Okotoks

The Guy Weadick Pro Rodeo is returning this weekend.

According to the High River Ag Society Events Coordinator, Liz Ellwood, they have several new events as part of the rodeo this year.

"I think the Tough Enough to Wear Pink on Saturday is going to be awesome," Ellwood explains. "So, raising those funds for the High River Community Cancer Center is going to be a lot of fun. And then, on the Sunday, we are having our inaugural Family Day."

Some water main work is scheduled to happen in Diamond Valley this week.

The work is scheduled for Thursday (June 19) morning on Government Road (Hwy 22), between Centre Avenue and 1st Avenue South.

While the work is being completed, residents who live in the area could experience low water pressure or temporary service disruptions.

Even though they are doing the work on Government Road, the road will remain open with reduced lanes.

There's a fire ban throughout Kananaskis Country.

We're getting a lot of rain this weekend.

According to Environment Canada, the rain is expected to start this Friday and last through the weekend.

The High River Protective Services issued a warning on the Town of High River's social media on Tuesday afternoon.

A storm is being forecast to bring between 100 and 150 mm of rain.

Even though the gate on Highway 40 is still closed to vehicles, there are still many trails you can hike.

Normally, the gate is opened on June 15 every year, but due to the G7 Summit near Kananaskis Village, it remains closed until June 21.

A couple of popular hiking destinations for mid-level skilled hikers include Mount Burke and Raspberry Ridge.

Raspberry Ridge is relatively easy for new hikers and gives you a terrific view at the top.

There is a risk of thunderstorms in Foothills County this afternoon.

But, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada Scientist, Christy Climenhaga, there will be even more severe thunderstorms east and northeast of Calgary.

"When we're looking at the risk to the Okotoks area, you are seeing the risk of thunderstorms through the afternoon hours. Severe risk for thunderstorms looks to be a little bit further to the east and northeast of the Okotoks area," Climenhaga says.

The Town of Diamond Valley is beginning their gravel road maintenance today (Wednesday, June 18).

Crews will be out milling and grading sections of gravel roads to help improve the driving conditions in town and restore the road's surface quality.

While they are out completing the work, residents can expect dust and noise, and the work may affect driveway access, temporarily, while crews are actively working in an area.

Southern Alberta is due for some heavy rain this weekend, including in Foothills County.

"What we're expecting this weekend is a cool and soggy one across much of Southern Alberta, including the Okotoks area," said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment and Climate Change Canada. "Rain [will] begin through the day on Friday and really not let up through almost the entirety of the weekend. By Sunday evening, things should start to ease up, and you'll start to see some relief."

Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Heath MacDonald and Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison today announced $3.4 million over four years to support the development of two new facilities at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) which includes the Omics Resource Centre at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) and Beef Reprotech facilities at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (LFCE).

A Statistics Canada reports says Canadians are spending less time with friends than ever, with the decline sharpest among the working-age demographic.

The data released Tuesday show that in 2022, only 19.3 per cent of Canadians saw friends on an average day, down from 47.9 per cent in 1986.

The questions to those in the survey asks if they were with a friend or family member in person, separate from communicating using technology such as phone, email, or social media.