FortSask

The off-broadway play based on the original Star Wars trilogy is coming to the Shell Theatre on Saturday (May 14).

Growing up on a farm, Charles Ross had no television stations; but he did have a copy of Star Wars on videocassette. As his go-to childhood film, Ross sympathised with the journey of Luke Skywalker, going from farm boy to jedi knight.

Statistics Canada says the jobless rate fell in April to another record low as employment was little changed for the month with a gain of 1,000 jobs.

The unemployment rate came in at 5.2 per cent for April compared with the previous record low of 5.3 per cent set in March.

The drop in the rate came as the number of jobs in professional, scientific and technical services rose by 15,000 in April and the public administration category gained 17,000.

Results are in for the 2021 Strathcona County public satisfaction survey. 

According to the survey, residents overwhelmingly feel positive about the safety of the area and the environment to raise children. 88 per cent of all survey respondents rated Strathcona County as a good or very good place to live. 

“I think we have been able to deliver quality municipal services over a number of years, and that’s what the results speak to,” said Rod Frank, mayor of Strathcona County. 

If you have a need for speed, the Sturgeon County race track has an event for you.

The Fort Saskatchewan RCMP is supporting the initiative, Speed Freaks, which promotes safe driving by allowing people to race their own personal cars in Stratotec Park, just outside Fort Saskatchewan.

Speed Freaks was started last year. People participating get their own personal driving instructor who teaches them about limits when driving when going around the track.

Assiniboine Community College and Roquette are collaborating to develop and deliver Chemical Engineering Technology Diploma and Food Science Diploma programs to domestic and international prospective students in Canada.

These are the first programs of their kind in Manitoba, with the Food Science Diploma being the first in the Prairies. The goal of these new programs is to ensure an adequate workforce for the evolving plant-protein processing and food and beverage manufacturing sectors.

Canadian Mental Health Association declared this week (May 2-8) as Mental Health Week.

Mental Health Week is designed to spread awareness of the importance of mental health and how it affects ourselves and the people around us. It's about empathy, understanding, and stepping into each other's shoes.

Many factors, such as sleep, diet, hydration, and the COVID-19 pandemic, have contributed to a need for mental health awareness.

A Bon Accord family is honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Penny Frazier and her family started hanging red dresses in the trees of their yard five years ago. May 5 is Red Dress Day in Canada, also known as the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

The event began in 2010 to draw attention to the tragedy.

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is getting ready to reopen on May 21. It will be the first time since 2019 that the Village opens without any public health measures.  

Familiar favourites like the celebration of dance, which marks the opening weekend, will take place on Monday, May 23. Over 250 Ukrainian dancers will participate in the celebration at the bandshell stage, with the Edmonton-based Viter and Volya Ukrainian Dance Group headlining the event. 

Strathcona County is working to proclaim May 14 as World Migratory Bird Day.

The annual campaign seeks to increase awareness of the threats to wild bird populations and how the public can help to mitigate those threats.

According to the county, North American bird populations have decreased by 25 per cent in the last 50 years. 

It’s a win-win. 

Sturgeon County residents will soon have a chance to lower their utility bills while increasing their property value through a new funding program.
 
In mid-April, County council approved the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) Tax Bylaw. The CEIP allows municipalities to offer competitive financing to property owners for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades.