Okotoks

First Nations chiefs have voted to reject a landmark $47.8-billion child welfare reform deal, reached in July with the Canadian government. 

At a special chiefs assembly in Calgary hosted by the Assembly of First Nations, 267 out of 414 chiefs voted against a resolution in support of the deal after a lengthy debate that at points was emotionally charged as they argued either for or against it.

The Foothills Writers Group is hosting a writing contest for Foothills County students.

This is their second annual writing contest, which began as a way for members of the Foothills Writers Group to help give back to the community.

"We thought that literacy and writing with children was so very, very important," explained the group's founder, Laurie Carmichael.

Last year, the contest was open to students from the public, Catholic, and Francophone schools in Okotoks, and 44 people participated.

Sports documentaries have really picked up steam over the past decade and now the High River Flyers well get to tell their story through one.

Current SAIT student, and director of the documentary, Nicolas Rufiange is hoping to tell the story of the ups and downs of the Flyers 2024-2025 season. The idea to film the Flyers season came after Rufiange filmed a short five-minute documentary called "The Off-Season" with former head coach Colten Hayes.

The second and final game for the Okotoks Oilers in the BCHL Showcase hosted by the Abbotsford Cauncks as well as the Vancouver Canucks went down as a 4-0 loss to the Langley Rivermen.

Chilliwack played host to the Oilers and Rivermen in the first-ever meeting between the two, along with the first time the Green and Gold played a team in the BCHL's Coastal Conference. 

Simon Westling, originally from Härnösand, Sweden, started in net for Okotoks. The 6'5 netminder stopped 16 shots in the contest.

Shovels hit the ground on Wednesday (Oct. 16) for a new car dealership in Okotoks.

High River Toyota will be moving its base of operations to the 35,975 square-foot facility that's being built on Wedderburn Drive on the north end of town, across from D'Arcy Crossing.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held, with representatives from the Town of Okotoks, High River Toyota, and Toyota Canada present.

Mayor Tanya Thorn was among those who addressed the crowd, praising the planned dealership's various energy-efficient features.

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is going to be reaching into its surplus for the first time in a while in order to cover its cost.

That comes as grain volumes are falling for Canada, and the commission needs more funds to keep up with their costs.

That's why they're dipping into their surplus, with Head Commissioner David Hunt explaining that came from their most recent financial review.

The Town of Okotoks has amended one of its bylaws regarding graphic images.

At their meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 15), Town Council discussed amending Bylaw 31-23 Community Standards Bylaw to change the term "Graphic Image."

The bylaw was first updated to address graphic images in August of 2023, prompted by the distribution of graphic pamphlets in town.

Our first Thanksgiving as an Okotoks Oiler Billet family has come and gone, but the pictures laughs and memories will last forever!

This year the Billet Program wanted to host a turkey supper for the players and families, please enjoy the photos from the afternoon! 

If you would like more information on possibly becoming an Okotoks Oiler Billet family yourself, you can email okotoksoilersbilletprogram@gmail.com

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is urging chiefs to vote in favour of a landmark child welfare deal with Ottawa, saying she doesn't think a better agreement would be possible under a different federal government.

Some chiefs are campaigning to vote down the $47.8-billion child welfare reform agreement at an assembly in Calgary this week.

A wanted man could be in the Nanton area, according to the RCMP.

Dillan Singh Rogers was included in this week's Wanted Wednesday posts on the Alberta RCMP's social media pages.

Rogers was last known to be in Nanton, and his areas of activity include Nanton, Vulcan, Foothills County, Willow Creek M.D., High River, High Level, and Maskwacis.

He is wanted by the RCMP for various crimes.

It's advised that people do not approach him if seen, but to call the cops instead.