FortSask

Alberta has announced the most popular baby names for 2021.

For the eighth year in a row, Olivia is Alberta's most popular baby girl's name, tying the record for the longest any name has spent in the top position. Noah was the most popular baby boy name in 2021, the third consecutive year at the top spot. 

Charolette, Ava, Emma and Amelia were among the top five most popular names for baby girls, while Jack, Oliver, Liam and Theodore were some of the highest-ranked baby boy names. 

Heartland Housing Foundation is seeking either a property tax exemption or a grant-in-lieu for the Muriel Ross Abdurahman Court.

Fort Saskatchewan city council members heard a presentation by the non-profit organization at a meeting on June 14.

A social media firestorm erupted over the weekend after photos surfaced of what many are calling a racist parade float. 

In a since-deleted Facebook post in response to the float, the Sundre Pro Rodeo stated that the rodeo does not approve floats for the parade and that responsibility falls to the parade committee. 

Service dogs will be more accessible to Albertans thanks to increased provincial efforts. 

Alberta businesses will receive grant funding to help raise, test, train and match service dogs to people looking for a service animal.

On Jun. 24, the government announced it would be giving $300,000 to help more people with disabilities access a service dog. 

A verdict is expected Wednesday (Jun. 29) in Damien Starrett's second-degree murder trial.

The Fort Saskatchewan man is accused of killing his one-year-old son, Ares, and assaulting his young daughter in late November of 2019.

Starrett's defence argues he should be found not criminally responsible for Ares' death, claiming he was suffering from parasomnia. This sleep disorder can bring on abnormal movements, talking, emotions, and actions while a person is asleep.

Cat and dog owners who cuddle their pets when infected with COVID-19 could end up making the animals sick with the virus, according to a Canadian study.

The study said that while it was already known that animals including cats, dogs, ferrets and hamsters seem to be susceptible to COVID-19, transmission may be happening more often than previously thought.

The research, published this month in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, involved 69 cats and 49 dogs, including pets and animals from shelters and neuter clinics. 

Canada handled the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and weathered the ensuing upheaval better than several other nations with comparable health-care and economic infrastructure, a new study suggests.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on Monday, credits Canada's strong performance to restrictive and persistent public health measures as well as a successful vaccination campaign.

A thunderstorm watch was in place for the area — it has since ended

The thunderstorm watch was in place for communities such as Fort Saskatchewan, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, Ardrossan, Gibbons, Bon Accord, Redwater, Lamont and Bruderheim. 

A rebate will be given to families that use the local school buses. 

The provincial government announced earlier this week (Jun 22), that it would be reinstating the Fuel Price Contingency Program. 

First introduced in 2007, the provincial government's program protects school divisions from price fluctuations. It allows the government to apply a monthly increase to school divisions’ operating revenues to offset diesel fuel costs when prices exceed $1.25 per litre. 

The program was suspended in 2013 before making its return.

It's been ten years since Lana Santana founded the Fort Saskatchewan Multicultural Association (FSMA).

To honour this milestone, the association hosted a celebration at Legacy Park on Saturday (June 25). The event featured a diverse group of performers and presenters.

FSMA president Jennifer Ribeiro says the event was a display of unity and love; the group plans on hosting similar events in the future.