Airdrie

On Saturday, the Airdrie Pride Society held its annual Solidarity Walk and Pride Festival.

Kiersten Mohr, a board member for the society, explained it was a busy and fun day.

"It was our fifth year, and it was another successful day of events."

According to the Airdrie Pride website, the walk is to resist those who are trying to silence, diminish and divide those in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. 

"The solidarity walk, once again, was special and I think reinforced what pride is about for many."

Wildfires are currently raging in several provinces across Canada. 

The BC Wildfire Service reports that crews are battling more than 70 wildfires in British Columbia, with one particularly intense wildfire near the community of Lytton, having led to a local state of emergency and several evacuation orders.

In Yukon, the territorial government has lifted an evacuation alert for the area surrounding Ethel Lake, located approximately a four-hour drive north of Whitehorse. 

Despite this change, the wildfire that prompted the alert on June 24 remains out of control.

Canadians took to parks and civic squares across the country Tuesday to show unity on Canada Day amid American threats, economic uncertainty and Western alienation.

"We've decided not to pull apart and fight, but to come together and to build. Because that's the Canadian way," Prime Minister Mark Carney said to thousands of Canadians gathered in Ottawa.

This year's festivities at Ottawa's LeBreton Flats Park got the royal treatment, with Prince Edward praising Canada's unity and accomplishments.

Airdrie didn’t wait for fireworks to bring the heat this Canada Day. Families packed City Hall for pancakes by sunrise, lined the parade route by mid-morning, and rolled straight into an all-day celebration stretching from downtown to Nose Creek Park.

Parliamentarians likely will get a chance later this year to debate whether to adopt a livestock brand as an official national symbol.

A bill to create the brand was introduced earlier in June by Saskatchewan Conservative MP Steven Bonk.

If the bill passes, the brand will become Canada's 10th national symbol — joining O Canada, the coat of arms and the maple tree.

Here are five things you may not know about the official symbols that say "Canada."

1. The beaver does not stand alone

Samantha Sannella shed happy tears as she stood to sing the national anthem at her citizenship ceremony in early June, nearly three decades after she moved to Canada. 

She had sung "O Canada" countless times before, but this was the first time she’d done so as a Canadian. 

Originally from Houston, Texas, Sannella moved to Toronto 28 years ago for a job. For the longest time, she still considered herself a U.S. citizen, with a part of her thinking she might move back one day.

But that changed last fall.

One of two men jailed last year for their roles in the Coutts, Alta., border protest has been granted bail while he appeals his conviction and sentence.

An Alberta appeal court judge says Chris Carbert does not pose a threat to public safety and is unlikely to commit a criminal offence if released from custody.

Last fall, a jury found Carbert and Anthony Olienick guilty of mischief over $5,000 and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace for their role in the blockade.

They were each given prison sentences of 6 ½ years. 

Alberta Health Services lifted a closure order for a restaurant in Beiseker on June 27, one day after ordering it closed.

The June 27 risk management inspection (publically available) confirmed that the closure order issued on June 26 for Beefsteak Restaurant & Bar had been lifted.

According to the digital AHS inspection records, that June 2025 closure order is the only one listed for the location, based on reports dating back to September 2022.

With Canada Day just around the corner, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued a heat warning for Airdrie and the surrounding area.

According to ECCC, temperatures reaching 29 degrees Celsius combined with overnight lows near 14 degrees Celsius are expected for the next 2 days.

Temperatures will be hottest on Wednesday, with highs in the low 30s. Conditions are expected to improve on Thursday.

Alberta's government is seeking advice to address violence and aggression in schools.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says it's a serious problem as learning disruptions and mental health concerns are becoming more and more common.

Nicolaides says a team of 20 education system officials and teachers will develop potential policy options and solutions over the next six months.

He says some of the recommendations could be implemented as soon as the fall.