Okotoks

The head of the Canada's police chiefs association says they are guided by "outdated and inadequate" laws that were never designed to take on the current criminal landscape that no longer respects international borders.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

A Heat Warning has been issued for parts of the Foothills, Vulcan County, and Siksika Nation.   

The Warning was issued by Environment Canada on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 8:09 p.m.  

Temperatures reaching 31°C are expected again on Wednesday (Aug. 13).  

The Warning is in effect for the following areas:  

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) has laid over 50 charges on a pair of suspects who are alleged to have trafficked stolen utility trailers in the Calgary area.

Investigators say nine trailers disappeared from various properties between October 2023 and December 2024. Each one was allegedly fitted with a fake vehicle identification number before being listed for sale online.

Police were able to recover all nine trailers, which were sold to unknowing victims, between Nov. 2024 and Aug. 2025.

Work on High River’s new outdoor rink has officially begun.

It will replace the old rink at McLaughlin Meadows, with demolition now underway and expected to continue until mid-August.

The $750,000 project is one of the council’s top five priorities, with the former rink in disrepair for several years.

The new full-scale facility will measure about 200 feet by 85 feet, and will feature enhanced safety measures, a high-quality ice surface, and a multi-use design for activities like basketball and ball hockey in the warmer months.

High River’s Handi-Bus Society is seeking community support.  

The Handi-Bus is a not-for-profit service providing safe, affordable, and accessible transportation for seniors and those with physical/special needs in High River, Foothills County, and Okotoks.  

“We're facing some challenges right now, mainly financial and also board membership,” said Russ Wiebe, Acting Chair of the High River Handi-Bus Society.  

A photo contest will have people showcasing what they love most about living in Vulcan County.

Vulcan County is holding a photo contest that showcases the beauty of living in Vulcan County, with three winners to be awarded a prize.

As part of the contest, people can enter photos of agriculture, livestock, recreation activities, local businesses, tourism sites, events, scenery, rural or wild animals, and more, as long as the photos are taken within Vulcan County.

A fantastical tradition will return to Okotoks this autumn.

Enchanted Okotoks is returning for its third year, giving people the chance to partake in a fantasy game that spans across town.

According to Brendan Rose, Content Creator and Story Writer for Enchanted Okotoks, the event will take place from September 13 to 14 but in a slightly different location this year.

China announced a 75.8 per cent preliminary tariff on Canadian canola on Tuesday, following an anti-dumping investigation launched last year in response to Canada's tax on Chinese electric vehicles.

China's Ministry of Commerce published the details of the plan on Tuesday, claiming the "dumping" of Canadian canola into the Chinese market is hurting its domestic canola oil market.

Okotoks' new fixed-route transit system is set to launch next month.

The official launch date is Sept. 2, but a two-week soft launch is planned from Aug. 18–29.

Rides will be free during the soft launch, giving residents a chance to get familiar with the routes and schedule.

The Kingfisher and Big Rock routes will run in opposite directions through town, operating from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Single fares and monthly passes can be purchased digitally through the HotSpot app.

The Rolling Barrage will make its way through Okotoks tomorrow (Aug. 13).

Each year, the procession of motorcycles rides across Canada from east to west as a fundraiser for PTSD support for veterans and first responders.

They departed from St. John's, Newfoundland, on July 28 and are set to finish the ride on August 16 in Princeton, British Columbia.

Okotoks is one of the last stops on the trip, with the procession riding down the hill on Veterans Way before stopping for the night.