Okotoks

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says the economy is becoming the primary focus of Canada's relationships in the Indo-Pacific — a shift that appears linked to Canada's recent moves to overcome its security dispute with India.

Anand was in Japan and Malaysia this week for her first trip to the region since taking over as foreign minister in May. Her message coming out of that trip was that Canada's foreign policy is shifting — though not abandoning — the priorities set by the previous Liberal government of former prime minister Justin Trudeau.

Alberta is rolling out new regulations this fall banning transgender athletes from playing women’s sports, but the province will still welcome out-of-province transgender competitors.

Tourism and Sport Minister Andrew Boitchenko said the discrepancy is out of his hands.

“We don't have authority to regulate athletes from different jurisdictions,” he said in an interview.

In a followup statement, ministry spokeswoman Vanessa Gomez added it's due to outside sporting organizations being bound by out-of-province or international guidelines.

Residents of Foothills County are being urged to stay alert and prepared as a Tornado Watch was issued by Environment Canada late Sunday morning (July 13).

It warns that severe thunderstorms are likely to develop this afternoon and evening along the Foothills and move toward the southeast.

9 days of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth are over with just one all-important day left. Championship Sunday.

All seven winners on Championship Sunday at the Calgary Stampede will ride away with a belt buckle, the title, bragging rights and $50,000.

Pool C wrapped up Saturday afternoon under hot and muggy conditions. 

Only the top three in each pool, A and B Pools, played out earlier in the week, have qualified for Championship Sunday.

It was a tense Saturday night heading into the final Chuckwagon races to decide the three finalists on the Rangeland Derby.

Only the top 3 in the aggregate get a chance to compete for the Calgary Stampede Championship on Sunday.

And defending champion, Jason Glass from High River, came through with a solid time, the second fastest of the night, to secure his coveted third place in the aggregate.

Calgary's Chanse Vigen held onto the number one spot with Jamie Laboucane sitting in second.

Dayton Sutherland, from DeWinton, finished 18th in the aggregate.

The Department of National Defence is looking at the possibility of complementing its incoming F-35 fleet with uncrewed combat aircraft.

Unclassified documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the department is researching various options for acquiring the emerging technology.

The documents suggest that purchasing a fleet of aerial combat drones that could fly alongside fighter jets could cost as much as $16 billion and would require hundreds of staff.

There are eighteen chuckwagon outfits not at the Calgary Stampede this year that are racing in the Teepee Creek Stampede.

6 heats of 3 wagons each make up the chuckwagon races.

It's one of chuckwagon racing's oldest events, and with only 27 drivers at the Calgary Stampede compared to 36 just two years ago, there was a need for another event.

Blackie's Jordie Fike had an excellent night on Friday and finished in first and set a new track record of 0:56.89.

Rodeo fans were loving Day 2 of Pool C in Saddle Bronc.

Five of the 10 riders are from Alberta, with the Hay brothers from Wildwood both competing in the same pool.

Hay Dawson came in second place on Friday afternoon with an 87.50, which keeps him in first place in the aggregate.

Brother Logan came in tied for sixth with Layton Green from Millarville. They both need great rides to have a chance to make the top three in Pool C.

Only the top three in Pool C after Saturday's rides will qualify for Championship Sunday with a $50,000 cheque up for grabs.

Update:

Due to the weather forecast today (July 13), the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron cancelled the Griffon helicopter's visit to Nanton. 

Original story: 

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron was set to visit Nanton this weekend.

The Rangeland Derby was full of excitement on Friday night as drivers tried to solidify the top 3 in the aggregate.

Defending Champion Jason Glass from High River was well behind in heat 8 but lit up the backstretch as the thunderous crowd cheered his checkered wagon to the finish line in first.

Glass solidified his 3rd place in the aggregate with the second fastest time on the night.

Jamie Laboucane had the fastest time last night as sits comfortable in second in the aggregate.