Strathmore

Although a teachers’ strike could begin in early October, schools in Siksika Nation will not be affected.

The Siksika Board of Education issued a response on Wednesday (Sept. 10) to the strike notice filed by the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

“We want to reassure you that all Siksika Board of Education schools remain unaffected by the strike and will continue to operate as usual,” the board said. “Classes and activities at our schools will go on without interruption.”

The Alberta Court of Appeal is scheduled to hear today the appeals of two men serving time for their roles in the 2022 border blockade at Coutts, Alta.

Chris Carbert and Anthony Olienick were sentenced a year ago to 6 1/2 years for mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Olienick was also convicted of possessing a pipe bomb. 

The jury found them not guilty on a charge of conspiring to kill RCMP officers.

Carbert and Olienick are asking the court to overturn their convictions and, if that fails, to reduce their sentences.

A new library has appeared in Strathmore, and it’s just for dogs.

Earlier this week, resident Dawn Gibson-Kuzel posted on social media about a “little free ball and stick library” set up along Cambridge Glen Drive.

She shared images of her dog looking into the library and playing with one of its many free toys.

Here is where you can find the cheapest gas in Strathmore.

The Fas Gas on Third Avenue is charging $1.30 per litre for regular gas - the cheapest rate in town alongside the Co-op gas bars, Mobil, and Hi Ho Gas and Grocery.

The Shell on Ridge Road is selling gas at $1.31 per litre, while the third cheapest is at the Esso/7-Eleven off Highway 1, which costs $1.34 per litre.

The most expensive place for gas in Strathmore is at the Petro-Canada off Archie Klaiber Trail, which is selling regular at $1.36 per litre.

A family-focused space in the heart of Strathmore

For Debbie and Ashleigh Enslen, owning Lil Hoots Family Boutique isn’t just about running a business – it’s about building a community. The mother-and-daughter team recently took over the popular Strathmore store, and they’re already putting their own warm, personal touch on the space.

The company will start commissioning the Saskatchewan canola plant in the next couple of months

Canola growers finally have some good news to celebrate.

Cargill’s brand-new Regina crush facility is coming online just as farmers are reeling from the loss of their top export market.

“At a time of uncertainty in the canola markets, to have domestic demand is a really good opportunity for farmers,” said Cargill Limited president Jeff Vassart.

The number of emergency department visits for pneumonia more than doubled last fall over the previous year, the Canadian Institute for Health Information says.    

The new data released Thursday said young people between five and 19 years old were the hardest hit. 

"This is actually the largest increase in pneumonia-related emergency department visits that we've seen post-COVID," said Tanya Khan, CIHI's manager of hospital data advancement and engagement, in an interview. 

Politicians in Canada are speaking out about political violence after Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday at a Utah college event.

Prime Minister Mark Carney offered condolences to Kirk's family and friends.

"There is no justification for political violence and every act of it threatens democracy," he said on social media.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Kirk's shooting must be strongly denounced.

A book highlighting the history, teachings, and voices of Siksika Nation is currently in development. 

The Grandparents of the Elders Knowledge Circle Society are leading the Elders Story Project, an initiative that brings together their knowledge and stories into a collective publication.

As part of the project, the society has announced they are seeking an Indigenous artist from Treaty 7 territory to design the book's cover. Interested artists are asked to submit two samples of their artwork by Monday (Sept. 22).