Cochrane

Alberta and the union representing thousands of provincial government employees say they have agreed to a new round of mediated bargaining.

Alberta Union of Provincial Employees president Guy Smith says the renewed talks are considered the final opportunity for getting a new deal for some 23,000 government workers after 18 months of bargaining.

Smith credits Finance Minister Nate Horner for stepping in to restart talks and recognizing the importance of continuing negotiations.

The pace of auto theft is dropping in Canada thanks to collective efforts to crack down on thieves, says an industry group focused on insurance fraud and crime.

Équité Association said in a report released Monday that the number of vehicles reported stolen nationally dropped 19.1 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Just over 23,000 vehicles were reported stolen in the first six months of the year in Canada, the report said.

The move to accept Australian shipments comes as China conducts an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola

Canada’s canola growers could soon be facing stiff competition in their top seed market.

Reuters is reporting that Australia is close to finalizing an agreement that will reopen the Chinese market to canola shipments from Down Under.

The world’s second-largest canola exporter has been shut out of the largest import market since 2020 due to phytosanitary requirements aimed at preventing the spread of blackleg disease.

This year’s show saw three clear days for attendees to see equipment, livestock and the latest in technology

Ag In Motion 2025 organizers are pleased with this year’s attendance.

"We’re very pleased with attendance, response from exhibitors and the overall tone of the show this year," said Rob O’Connor, Ag In Motion show director.

The Cochrane Piranhas made waves at the ASSA Region E swim meet over the weekend, racking up a staggering 132 medals and rewriting the club record book in the process.

The two-day meet featured six clubs from Calgary and the surrounding area: the Calgary Swordfish, Calgary Tritons, Okotoks Stingrays, Didsbury Aqua Jets, High River Otters, and the Piranhas — who stole the spotlight.

A potential referendum question on Alberta separating from Canada has been referred to a judge for confirmation that the question doesn't violate the Constitution.

The proposed question seeks a yes or no answer to whether people agree with Alberta becoming a sovereign country and ceasing to be a province in Canada.

Alberta's chief electoral officer says in a news release that provincial laws require potential referendum questions to respect more than 30 sections of the Constitution, including the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

A Cochrane woman is bringing her sister’s poetry to life with a heartfelt cross-country reading — one that bridges family, distance, and decades of creative connection.

When her sister Gay published Come Sit with Me in Cabin Three, a collection of poems rooted in Quebec farm life and personal memory, she asked if her sibling, former Cochrane mayor Judy Stewart, would host a reading to help share the recently released book.

Proven Seed is expanding its portfolio with the launch of three new LibertyLink canola hybrids and a cutting-edge TruFlex variety, giving farmers more disease resistance, improved harvest management, and greater flexibility in straight cutting.

The new LibertyLink lineup includes:

Got LEGO bricks collecting dust? The Cochrane Public Library wants them.

This fall, the Library is launching a new Adult Lego Club called Lego Legends, and they’re calling on the community to help get it off the ground.

They’re looking for loose LEGO pieces, baseplates and minifigures to help fuel the fun.

All donations can be dropped off at the Library during regular open hours.

Alberta resident Shamaila Akram says she can handle the increase in racial slurs and derogatory comments being thrown at her, but she worries about her newcomer and immigrant clients.

As debates unfold over Canada's immigration system, those who provide help to newcomers in Alberta say there has been an uptick of hostility toward immigrants.

"I hear from people in my own communities -- women specifically who wear hijabs -- many bad things and we realize there is a need to educate people," said Akram, with Calgary's Centre for Newcomers.