By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Alberta’s rural heartland will continue to inform the UCP agenda in 2025, Premier Danielle Smith said in a yearend interview aimed at audiences beyond Calgary and Edmonton. Health care, public safety and housing for seniors are among the issues that small-town, small-city and countryside Alberta can expect continued progress on, she told The Macleod Gazette. … Read more…
By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A barely touched hamburger and fries at his side, Naheed Nenshi had completed six yearend interviews back-to-back at the Citadel Theatre in downtown Edmonton. It was the day after the final 2024 sitting of the Alberta legislature, and thieves had smashed through a window to get into his car. But his staff had accomplished … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter From victim services to hockey rinks to libraries to municipal committees, volunteers keep many organizations and services in rural Alberta up and running. Plummeting numbers of volunteers, however, have led to a crisis that threatens the sustainability of rural communities. Volunteer rates are declining across Canada. According to a report from Volunteer Canada, 65 … Read more…
By Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter The Government of Alberta says it has an obligation to some coal companies to allow open-pit mining despite the practice being banned under the province’s new coal policy, but these “contractual relationships” aren’t quite formal contracts. When Energy and Minerals Minister Brian Jean announced details of the province’s coal industry “modernization” initiative on Dec. … Read more…
By Mickey Dumont Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A Town of Claresholm draft operating and capital budget for 2025 proposes a 6.045 percent tax increase.“This is an interim budget to allow the town to continue to operate into the new year,” said Jennifer Place, town director of corporate services, in introducing the financial document at the Dec. 9, town council meeting.“The … Read more…
By Mickey Dumont Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Chief Kelly Starling’s career to date has seen him fill a lot of big shoes and boots when necessary.In his younger days he was putting out fires around High River, to lighting fires on the bench of Claresholm high school football players. Now, in February 2025, Starling is again to polish his shoes … Read more…