Airdrie

The Tim Hortons' Smile Cookie campaign brought in a significant amount of funds at the beginning of the month for the Airdrie Health Foundation (AHF).

For this campaign, $76,743.54 for the AHF, which will be used to help enhance health care here in Airdrie by supporting Airdrie's highest priority healthcare needs.

"You're kind of speechless when you hear how much money was raised by selling cookies. We're just honoured," shared Michelle Bates, Executive Director with the foundation.

The City of Airdrie recently announced that Airdronians will see some savings when it comes to waste and recycling rates.

According to the city, Airdrie households will save $3.08 per bill, due to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program.

Steven Rice, the team leader for waste and recycling services for the City of Airdrie, explained that this program is a provincial initiative.

"This program applies to all municipalities in the province. Other provinces have programs like this in place."

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has named 73 MPs to his party's leadership team and critic roles ahead of next week's return to the House of Commons.

He has named 48 Conservative members of Parliament to critic roles, while another 14 will become associate critics.

Most of them are returning MPs, though some have been shuffled to new positions left by people who were not re-elected on April 28. 

Canadians could soon find out if there will be another labour disruption at the national postal operator.

The union representing about 55,000 Canada Post employees has said it is reviewing a set of proposals for urban workers, along with rural and suburban carriers.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers issued a 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday, and the deadline is Friday at midnight.

Canada Post says the new offers address several concerns, and it is offering a wage increase of 13.59 per cent over four years.

Top economic officials from the G7 were locked in a full day of closed-door discussions Wednesday to examine pressing topics, including the global economy and the war in Ukraine. 

The meeting between the group's finance ministers and central bank governors in Banff, Alta., is a prelude to the G7 leaders summit in June in nearby Kananaskis. 

It comes in the wake of the U.S. imposing global tariffs that have resulted in many countries reconsidering their trading relationships. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a frost advisory.

The areas under the frost advisory include Airdrie, Crossfield and Rocky View County surrounding those communities.

"Overnight lows are forecast to drop to zero or slightly below, resulting in frost tonight."

ECCC encourages those with plants outside to cover them, especially those in frost-prone areas.

"Take preventative measures to protect frost-sensitive plants and trees."

The overnight low for the Airdrie area is expected to reach -4 degrees.

Farmers have been experiencing rain delays as they work to complete their seeding operations.

Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson reports that recent rain events in Manitoba over the past eight days have brought much-needed precipitation to many areas. However, she remains hopeful that producers will soon be able to return to the fields.

A vehicle fire that blocked the right-hand lane of northbound Deerfoot Trail near 64 Ave NE has been cleared, according to 511 Alberta.

The incident was first reported at 1:40 p.m. on May 21. Emergency crews responded, and the scene was cleared later in the afternoon.

Traffic was delayed in the area while crews dealt with the fire.

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The City of Airdrie says it has purchased a building at 2 East Lake Way and will begin rolling out a new animal care service model, including a municipal pound and non-profit-operated shelter, later this year.

In a May 21 news release, the City said Municipal Enforcement will operate the pound. Dog intake is expected to begin in mid-2025, with cats to follow later in the year.

A non-profit organization will be contracted to run the shelter and oversee adoptions. The City is targeting mid-2026 for full shelter operations.

Canada Post has issued a new set of offers to the union representing postal workers as the clock ticks down to a possible strike.

The Crown corporation confirmed Wednesday it has filed a new set of proposals for workers in the urban bargaining unit and the rural and suburban units.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said its negotiating team was set to examine the proposals this afternoon.

The new offers come days after the union issued a strike notice that could see postal workers back on the picket line on Friday.