Airdrie

A new bear warning has been issued for a string of popular day-use areas along Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country, just ahead of the Heritage Day long weekend.

According to Alberta Parks, a grizzly bear and cub have been frequenting the area “feeding on natural vegetation.”

The warning, issued July 30 and in effect until further notice, applies to Canoe Meadows Day Use and campground, Widowmaker Day Use, the Widowmaker Trail, the Kananaskis Visitor Information Centre, Barrier Dam Day Use, and Barrier Boat Launch Day Use.

Alberta RCMP is reminding motorists to stay safe behind the wheel as the province heads into the Heritage Day long weekend.

“Many collisions are preventable,” said Sgt. Darrin Turnbull with Alberta RCMP Traffic. “By following safe driving practices, such as leaving early, staying alert, and driving according to conditions, we can help ensure Alberta’s roadways are safe for everyone this August long weekend.”

Airdrie-East MLA Angela Pitt will join two Alberta colleagues at a U.S. legislative summit this weekend to promote Alberta as a “secure and reliable energy and agricultural partner of choice,” according to a July 31 government news release.

Pitt, along with MLAs Glenn Van Dijken (Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock) and Chelsae Petrovic (Livingstone-Macleod), will attend the 50th annual summit of the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) in Boston from Aug. 2 to 7.

Airdrie’s East Lake ramp will shut down overnight for three consecutive nights starting tonight, as summer roadwork continues across the city.

Airdrie-based Burton’s Buttons has transformed a Canadian Forces mess kit uniform into a custom memorial bear, stitched with a zipper so the veteran’s ashes can one day be placed inside.

Erin Jensen, owner of Burton’s Buttons, said she felt the weight of the task as soon as she picked up her scissors.

“It felt really, really wrong to cut into a veteran’s uniform,” she said. “I had to really gear myself up for that. But they’d asked me to do this — this is what they wanted.”

A teenager reported missing earlier this week in Airdrie has been found safe, RCMP said Thursday.

Related Stories:

• Update: Airdrie RCMP searching for missing 14-year-old boy

Mounties issued a request for public assistance Wednesday after the 14-year-old was last seen on July 29.

A truck driver ticketed after a four-vehicle crash near Beiseker has lost a bid to limit the careless driving charge he faces to a single issue — whether he failed to use a pilot car.

In a July 18 ruling issued at the Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie, Her Worship Alison A. Sabo denied a motion from John Farnel’s legal team seeking to restrict the Crown from introducing any grounds beyond the absence of a pilot vehicle.

Families must register for school bus transportation by Friday Aug. 1 to guarantee service on the first day of school, Rocky View Schools (RVS) said in a statement issued July 17.

“We strive to ensure a smooth first day of school for our riders, their families and our drivers,” said Morley Kostecky, RVS Senior Manager of Transportation. “Registering punctually for transportation ensures all riders are assigned a bus route and bus stop in time for the beginning of the school year.”

Airdrie RCMP is warning the public about the dangers and legal consequences associated with air guns, airsoft guns, and imitation firearms.

In a news release issued Wednesday, the detachment said these items are often marketed as recreational or hobby equipment but can pose serious risks—especially when displayed or used in public.

“Air guns are not toys,” the release stated. “If carried or displayed in public, they can easily be mistaken for real firearms—leading to serious police response and possible criminal charges.”

The first of Airdrie’s two planned veterans crosswalks is now complete, with a newly painted tribute installed in front of the Airdrie Legion on 1st Avenue NE.

The red-and-white painted crosswalk features a silhouette of a soldier and the phrase Lest We Forget, in a design similar to those first introduced in Cochrane in 2024.

The Veterans Crosswalks are part of a broader installation unveiled this month along Veterans Boulevard. The City confirmed completion of the boulevard memorial in a July 21 release.