 to the Pats. Rebels goalie, Peyton Shore, was pulled near the end of the first frame after being injured by Regina forward Anthony Wilson, who was given a major and a game misconduct. Chase Wutzke came into the game to replace Shore.

Red Deer Rebels Owner, President and General Manager Brent Sutter today announced that the club has completed a trade with the Calgary Hitmen.

The Rebels have acquired 17-year-old forward Parker MacDougall, 16-year-old forward prospect Ethan Dundas, a fifth round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, and a third round in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft – originally belonging to Swift Current – in exchange for 19-year-old forward Carson Birnie.

Viewpoint Gallery is accepting exhibition submissions for 2025.  

Submissions will be accepted from emerging and established artists and groups from the region.  

The call is open to artists in visual art media, such as sculpture, painting, printmaking, lettering arts, ceramics, fibre arts, glass, fine craft, jewellery, digital art, mixed media, photography, film, video, and performance art.  

Alberta’s provincial parks and recreation areas attracted millions of visitors from more than 60 countries in 2024.  

Throughout the year, over 5.9 million travellers visited the parks to camp, hike, and ski.  

More than 228,000 camping reservations were processed in 2024, with about 2.3 million visitors enjoying an overnight stay in reservable camping spaces.  

Due to an unexpected gap in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service (SLAACS) has closed early on Saturday, Jan. 4 and will also close early on Sunday, Jan. 5.

The Service will be closed from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 4 reopening Sunday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 a.m. The Service will also be closed from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 5, reopening at 7:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 6.

Patients can access medical care for urgent health concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.

The Red Deer Rebels lost their fifth game in a row, and first of 2025 with a 6-2 loss to the Calgary Hitmen.

Any New Year's resolution for the Rebels to come out strong was soon done as Calgary scored at the 3:10 mark of the first period. Three more Hitmen unanswered goals in the second pretty much put the game to rest.

Carson Birnie would get his ninth goal of the season in the first minute of the third to put the game at 4-1, but less than three minutes later the Hitmen would answer back with their fifth goal of the night.

Innisfail-area resident, Grant Gordon had a long road to recovery after being admitted to the Red Deer Regional Health Centre for a brain injury.  

When Gordon arrived at the hospital's Rehabilitation Unit 35, he initially dreaded the weeks of rehab to come.  

“I didn't want to talk to anybody. I didn't want to see anyone,” he said.  

Update:

On Jan. 7, the Red Deer RCMP advised that the missing 15-year-old was found and is safe.

The youth was reported missing on Jan. 3.

Click here for the updated story.

Original Story:

The Red Deer RCMP were seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing 15-year-old.

The youth was last seen on Dec. 30, 2024 in Red Deer.

There was concern for her well-being.