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AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

Airdrie youth hockey team honours junior players killed in Alberta highway crash

A youth hockey team from Airdrie is paying tribute to three junior players who died in a highway collision in southern Alberta by wearing and sharing memorial stickers during an upcoming tournament. The under-13 AA Airdrie Lightning team will place the stickers on their helmets and hand them out to opposing teams while competing in Regina this week. The stickers feature the jersey numbers of the players and the logo of the Southern Alberta Mustangs, the junior team the victims played for. The initiative was organized by a Lightning parent who ordered close to 100 stickers with the goal of keep
AlbertaFeb 06, 2026

TSB urges caution on helicopter training flights after fatal crash near Red Deer

A federal safety investigation into a deadly helicopter crash in central Alberta is advising pilots to carefully weigh the risks of practising emergency manoeuvres while carrying passengers. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada says the July 2025 crash involved a privately operated Bell Textron 206L-4 LongRanger that made a hard landing west of Red Deer during a training flight. The pilot and one passenger were on board when the aircraft went down. According to the report released Thursday, the pilot was practising autorotation, an emergency procedure used when a helicopter loses engine p
alberta-francophone-groups-urge-ottawa-to-keep-supreme-court-bilingualism-out-of-political-debate
AlbertaFeb 05, 2026

Alberta francophone groups urge Ottawa to keep Supreme Court bilingualism out of political debate

Two Alberta-based francophone organizations are pushing back against calls to loosen bilingualism requirements for Supreme Court of Canada judges, warning that language rights should not become a political bargaining tool. The Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Alberta and the Alberta chapter of the French Canadian Association say bilingualism at the country’s highest court is essential to ensure francophones can fully access the justice system in one of Canada’s two official languages. They argue the requirement reflects constitutional principles rather than regiona
AlbertaFeb 05, 2026

Calgary man sentenced to 16 years for joining Islamic State

A Calgary man who travelled to the Middle East and joined the Islamic State terrorist organization has been sentenced to 16 years in prison, with parole eligibility only after serving at least half of the sentence. A judge handed down the sentence to Jamal Borhot following his conviction in December on three counts related to participating in the activities of a terrorist group. The court heard that Borhot left Canada in 2013 and travelled to Syria with a cousin, where he knowingly and willingly aligned himself with ISIS. Evidence presented at trial showed the 35-year-old took part in violent
AlbertaFeb 04, 2026

Health Canada maintains ban on strychnine despite Prairie push to fight gophers

Health Canada says it will not reverse its ban on strychnine, maintaining that environmental and human health risks outweigh concerns raised by Prairie governments and farm groups. The federal department confirmed it reviewed requests from Alberta and Saskatchewan to reconsider the use of the rodent poison to control gopher populations that farmers say are damaging crops and pastureland. Health Canada concluded the risks associated with strychnine remain too significant to justify its use. Strychnine has been prohibited for most pest control uses because of its high toxicity and the risk it po
alberta-government-to-table-budget-feb-26-as-deficit-pressures-mount
AlbertaFeb 04, 2026

Alberta government to table budget Feb. 26 as deficit pressures mount

The Alberta government says it will present its next provincial budget on February 26, warning that deteriorating financial conditions will make the process difficult. Finance Minister Nate Horner says lower oil prices and ongoing global economic uncertainty are putting strain on provincial revenues, forcing the government to make what he described as tough choices. Alberta’s economy remains closely tied to energy markets, making budget planning vulnerable to swings in commodity prices. The province is currently projecting a 6.4 billion dollar deficit by the end of the fiscal year in March.
alberta-to-review-rural-highway-intersection-after-fatal-crash-involving-junior-hockey-players
AlbertaFeb 04, 2026

Alberta to review rural highway intersection after fatal crash involving junior hockey players

The Alberta government says it will review a rural highway intersection near Stavely following a deadly crash that claimed the lives of three junior hockey players earlier this week. The collision occurred Monday at a highway entrance just outside the southern Alberta community, about an hour south of Calgary. RCMP say a car carrying members of the Southern Alberta Mustangs junior hockey team was travelling east across the highway when it was struck by a northbound semi truck hauling two trailers of gravel. In a statement Tuesday, Alberta’s transportation ministry said reviewing fatal collis
junior-hockey-community-mourns-three-southern-alberta-players-killed-in-highway-crash
FeaturedFeb 03, 2026

Junior hockey community mourns three Southern Alberta players killed in highway crash

The junior hockey community across western Canada is mourning the loss of three young players who were killed in a vehicle collision in southern Alberta while travelling to practice. RCMP say the crash happened Monday in the community of Stavely, about an hour south of Calgary, involving a passenger vehicle and a semi truck. Police have confirmed that JJ Wright, Cameron Casorso and Caden Fine, members of the Southern Alberta Mustangs junior hockey program, died as a result of the collision. The investigation remains ongoing. Tributes poured in from teams and hockey organizations across the cou
alberta-ends-hybrid-work-program-thousands-of-public-servants-return-to-offices
AlbertaFeb 02, 2026

Alberta ends hybrid work program, thousands of public servants return to offices

Thousands of Alberta government employees have begun returning to their offices full time following the end of the province’s hybrid work policy that was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hybrid option officially concluded on Sunday, affecting more than 12,000 provincial workers who had been splitting their time between home and office. The Alberta government says the decision reflects changing circumstances and a renewed focus on in person collaboration, supervision, and consistent public service delivery. Provincial officials maintain that having staff back in offices will impro

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ottawa-approves-gradual-increase-in-direct-passenger-cargo-flights-with-china
CanadaApr 20, 2026

Ottawa approves gradual increase in direct passenger, cargo flights with China

The federal government says it will allow a gradual increase in direct air travel between Canada and China, expanding both passenger and cargo flight capacity after years of reduced service. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the change will permit Canadian and Chinese airlines to increase direct passenger flights and operate up to 20 cargo flights per week, with reciprocal access to destinations in both countries. The announcement follows outreach by Prime Minister Mark Carney during a visit to Beijing in January. According to a federal statement, the adjustment is intended to support t
alberta-government-meets-grocers-on-food-prices-as-affordability-concerns-grow
AlbertaApr 20, 2026

Alberta government meets grocers on food prices as affordability concerns grow

The Alberta government says it is meeting with major grocery retailers as part of an effort to address rising food costs, according to a statement from Service Alberta. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said food prices have increased across Canada and globally, and the province is engaging with grocery operators to explore ways to reduce costs for Albertans. The statement did not outline specific measures under consideration or a timeline for potential changes. Premier Danielle Smith also addressed the issue during her provincewide radio show on Saturday, saying many residents are frustrate
canadian-armed-forces-exceed-recruitment-targets-for-second-straight-year-defence-minister-says
CanadaApr 20, 2026

Canadian Armed Forces exceed recruitment targets for second straight year, defence minister says

Canada’s military has surpassed its annual recruitment targets for a second consecutive year, according to Defence Minister David McGuinty, signalling renewed interest among younger Canadians in joining the armed forces. McGuinty said more than 7,300 people enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces over the past year. According to the Department of National Defence, the recruitment goal for 2025–26 was 6,957 new members, which has now been exceeded. The previous year also saw higher-than-expected intake, with 6,706 recruits joining against a target of 6,496. The federal government attributes t
IndiaApr 20, 2026

Bus crash in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 21, dozens injured

At least 21 people were killed and about 45 others injured after a passenger bus veered off a mountainous highway and plunged down a steep slope in Indian-administered Kashmir on Monday, according to local authorities. Civil administrator Prem Singh said the 42-seat bus was carrying more than 60 passengers from Ramnagar to Udhampur when it collided with an auto-rickshaw at a sharp curve. The impact caused the bus to lose control and fall approximately 30 metres onto a lower road. Officials said 19 people died at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries after being transported to
7-4-magnitude-earthquake-off-northern-japan-prompts-tsunami-alert
WorldApr 20, 2026

7.4-magnitude earthquake off northern Japan prompts tsunami alert

A powerful offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck near Japan’s northern coast on Monday afternoon, prompting a tsunami alert for parts of the region. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake occurred at approximately 4:53 p.m. local time off the Sanriku coast, at a depth of about 10 kilometres beneath the seabed. Authorities issued a tsunami alert shortly after the tremor, warning of potentially hazardous sea-level changes along affected coastal areas. Public broadcaster NHK reported that waves of up to three metres could reach parts of the northeastern