By Mickey Dumont While not yet wreaking havoc and destruction in the MD of Willow Creek, its animal control by-law is being updated so a plan is in place to deal with wild boars (feral pigs) should they migrate into the municipal district.Chief administrative officer Derrick Krizsan told the agricultural service board (ASB) at its Sept. 25 meeting, “We should … Read more…
Amid rising temperatures and high levels of wildfire activity, Health Canada is reminding people living in Alberta about the health risks that come with exposure to fire, smoke and extreme heat. Wildfire smoke can travel thousands of kilometers from a fire zone and is a major source of harmful air pollutants. There is no safe level of exposure for most … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter RCMP from across Alberta are being pulled into the Jasper region to help with the ongoing disaster response. Officers started arriving on July 22 when out-of-control wildfires pushed dangerously close to the town, helping direct traffic as 25,000 residents and tourists fled the area, and conducting door-to-door checks for people left behind. Now the … Read more…
By Jessica Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A lot has changed in Alberta’s parks over the last 10-plus years. The province’s population has grown over 30 per cent from 2009 to 2024, and with that visitation has increased, creating growing pressures on the landscape. It was 2009 when the first iteration of Alberta’s Plan for Parks was released as a 10-year … Read more…
By Mia Parker, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta Hiking Association has received a $98,000 provincial grant to improve trails in the Crowsnest Pass area. This includes facilitating the recruitment and training of volunteers to help with the project. Jenice Smith, an Alberta Hiking Association contractor, has been brought on as the volunteer co-ordinator using these funds, and looks forward to the … Read more…
By Justin Sibbet, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Pronghorns are a staple of southern Alberta, yet the animal faces significant migration challenges every year in the region. T.J. Schwanky, wildlife projects facilitator with the Alberta Wildlife Federation, says fencing designed to keep cattle and other animals in, also doubles as a barrier to pronghorns. “The pronghorn much prefer to crawl under fences … Read more…
By Justin Sibbet, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A crack, a bang and a burst. Thousands of litres of water flowed freely from a pipe in the U.S. to the Alberta side of the international border. Following the major break at the St. Mary River Siphon near Babb, Montana, on Monday, water that would normally have been diverted to the American portion … Read more…