FortSask

When the COVID-19 situation hit Canada in early 2020, the federal government set up the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), a safety net for millions who suddenly found themselves out of work. 

Eligibility rules were set to require recipients to have earned at least $5,000 in the 12 months prior to applying. Workers also couldn’t have quit their job voluntarily and had to have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19.

The Bon Accord and Sturgeon County Fire Departments had an interesting call from a local non-profit.

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) takes in homeless pets and looks after them until they can place them in loving homes. 

On Sunday (Apr. 24), the group took in a feral mother cat and five kittens, who were only 12 days old. They gave them to a foster mother who set them up in a room. However, the mother cat was able to escape from the room and got into the furnace vents.

Federal ministers defended the government's use of the Emergencies Act Monday as they announced an independent public inquiry to investigate the use of the act to end blockades at Canadian border crossings and in Ottawa earlier this year.

The Liberal government declared an emergency under the act for the first time in history on Feb. 14, granting extraordinary temporary powers to police to clear people out and to banks to freeze the accounts of some of those involved.

A 16-year-old was rushed to hospital after being stabbed at Pigeon Lake Regional School.

On Monday (Apr. 25) at 10:55 a.m., RCMP received a complaint of a stabbing at the school. 

Upon arrival, RCMP reportedly found a 16-year-old victim with injuries — the victim was taken by ambulance to an area hospital.

Mounties arrested a 16-year-old without incident. The suspect remains in custody with charges pending.

Police say both individuals were students at the school.

Spring melt is continuing to cause trouble on local roadways. 

As of Monday (Apr. 25), Range Road 171 between Highway 29 and Township Road 552, east of Lamont, and Range Road 163 between Township Road 580 and 574, east of Mundare, are closed due to water on the roads.  

Spring cleaning is in full swing in Fort Saskatchewan. 

On Monday (May 2), the City of Fort Saskatchewan will pick up green carts weekly instead of every two weeks.  

Because of the warmer weather, green bins begin to smell quicker. They also fill faster in the summer months with grass clippings and other yard waste. 

An area man is facing new charges.

In mid-March, Redwater RCMP officers went to a rural property to do a curfew check on a known offender. When police arrived, the man was home, but he had a snowmobile on his property that was reported stolen from Redwater on Jan. 7, 2021. 

He was arrested and taken to the detachment for a bail hearing.

After investigating further, RCMP learned the offender had also breached the conditions of his four active release orders about a month prior by not obeying his curfew and house arrest.

Fort Saskatchewan city council is continuing to look for an alternate water supply.

The city is currently part of the Capital Region Northeast Water Services Board, which provides water to Fort Saskatchewan, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County, Redwater, Gibbons, and Bon Accord.

Fort Saskatchewan consumes about 40 per cent of the total water but contributes 55 per cent of net water revenue, while the other members combined consume 22 per cent and contribute 30 per cent. The city also feels they have a lack of representation with the board.

An Alberta non-profit recently got a massive boost in funding.

KidSport is an organisation that helps pay for children to play sports. There are 25 branches in northern Alberta, one of which is in Fort Saskatchewan.

The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) recently announced a $2-million donation to the organisation to help grow the game of hockey. The donation will fund KidSport's Hockey Assist program, allowing qualified kids to have their full registration fees covered and access to equipment at no cost.

An Indigenous-led report says relying on traditional knowledge could help to ensure the success of bison that have been reintroduced in Banff National Park.

In 2017, Parks Canada released 16 bison in the northeast section of the park in Alberta as part of a five-year pilot project. The herd has since grown to more than 60 animals roaming over 1,200 square kilometres of the park's backcountry.

Banff biologists are monitoring how the reintroduction has affected the environment, but the nearby Stoney Nakoda Nation decided it was also important to do a cultural assessment.