Airdrie

The stage will look different than originally planned Wednesday night, when Canada's major party leaders square off in the first of two nationally televised debates.

Instead of five podiums on the stage, there will now only be four.

The Green Party had its invitation rescinded less than 12 hours before the debate is set to start, with the Leaders' Debate Commission saying the party no longer met the criteria to be included.

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault called the "last minute decision" both "unfounded" and "undemocratic."

Environment Canada is forecasting variable weather conditions in Airdrie heading into the Easter long weekend. Temperatures will fluctuate, and a mix of precipitation is expected across the region.

As of Wednesday, the forecast calls for a high of 7 C on Thursday with a 30 per cent chance of afternoon showers and north winds gusting to 40 km/h. The overnight low is expected to fall to –9 C under clear skies.

Friday is forecast to be sunny with a high of 17 C and an overnight low of zero.

RCMP are asking for the public’s help identifying a suspect after a woman was sexually assaulted at Nose Creek Park in June 2024.

According to a news release issued Wednesday, officers responded to the incident around 3 a.m. on June 1.

"The female victim was offered a ride home from Main Street Beer and BBQ restaurant, and on the way home, the male suspect stopped at Nose Creek Park and sexually assaulted her," police said in the release.

Airdrie residents accustomed to receiving their Canada Carbon Rebate (CCR) on or around the 15th of the month may be surprised to see no deposit thus far this month. The final payment is still coming, just later than usual, and it marks the end of the quarterly program.

Rocky View Schools has secured funding for seven new school projects in the past 15 months, a wave of approvals the division says is critical to easing crowding in some of Alberta’s fastest-growing communities.

Airdrie musician Kyle McKearney is among more than 40 artists set to perform at the 2025 Coca-Cola Stage during the Calgary Stampede.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government has introduced promised legislation to allow for people to be forced into addiction treatment facilities.

If the bill passes, parents, family members, health-care professionals, police or peace officers can apply for a treatment order from a new provincial commission.

Under the bill, those using substances and deemed a risk to themselves or others can be apprehended by police and ordered into treatment in a secure facility for up to three months, with the possibility of six months in community-based treatment. 

SaskTel is developing new assets to help tech companies better connect with farmers by providing them with more background infrastructure. The project's full name is The Smart Agriculture Data Hub, and it will provide tech companies with a digital toolkit to help them reach more farmers.

Heather Clair, the marketing manager for Smart Ag, says the program is all about partnering with all the right companies to deliver what Saskatchewan farmers need.

Yesterday, the Airdrie Fire Department forwarded a donation from the Ecole Edwards Elementary School Student Council to the Calgary Burn Treatment Society (CFBTS).

Garth Rabel, a Deputy Chief for the Airdrie Fire Department, explained that it was grade five students that decided to fundraise for AFD.

Alberta is seeking a new chief medical officer of health as the government says Dr. Mark Joffe's contract has expired.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange's office said in an email Tuesday that Joffe's contract expired a day prior. It said an interim replacement is to be announced shortly and a search for a permanent replacement has begun.

Joffe was serving in the role on an interim basis after Premier Danielle Smith's government followed through on its 2022 commitment to fire Dr. Deena Hinshaw, who held the position throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.