"Full resumption of operations will take time" after reaching tentative deal: WestJet

Submitted by mike.thom on Tue, 07/02/2024 - 09:32

WestJet flight disruptions are expected to continue this week, after a deal was reached over the weekend to end a strike by its mechanics.

The airline said in a statement Monday morning that "full resumption of operations will take time and further cancellations will be required over the coming days."

Some 680 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association had walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan. 

Here’s how Central Alberta is celebrating Canada Day

There are many events happening throughout Central Alberta to celebrate Canada Day.  

From markets and entertainment, to fireworks shows, there is something for every member of the family to enjoy. 

Here’s what’s happening: 

Lacombe 

Canada Day kicks off in Lacombe at 11:30 a.m., with the Lacombe Legion marching of the colours from the LMC to the legion, followed by a flag-raising ceremony, and BBQ. 

As police increasingly use facial recognition technology, calls grow for regulations

Submitted by mike.thom on Mon, 07/01/2024 - 12:59

Some police services in Canada are using facial recognition technology to help solve crimes, while other police forces say human rights and privacy concerns are holding them back from employing the powerful digital tools.

It's this uneven application of the technology — and the loose rules governing its use — that has legal and AI experts calling on the federal government to set national standards.

Deal reached in WestJet mechanics' strike, but travel disruptions still expected

Submitted by mike.thom on Mon, 07/01/2024 - 12:49

WestJet has reached a deal with its mechanics to end a strike that had disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend.

In a news release on its website, WestJet said there will still be flight disruptions in the week ahead as its planes are brought back into service.

Are you proud to be Canadian? Poll suggests that feeling is dwindling, for some

Submitted by mike.thom on Sun, 06/30/2024 - 20:03

A new poll suggests the vast majority of Canadians are proud of their home and native land, but our sense of national pride is lower than it was a few years ago.

Polling firm Leger surveyed 1,607 people last weekend, asking how they're feeling about being Canadian ahead of Canada Day. The firm posed similar questions to a group of 1,003 Americans ahead of the Fourth of July.

The results suggest the vast majority of us — 76 per cent — would call ourselves proud Canadians. 

‘A lot of angry people’: Cancelled WestJet flights hit 100,000 travellers amid strike

Submitted by mike.thom on Sun, 06/30/2024 - 19:49

WestJet cancelled nearly 700 flights as of Sunday, upending plans for close to 100,000 passengers as an unexpected strike by plane mechanics entered its third day on the busiest travel weekend of the season.

Some 680 workers, whose daily inspections and repairs are essential to airline operations, walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from the federal labour minister.

Since Thursday, tracking service FlightAware shows WestJet has cancelled 687 flights scheduled to fly between then and the end of the Canada Day long weekend.

Innisfail RCMP to host town hall meeting

The Innisfail RCMP, in collaboration with the Town of Innisfail, will be holding a Town Hall meeting on July 3, at 6:00 p.m., at the Innisfail Legion.

There will be presentations from:

  • The RCMP on priorities and crime stats;
  • Community Peace Officer program and Innisfail Fire service;
  • Update on the new Regional Victim Services model;
  • Innisfail Police and Safe Community Committee.

There will be also be an open mic for citizens to ask any questions regarding any of these program areas.

Different schools of thought on why Canada drapes itself with red and white

Submitted by mike.thom on Sun, 06/30/2024 - 09:00

Canada's unofficial national colours will be on full display Monday as Canadians don patriotic T-shirts, wave hand-held flags and hang bunting to celebrate their country. But while the red-and-white flag for the most part unites Canadians, the colours' meaning is open to interpretation.

Xavier Gélinas, a curator at the Canadian Museum of History, said there is no authoritative source that explains why the country drapes itself in red and white.

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