Cochrane

With the G7 summit on the horizon and air traffic expected to surge, residents of Cochrane are being reminded that areas around Springbank Airport are strict no-fly zones for drones.

Springbank Airport, located just a short distance southeast of Cochrane, falls under a federally regulated ‘No Drone Zone’ covering 3.5 nautical miles, or 6.5 km, from the airport's center.

“Most may not realize the risk even a small drone can pose to aircraft, passengers, operations and emergency services,” said Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority.

Cochrane drivers heading into Calgary faced reduced visibility during Thursday’s (May 22) morning commute.

Thick fog rolled in early, with heavy patches along Highway 1A, Highway 22 and throughout Cochrane.

Motorists are urged to use headlights, leave plenty of space between vehicles, and stay alert for sudden shifts in road conditions.

The fog is expected to ease later this morning as temperatures climb, but early drivers should plan for delays and remain cautious.

Check the road visability HERE.

The Cochrane Lions Club is helping ease financial barriers to childcare for local families with a $5,000 donation to BGC Cochrane and Area.

The service club's contribution will support families who may not otherwise be able to access BGC programs.

The Bighill Creek Preservation Society (BCPS) says a new provincial task force aimed at streamlining regulatory approvals for sand and gravel operations on private land is barking up the wrong tree.

This week, the province struck a sand and gravel task force to review and recommend changes to speed up permitting processes, while maintaining environmental protections under existing provincial legislation.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has named 73 MPs to his party's leadership team and critic roles ahead of next week's return to the House of Commons.

He has named 48 Conservative members of Parliament to critic roles, while another 14 will become associate critics.

Most of them are returning MPs, though some have been shuffled to new positions left by people who were not re-elected on April 28. 

Canadians could soon find out if there will be another labour disruption at the national postal operator.

The union representing about 55,000 Canada Post employees has said it is reviewing a set of proposals for urban workers, along with rural and suburban carriers.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers issued a 72-hour strike notice on Tuesday, and the deadline is Friday at midnight.

Canada Post says the new offers address several concerns, and it is offering a wage increase of 13.59 per cent over four years.

Top economic officials from the G7 were locked in a full day of closed-door discussions Wednesday to examine pressing topics, including the global economy and the war in Ukraine. 

The meeting between the group's finance ministers and central bank governors in Banff, Alta., is a prelude to the G7 leaders summit in June in nearby Kananaskis. 

It comes in the wake of the U.S. imposing global tariffs that have resulted in many countries reconsidering their trading relationships. 

Farmers have been experiencing rain delays as they work to complete their seeding operations.

Oilseed Specialist Sonia Wilson reports that recent rain events in Manitoba over the past eight days have brought much-needed precipitation to many areas. However, she remains hopeful that producers will soon be able to return to the fields.

A major piece of flood mitigation infrastructure west of Calgary is now operational, offering critical protection for southern Alberta communities vulnerable to extreme flooding.

The Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir (SR1) is officially complete and ready to defend Calgary and surrounding areas from disasters like the 2013 floods — the costliest natural disaster in Canadian history. That event claimed five lives, displaced over 80,000 people, and caused more than $5 billion in damages.

Airdrie–Cochrane MP Blake Richards was sworn into office on Parliament Hill on May 20, ahead of the House of Commons' return on May 26.

On April 28, Richards won his sixth consecutive election with 71.3 per cent of the popular vote. His share of the vote returned to more typical levels compared to the 2021 election, when he received 57 per cent.