Okotoks

A local arcade is going to have some of their machines at the Calgary Stampede this year.

Retro Oasis Escape Rooms and Arcade will be participating in the 8-Bit Roundup that will be happening in the downstairs of the Big Four Roadhouse.

According to Oasis Escape Rooms and Arcade owner, Steve Smith, they have partnered with three other businesses to bring roughly 40 pinball machines and 40 arcade machines to the Stampede.

Local firefighters scaled the 1,370 stairs in Brookfield Place for the Firefighter Stairclimb Challenge on June 8, raising funds and awareness for cancer care.  

The climb is in support of Wellspring Alberta, a not-for-profit organization that provides programs and services to firefighters and all citizens battling or living with cancer.      

The Medieval Faire is coming back to the High River Ag grounds during the Canada Day long weekend.

Local organizers, brothers Ryan and Warren Neilson, are really jacking up the event this year.  Warren said it'll be way bigger and better than last year.

"The turnout last year was so spectacular that we wanted to really ramp it up this year, so we booked the indoor as well and really went for just trying to double the size and really bring in a lot more entertainment and whatnot for the spectators."

Orvella Small, the long-time executive director of Inclusion Foothills, is officially retiring.

After founding the non-profit organization more than 25 years ago, she said it's time to hand over the reins.

After what was a very hard decision to make, she explained how she decided it was time.

Smoky conditions continue in the Foothills as Environment and Climate Change Canada issue another Air Quality Alert.

The wildfire smoke continues to blow into not just the Foothills but all of southern Alberta.

The Kananaskis Country area near Highwood House is now also under the warning.

So are the M.D. of Ranchland, the M.D. of Willow Creek and the M.D. of Pincher Creek. Vulcan County is also affected.

The smoke is causing some reduced visibility and poor air quality.

Those who are at higher risk are asked to stay indoors as much as possible. 

Ottawa’s efforts to prepare the country for the impacts of climate change have stumbled out of the gate, Canada’s environment commissioner said Tuesday.

In a new report, Jerry DeMarco concluded the National Adaptation Strategy was not effectively designed, did not prioritize Canada’s climate change risks and only established one of its three components since its release in 2023.

The federal government is moving to shore up a historically weak summer job market for students — even as one economist argues tough employment prospects for young people suggest broader softness in the job market.

Statistics Canada shone a light on the difficult employment prospects for students heading back to school this fall in its May jobs report last Friday.

Roughly one in five returning students aged 15 to 24 was unemployed in May, the agency said. The last time the jobless rate for students was this high outside the pandemic was in May 2009.

The Town of Okotoks is advising residents of a water main repair today (June 11), as part of the Downtown Improvement Project.  

Residents on Poplar Avenue in the immediate area affected by the underground utility construction work at the intersection of Poplar Avenue and North Railway Street could experience water interruptions between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  

The union representing Alberta teachers says members have voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action and they could hit the picket lines in the next four months.

Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling says teachers are sending a message that they are united and will no longer prop up an underfunded public education system.

Finance Minister Nate Horner says a mediator's recommendation rejected by teachers included the same 12 per cent pay increase over four years that has already been accepted by other unions.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is winning applause but also facing pointed questions from party members ahead of three byelections.

Smith, in her role as United Conservative leader, appeared at a town hall meeting attended by about 300 in Three Hills Monday.

She came with Tara Sawyer, who is running under the party banner in the June 23 byelection in the area.