Okotoks

Over 1,500 rubber ducks raced down the Sheep River on Saturday, Sept. 13.

It was the Simpora Foundation's third annual Rubber Duck Race & Family Fun Carnival.

Locals adopted ducks to compete in the race, which started at the Sheep River Bridge and finished at the Laurie Boyd Bridge.

Cash prizes were awarded for the first, second, third, and last-place ducks.

Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools says parents may want to prepare for childcare in case teachers walk off the job on Oct. 6.

On Friday, Sept. 12, the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) filed legal strike notice with the Alberta Labour Relations Board.

CTR issued a statement saying schools continue as normal for now, but the division is warning families to be ready in case a strike goes ahead, including arranging for childcare.

The flea beetle is a common pest for farmers and gardeners alike in this corner of the province. However, there is more to the species than meets the eye. PSaskatchewan's Insect and Vertebrate Pest Management Specialist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. James Tansey, says that the term “flea beetle” covers approximately 5,000 species worldwide, in a subfamily called the Alticinae.  

Claresholm Town Council is making progress on the Arena Solar Project, with a possible debenture of $310,000 to fund the project’s remaining balance. 

In April, council awarded the Arena Solar Project to D-Com Energy Solutions.   

“They've been doing some structural design elements and working on getting engineers' approvals for the actual install,” said Abe Tinney, Town of Claresholm Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).  

Members of Parliament return to the House of Commons in Ottawa this week. International trade is expected to dominate the fall legislative agenda with Canada facing mounting challenges from countries like the United States and China.

Legendary Alberta stuntman and animal wrangler John Scott says he was always better at faking stunts on a horse for the big screen than doing the real ones at rodeos.

His skills made it to Hollywood movie sets and later helped him teach actors Brad Pitt and Jackie Chan the ways of the saddle on his ranch near Longview in southern Alberta.

"(Chan) had never been on a horse, but after 15 days he looked like he had been on a horse forever," Scott said of Chan in the 2000 film "Shanghai Noon."

The newly created Build Canada Homes agency will oversee plans to build 4,000 homes on six federally owned sites, as part of a $13 billion agency budget to speed up affordable home building, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday. 

Carney said that the $13 billion will offer financial incentives for builders to construct affordable homes and reduce upfront costs of affordable homebuilding.

Specific locations for the homes have not yet been announced, but Carney said they will be in Dartmouth, N.S., Longueuil, Que., Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg and Edmonton.

Members of Parliament are gearing up for their return to the House of Commons in what's expected to be a busy fall. 

Here is a look at some of the things to watch for as Parliament gets underway this week.

The budget

The Liberal government took some heat in the spring when it decided to delay the introduction of the federal budget, which is typically done in March or April, until this fall. 

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said his fiscal plan is set to be released in October. 

The federal government is in discussions with Alberta and the oil industry about the future of the sector's emissions cap, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said Friday.

At a news conference in Winnipeg, Hodgson didn't say if Ottawa plans to scrap the emissions cap, but said Alberta and industry agree with the federal government that there needs to be a "fundamental change in the emissions intensity of the oilsands."

 The Canadian Wheat Research Coalition (CWRC) has engaged Synthesis Agri-Food Network to review Canada’s wheat breeding innovation system in an effort to safeguard its ability to serve the evolving needs of Canadian farmers.

A review of the current wheat breeding landscape will help the CWRC identify and address potential risks and opportunities in the Canadian system while ensuring it continues to generate elite varieties for farmers across the country.