FortSask

Lamont County has a new regional fire chief. 

Bo Moore, a veteran firefighter with more than 20 years of experience, will step into the role. 

"I started out in Leduc County in 2000, spent five years as a volunteer paid-on-call firefighter," said Moore. "I then took a career firefighter position in the city of Calgary in 2005." 

"I spent 10 years working in the city of Calgary as a firefighter and then promoted to training officer." 

Strathcona County emergency crews are on the scene of a major traffic disruption. 

The affected area is on Highway 216 northbound at Whitemud/Township Road 522 eastbound. 

The cause of the disruption is reportedly a piece of equipment striking a bridge deck. 

All northbound lanes have been closed on Highway 216 as well as the eastbound lanes on Township Road 522. 

There have been no reported injuries and drivers are being asked to avoid the area. 

More to come...

Protein Industries Canada (PIC) and Innovate UK, the UK’s national innovation agency have announced a new bilateral partnership.

The goal of the partnership is to develop greater connections between the food sectors in both countries by working together to support innovation in plant-based food and ingredients. 

CEO of Protein Industries Canada Bill Greuel says they are excited to work with Innovate UK to create new partnerships and further advance innovation in plant-based food, feed, ingredients, and co-products.

The Canada Grains Council (CGC) is pleased that the Federal Government is taking a strong stand on science-based regulation and rules-based trade.

Ottawa announced last week that it would be participating in the U.S. dispute settlement consultations with Mexico under the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement.

The Canadian cattle industry has seen some strong prices in the first half of 2023.

Brenna Grant, the Executive Director of Canfax, says the tight supplies in North America have been the underlying factor that's really driven the market to where we're at today.

The tighter supplies in the cattle sector have also resulted in higher prices at the grocery store.

During a recession, beef tends to do fairly well as long as prices with competing proteins stay within historical ranges,  if the other proteins go lower it could have an impact.

Prairie farm groups voiced their concern this week over the delay in moving Bill C-234 through the Senate.

The group includes the Keystone Agriculture Producers (KAP) in Manitoba, the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS), and the Alberta Federation of Agriculture (AFA).

The Conservative Private Members Bill C-234 would see farmers exempt from paying the carbon tax on propane and natural gas used on farms for drying grain and heating barns.

Fort Saskatchewan High School principal Curtis Starko came into his office Wednesday (June 14) evening to a sticky situation.

The principal's office had been plastered with sticky notes, a prank courtesy of the graduating class of 2023.

"I had no idea it was going to be my office. I thought it might be something in the school," said Starko. "I found out pretty quick that it was just me."

Fort High shared a photo of the prank to their Facebook page, showing an unimpressed Starko standing in his sticky note-laden office.

At least 15 are dead and 10 people are in hospital following a tragic collision that took place on the Trans-Canada Highway north of the town of Carberry in southwestern Manitoba.

RCMP report the eastbound semi-trailer struck a southbound bus at the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5 shortly before Noon today (Thursday, June 15, 2023).

Police have confirmed the bus was carrying a number of senior citizens from the Dauphin, MB area.  At this point, not all next of kin have been notified.

Consolidation is happening more and more in the ag sector from farm input companies to equipment dealers and grain elevators.

Agricultural commentator  and farmer Kevin Hursh thinks the farm reaction to the merger will be fairly muted as there are many delivery choices for farmers.

Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement for the area.

The areas covered by the statement include Fort Saskatchewan, Bruderheim, Lamont, Gibbons, and Sherwood Park, and Edmonton.

Wildfire smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility at times. Wildfire smoke can be harmful to people's health, even in low concentrations.

Children, pregnant people, and those who work outdoors are at a higher risk of experiencing health effects, along with those who suffer from heart or lung disease.