Airdrie

Rocky View County upgraded to a full fire ban across the entire county on Wednesday, the same day the Town of Cochrane issued a fire restriction. Airdrie remains under an advisory, which was first issued on Friday.

Rocky View County stated Wednesday afternoon that "due to changing conditions," a fire ban was in effect. 

"The ban will remain in effect as long as high-risk conditions remain," officials noted in the update.

As separatist discontent bubbles up anew in Alberta, experts say a vote to sever ties with Canada would pitch the country into unexplored territory on everything from money to First Nations and national parks.

“You’re in terra incognita. You’re off the map when we get to that stage of the proceedings,” said law professor Eric Adams.

“A lot of things are going to be broken on the way out the door.”

After the Second World War came to a close, Canada pulled itself away from Great Britain and planted itself firmly within a North American political and economic compact that generated prosperity for much of the western world for decades.

But as the world marks 80 years since the end of the war in Europe, an increasingly unstable geopolitical climate — and an administration in Washington bent on fighting a trade war with much of the world — has Canada looking back to the continent as a way to preserve peace and prosperity.

Observers say the American government’s move toward deregulation could have sweeping consequences for Canadians.

A new policy paper warns Canadian agriculture to prepare for changing U.S. domestic policies that seek efficiencies through deregulation.

The paper from Agri-Food Economic Systems said this could include food inspection.

Follow all our tariff coverage here

Fire crews from both the Town of Crossfield and the City of Airdrie responded to a structure fire Wednesday morning that destroyed one residence.

Related Stories:

• Update: Crossfield fire crews on scene at structure fire

Rocky View County has updated its previously issued Fire Advisory to a Fire Ban for all of Rocky View County, effective immediately, due to changing conditions.

"The ban will remain in effect as long as high-risk conditions remain," officials noted in a Wednesday afternoon social media post.

During a Fire Ban, all burning and fireworks permits are suspended, and burning is banned with the following exceptions:

• Indoor household fireplaces

• Camp stoves (properly attended)

• Barbecues (charcoal briquettes, propane, or natural gas)

Strong nitrogen fertilizer demand is butting up against tight supplies in some regions of the world, says an analyst.

India is the world’s top importer of the product.

Indian urea demand surged to 38.8 million tonnes in 2024-25, an eight per cent increase over the previous year, according to Argus Media.

That was due in part to tight supplies of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer during the winter (rabi) crop season.

According to Crossfield town officials, a structure fire that was being attended by fire crews earlier this morning has been extinguished.

"Saskatchewan Street is now open to local traffic only (residents in the immediate area). A fire truck will remain on scene to monitor the site. Please be respectful of barricades surrounding the property," officials noted in a Wednesday afternoon update.

Earlier this morning, Crossfield fire crews were on the scene of a structure fire in town.

Someone in Alberta is waking up a millionaire—and it wasn’t a Calgary or Edmonton buy, which means it could be an Airdrie resident. 

A LOTTO MAX ticket worth $1 million from Tuesday night’s MAXMILLIONS draw was sold somewhere in the province, outside the metro regions, according to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

The winning numbers for the May 6 draw were: 10, 16, 18, 24, 35, 36, and 41. To claim the $1 million prize, the numbers must be an exact match.

As the 2025 crop season begins, farmers across the prairies are already on high alert for potential insect damage. Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provides insights into what farmers might expect this year based on last year's conditions and winter observations.