Government alerted to no sexually graphic material so far in rural school libraries

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter No examples of potentially age-inappropriate content from Alberta’s rural school libraries had landed on the education minister’s desk by Tuesday morning. During a roundtable with about 20 reporters and other rural media representatives, Demetrios Nicolaides confirmed that the examples of graphic content the government was alerted to originated from four books in Edmonton and … Read more

Voters must register for 2025 Municipal Election

By Lacie Nairn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Residents interested in exercising their voting rights during the 2025 municipal elections will need to ensure that they are registered to vote in the upcoming municipal election before September 15, 2025.  This is the first municipal election cycle where voters will need to register to vote following changes made by the Municipal Affairs Statutes … Read more

Bigstone chief part of United Treaty Movement

By Pearl Lorentzen, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The United Treaty Movement is “an ongoing process of chiefs trying to coordinate and be heard,” says Bigstone Cree Nation Chief Andy Alook, “because we are not being heard.” The chiefs are from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. They’re hoping to “affect positive change,” says Alook. On May 26 and 27, the group held a … Read more

Alberta government PR branch moved under premier’s office

By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta’s government has quietly transferred responsibility for its communications wing to the premier’s office, greatly expanding the size and budget of the province’s executive council. An April 29 Order in Council shifted responsibility for the province’s Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) department from Treasury Board and Finance to Executive Council, meaning Premier Danielle Smith is now … Read more

Grant applications accepted now for projects targeting family violence — especially among populations at elevated risk

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Groups helping Albertans in rural and remote areas deal with family violence have until June 24 to seek a share of $6 million in project funding. Designed to address family violence through projects informed by evidence and trauma, the grant program targets prevention, the rebuilding of lives, and early and crisis intervention. Along with … Read more

Innovative public infrastructure — it’s not just a big city thing, minister says

By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter When it comes to Alberta’s most innovative public infrastructure, the good stuff always gets built in the province’s two major cities. True or false? True, one extremely limited sample suggests. Afterall, last year’s four winners of the inaugural Minister’s Infrastructure Awards were evenly divided between Edmonton and Calgary. False, says Martin Long, Alberta’s minister … Read more

UCP ‘disasters and fires’ fail Albertans with disabilities, NDP maintains

Published June 16, 2025 By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Economic hardship, anger and untenably long waitlists have taken root in Alberta because of UCP mismanagement of the disability file, an opposition critic charged recently. Marie Renaud added that issues harming Albertans with disabilities extend beyond a lack of accessibility legislation. But the government needs to act on that too, … Read more