Cochrane

Berry lovers will be happy to hear that the U-pick season has now started. 

Across the Prairies, strawberry U-pick seasons typically start in early July. Raspberries and Saskatoons are then often available from late July through August. 

Andy Loewen is the owner of Friedensfeld Honey and Berry Farm, located east of Friedensfeld in Manitoba. He says their strawberry U-pick season officially got underway on Friday. An opening day of June 27th is a little bit earlier than normal for their farm.

Tyra the Tyrannosaurus is set to be poked and prodded this fall to determine whether Drumheller’s towering, monstrously popular icon can be saved from extinction.

Mayor Heather Colberg says a technical check will determine how much work — and money — may be needed to keep the 25-metre figure in its current place dominating the skyline of the town northeast of Calgary.

Two events, separated only by the Bow River, encapsulated Cochrane's rich family and community spirit on Saturday.

It was a landmark day for Cochrane Wolves FC, a club that has been growing rapidly in recent years. For the first time, the schedules aligned for five top-tier boys’ and girls’ teams to host games at Ranger Field.

A professional fireworks show will light up the night at Mitford Park this Canada Day.

The display is scheduled for 10:45 p.m. and is the only fireworks event approved within town limits.

Cochrane Fire Chief Shawn Polley is reminding residents that personal fireworks are not permitted in Cochrane.

“No fireworks without a permit, no discharge of fireworks without a permit within the town of Cochrane,” he says.

Permits are only issued when federal safety standards and professional discharge protocols are met.

The U15 Cochrane Fusion capped a stellar season with an 18-13 victory over the Airdrie Angels to claim the Division 3 city championship of the Calgary Minor Softball Association last night at Vista Heights.

The Fusion went 4-1 in the playoff round to earn their spot in the final. Their only loss came in a 16-14 nailbiter against SBR, a team they later defeated 10-4 in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the championship game.

The Angels had been undefeated heading into the final, but Cochrane’s momentum proved too much to stop.

With Canada Day celebrations just around the corner, Alberta RCMP is reminding residents to enjoy the holiday responsibly and avoid impaired driving.

The warning comes with a sobering reminder: during last year’s Canada Day long weekend, seven people were killed in road-related incidents in RCMP jurisdictions, and 101 impaired drivers were taken off the roads.

Impaired driving remains a major issue in Alberta. According to MADD Canada, one in five drivers involved in fatal collisions have been drinking.

The school year may be over, but five Cochrane High School students already have a special date marked on their fall calendars.

The CHS leadership students will travel to Haliburton, Ont., to take part in the 40th Canadian Student Leadership Conference (CSLC), held Oct. 3 to 7. The event focuses on challenges facing today’s youth and equips them with skills they can share with others.

It’s about the 12th time CHS leadership teacher Lisa Gordon Reece has taken students to the national gathering.

Councillor Patrick Wilson is calling on town council to withdraw from an international climate initiative and limit involvement in similar programs unless explicitly approved by council.

A notice of motion presented on June 23 calls for the town to cease participation in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program.

Alberta’s finance minister is set to deliver the final bottom line number today on last year’s provincial budget.

Nate Horner’s new figure will close the books on the budget for the fiscal year that ended in March.

That budget was last forecast to come in with a nearly $6-billion surplus.

Alberta’s new budget year is now a few months old, but its expected bottom line number is deep in the red.

This budget, introduced by Horner in February, predicts Alberta will register a $5.2-billion deficit at the end of March 2026.

Canadian varietal development system called a success story

Canada’s system of developing wheat varieties is both efficient and effective, says a University of Saskatchewan agricultural economist.

Australia invests much more into wheat genetics and improving varieties, but the yield gains are similar to Canadian results.

“In Australia, they’re spending three to five times what we are, right now, on wheat research and wheat genetics,” said Richard Gray, Canadian grain policy research chair at the U of S.