Airdrie

Federal ministers are warning western Canadians to brace for worsening wildfire conditions this summer, as more than 3.7 million hectares have already burned nationwide and over half of active wildfires remain out of control.

As of Thursday, 225 wildfires were burning across Canada, and 121 were classified as out of control, said Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski during a multi-ministerial briefing in Ottawa.

The risk of measles in Alberta is now at its highest level in 25 years, the province's top public health official warned in a letter distributed to families last week.

Dr. Sunil Sookram, Alberta's interim Chief Medical Officer of Health, said 761 cases had been confirmed as of June 5, with 576 of those involving children under 18. In a letter dated June 6 and circulated by Rocky View Schools on June 9, Sookram urged parents and guardians to ensure children are immunized before the summer travel season.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and three of her ministers got an earful on Wednesday night from southern Alberta locals at a rowdy, hours-long town hall to discuss the province's coal policy.

About 500 people, dressed in cowboy hats, belt buckles, and jeans, packed a community hall in Fort Macleod, Alta., for an event marked by heckling, competing applause and placards.

The Canadian citizen believed to be on an Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff is a dentist from Mississauga, Ont., her family has confirmed.

The husband of Nirali Sureshkumar Patel said she was on board the London-bound flight that crashed Thursday, killing at least 240 people.

Patel's dental clinic referred The Canadian Press to the husband, who said that he was in the process of booking travel to India for himself and the couple's one-year-old child.

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Check out the events I will be attending this weekend.

You know the drill: stop by my table to say hi, scan the RAM 1500 QR code and enter to win!

The first event I will be at this weekend is the Crossfield Pete Knight Days, an event to kick off the summer!

Location: Crossfield Pete Knight Days, Box 871, Laut Ave., Crossfield, Alta.
Date: June 13 and 14

What’s happening?

U.S. president Trump has attacked the sustainability movement, but a major pulse player urges investors to stick with the industry

A Canadian food industry executive is telling pulse companies to stick with their sustainability messaging despite attempts by powerful people to undermine the movement.

Murad Al-Katib, president of AGT Food and Ingredients, said U.S. president Donald Trump has been very vocal about his disdain for the green movement.

With summer traffic increasing on Alberta's busiest highways, including the QEII corridor through Airdrie, the Alberta RCMP is urging all motorists to exercise extra caution when driving around commercial vehicles.

"Sharing the road with, or operating, semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, buses, or other commercial vehicles, requires extra caution," the RCMP said in a provincial traffic safety bulletin.

Showers and thunderstorm risk are expected in Airdrie through Saturday, while local smoke and wind gusts up to 40 km/h remain possible on Thursday.

According to Environment Canada’s Thursday morning forecast, Airdrie faces a 30 per cent chance of showers and a risk of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. Local smoke is expected to linger in the evening. The agency predicts a 60 per cent chance of showers again on Friday, with possible thunderstorms and a high of 21 C.

Northbound Deerfoot Trail traffic slowed to a crawl Thursday morning after a collision near Airport Trail NE blocked the left-hand lane, though the scene has since been cleared. 

The incident occurred between Beddington Trail and Airport Trail, according to 511 Alberta, which reported lane closures, no passing, speed reductions and significant congestion in the area. Drivers were advised to expect delays and use caution.

Rocky View County Fire Services "will continue normal operations during the G7 Summit, with a temporary increase in staffing at the Springbank Fire Station," officials said Wednesday.

The measure is being taken "as a precaution to ensure readiness for any potential increase in emergency response along Highway 1," the county said in a June 11 notice published on its website.