Lacombe

A new poll by Leger has found that Quebec residents are the happiest in Canada.

The web survey of nearly 40,000 Canadians found that Quebecers rated their happiness at an average of 72.4 out of 100, which is well above the national average.

New Brunswick followed Quebec with an average of 70.2, while Manitoba and Prince Edward Island finished at the bottom of the list. 

Mississauga, Ont. had the highest happiness rating of the 10 largest cities, while Toronto was lowest. 

Montreal finished second in the category.

Lacombe Days kicked off with our Sunny 94.1 barbecue outside the station’s office today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nearly 700 people attended the lunch, which included a burger and drink provided by CBO Earthworks, Central Alberta Co-op and The Market in Bentley.

The Lacombe Kinsmen Club handled the grilling, with all donations from the event going directly to the club. Over $675 were raised to help the Kinsmen with their local charities.

You can fish for free this weekend thanks to one of Alberta’s two annual Family Fishing Weekends, when you can fish without a licence on waterbodies with open fishing seasons.

It is important to note that national parks are not included in the free fishing.

Sportfishing regulations still apply all year to anglers of all ages, including during the Family Fishing Weekends.

The Lacombe Days organizers posted on social media that they are urgently seeking volunteers for the fireworks show tomorrow evening.

Volunteers are needed to help monitor barricades on Saturday, July 12, and shifts are available throughout the day.

Available shift times are:

• 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

If you’re available to cover a full or partial shift, reach out to Lacombe Days through their social media platforms.

Mounties in Alberta are looking for help from the public after the body of a teen girl was found in an abandoned car close to the U.S. border.

Police say Jordyn (Rylie) Dines was found in the abandoned Toyota Camry on July 4 near Glenwood, 50 kilometres from the border.

The 16-year-old was last seen the day before at the Chinook Centre shopping mall in Calgary.

Police say Dines died under suspicious circumstances, but didn’t elaborate.

Canada’s labour market topped expectations in June amid a surprise surge in hiring.

Statistics Canada said Friday that the unemployment rate dropped a tenth of a percentage point to 6.9 per cent in June as the economy added some 83,000 jobs.

The vast majority of those jobs were part-time, the agency said, with 47,000 positions added in the private sector.

A Reuters poll of economists heading into Friday’s release had expected the jobless rate would rise to 7.1 per cent in June as employment levels held flat.

As part of Lacombe Days, the Lacombe Research and Development Centre is hosting an open house where residents and community members can learn about the science and research happening right here in Lacombe.

The open house will be held today, July 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and is a drop-in event with activities happening throughout the day.

Attendees will be able to take part in hands-on demonstrations and displays, as well as explore the laboratories, livestock barns and fields.

The NDP's leadership race to replace Jagmeet Singh will formally begin in September, with a six-month race to follow according to a rules framework adopted by the party's national council. 

A new leader will be chosen no later than March 29, when the party holds its 2026 convention in Winnipeg.

An entry fee of $100,000 has been set for candidates to show their "organizational and fundraising capacity."

Debates and other leadership events hosted by the party will be streamed online in both official languages, according to the framework. 

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 35 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports on Aug. 1 in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media Thursday night, evidently setting a new date for bilateral negotiations between the two countries. 

Canada and the United States had committed to working on a new economic and security agreement with a July 21 deadline for a deal. The boosted tariff pressures call into question progress toward the initial time frame.

A Penhold man has been arrested on a Canada-wide warrant after being found in possession of a stolen truck. 

On July 3, Innisfail RCMP received a report of a stolen Ford F-350. Officers believed the vehicle had been taken by a known prolific offender, who was wanted for breaching parole conditions related to similar offences. 

Police say the suspect has a history of fleeing from officers, creating dangerous situations for the public by driving and damaging property with stolen vehicles.