HighRiver

The ceremony commemorating the Battle of Vimy Ridge will happen this Sunday, but not in its usual location.

The Okotoks Legion Branch 291 is hosting the Vimy Ridge ceremony, but instead of it being at the Okotoks Cenotaph, it will be held at the Okotoks Rec Centre.

According to the Okotoks Legion President, Rick Oncescu, they made the move to the Rec Centre, because there are several events happening there this weekend.

Last December's announcement from Energy and Minerals Provincial Minister Brian Jean ruffled some feathers with High River's Mayor Craig Snodgrass.

Minister Jean announced the new 'Coal Industry Modernization Initiative' (CIMI), and recently, some representatives from Environment and Protected Areas joined the mayor and two town councillors to answer questions.

Now that the weather is warming for the summer, the RCMP say it's important to be prepared.

With summer comes the risk of flooding and wildfire in Alberta, and the RCMP is encouraging families to create an emergency plan in case of flood or wildfire.

When creating the emergency plan, the RCMP suggest considering the specific needs of the household, which includes older family members, any special health or mobility needs, children, pets, and service animals.

The economy shed 33,000 jobs in March, the biggest loss since January 2022, while the unemployment rate ticked higher, Statistics Canada said Friday.

The agency said the unemployment rate for March rose to 6.7 per cent compared with 6.6 per cent in February.

The hit came amid increased uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs that have threatened economic growth.

The job losses reversed some of the gains made at the end of last year and into January.

The Okotoks Oilers' playoffs got underway last night in Penticton as they faced the Vees in round one of the BCHL playoffs.

The Vees came out victorious, shutting out the Green and Gold 4-0.

Oil netminder Olivier Ciarlo gave the team a fighting chance, stopping 34 of the 38 shots he faced in the game one loss.

The Oilers were only able to muster 19 shots on net as the group gets set for game two on Sunday afternoon in B.C.

The Vees were the #1-seeded team heading into the playoffs, with the Oilers seeded 8th.

Diamond Valley Fire Rescue is receiving some provincial funding.

They had applied for funding through the Alberta Fire Services Training Program and were approved for the full requested amount of $19,650.

With the funding, the Diamond Valley Fire Rescue team will receive additional training and certifications through the National Fire Protection Association:

• NFPA 1001 - Professional Fire Fighting Level 1 & 2

• NFPA 1002 - Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator, Pump, and Aerial

• NFPA 1021 - Fire Officer Level 1 & 2

"Freedom Convoy" organizers Tamara Lich and Chris Barber have been found guilty of mischief for their roles in the 2022 mass protest in Ottawa.

Lich and Barber were key figures and organizers in the protest that saw hundreds of vehicles and thousands of people occupy downtown Ottawa and insist they would stay until COVID-19 public health mandates were eliminated.

The New Democrats and Conservatives both pitched ideas on the federal election trail Thursday to make Canada and its workers more resilient in the face of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh proposed tax-free savings bonds, while Pierre Poilievre said a Conservative government would remove the federal sales tax from Canadian-made vehicles.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, in his role as prime minister, met virtually Thursday with Canada's premiers to discuss the U.S. tariffs as Canadian automakers started to feel the effects.

Wedged between a massive truck and a backhoe, saved by STARS. Given blood by STARS after being impaled by a spinning blade. Airlifted by STARS after crashing to the ground off a bucking horse in a remote area.  

These are just some of the stories of survival that filled the airwaves on April 1st and 2nd for the Critical Care on the Air Radiothon presented by BHP in support of STARS. 

Earlier this week, the Canadian Canola Growers Association (CCGA) issued their first cash advances with the 2025 Advance Payments Program for the upcoming growing year. More than 1750 producers across Western Canada received more than $310 million to finance their operations. Dave Gallant, Vice President of Finance and APP operations at CGA, talks about the benefits of the program for Western Canadian producers.