Cochrane

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says hiring lawyers to funnel requests from the auditor general isn't meant to obstruct an investigation into multimillion-dollar health contracts -- it's about helping get to the truth.

The government has instructed public servants to contact a lawyer to co-ordinate if auditor general Doug Wylie requests an interview as part of his probe.

The Opposition NDP’s leader in the legislature, Christina Gray, said Monday the policy suggests a coverup is afoot, and challenged the premier to lift what the NDP calls a "gag order."

The long-sought continuation of the James Walker Trail is set to begin on May 1 following town council's approval to borrow $17.89 million.

The project will be completed in two sections. The Town of Cochrane will begin construction on its 1.5-kilometre portion in May 2025, with work expected to extend over two construction seasons. At the same time, Qualico Communities will start work on its one-km section in Southbow Landing in June 2025, aiming to complete its portion by the end of the year.

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner has accepted the privacy complaint lodged by Coun. Marni Fedeyko last December and will now investigate the matter.

Jonathan Denis of Guardian Law Group, Fedeyko's representative, called it a positive sign that the complaint was not dismissed for lacking jurisdiction, or for being frivolous or without sufficient grounds.

Manitoba Pork celebrated its 60th anniversary during its annual meeting and industry banquet Thursday in Winnipeg. Producers, processors and various stakeholders gathered at the Fairmont for the day full of meetings which was capped by an evening gala. There are currently 188 registered producers in the province, representing 608 farms and 22,000 full-time equivalent jobs. 

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is promising that a government led by him would use the notwithstanding clause to override Charter rights to implement his tough-on-crime agenda — something no prime minister has ever done.

Poilievre was campaigning in Montreal on Monday, where he announced he would pass a law to allow judges to impose consecutive life sentences in cases of multiple murders. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2022 that imposing consecutive life sentences violates an offender's Charter rights.

Rocky View Regional Handibus Society is reporting a second consecutive year of full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in an interim report, delivering nearly 14,000 trips in 2024 and seeing growth beyond pre-pandemic levels.

The agency provided 13,726 rides to almost 15,000 passengers, companions, and attendants last year — a 1.5 per cent increase from 2023, and up 12 per cent compared to 2019.

Many of the trips supported essential needs such as medical appointments, grocery runs, and life-sustaining treatments.

As part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, running April 13–19, Alberta RCMP is shining a spotlight on the crucial work of its Operational Communications Centre (OCC) staff, and launching a new province-wide tool to support them.

The new non-emergency phone line, 310-RCMP (310-7267), is now available for all Albertans to report incidents that don’t pose an immediate threat to public safety. The goal is to streamline reporting, reduce pressure on 911 services, and ensure frontline officers can focus on high-priority calls.

Two Cochrane dancers have touched down in Dublin, Ireland, where they’ll represent Canada and their Calgary-based dance studio at the prestigious World Irish Dance Championships.

Riley Daley and Carra Hurley, both seasoned competitors from Cochrane, are among 17 dancers from the Gott-Hughton Irish Dance Academy to qualify for the event — the largest group the studio has ever sent to the world stage.

Cochrane’s annual street sweeping program is set to begin in two weeks, and residents are being asked to do their part to help keep the community clean and safe.

The spring cleanup effort targets debris and leftover sanding material from the winter months. It’s a key part of road maintenance that helps prevent vehicle damage, improves safety for pedestrians and cyclists, and keeps storm drains clear.

Cochrane families are in for a splash of fun this Saturday as the SLS Centre brings back its popular EggaPOOLooza Easter Egg Hunt.

“It’s not your traditional Easter egg hunt where you go around looking for hidden eggs,” says Christian Leader, Marketing and Communications Coordinator with the SLS Centre. “We’ve actually turned it into a competition in our pool.”