Okotoks

Rescue crews, police and paramedics scrambled to a remote region of Banff National Park late Thursday amid reports that a group of hikers were hit by a rock slide, causing possible injuries and deaths.

“The initial report indicated there were multiple hikers and there may be serious injuries and/or fatalities,” RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney said in a news release.

Parks Canada, in a statement said, it is responding to a report of "a serious rockfall incident with involvement near Bow Glacier Falls in Banff National Park."

The Okotoks Spring into Summer Festival is the latest event to be cancelled due to the heavy rainfall expected this weekend.

Foothills County is forecast to receive up to 100 mm of rain, along with powerful wind gusts.

The festival was scheduled for Saturday, June 20, and was set to feature live music from Brettyn Rose, Memphis and the Grande, and Ribeye Cap, along with an artisan market and food trucks at the Arts & Learning Plaza.

An "extensive drug trafficking network" has been dismantled following an investigation from Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), with large amounts of cocaine beings seized and nine people facing charges.

The two-year investigation, dubbed "Project Leadline," was led by ALERT with assistance from the Taber and Lethbridge police services and the RCMP.

Three homes in Taber were searched on April 29, 2025, and ALERT restrained seven properties in Lethbridge and Coalhurst, along with eight bank accounts.

The restrained assets are valued at $2.5 million.

Miss Teen Okotoks is going to be competing in the Miss Teenage Canada pageant in July.

Last February, Maya McIntyre competed in Miss Teen Calgary, where she won first runner-up.

"The runners-up get to go to Nationals, so Miss Teenage Canada is next month," McIntyre explains. "And in order for me to solidify a place at Nationals, I needed to receive a title, and I received the title as Miss Teen Okotoks."

McIntyre says she has a passion for public speaking, which there is a lot of in pageants.

This weekend’s Guy Weadick Rodeo in High River has been postponed due to heavy rainfall in the forecast.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued a Special Weather Statement early Thursday morning (June 19), warning that the region could receive between 50 and 100 millimetres of rain by Sunday.

The rodeo is now scheduled to take place from Aug. 8 to 10.

The Foothills will be experiencing a lot of rain this weekend.

So much rain that Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement Thursday morning, warning the Foothills area could expect to see between 50 and 100 mm of rain by the end of the weekend, while closer to the mountains can expect upwards of 200 mm.

Due to the amount of rain, the Town of Okotoks is monitoring the weather system, as well as the water levels in the Sheep River.

An Okotoks lacrosse team is looking to pick up the pieces after thousands of dollars' worth of equipment was stolen.

The Okotoks Raiders Junior Ladies lacrosse team was in Red Deer on June 5 when their bus was broken into.

Thousands of dollars' worth of equipment was stolen, including goalie gear, player uniforms, and essential team tools.

Both the High River and Okotoks Farmers' Markets open this week.

Once again, Inclusion Foothills is managing both of them.

New Executive Director Vanessa McKenzie said they will kick things off on Thursday.

"We're very excited to welcome our vendors for the year. It's going to be a lot of fun with lots of local products from 3:30 to 6:30 on 4th Avenue SW in downtown High River."

McKenzie added that you can expect all your favourite vendors again this year, as well as some new ones.

Town of Nanton residents could get a reminder to clean up their property.

The Town took to Facebook to let people know their Peace Officer is making the rounds over the next little while, checking out whether or not yards need some extra TLC.

That includes yards that have overgrown grass or weeds, or have vegetation, such as trees or bushes, hanging into back alleys.

If the Peace Officer sees any that need some TLC, they will place a friendly reminder on the door of the home.

Ottawa is giving no sign that it intends to amend existing legislation on medical assistance in dying — something a UN committee called for earlier this spring.

The federal minister responsible for disabilities spoke at a hearing of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities last week, about two months after the committee called on Canada to repeal the 2021 law that expanded eligibility for assisted dying to those whose deaths were not reasonably foreseeable.