FortSask

Gasoline prices continued to trend upward across much of Canada over the weekend and experts warn more increases are coming this week.

National average gas prices rose to about $2.06 on Sunday, up almost three cents from the day before and 11 cents higher compared with a week ago, according to the Canadian Automobile Association.

"We're seeing gas price records repeatedly shattered across the country," said Dan McTeague, president of Canadians for Affordable Energy.

Two long years ago, the Legacy Park Family Festival was put on hold due to COVID-19.

The times of bounce castles and balloon swords became nothing more than a memory. That is, until this year. 

The Family Festival came back full force, with one-man bands, a portable video game room, and the return of the almighty sheep. Although the weather was overcast and windy, it didn't stop the spirit of Fort Saskatchewan from bringing sunshine to Legacy Park.

The Crown is requesting a manslaughter conviction for Damien Starrett.

The Fort Saskatchewan man is accused of killing his one-year-old son Ares and assaulting his five-year-old daughter in November of 2019. He was originally facing second-degree murder charges.

Starrett's defence claims he was in a state of automatism and incapable of comprehending his actions when he attacked his children. Starrett’s defence is pursuing a not criminally responsible action which could result in Starrett being sent to a psychiatric hospital instead of being criminally convicted.

A backyard fire left a shed in ruins on Thursday (June 2).

Shortly after 9 p.m., fire crews responded to a call of a structure fire in the Sherridon area of Fort Saskatchewan. 

The initial crew was on the scene in under five minutes to help contain the blaze. An additional crew with a ladder truck then arrived, and a third crew from Strathcona County came to help. 

In total, 10 fire personnel aided in extinguishing the fire. 

The Fort Saskatchewan Rotary Club is organizing a bed build in partnership with the Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) organization.

The build is happening on June 11, and volunteers can sign up for multiple positions to help build beds for kids in need.

According to SHP, approximately two per cent of children in Canadian communities sleep on the floor or in their parents' beds.

A government bill that was taken out when the election was called last year is being reintroduced as farm biosecurity is a topic in the ag sector.

Bill C-275 would make it an offence to enter, without lawful authority or excuse, a place in which animals are kept if doing so could result in the exposure of the animals to a disease or toxic substance that is capable of affecting or contaminating them.

That's particularly relevant as avian influenza is running rampant across the prairies, with multiple outbreaks being detected in a handful of provinces.

It's officially summertime at two iconic seasonal destinations. 

The Kin Family Spray Park in Fort Saskatchewan is now open for the summer. The spray park features animal-themed spray equipment and runs daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Admission is free, and there are washrooms and picnic tables located on-site. 

You can find the Kin Family Spray Park at 95A Ave Westpark Drive, Fort Saskatchewan. 

Candidates have until midnight to secure party memberships for their supporters to vote in the election for the next Conservative leader, who will replace Erin O'Toole. 

The deadline marks a major milestone in the campaign and the start of a new phase in the race.

The party's leadership election organizing committee said late last month it had already broken records for how many new members candidates have drawn in ahead of the June 3 cutoff.

An animal rights group says it has sent a letter to Kevin Costner urging him to step away from the Calgary Stampede.

The Hollywood actor was named parade marshal for this year's event.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, says in a news release that the Stampede rodeo's chuckwagon races have reportedly caused the deaths of more than 70 horses — including half a dozen in 2019 when the Stampede last held the races.

The Stampede's executive said at that time that it would do a thorough review of the safety of chuckwagon racing.

Alberta's chief medical officer of health confirms the province has its first confirmed case of monkeypox.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced on Twitter, that to protect the privacy of the adult case, Alberta Health Services will not provide identifying information but it's confirmed they had close contact with a known case outside the province. 

The person is currently self-isolating.

Hinshaw says monkeypox is a rare disease that can cause fevers, aches and rashes. 

Monkeypox does not spread easily between people.