Lacombe

Sylvan Lake is reminding beachgoers that tents are now restricted in certain areas of the waterfront.

Tents are not allowed on the sandy beach north of the asphalt walking trail, stretching from just west of the pier to the east side of Centennial Park. However, small shade tents no larger than one metre by one metre—such as baby shelters—are permitted in that area.

Visitors who want to use larger tents are encouraged to set up south of the pathway, including throughout Centennial Park, where no tent restrictions apply.

Central Alberta Fanfest brought a comic-con atmosphere to Ponoka on Saturday, drawing nearly 100 attendees to the small-town celebration of fandom.

Held at the Ponoka Jubilee Library, the event featured 10 vendors offering everything from crocheted dolls to collectible figurines and stickers.

Fan groups like USS Cerberus, a Star Trek crew, and Midnight at 25:00, an Edmonton-based anime dance group, were among the day’s special guests.

Proven Seed is expanding its portfolio with the launch of three new LibertyLink canola hybrids and a cutting-edge TruFlex variety, giving farmers more disease resistance, improved harvest management, and greater flexibility in straight cutting.

The new LibertyLink lineup includes:

The Ponoka Stampede has named their 2025 Errol McMillan Volunteer of the Year Award recipients: Charlie and Bernie Walcheske.

Charlie and Bernie Walcheske exemplify the ideal volunteers, and their decades of service reflect their deep-rooted love for the Stampede and the town of Ponoka.

For more than 45 years, Charlie and Bernie have been integral to the volunteer community at the Ponoka Stampede.

On June 28, Sundre RCMP received a report of a stolen Polaris side-by-side from a location west of Burnstick Lake, in the Rig Street area of Clearwater County.

The side-by-side is a black 2022 Polaris RZR 1000 and is all black with blue accents on the mirrors and front hood panel.

The RZR also has distinctive blue wheels, front and rear windows, a roof panel, and a yellow light bar.

Alberta resident Shamaila Akram says she can handle the increase in racial slurs and derogatory comments being thrown at her, but she worries about her newcomer and immigrant clients.

As debates unfold over Canada's immigration system, those who provide help to newcomers in Alberta say there has been an uptick of hostility toward immigrants.

"I hear from people in my own communities -- women specifically who wear hijabs -- many bad things and we realize there is a need to educate people," said Akram, with Calgary's Centre for Newcomers. 

Chinook's Edge School Division has appointed Erin Lapierre-Hand as the new vice-principal of Innisfail High School.

Lapierre-Hand is already a familiar face in the school community, having served as a high school math teacher and career counsellor at Innisfail High.

"I have enjoyed supporting students on their high school math journey," said Lapierre-Hand.

"I also enjoy helping students plan their next steps after high school — whether that’s applying to a post-secondary program, entering the workforce, or pursuing travel opportunities."

The future of farming takes center stage at the AgSmart Expo, a three-day educational expo running tomorrow through Thursday (July 29–31) at the Olds College campus.

Presented by Agri-Trade Equipment Expo, the event offers a hands-on, in-depth look at the latest technologies, innovations, and data-driven solutions transforming Canadian agriculture. 

The Red Deer Food Bank is having a tough time keeping up with demand over the summer months.

With people on holidays, it means that the number of donations and volunteers goes down. Unfortunately, the need for food does not. 

Mitch Thomson, the Executive Director of the Red Deer Food Bank says that they have been doing a "Christmas in July" campaign to help them out. 

"Over the last month, we've been holding a Christmas in July campaign to try and encourage people to get into that season of giving. It's been a tough slog, to be honest."

With less than a year to go until the 2026 World Cup, political tensions and U.S. policy threaten to pose problems as Canada, the United States and Mexico prepare to co-host the tournament.

Next year’s FIFA World Cup will be the biggest ever, with the three countries hosting a record 48 teams. Between June 11 and July 19, they will play 104 matches, most of them in the U.S.