Lacombe

We are two weeks away from the 46th annual general meeting (AGM) for Manitoba Beef Producers. The two-day event takes place February 20th and 21st at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre in Winnipeg.

General Manager Carson Callum says the AGM features a lot of great speakers. He notes it starts with an Industry Knowledge Session on Day 1, led by Dr. Eric Behlke of TELUS Agriculture and Consumer Goods.

Fentanyl has emerged as the primary cause of illicit drug deaths in Canada and the United States, and its trafficking has been cited by U.S. President Donald Trump to justify his threat of steep tariffs on goods from Canada.

But the potent opioid also has a decades long history and is extensively used as a medical pain management tool. Here's a look at the drug and how it's used:

— Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to help relieve severe pain.

— Health Canada says fentanyl is 20 to 40 times more potent than heroin and up to 100 times more potent than morphine.

For the past 13 years, The Red Deer Downtown Business Association (DBA)  has run a weekly Downtown market. Amanda Gould the CEO of the DBA says that although it’s a popular event every week, they just want to change things up. 

The Town of Sylvan Lake and Sylvan Lake Archives are working to conserve local history through a Heritage Management Plan project.  

The plan was announced last year to preserve Sylvan Lake’s history, build community pride, and ensure the town’s heritage thrives alongside new development.   

The project will be rolled out in three phases. 

In the wake of the Peavey Mart closure, Westerner Park in Red Deer will be looking for a new naming sponsor for the Centrium.

Peavey Mart has been the naming sponsor of the Centrium since 2021.

“Our partnership with Peavey Mart exemplifies the kind of meaningful relationships that can have a lasting impact,” said Shelly Flint, CEO of Westerner Park. “While their closure is undoubtedly a loss for the community, we are grateful for the support they’ve provided over the years and remain committed to finding the right partnerships to continue serving Central Alberta.”

On Tuesday, a water line broke at 5614 58th Street in Lacombe.  

Due to the extreme cold weather and to ensure the safety of employees and equipment, city staff will allow the water to flow into the catch basin at the intersection of 56 Avenue and 58th Street until Thursday (Feb. 6).  

The Alberta government has announced the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), a new system that allows people with disabilities to work while maintaining financial and health benefits.

Set to launch in July 2026, ADAP will operate alongside the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program, which provides financial support for Albertans with severe and permanent disabilities who cannot work.

The Notre Dame Fine Arts Department is inviting Shrek fans to their interpretation of Shrek the Musical.  

Directed by Jennifer Cocolicchio starring JM Amurao, Kayleigh Skene, and Alexandra Ragasa.   

The production is based on the award-winning film and musical, bringing all of the characters the audience knows and loves to life on stage.  

McGill University undergrad Daniel Miksha made a significant decision over the weekend.

After hearing the news that U.S. President Donald Trump planned to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports, Miksha shelved his plans to apply to Boston University, Yale and Harvard for graduate studies.

Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson provided the following statement on the looming tariff threat:   

“This is an extremely concerning matter for all Canadians, and one that we hope is short-lived.  

“While tariffs have thankfully been delayed for 30 days, we still don’t know what lies ahead. What we do know is that tariffs would be harmful to citizens on both sides of the border, including citizens in Ponoka.