FortSask

Careers Under Construction has introduced a free 12-week workplace training program for residents of Fort Saskatchewan and the surrounding area.

Teaming up with Omnia training, this program - called Skill-Bit - is designed to get oilfield and construction labourers ready for the job site through on-site training.

"The program combines essential skills and technical job site training to prepare prospective workers for diverse job sites in Alberta," said Careers Under Construction president Jill Dean. 

The Servus Credit Union Spring Food Drive will get underway at the beginning of next month. 

The drive will go toward supporting the Fort Saskatchewan Food Bank and is presented by Servus Credit Union, PME Inc., the Bridge Church, and MIX 107. 

Kassandra Gartner, the executive director of the food bank, is extremely excited to have the community's help. 

"[This event] is a first for us, we are really excited about this," said Gartner. "Everybody has pulled together to make it happen and make it really convenient to donate." 

Some changes have been made to Sturgeon County's drinking water. 

EPCOR recently announced that they have started adding orthophosphate to the county's drinking water. 

Orthophosphate, more commonly known as phosphate, is a salt that acts as a protective coating and is used to reduce the amount of lead in drinking water. 

"While there isn’t lead in the water when it leaves EPCOR’s treatment plant, lead can get into the drinking water through lead pipes and other household plumbing fixtures," said the county in a release earlier this week. 

The Canadian Cattle Association is looking for its next crop of individuals for the Canadian Cattle Young Leaders program.

Jessica Radau, the CCA's Youth Leadership Co-ordinator, says the overall objective is to use the program as a built in industry succession planning tool.

She says the program is designed for people 18 to 35 with an interest in any aspect of the cattle industry.

Morinville Community High School is enjoying their first full semester with their freshly completed renovations. 

Greg Boutestian is the school's CTS teacher, and has been working at the school since 1995.

"This new renovation has been the largest project that's been done in our building in close to thirty years of operation.”

The last major renovation the school experienced included adding a new wing in the late 1990s. 

These renovations had been a long time coming, with plans in the works for the last four years.

Last week, students at Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) had a book read to them by Fort Saskatchewan's own Rhett Melnyk.

A former Fort Sask Ranger, Melnyk now serves as captain of the Edmonton Oil Kings. Last Wednesday (Mar. 15) he read a story to the kids.

"One of my old teachers back from Win Fergusen reached out to me, and she asked if I'd like to read to some of her classes," said Melnyk. "She taught me back in Grades 3 and 6, so it seemed like a cool opportunity."

Melnyk decided on the book 'The Pigeon Needs a Bath!' to read for the students.

The Strathcona Christian senior girls' basketball team took home a provincial silver medal over the weekend. 

The team was in Wetaskiwin playing in the 3A provincial tournament. 

They opened up their tournament with a first-round bye before defeating Winston Churchill 78-66 to advance to the semis. 

It was then a battle of two local teams, as Strathcona Christian defeated Sturgeon by a score of 79-74. 

"We had two real tough games to go to the final," said head coach Chris Aubrey. "They were real close games, we had to play well and we did." 

Drew Lerner with World Weather Inc says we can expect to finish off the Month of March in the prairies with a cool bias.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office says his chief of staff, Katie Telford, will testify at a House of Commons committee on the issue of foreign interference in the last two Canadian elections.

The move came Tuesday as Trudeau's office issued the mandate for special rapporteur David Johnston, giving him until May 23 to recommend whether any additional mechanisms — like a formal public inquiry — are necessary.

The provincial government has announced new supports for Ukrainian evacuees coming to Alberta. 

In an announcement in Mundare on Tuesday (Mar. 21) morning, Premier Danielle Smith was joined by. Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA and parliamentary secretary, Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk to announce additional help for Ukrainians fleeing the war. 

"Our government is committed to helping the thousands of Ukrainians seeking refuge here," said Smith.