Cochrane

The Bank of Canada has largely kept to the sidelines as it tries to get a sense of how U.S. tariffs will impact the economy — and some economists think it might just stay there.

After a quarter-point cut in March, the central bank held its benchmark interest rate steady at 2.75 per cent in April and June.

With last month's jobs figures showing a surprise gain and core inflation levels holding steady at around three per cent, economists now broadly expect the central bank will continue its holding pattern at its next decision on July 30.

Mounties in Alberta have issued a province-wide public safety alert following the death of a 16-year-old linked to a counterfeit pill containing a highly toxic synthetic opioid.

The pills, which closely resemble the prescription anti-anxiety medication Xanax, were found to contain isotonitazene, a powerful opioid that can be deadly even in small doses.

A major storm hammered Cochrane last night, but it hasn’t dimmed the lights on what’s been a rock-solid start to the Bow Valley Boot Stomp.

Organizers quickly moved the main acts indoors when the storm rolled in, and the party didn’t miss a beat.

The music fires up at 3 p.m. today at the Cochrane Ag Grounds. Taking the main stage are Annika Catharina, Travis Dolter, Kyle McKearney, and headliner Tony Stevens.

The community stage will be buzzing with six solo acts: Cruz Vallis, Reed Salmon, Berlyn Broadhead, Nik Poli, Jasmyn Wright, and Samantha Lee.

The Rocky View Rage is putting a lopsided 13-3 loss to the Calgary Axemen behind them as they return to the floor tonight at the Stu Peppard Arena.

It’s a must-win for the Jr. B Tier II squad to force a deciding game in the best-of-three series on Sunday.

The Axemen carved out a commanding 6-0 lead in the first period before the Rage responded with two goals in the second. Calgary added another that period, then pulled away with six more in the third to the Rage’s lone marker.

All games in the series are being played at the Stu Peppard.

The 2025 wildfire season is already one of the worst on record for Canada and there is a high risk that more fires will break out in August, federal officials said on Friday.

More than 5.5 million hectares of land have burned so far this year, more than double the 10-year average for mid-July.

That is still well behind the record fire season in 2023, when more than 6,000 fires burned more than 15 million hectares of land.

There were 561 fires burning as of Friday, including 69 that were considered out of control.

The Supreme Court of Canada on Friday upheld the sentence handed to one youth offender but overturned another, in parallel judgments that clarify the standard courts should use when determining whether a youth should be sentenced as an adult.

In the two separate cases, the youth, who were 16 and 17 years old at the time of their offences, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced as adults to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.

A wicked thunderstorm tore through Cochrane tonight, flooding some streets and homes and pushing the two main stage acts of the Bow Valley Boot Stomp indoors.

It took two years, a lot of patience, and even a change in Alberta legislation — but Cochrane’s first Pedal Pub is finally ready to roll.

Lyle Thorsen, owner of Rocky View Brewing Company, says bringing the unique bike-powered pub experience to town wasn’t as simple as buying a bike and hitting the streets. “The town of Cochrane was really supportive,” says Thorsen, “but the stumbling block came with the AGLC liquor license regulations.”

It’s a full weekend of rugby action for Bow Valley teams, with two matches on their Mitford home field.

The Div. 2 Grizzlies host the Foothills Lions on Saturday at 1 p.m., looking to bounce back after a 40–31 loss to the second-place Calgary Hornets. It was only their second loss of the season.

Despite the setback, the Grizz still lead the league.

Elsewhere, the Div. 3 Ba Bas face the Canucks tonight at the Calgary Rugby Union, and the women’s team travels to Okotoks on Saturday to take on the Lions.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer.

Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week.

Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks.