News

Asian-Canadian Frontline Workers Face Rampant Discrimination: Report

By Fernando Arce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Chinese-Canadian frontline workers are largely employed in low-wage and high-risk sectors and work long hours, which increases their vulnerability to health risks due to the pandemic and socio-economic exploitation and marginalization, a new report has found. The Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter (CCNCTO) released the 53-page report on Sept. 1 as a way to reflect “demands…

B.C. residents line up to get vaccine passports in-person

[email protected]1 week ago

By Norman Galimski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Prince Rupert residents spilled out of the Service BC Centre into the parking lot and down the sidewalk on Sept. 8, as they queued to get their vaccine passports verified, set up and printed due to a myriad of difficulties. Some residents said they attended in person to simplify the vaccine passport registration process but…

‘We owe the Stollery so much’

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By Jennifer Henderson, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter On Sunday Aug. 29, young Alberta entrepreneurs served up cool glasses of lemonade for a good cause, raising funds for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. For Kisti-Lee German and her family, the day was personal. After spending months in this hospital with her micro-preemie, German found out about Lemonade Stand Day and knew she had to…

Empty Bowls returns after COVID-19 hiatus as food bank sees demand rising

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By Scott McLean, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Wood Buffalo Food Bank is hosting Empty Bowls, its first in-person fundraiser, on Sunday after the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled some of the organization’s fundraisers and pushed others online. The annual event will be held at the Fort McMurray Heritage Shipyard. The annual event serves food to people with custom bowls made by the Fort…

Prince Albert one of three communities to test autoflagger device

[email protected]2 weeks ago

By Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The death of Ashley Richards in 2012 as she was working the first day of her job as a flagger in a construction zone inspired a couple from Watrous to help make the job safer. Kim and Donna Kreutzer decided to create the Guardian Angel Autoflagger, a device that allows the flag person to operate…

Portage Bear Clan steps up after closure of homeless shelter

[email protected]2 weeks ago

By Dave Baxter, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Manon Timshel believes that no matter what anyone’s personal or financial situation is, every person has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, and every person has the right to be clean and to be safe. “Everyone deserves safety and cleanliness, and in a society like this, there is no reason that all…

Stettler County coping with one of worst farm seasons in 60 years

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By Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Stettler County council declared an agricultural disaster in the municipality after hearing a stark, sobering report on regional farming conditions at their regular meeting Aug. 11. Director of Municipal Services Andrew Brysiuk submitted councillors a report from Quentin Beaumont, director of agricultural operations, that illustrated perfectly the summer of 2021: very hot and very dry…

Fort Nelson fire hall family keeping strong

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By Tom Summer, Local Journalism Initiative The Northern Rockies Fire Department has had a quiet season this summer, but continues to keep busy training and serving the community. Deputy Fire Chief Hayward Sheppard says two challenges when it comes to firefighting are the small community and the amount of area the department covers. “You’re always working with a small group, and you…

No On-Reserve Voting For October Referenda, Senate Election in Alberta

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By Jeremy Appel, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter (ANNews) – Indigenous people won’t be able to vote on reserve in the upcoming plebiscites and senate elections happening the same day as municipal elections on Oct. 18, Alberta Municipal Affairs has confirmed. Plebiscite questions include whether Alberta should adopt Daylight Savings Time for the entire year, and whether Albertans support removing Constitutionally-enshrined equalization payments…

Slow down, council pleads

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Richard FroeseSouth Peace News People who drive off-highway vehicles and other vehicles in unsafe ways are again advised by Big Lakes County council to be responsible. At its regular meeting Aug. 11, council accepted suggestions from an Enilda resident at a previous meeting for information. “Council continues to prioritize public education and include traffic enforcement in our annual priority list to…

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