Town of Okotoks encourages locals to weigh in on Social Needs Assessment
The Town of Okotoks is asking locals to weigh in and help evaluate the social well-being of the community and identify any issues or gaps that need to be addressed.
The recently launched Social Needs Assessment is intended to "enhance the social well-being of our community by identifying key issues and ways to strengthen community connections," according to a release from the town.
Community and social development team lead Sian Anderson says they're hoping to hear from a broad range of people.
Canada booking seats on flights out of Lebanon as violence escalates
Global Affairs Canada began booking blocks of seats on the few remaining commercial flights leaving Lebanon on Friday as it issued another urgent plea for any Canadians in the country to leave immediately.
"Canadians need to leave now and we are helping with that," Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in a statement on X late Friday afternoon.
"Canada has secured seats for Canadians on the limited commercial flights available. If a seat is available, please take it."
Drilling for Oil: Jackson Rowland
Jackson Rowland, the captain of the Okotoks Oilers for the 2024-2025 season, has seen it all with the Green and Gold the past three seasons.
Rowland has been with the team through some major changes in that time, having played through their last full season with the AJHL, remaining with the team through their midseason move to the BCHL last year, and he will now lead them through their first full season in the BCHL.
First long weekend in Autumn should be warm
The weather on the long weekend is looking pretty decent.
Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Stephen Berg says Saturday and Sunday should be hovering around the 20-degree mark.
"Looks to be, in terms of temperature, kind of in the low 20's [on Saturday, September 28], and kind of a mix of sun and cloud," explained Berg. "And then a bit cloudier, though for Sunday, but a high still into the upper teens. Currently, it is set at 18."
The overnight lows will be between 3 and 8 degrees.
Sunday night will see a bit of a weather pattern change.
Your guide to events in High River this weekend
It's one busy bee weekend in High River.
The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival continues with the Balloon Glow Friday night in Wallaceville. It will go rain, wind or shine. Hopefully, all the balloons will be able to inflate but in case the weather conditions are not favourable they will have the baskets just flare their propane. Everyone will still be able to talk to the pilots and see all the balloons.
Slurpee stop in Claresholm ends in $100,000 windfall
A chance stop at a Claresholm gas station ended up as a stroke of luck for a Lethbridge truck driver.
What was supposed to be a quick stop for a Slurpee and some scratch tickets during a trip to Edmonton turned into a life-changing moment for Barrie Stephen.
"I scratched my tickets right away and thought, ‘This can’t be right," Stephen said in a media release. "So, I checked my ticket on the Lotto Spot app and sure enough, I’d won."
His mother was the first person he called to share the exciting news with.
Saskatchewan tops $1 Billion mark for non-durum wheat and canola exports
The world is looking to Saskatchewan as a key source for agri-food products.
Statistics show non-durum wheat exports have reached $1.7 billion for the current year.
Canola seed and canola oil have hit $1.3 and $1.1 billion respectively, with several other agri-food exports on track to surpass this year's $1 billion export mark.
Agriculture Minister David Marit says the global marketplace is also recognizing Saskatchewan as a provider of the most sustainable products grown anywhere.
Farmers frustrated as Grain Services Workers continue strike action
The ongoing strike at the Port of Vancouver is estimated to be costing Canada's grain industry $35 million a day in lost exports.
About 650 Grain Services Workers walked off the job Tuesday morning at the Port of Vancouver over contract issues with the Vancouver Terminal Elevators Association (VETA).
VETA represents six grain export terminals Viterra's Cascadia and Pacific Terminals, Richardson International Terminal, Cargill Limited Terminal, the G3 Vancouver Terminal and Alliance Grain Terminal which operate at the Port.
Indigenous artists' tree carving to be revealed Saturday ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
A special tree carving will be revealed on Saturday as part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
Local Indigenous artist Jared Tailfeathers will reveal his tree carving in George Lane Park at 3:30 p.m.
Indigenous singer and dancer Travis Jimmy John will also be taking part in the ceremony.
The project was led by High River resident Lee Peckham with support from the Town of High River.
Town of Okotoks pipe ceremony will honour victims of residential schools
The Town of Okotoks will be hosting a Pipe Ceremony as part of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is intended to honour and pay respect to the victims, survivors, and those who have been affected by the residential school system.
"On September 30th, the Town of Okotoks, we're going to be hosting a Pipe Ceremony that will be run by two Blackfoot elders from the Piikani First Nation," explains the Town of Okotoks Indigenous Relations Advisor, Desmond Jackson.