After more than two decades of dedicated public service, Cochrane RCMP is bidding a fond farewell to one of its longest-serving team members.

Laurel McConnell, who spent the past 26 years working in various roles across Alberta and two provinces, will officially retire on July 30.

To mark the milestone, Chief Superintendent Wayne Nichols presented McConnell with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the Southern Alberta District and the Cochrane RCMP Detachment during a small ceremony on Wednesday. 

🐎 Happy World Emoji Day from Alberta!

Today is World Emoji Day, and while some people are busy sending hearts 💖 and tacos 🌮, we here in Alberta think it's time to show the world what emojis really should look like when you live in a place where winter lasts 9 months and “casual wear” means plaid and steel-toed boots.

In June, Cochrane RCMP responded to 25 cases involving family violence. A new initiative hopes to reduce that number by addressing the issue before it starts, through a unique, community-tailored strategy led by the University of Calgary’s Shift: The Project to End Domestic Violence.

Elizabeth Dozois, Researcher with Shift/UCalgary, is spearheading a social norms strategy specifically for Cochrane, in partnership with the Cochrane RCMP and Big Hill Haven women’s shelter.

A motorcycle journey spanning continents and cultures has brought Brazilian rider Eduardo Ximenes to Cochrane for a quick but meaningful stop.

Ximenes is on a solo trek from Ushuaia, Argentina to Miami, clocking in over 35,000 kilometres so far. By the time he finishes the trip and ships his bike home, he expects to hit 40,000.

Ximenes pulled into the Car Wash Corral, where he met Germán, who was kind enough to translate for this interview.

Calgary police are bracing for an influx of motorcycle gang members in the metropolitan area— including the Hells Angels — for a planned gathering on Friday.

The police did not confirm the location or scope of the gathering but advised residents to remain vigilant.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) says residents can expect to see a heightened police presence across the city during the event, with officers closely monitoring participants and enforcing all applicable laws, including the Traffic Safety Act.

A spokesperson for Manitoba Agriculture says it remains to be seen what sort of damage was felt on fields from last week's hail.

Hail was reported in numerous locations across the province, and Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson says producers will typically leave those crops for five to seven days, just to see how they rebound, before assessing them for hail damage. 

A man charged with hijacking a light plane at Victoria International Airport and flying it to Vancouver had an "ideological motive to disrupt airspace" and seized control of the aircraft after threatening a flight instructor, RCMP said Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada said a charge of hijacking had been filed in Richmond, B.C., constituting a "terrorist activity" and a "terrorist offence" under two sections of the Criminal Code.

RCMP said Shaheer Cassim, 39, is set to appear in court next Tuesday.

Unionized Canada Post workers will get a chance to vote directly on the employer's offers for a new collective agreement starting on Monday.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board will run the vote between July 21 and Aug. 1.

A simple majority vote will decide whether the proposal is accepted or rejected.

Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after 19 months of talks.

A 64-year-old Rocky View County man is facing multiple charges after Cochrane RCMP seized more than $300,000 in stolen property — including high-value medical lasers — and a quantity of illicit drugs during a raid on a rural property.

The search took place on July 15 and stemmed from intelligence received from the RCMP Auto Theft Unit.

Cochrane has officially opened Alberta’s first accessible multi-sport Jumpstart Court made possible through a partnership between Jumpstart Charities and the Town of Cochrane.

The new play space is designed to eliminate physical and social barriers to sport, ensuring children of all abilities can enjoy inclusive, shared spaces. It offers barrier-free access, enhanced visibility, and accommodates both accessible and traditional sports such as basketball, sitting volleyball, pickleball, and wheelchair tennis.