FortSask

The House of Common's is on their winter break with MP's back in their riding.

John Barlow, the Conservative Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food says it was a busy session from getting the Liberals to back down on front of package labelling to getting Bill C234 through committee.

It hasn't just been cold in the area; it has been historically cold! 

Temperatures around Fort Saskatchewan have hovered around the mid-to-high -30 C range the last few days, with windchill numbers even breaching the -40 C threshold. 

Environment Canada is reporting that Elk Island reached its coldest-ever base temperature on Wednesday (Dec. 21) morning clocking in at a frigid -40.4 C.

The previous record of -37 C was recorded in 1987. 

Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor says this cold-weather system has been quite intense. 

The Canadian Cattle Association and the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef were official observers for the Canadian delegation during the recent COP15 meetings in Montreal.

They point out that in Canada, beef cattle production is an effective way to conserve grasslands, sequester carbon, and enhance biodiversity. 

Much of the focus of COP15 was placed on the adoption of the ‘Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)’- a landmark decision that will shape the future of biodiversity conservation. 

Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has named Justine Hendricks as the next President and Chief Executive Officer for Farm Credit Canada.

Hendricks moves into the role after serving as Chief Corporate Sustainability Officer and Senior Vice-President, Sustainable Business and Enablement with Export Development Canada.

FCC Board Chairperson Jane Halford says Justine has significant experience in the financial industry and in leading teams that serve exporters and investors in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture.

Canada's chief public health officer says COVID-19 is still circulating at a "relatively high level" and other strains of influenza may surge in the new year.

At the same time, governments need to invest in preparing for and preventing future epidemics, Dr. Theresa Tam says.

The Morinville High women's basketball team dribbled their way to an unlikely silver medal at a tournament last weekend. 

Heading into the Green and Gold tournament at Louis St. Laurent in Edmonton, the team was already facing several injuries that put them shorthanded. 

A major winter storm bearing down on Toronto is adding to the calamity in Canadian airports already plagued by flight cancellations and delays set off early this week by heavy snow in Vancouver. 

Environment Canada says Toronto's storm will begin today with rain or snow followed by plummeting temperatures, a potential flash freeze and blizzard-like conditions Friday.

Toronto's Pearson International Airport has cautioned it could affect operations, while Environment Canada warns of possible extensive power outages and dangerous travel conditions.

Since finishing the 2022 National Finals Rodeo (NFR), Sherwood Park's Kolby Wanchuk has risen up the ranks in saddle bronc riding.

The 2022 NFR took place from Dec. 1 to Dec. 10 in Las Vegas. The competition showcases the talents of rodeo cowboys from all around the world.

In 2021 Wanchuk made his NFR debut. He finished 12th in the world standings for saddle bronc riding, with $118,195 earned throughout the season.

This year proved even bigger, with Wanchuk rising up to 8th in the world standings and earning a whopping $211,633.

The warm pool at Harbour Pool will be closed over the holiday weekend.

According to a post on the Harbour Pool Facebook page on Monday (Dec. 19), the warm pool will be closed while staff completes routine maintenance on the filter tank.

Harbour Pool staff say swimmers can still hang out in the main pool and hot tub while they finish the maintenance.

The warm pool will reopen on December 27.

Three people have been arrested for stealing mail in Strathcona County. Two of the culprits were residents of Sherwood Park.

According to police, just after 4 a.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 20), they received a report that three people were breaking into a Canada Post mailbox.

When police arrived, they located three suspects who they believed to be involved. When the trio was arrested police searched their bag and found stolen mail alongside break-in tools.