FortSask

A Sturgeon County woman will be putting her name forward in the next provincial election. 

On Saturday (Apr. 30), former Sturgeon County councillor Karen Shaw was voted in as the NDP nominee for Morinville-St. Albert.

Shaw first got into politics in 2007 when she ran for Sturgeon County council. She explained she wanted to see change and figured the best way to make that happen was to get involved herself.

She was planning on stepping away from politics and didn't run in the latest municipal election before deciding to set her sights on the provincial government.

A push from the Bloc Québécois for the House of Commons to confirm the right to an abortion failed Tuesday, as Conservative MPs were warned against commenting on the U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion that has thrown the issue back into the domestic spotlight.

Canadian leaders are among the millions reacting to the news first reported Monday by Politico of a leaked draft opinion by the U.S. top court, suggesting it could overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion countrywide.

Alberta’s Agriculture Hall of Fame honors up to three individuals, every two years, for their outstanding leadership, innovation and business practices in the agriculture and food industry.

Livestock  producers that were scrambling to line up feed supplies going into the winter are now anxious to move cattle out to pasture. 

Range Management Extension Specialist Kelly Cochrane says before turning animals out, the grass should be at that three to four leaf stage, or six to eight inches tall.

Spring is in full swing at the Fort Saskatchewan Public Library. 

The library is offering a number of virtual programs for May and June, with plans to move back to an entirely in-person schedule this summer. Some offerings include “vacation on a budget” and a “bad art” program, which features exhibits you wouldn’t find in the Louvre. 

An exciting event is coming to Fort Saskatchewan this month that will help industry thrive in the community. 

On May 25, Strathcona County will be hosting a supply chain forum at the Shell Theatre. This event aims to connect small businesses with many of the region's major industrial companies. 

Mark Morrissey, the director of economic development for the city, said that this forum will help these businesses, “get in the gate and create some awareness of the products and services they offer.” 

The Fort Saskatchewan Minor Fastball Association is getting a funding boost.

They are the May winner for Half Grand Helping Hand from MIX 107 and South Fort Chevrolet. 

"It is very exciting," said president Ashley Eaton.

Currently, the girls' league does not have a baseball diamond to call home. They are in the process of building a fence around one of the diamonds behind the Sportsplex arena, which is where the $500 will go towards.

According to Eaton, it can be difficult to schedule time when they are trying to share a spot with the boys.

On May 14, the Strathcona County RCMP will host a “kids bicycle rodeo and safety fair” at the Strathcona County Athletic Park in Sherwood Park. The event is part of National Police Week, which runs from May 15 to 21. 

The event will feature demonstrations of specialised RCMP units, and the  RCMP helicopter will be on site. Mounties will also have retro police cars on display. 

A few local non-profits recently got a hand-up from the provincial government. 

Poverty Awareness Fort Saskatchewan and the Fort Saskatchewan Multicultural Association each received $150,000 through Civil Society Fund (CSF).  

Funds dispersed through the Civil Society Fund will help support organisations that address a number of social issues, such as mental health, homeless and domestic violence. 

KidSport Fort Saskatchewan is expecting to see more requests for help in 2022.

The organisation helps pay for kids in the community to play sports. In the last few years, their numbers have been down, helping about 67 kids in 2021. Before the pandemic, they would usually help up to 160 a year.

With activities able to carry on without provincial restrictions, KidSport expects those numbers to bounce back to normal this year. Already they have had over 50 applications only five months in.