Cochrane

The Cochrane Generals are fine-tuning their roster for the HJHL season with the first of two home-and-home preseason series this weekend.

Tonight, the Gens are in Didsbury to face the Mountainview Colts, then return to Totem One for a rematch Sunday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m.

The Generals don’t typically face the Colts in preseason, but it’s an ideal matchup to get the adrenaline flowing.

Provincial approval has been granted to the Calgary Police Service (CPS) to resume Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) at the intersection of Hwy. 1A and 12 Mile Coulee and 16 Avenue at 68 Street N.E. after a spike in serious and fatal crashes.

Mandatory provincial restrictions in December 2024 had removed ATE from all provincial highways and limited Intersection Safety Devices (ISDs) to red-light enforcement on non-provincial roads, also eliminating speed-on-green enforcement.

Rocky View Schools (RVS) expects its student population to grow by nearly 500 this school year, according to preliminary numbers.

New superintendent Ryan Reed told trustees on Sept. 4 that 29,617 students were enrolled as of Sept. 3. The number is expected to rise to about 29,730 by the end of the month, up from 29,243 on Sept. 30, 2024.

He said enrolment in its Cochrane schools is currently down slightly compared with last year, but could change in the coming weeks.

The Alberta government says it has postponed the release of its revised school library book ban policy.

The government initially promised the new ministerial order this afternoon, but the province now says it will be released Monday.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the government is "taking the time needed" to make sure the new ministerial order is clear.

The new version of the policy is set to come almost one week after the government directed school boards to pause their work in complying with the original ministerial order.

The Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its first-ever Business Excellence Awards after receiving more than 150 nominations.

"We were inundated with nominations," says Chamber executive director Jennifer Wanner. "Some businesses were nominated for multiple awards, like they should be."

Wanner says the response shows how much the community values its local entrepreneurs.

"I can't tell you how many calls and emails I've gotten from business owners who are so grateful to be nominated."

All are welcome to the rededication of the Men of Vision statue and unveiling of a newly designed plaque on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Cochrane Ranche Historic Site.

A new contract has been reached between some 23,000 civil servants and the Alberta government, averting a strike that could’ve happened as soon as next week.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says the mediator-recommended deal passed with 63 per cent of voting members in favour and 36.5 per cent opposed.

In a release Wednesday, the union said 71 per cent of eligible members voted.

The affected employees include administrative workers, some Alberta Sheriffs, social workers and provincial wildfire fighters.

The Canadian economy lost jobs for the second month in a row as the unemployment rate climbed to its highest level since May 2016, excluding the pandemic period.

Statistics Canada said Friday the unemployment rate ticked up to 7.1 per cent in August, its highest level since August 2021, as the economy lost 66,000 jobs for the month.

The report follows the July labour force survey that showed a loss of 41,000 jobs and an unemployment rate of 6.9 per cent.

Cochrane drivers are facing near-zero visibility during their Friday morning commute.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says dense fog formed overnight and has placed a fog advisory for the area. 

It is expected to clear later this morning.

The agency warns that visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced, creating hazardous travel conditions.

Several town councillors questioned whether the town should fund a feasibility study on transforming the Cochrane Arena into a twin facility before the new master plan is completed and in advance of the fall municipal election.

On Sept. 2, council received a report recommending a $150,000 to $200,000 study to examine ice demand, site suitability, design options and costing for a second ice sheet.