Cochrane

Liberal Leader Mark Carney said Thursday he would pass tougher laws to stop people from being harassed at their places of worship, part of a suite of crime and justice measures he unveiled at a campaign stop in southern Ontario.

The promise comes after more than a year of reports of rising hate targeting Jews and Muslims in Canada following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel in 2023, and the war in Gaza.

The Manitoba Crop Alliance has a new leader at the helm as Jonathan Hodson recently stepped into the role of board chair. Farming near Lenore in western Manitoba, Hodson brings years of experience to the position and a deep understanding of the organization, having been involved since its formation five years ago. 

Hodson has served in various roles over the years, including most recently as vice-chair. Before the formation of the MCA, he was a director with the Manitoba Corn Growers Association, one of the organizations that merged to form the alliance. 

As Alberta heads into the heart of wildfire season, the province is committing almost $1 million to upgrade its early-warning systems.

Forestry Minister Todd Loewen says $900,000 is being allocated to upgrade and expand its network of 150 weather stations.

These stations monitor environmental conditions, like temperature, humidity, wind and moisture, in real time to help fire crews know where they will be needed when the weather gets hot and dry.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says the government's proposed bill to wipe out municipal councils' codes of conduct could create a free-for-all of delinquency and grift. 

"This bill is an affront to local voters. It basically says to local voters, ‘We don't trust you,’" Nenshi told reporters at the legislature Wednesday.

Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver proposed the bill in the house Tuesday. He said the change had to be made because codes of conduct were being weaponized to silence dissent on municipal councils.

There was more good news for Rocky View County (RVC) while making spring budget adjustments.

Compounding an early decision to eliminate a three per cent increase in property taxes was news that the growth in property assessments nearly doubled projections.

On April 8, RVC council heard its property assessments had grown $9,993,900—90 per cent higher than the $5 million originally projected while formulating the budget.

Rocky View County (RVC) is asking residents to weigh in on potential solutions to human-wildlife interactions, particularly those involving unsecured garbage and other attractants.

RVC has launched a public engagement initiative to explore whether a dedicated garbage bylaw, or other measures, could help reduce these conflicts.

“While garbage is a factor in human-wildlife conflicts, it’s only part of the issue,” the county states in a news release. “A garbage-specific bylaw alone may not address the full scope of the problem.”

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Calgary police are turning to the public for help in identifying a person of interest connected to two Tesla vehicle fires that occurred between March 18 and 19.

The individual is described as a man in his 30s, approximately 5'10" tall, with a heavy build, brown hair, and brown eyes.

At the time, he was seen wearing a purple t-shirt, a blue hat, and a black jacket.

Helping Hands has reached an incredible milestone, announcing $2 million worth of food has been rescued through its Free Food Sheds.

"It’s a lovely milestone, and it’s definitely inspiring,” says April Baird, food security programs manager at Helping Hands.

"We've been doing this now for just over three years and the totals add up and they just continue to get to these outrageous numbers, and when we reach numbers like that, it's pretty inspiring." 

The CobraCats high school rugby teams are embracing the fun-loving spirit of the rugby community with a Seniors Dress Up Rumble this Friday afternoon.

The event takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. at the SLS Legacy Sportsfield, located next to Bow Valley High School.

Players will take the field dressed to impress for some 7s touch rugby—and fans are encouraged to get in on the action by showing up in costume, too.

CobraCats Taia Graham and Sienne Showman say both the boys’ and girls’ teams will be suiting up in dresses for the game.

A crash has shut down all westbound lanes of Highway 1 just east of Banff, causing significant traffic delays.

The collision occurred approximately 400 metres east of the TransAlta power substation, near the Banff Avenue exit.

Emergency crews are on scene, and traffic is being held at the site of the crash.

Drivers are advised to be prepared to stop and expect delays as the investigation and cleanup continue.

There is no word yet on injuries or when the highway will reopen.