Lacombe

Air Canada says it will begin a gradual suspension of flights to allow an orderly shutdown as it faces a potential work stoppage by its flight attendants on Saturday.

The airline says the first flights will be cancelled Thursday, with more on Friday and a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge by the weekend.

Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and PAL Airlines will continue to operate as normal. 

Air Canada says customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and they will be eligible for a full refund.

The Town of Penhold has received a $175,000 Green Municipal Fund grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). This grant will help the community canopy stretch further across parks and green spaces.

Four key sites—Critters Corner, Waskasoo Avenue, Penhold Commons, and the future Dog Park location have received 114 new trees and 142 shrubs, creating more shade, habitat, and beauty.

The Sylvan Lake Gulls are heading to the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) Final for the first time in franchise history after clinching the Western Conference title.

They’ll face the Regina Red Sox, who beat the Saskatoon Berries for the Eastern Conference title.

The Gulls earned home field advantage with a stronger regular season record, but due to the distance between the two cities, both teams agreed that Regina will host Game 1 for the best-of-three championship series.

Game 1 is set for Thursday, August 14, in Regina at 7:05 p.m.

A section of 50 Street between 55 Avenue and 54 Avenue will be temporarily closed today, August 13, as crews carry out paving work. (weather permitting)

The closure will remain in place until the project is complete.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes, drive with caution near work crews, and obey all posted road signs.

**With information from the Town of Ponoka

Click here for the latest traffic updates.

China has hit Canada with a new round of canola tariffs, threatening one of Western Canada's biggest cash crops and causing potential issues for farmers looking to sell their crops. The tariffs were announced overnight Monday in China, meaning that people watching the agriculture markets were in for quite the shock Tuesday morning.

Chuck Penner, founder of Left Field Commodity Research, was watching the markets and says much of the agriculture sector saw this coming.

National galleries and museums across the country have seen a 15 per cent increase in attendance so far this summer, after the federal government introduced free or discounted admission through the new Canada Strong Pass.

The Canada Strong Pass, which took effect on June 20 and is available until Sept. 2, offers free national museum admission to children 17 and under, and a 50 per cent discount for those aged 18 to 24.

The pass also offers free admission to national parks and sites maintained by Parks Canada.

The head of the Canada's police chiefs association says they are guided by "outdated and inadequate" laws that were never designed to take on the current criminal landscape that no longer respects international borders. 

Thomas Carrique, president of the Association of Chiefs of Police, said police would have been in a better place to "disrupt" transnational crime, if the federal government had listened to his group in 2001, when it last proposed legislative changes. 

Red Deer RCMP are currently on scene conducting a collision investigation along 40th Avenue and 22nd Street in Red Deer.

Despite the heavy police presence, there is no ongoing risk to the public.

Traffic will be disrupted for the next several hours while RCMP along with the Collision Reconstructionist investigate.

Drivers should plan to take an alternate route.

A release with details about this investigation is expected in the future.

A Red Deer summer program is helping develop literacy skills for elementary school students.

Reading College worked with multiple students this summer who had just finished Grade 2 and were struggling with reading and writing.

Throughout July, students took part in a full-day, literacy-rich program led by three master teachers and five recent graduates from Red Deer Polytechnic’s (RDP) education program. The small-group setting ensured students received individual attention and support.

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Central Alberta.

Conditions are favourable for dangerous thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts and large hail.

The storms are expected to develop this afternoon and continue into the evening.

Residents are advised to go indoors when they hear thunder, as lightning kills and injures Canadians every year.

Strong wind gusts can damage trees, buildings and overturn vehicles.

Large hail can cause significant damage and injury.