Okotoks

The Okotoks Pickleball & Tennis Centre got a funding boost on Friday.

They were presented with a $250,000 cheque from Okotoks construction company the Integrity Group.

Representatives from the company, the Town of Okotoks, and the Okotoks Pickleball & Tennis Centre met at the planned site near Meadow Ridge School for the cheque presentation.

The non-profit pickleball centre will be funded largely by donations and fundraising, with a goal of $10 million.

A free "Come Try Ringette" event is coming up this weekend in Okotoks.

It's being hosted by the Foothills Ringette Association at the newly-named Viking Rentals Centre on August 24 from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

The association has been around for about five years, and has been hosting these events for about as long.

Anyone from ages 4-16 is welcome to give it a go, although participants are asked to bring their own skates, helmets, and gloves.

Karen Minchuk, the association's vice president, says all are welcome, regardless of skill level.

High River Town Council has approved a budget amendment for a new HVAC unit for the RCMP detachment.

At their latest meeting, council was brief on the detachment's HVAC situation, being that their equipment is nearing its end of life and not functioning properly.

Since the approved 2024 budget did not include any significant repairs or replacement of the A/C units and boilers for the RCMP, council had to vote on a budget amendment totalling $102,500.00.

The Alberta government had introduced an Electronics Recycling Pilot Program back in 2020, which allowed for more than 500 types of electronics to be recycled.

Under the pilot program, 14,500 tonnes (roughly the equivalent weight to 4,000 cars) of material was diverted away from landfills.

Because of that, the provincial government announced on August 13th that they are making this program a permanent part of recycling in Alberta, effective April 1, 2025.

The people of Jasper are making progress on getting back to normal after being allowed back to their town, cleaning their homes, re-uniting with neighbours and seeking insurance information.

Friday was the first day residents were allowed back after a wildfire forced the evacuation of the entire community, which eventually lost close to one third of its structures in the blaze.

The Bar U Ranch held their annual ranch rodeo on Sunday, August 18th.

At this rodeo, contestants competed in several events, including Team Brand, Team Sorting, Team Doctoring, and Stray Roping.

There was also the Pekisko Creek Market and a food truck onsite.

The market opened at 10 a.m. and the rodeo began at 1 p.m., with the entire day wrapping up around 5 p.m.

To learn more about the Bar U Ranch, click here.

The Okotoks Show and Shine is happening this weekend, which will cause some road closures.

The Show and Shine will happen on Sunday, August 16th, which will be taking place downtown Okotoks.

According to the Town of Okotoks, due to the number of vehicles that will be involved, Elizabeth Street from Northridge to about Lineham Ave will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On top of the event taking place on Elizabeth Street, North Railway Street, and possibly McRae Street near the Big Dipper Ice Cream Shop.

Canada is selling its former Manhattan residence, which used to house its consulate general in New York.

The 12-room, five-bedroom apartment located on Park Avenue was listed Thursday at over $13 million, which is expected to exceed the purchase of its new $9 million Manhattan condo located on Billionaires' Row.

Global Affairs Canada said the new condo is smaller and more suitable, saying that the old unit, which was purchased in 1961 and last renovated in 1982, needed updates to the electrical, heating, ventilation and plumbing.

A Conservative member of Parliament is calling for an emergency meeting to launch a study on violence against women.

Michelle Ferreri has written a letter to fellow MPs on the House of Commons status of women committee requesting to  
immediately recall members for the study.

This comes after two witnesses invited to testify on their personal experience with domestic violence tearfully stormed out of a committee hearing last month that devolved into political bickering.

The Okotoks Dawgs are crowned the 2024 WCBL Champions and complete the three-peat on a walk-off home run by hometown hero Connor Crowson at Seaman Stadium Saturday night, in a 6-5 win over the Moose Jaw Miller Express.