FortSask

New findings from the 2021 Canadian census have shed some light on the people who call Fort Saskatchewan home. 

The community has shown some decent population growth, moving from 24,169 in 2016 to 27,088 in 2022, an increase of 12 per cent. Yet, the most interesting results were the languages in which those people spoke. 

English was the most popular language with 24,080 reporting it as their mother tongue.

Some Canadians from diaspora communities called for the country's independence from the Crown on Friday, saying the death of the Queen is a chance to rethink its ties to the monarchy.

More than 50 countries with historical links to Britain are part of the Commonwealth, which Queen Elizabeth II was head of throughout her reign. Her death Thursday came as a growing number of nations debate their relationship with the British Crown amid demands that the country apologize for its colonial-era abuses and award its former colonies slavery reparations.

King Charles III will be proclaimed Canada's new head of state at an accession ceremony at Rideau Hall on Saturday morning, while the federal government rolls out a series of events to commemorate the legacy of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The date of Canada’s national commemoration ceremony for the Queen is up in the air as officials eagerly await public confirmation of when her state funeral will be held in London.

A busy, warm weekend for the area. 

The Gibbons Town Wide Garage Sale goes Saturday (Sept. 10) and Savour Strathcona is on Sunday.

Garage Sale

Hailed as "one of Alberta's largest garage sales," the event will go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. 

Tables and vendors will be set up along 50 and 51 Avenue and 51 Street in Gibbons. Many households in the area also have their own sales. 

Cattle markets have turned the corner showing signs of improvement over the last few months as prices edge six year highs.

Cattle Market Analyst with Gateway Livestock, Anne Wasko, says supplies are tightening, cattle feeders are getting more current and cattle on feed numbers are down three per cent from last year.

As the United Kingdom mourns a beloved queen, the nation is already wondering how King Charles III will reign and whether his monarchy will depart from the traditions of his mother.

If his first full day on the throne is any indication, Charles seemed ready to chart at least a slightly different course.

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP is investigating a recent string of fires that have been popping up in the area. 

Police say the first fire happened on Aug. 14 when they were called to a suspected arson of a building on 104 Street and 99 Avenue. That fire destroyed two businesses. 

They then responded to reports of an outhouse that was burned to the ground at RCMP Park on Aug. 23. That same day, a garbage can at a strip mall was set on fire. 

More recently, crews were called to another structure fire at the Historic Site on 100 Avenue and 100 Street. 

The community of Fort Saskatchewan continues to remember Queen Elizabeth II’s 1978 visit. 

The revered Queen passed away on Wednesday (Sept. 8) at the age of 96 after a 70-year reign. 

Deb Galloway, 64, was at the event. Her father, Peter T. Ream had the honour of presenting Her Majesty with his book The Fort on the Saskatchewan. 

The Morinville RCMP is looking for witnesses to a dangerous driving incident that occurred on August 27. 

Details surrounding the incident have been vague. 

What is known is that police were called to a disturbance at the Fable Gardens Hall around 11 p.m. that night.

RCMP say that there was a small group of teenagers or young adults that may have witnessed the dangerous driver leaving a parking lot adjacent to Fable Gardens. Police would like to talk to these people to see if they can help to identify the vehicle or driver.

There were hugs, tears and calls for change Thursday as Indigenous leaders gathered on the James Smith Cree Nation — a Saskatchewan community struck by a deadly mass stabbing.

Darryl Burns, whose sister was killed in the attacks Sunday, hugged Skye Sanderson, the wife of Damien Sanderson, a suspect found dead the day after the killings.

"Our family is here to forgive," Burns said. 

Forgiveness has been important to Indigenous people long before colonization, Burns added.