Lacombe

Lacombe City Council held a regular meeting on Oct. 28.  

The recreation and culture master plan refresh, social needs assessment and priorities, upgrades to city hall, and the new fire station location were all topics at the meeting.   

Here are the meeting highlights: 

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says she hopes countries from around the world will support a plan to bring back Ukrainian children who have been deported to Russia since the war in Ukraine began nearly three years ago. 

Joly urged more than 70 delegations attending a ministerial conference in Montreal on Wednesday to make a “strong pledge” to ensure children and other Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war are returned home. 

New Democrats will not cave to demands from the Bloc Québécois and Conservative leaders to help them bring down the Liberal government, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Wednesday. 

His party is now all that stands between Justin Trudeau's Liberals and an early election, with the other two opposition parties pledging to try to topple the minority government at the next opportunity. 

On Tuesday, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said he will make good on his threat to work with the other opposition parties to bring the Liberals down with a non-confidence vote.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked national security services to find a way to share information with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre about foreign interference affecting his caucus, he said Wednesday. 

Earlier this month, Trudeau told a public inquiry that he has been given the names of past and present Conservative parliamentarians and candidates who are linked to foreign interference. 

Trudeau said members from other parties, including the Liberals, have also been flagged.

There was a showdown Wednesday (Oct.30) morning between two women’s curling teams at the 2024 Pan Continental Curling Championships.  

Canada’s Team Homan defeated South Korea’s Team Eunji Gim 8-2 at the Gary Moe Auto Group Sportsplex.  

The Red Deer Food Bank is continuing to see an increase in demand for services.   

The annual Hunger Count 2024 report released by Food Banks Canada stated that nationally, food bank visits have almost doubled in five years, and local statistics aren’t far behind.   

There is a new partnership delivering the Soy Quality Program to Canadian producers.  

Nathan Gerelus is the manager of National Affairs at the Canadian Grain Commission, based in Winnipeg, and he says, 

“We are excited to have recently partnered with Soy Canada to deliver the Soy Quality Program, and that will start with this year's 2024 harvest.” 

It’s Halloween, and goblins, ghouls, monsters, superheroes, and everything in between will be out tonight across Central Alberta trick-or-treating.  

The Alberta RCMP is providing safety tips for trick-or-treaters, and homeowners to ensure everyone has a safe and happy Halloween.  

Tips for trick-or-treaters:  

Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit officers observed a repeat offender known to have warrants leaving a vehicle on a street in Wetaskiwin on Oct. 27.  

The suspect was approached and advised he was under arrest.   

The suspect resisted, but was eventually arrested. 

A search of the suspect and vehicle revealed:  

Legion branches across the country kicked off their respective Poppy Campaigns last Friday (Oct. 25).

Funds donated during the campaign support Veterans and their families.

Kathy Hobbs, president of the Lacombe Branch #79, said money raised locally also supports RCMP members and their families, in addition to other local initiatives. She notes the funds are held in trust by the Legion for distribution back into the community. Previous disbursements include high school bursaries, hospital donations, and exercise equipment for seniors.