Lacombe

Voters in Red Deer will have a chance to meet federal election candidates face-to-face during an informal event hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce tonight (April 23).

The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Marquis Room at the Harvest Centre in Westerner Park.

Cattle market analyst Anne Wasko from Gateway Livestock says that's largely due to tariff uncertainties leading up to April 2nd. 

She notes despite that cattle prices in Western Canada have remained strong, hitting record highs across all classes of cattle with slaughter cow prices hitting another high last week.

The waning days of the federal election campaign saw voters turn out in record numbers for advance polls and party leaders attempt to poke holes in each others' platforms.

Elections Canada said in a news release Tuesday that the four days of advance polling between Friday and Monday set a new record for turnout, with 7.3 million people casting ballots early.

That's up 25 per cent from the 5.8 million people who took part in advance voting in the 2021 federal election.

Following a comprehensive investigation by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation’s inspection and investigation section, the FALG program was suspended in February for Alberta’s largest cattle financing co-operative, alleging a number of financial mismanagement and regulatory issues.
 
As negotiations continue to reinstate the Feeders Association Loan Guarantee program to the Picture Butte Feeder Co-operative, the provincial cattle feeders association is making its feelings known.

Red Deer RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in locating missing 14-year-old Jennifer Thom. She was last seen in Red Deer on Apr. 14, 2025. There is concern for her well-being.

Jennifer Thom is described as:

·        5 feet 2 inches and approximately 125 pounds

·        Brown hair and brown eyes

       ·        Medium complexion

       ·        Last seen wearing a black sweater, black sweatpants and black and white running shoes

To mark their 35th anniversary the Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) did a tour through Central Alberta communities awarding a total of $35,000 to organizations and agencies who applied for grants. 

Executive Director of CFCAB, Erin Pedon spoke on the reason for the tour “We were trying to think of how we could show our appreciation to the communities that surround us, and we thought, what better way than to actually visit each community” 

Update:

In the early morning on April 22nd, Sylvan Lake RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 20, between Highway 12 and Township Road 402, located south of Bentley. 

Both drivers were transported to hospital with serious injuries. A 29-year-old passenger from Red Deer, Alta. was taken to hospital with critical injuries and was pronounced deceased.  

On April 19, the Drayton Valley RCMP responded to a complaint of a home invasion with a firearm in Drayton Valley, with the victim having been transported to the Drayton Valley hospital.

While police members were gathering information about this complaint, RCMP were dispatched to a secondary complaint of a male that had been stabbed multiple times at a rural property in Brazeau, County.

After a thorough investigation, police determined that the two events were related and perpetrated by the same suspects.

Statistics Canada is forecasting 232,180 acres, a 20 per cent decrease from last year, but traders question the estimate’s accuracy

Canaryseed brokers and traders think acres this year will be larger than Statistics Canada is indicating.

“Definitely acres are going up, not down,” said David Nobbs, a trader with Bornhorst Seeds.

Statistics Canada is forecasting 232,180 acres of the crop, a 20 per cent decrease from last year.

“I don’t even know why they’re involved in this crop. The numbers that come out are just always wrong,” said Nobbs.

Red Deer Rebels owner, president and general manager Brent Sutter announced that the club has completed a trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds. 

The Rebels have acquired forward Zane Torre from the Thunderbirds in exchange for a fourth-round pick at the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft (via Everett) and a conditional fourth-round pick at the 2028 WHL Prospects Draft.