Anna Ferensowicz

A series filmed partially in High River has just been announced as having won an award for outstanding locations.

According to the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI), Fargo (season five), which was shot in several Alberta locations including High River, was announced as the winner in the Oustanding Locations category. 

"The Television Series winners were “Fallout” (filmed in Utah, New York and Namibia), “Fargo” (filmed in Alberta, Canada) and “Ripley” (filmed around Italy)," a news release from LMGI stated. 

Alberta Parks officials have issued a closure for an area in Kananaskis County in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park as a result of a hiker having to deploy bear spray after a grizzly bear with cubs bluff charged with the individual.

The closure was listed on the Alberta Parks website on Sunday and is in effect until further notice, encompassing King Creek Day Use Area and King Creek Ridge Trail.

As many Albertans are reacting to the devastation of the Jasper wildfire, with many asking how they can donate, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is urging caution.

"The Better Business Bureau (BBB) expresses deep concern for the businesses, consumers, and residents affected by the wildfires in Jasper and environs in Alberta. Our hearts are with all those impacted, and we are committed to providing support and resources during this difficult time," The BBB stated in a news release.

A visibly shaken and emotional Premier Danielle Smith, often pausing through tears, delivered an update on the wildfire situation in Jasper on Thursday.

Amid a prolonged heat wave across the province, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) said that earlier this week another record was broken.

"We hit a new summer peak record yesterday of 12,219 megawatts (MW). The previous summer record was 12,122 MW set on July 10," AESO tweeted on Thursday.

AESO is encouraging residents to try and reduce their electrical usage between 5 and 9:30 p.m. to reduce strain on the grid. Some electricity conservation tips include:

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that later today, another pump at the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant will be turned on, and the next 72 hours may determine if, by the end of this week, water restrictions will be further eased.

According to Stampede officials, the 10-day marquee event in Calgary saw 1,477,953 people, which means that a new all-time attendance record was set this year, beating not only last year's record but also the event's centennial year record in 2021 which saw 1,409,371 people attend. 

And thats a wrap on day 10 of the 2024 Calgary Stampede 🎆🎇 pic.twitter.com/aql7jIJG3I

There's less than a month left to claim a $1,000,000 winning lottery ticket that was drawn last July in Alberta, and with the recent luck of locals winning massive cash prizes, you might want to check your pockets and drawers.

According to the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC), someone in Alberta - outside of the major cities of Edmonton and Calgary drew the winning LOTTO 6/49 Gold Ball Draw on July 22, 2023. The winning numbers are 35610918-01.

This week will be critically important for the ongoing repairs to Calgary's South Bearspaw water feeder main, Mayor Jyoti Gondek said on Monday afternoon.

"... With the installing of pipe and backfilling of excavations expected soon. Once that's done, crews can begin testing and returning the feeder main to full service. When the team is ready to add water to the pipe, it's going to be a staged easing of getting that pipe, as well as the rest of the system, back to normal operation," she said. 

Calgary officials are estimating that there will be three to five more weeks of water restrictions after it was discovered that additional emergency repairs must be made to a water feedermain in Calgary that broke last week.

"Following a further investigation of the city's water feedermain, significant additional damage has been found and other sections of the pipe now also need to be repaired," a city press release stated.