Airdrie

The RCMP is introducing a drone corridor along part of the Canada-U.S. border in an effort to boost security.

Drones are to patrol the border in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba in what the RCMP says is a trial.

The force says the corridor has been established with help from Transport Canada and drone patrols will target illegal activity including smuggling and drug trafficking.

It says the corridor extends from the ground to 500 feet in the air and one nautical mile north of the border, or just under two kilometres.

First-time Airdrie city council candidate Mo Fahad Shaukat says the city’s rapid expansion can’t come at the expense of basic services, and he’s willing to take unpopular stands to make sure it grows responsibly.

“Population has already reached over 90,000 as of April 2025, it’s expected to climb to more than 130,000 within the next 10 years,” Shaukat said in an Aug. 6 interview with DiscoverAirdrie. “We are well on our way to become one of the largest cities, maybe even the third largest city in Alberta. That kind of growth isn’t just fast. It’s transformative.”

Three Hills RCMP are investigating a residential break and enter.

On August 8, between the hours of 4:30 and 6:20 p.m., a suspect broke into a home in Three Hills (1 hour northeast of Airdrie) and stole assorted items from inside.

"The suspect had attended the residence prior to the break and enter and spoke with the homeowner. The suspect told the homeowner he could repair his trailer for a fee of $300. The suspect later returned when the homeowner was gone," shared the RCMP.

Albertans can begin pre-ordering COVID-19 shots for the fall after a recent policy shift.

Those looking to get vaccinated will still need to book an appointment and most will have to pay more than $100 to get it.

Premier Danielle Smith's government announced the policy shift in June.

Smith has said $135 million got "flushed down the drain" last year, with doses wasted in part because Albertans are increasingly choosing to not get them.

Livestock farms often need to use their land carefully in order to get the best results for their animals, which is why the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment is sharing some tips on good grazing practices. Trevor Lennox, a Range Management Extension Specialist, talks about one of the biggest potential mistakes a farm operation can make: overgrazing.

WestJet says some personal data including information about travel documents such as passports was stolen in a cyberattack earlier this year, but credit and debit card numbers as well as user passwords were not compromised.

In a note to customers, WestJet says the personal information taken varies from person to person but may include name, date of birth, e‑mail address, mailing address, phone number, gender and recent travel booking history including travel booking numbers.

Someone in Alberta is waking up a millionaire after winning Saturday’s LOTTO 6/49 Gold Ball draw.

Western Canada Lottery Corporation says the $1-million winning ticket was purchased somewhere in the province, outside Calgary and Edmonton. The winning number was 35679933-01, an exact match only.

The lottery corporation says two other Albertans each won $100,000 in Saturday’s EXTRA draw. One ticket was bought in Calgary and the other was purchased outside Calgary and Edmonton. The EXTRA number for the Aug. 9 draw was 6048991.

Two schools are moving forward in southwest Airdrie, one in Southwinds and the other in South Windsong. Both have received provincial approval for construction but serve different grades, have different capacities and are on separate timelines, according to two separate Rocky View Schools (RVS) news releases.

Airdrie voters will head to the polls Oct. 20 to elect a mayor and six councillors, with voting taking place at locations across the city.

Advance voting will be held on the following dates and locations, the City of Airdrie says:

• City Hall (late night): Oct. 6–10, 4:30 to 10 p.m.

• City Hall (early morning): Oct. 14–17, 6:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• Town and Country Centre: Oct. 8, 11, 14 and 16

With the midpoint of August nearly here and the first day of fall about six weeks away on Sept. 22, forecasts point to a mix of sunshine, occasional showers, and near- to above-normal temperatures for Airdrie and area through next week. According to Environment Canada, the normal high for this period is 22 C and the normal low is 8 C.