HighRiver

Environment Canada issued a heat warning this morning (July 12) at 4:20 a.m. for Vulcan County, parts of Foothills County, and Siksika Nation. 

Hot temperatures with afternoon highs into the low 30s are expected to begin today, with overnight lows near 15°C. 

The heat will continue into Sunday, with cooler temperatures forecasted for Monday.

The following areas are under the heat warning:

Prime Minister Mark Carney's chief of staff and the country's top public servant will be responsible for maintaining an ethics screen preventing him from making decisions that benefit his former employer, says a disclosure issued by the office of the ethics commissioner on Friday.

A new poll by Leger has found that Quebec residents are the happiest in Canada.

The web survey of nearly 40,000 Canadians found that Quebecers rated their happiness at an average of 72.4 out of 100, which is well above the national average.

New Brunswick followed Quebec with an average of 70.2, while Manitoba and Prince Edward Island finished at the bottom of the list. 

Mississauga, Ont. had the highest happiness rating of the 10 largest cities, while Toronto was lowest. 

Montreal finished second in the category.

Emergency crews were on scene of a fire south of Okotoks Friday evening around 8 p.m.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Smoke could be seen from several kilometres away. 

An update is expected. 

A collision on Highway 2 southeast of Okotoks resulted in a lane closure on Friday evening (July 11).

The incident occurred just north of the Aldersyde overpass in the northbound lanes.

It's since been cleared and the road has been reopened.

The annual Teddy Bear Picnic is set to return to Okotoks on Tuesday, July 15.

Now in its 22nd year, the event is organized by the McMan Family Resource Network in Okotoks, with a focus on connecting families to the support they may need while providing a fun, family-friendly experience.

This year's Together We Make a Difference Radiothon has surpassed the $100,000 mark.

An anonymous donation of $25,000 to the Sheep River Health Trust (SRHT) brought the total to $102,582.

This is the first time the radiothon fundraising total exceeded $100,000 in its 12-year history.

The event was held on June 19 at the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre, hosted by the SRHT and The Eagle 100.9.

Members of the Foothills Fire Department, with assistance from Diamond Valley, Longview, and Spruce Meadows fire crews, responded to a structure fire early Wednesday morning.  

Crews received a report of a fire just after 2 a.m. in Foothills County.  

“When crews arrived on the scene, the house was fully involved,” said Alex Marshall, acting Fire Chief for Foothills County.  

A grizzly bear recently bluff-charged a hiker in Kananaskis.

The bluff charge happened on the Bill Milne Trail from Wedge Pond to Mt. Allan Drive, causing Alberta Parks to issue a bear warning for the area on July 8.

While this bear warning is for the Bill Milne Trail, Alberta Parks is reminding people that bears can be encountered anywhere in Kananaskis at any time.

To avoid a surprise encounter with a bear, Alberta Parks reminds people to keep all attractants, including food, garbage, recycling, and pet food, secure from bears and never leave them unattended.

A local flower shop recently competed in a floral competition at the Calgary Stampede and won an award.

According to Nikolle Grainger of Boy Oh Boy Flowers in Okotoks, they were one of ten competitors part of the Fleurs De Villes competition at the Stampede.

"We were invited by email to see if we wanted to apply and accepted the application," Grainger explains. "So, that was an amazing feat."

The Stampede had held the competition last year for the first time in many years, and Grainger says she didn't compete last year, but it was a dream of hers to go.