Chestermere students offered to be Mayor for a Day

The City of Chestermere has a special contest going on for local middle schoolers.

The Mayor for a Day program gives one lucky student the opportunity to share their ideas, engage with community leaders, and learn about how municipal governments work.

The student will have their own mock inauguration ceremony and a sit down with Mayor Shannon Dean.

The student will also receive a free lunch and some branded City of Chestermere items.

To apply for the contest, the student must live in Chestermere and be between Grades 6 and 9.

Nitrogen demand soars while supply shrinks

Strong nitrogen fertilizer demand is butting up against tight supplies in some regions of the world, says an analyst.

India is the world’s top importer of the product.

Indian urea demand surged to 38.8 million tonnes in 2024-25, an eight per cent increase over the previous year, according to Argus Media.

That was due in part to tight supplies of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer during the winter (rabi) crop season.

Province cancels test of Alberta Emergency Alert system

A test of the Alberta Emergency Alert system was cancelled on Wednesday, May 7.

The alert was set for Wednesday afternoon but was cancelled due to "the increase of wildfire activity in the province", according to Rocky View County.

It is not known if the test will be postponed to a later date.

The county suggests that residents install the Alberta Emergency Alert app to keep updated on emergencies in the area.

The Alberta Emergency Alert app can be downloaded here.

Siksika Nation speaks out against Bill 54 at emergency meeting

Chief Ouray Crowfoot of Siksika Nation attended an emergency meeting in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 6.

According to the Siksika Nation Tribal Administration, Crowfoot joined other leaders from Treaty 6, 7 and 8 First Nations to voice opposition to Bill 54.

The bill, which received first reading in April, would lower the threshold for citizen initiatives. Siksika leadership claims the legislation would “make it easier for residents to organize an Alberta independence referendum.”

Farmers Prepare for Potential Insect Threats in 2025 Crop Season


As the 2025 crop season begins, farmers across the prairies are already on high alert for potential insect damage. Dr. Meghan Vankosky, a research scientist in field crop entomology with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provides insights into what farmers might expect this year based on last year's conditions and winter observations.

Strathmore United Church hosts benefit concert for local family

The Strathmore United Church held a special concert on Sunday, May 4.

The concert was put on by the Rosa Cantorum choir as they performed a variety of songs, including gospel, folk, and selections by Gordon Lightfoot.

Although admission was free, all the money raised through the show was given to the family of Jennifer Therriault, as her daughter Maggie prepares for a multi-visceral transplant.

Alberta Premier's chief of staff defends business class flight from Trump visit

The chief of staff to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is defending a business class flight he charged to taxpayers, citing a health condition that increases his risk of blood clots.

The flight in question was a return flight he took from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to Calgary earlier this year when he accompanied Smith to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The CBC reported this week that the two-day stop in Florida for Smith, Anderson and two others cost Alberta taxpayers about $10,000, with Anderson's flight home billed at nearly $3,000 alone.

Ottawa looking for ways to mend tears in Canada's social fabric, document shows

Senior federal officials have been looking quietly for ways to bring together Canadians who don't see eye to eye on the economy, immigration and social issues.

With a general election looming, officials prepared to meet last November to brainstorm solutions to the problem of social fragmentation, according to an internal presentation drafted by the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Carney says there's 'more work to do' after meeting with Trump

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to brief Canada's premiers today following his seemingly successful first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Carney and Trump spent about two hours together at the White House, including about half an hour in front of the cameras in the Oval Office, and a private luncheon.

Both leaders were accompanied by senior members of their cabinets and their chiefs of staff.