HighRiver

Most of the balloons were able to lift off Saturday morning for the 12th annual Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival.

The wind and rain have caused the previous four attempts to be cancelled.

The few hundred people who showed up at the Macleod Trail launch site this morning cheered when the first balloon was able to lift off around 8:30 a.m.

Here's a look at some of this week's top news photos as selected by editors.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 27, 2024.

Indigenous and small communities in Alberta are, once again, eligible for a grant to help their economic growth.

The Small Community Opportunity Program is open for a second round of grants, which will help small and Indigenous communities and help the economic footprint in rural Alberta to grow.

The wind died down and over 10,000 people poured into the field for the Balloon Glow Friday night.

Negotiations to end a strike by grain terminal workers in Metro Vancouver have stalled, with the employers' association saying it's "disappointed" with the results of two days of talks. 

A statement from the Western Grain Elevator Association says the employer bargaining unit had increased its offer to settle "outstanding issues," but that was rejected.

The Town of Okotoks is asking locals to weigh in and help evaluate the social well-being of the community and identify any issues or gaps that need to be addressed.

The recently launched Social Needs Assessment is intended to "enhance the social well-being of our community by identifying key issues and ways to strengthen community connections," according to a release from the town.

Community and social development team lead Sian Anderson says they're hoping to hear from a broad range of people.

Global Affairs Canada began booking blocks of seats on the few remaining commercial flights leaving Lebanon on Friday as it issued another urgent plea for any Canadians in the country to leave immediately.

"Canadians need to leave now and we are helping with that," Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in a statement on X late Friday afternoon.

"Canada has secured seats for Canadians on the limited commercial flights available. If a seat is available, please take it."

Jackson Rowland, the captain of the Okotoks Oilers for the 2024-2025 season, has seen it all with the Green and Gold the past three seasons.

Rowland has been with the team through some major changes in that time, having played through their last full season with the AJHL, remaining with the team through their midseason move to the BCHL last year, and he will now lead them through their first full season in the BCHL.

The weather on the long weekend is looking pretty decent.

Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Stephen Berg says Saturday and Sunday should be hovering around the 20-degree mark.

"Looks to be, in terms of temperature, kind of in the low 20's [on Saturday, September 28], and kind of a mix of sun and cloud," explained Berg. "And then a bit cloudier, though for Sunday, but a high still into the upper teens. Currently, it is set at 18."

The overnight lows will be between 3 and 8 degrees.

Sunday night will see a bit of a weather pattern change.

It's one busy bee weekend in High River.

The Heritage Inn International Balloon Festival continues with the Balloon Glow Friday night in Wallaceville. It will go rain, wind or shine. Hopefully, all the balloons will be able to inflate but in case the weather conditions are not favourable they will have the baskets just flare their propane. Everyone will still be able to talk to the pilots and see all the balloons.