Sign In Register once proud Conservative supporter Peter Guthrie is a hero The Cochrane Art Club held its Arts Show and Sale at the Cochrane RancheHouse on May 3 and 4.   More SPOTLIGHT > The annual Cochrane and District Chamber of Commerce Trade Show brought hundreds of vendors and local businesses together at the SLS Centre on May 3 and May 4 Rocky View County is moving forward with multiple proposed data centre projects that are looking to set up shop within the county Council voted to direct Administration to work with data centre proponents on drafting wholly developer-funded area structure plans They also unanimously approved the co-creation of a new standard land use district to be incorporated within the County’s Land Use Bylaw and to proceed with an expedited planning process A data centre is a physical facility akin to a warehouse made the case by noting global demand for data processing infrastructure is creating an emerging economic development opportunity for Alberta and RVC "Several potential investors have approached the County with proposals for the development of large data centres outside of existing area structure plans (ASPs) in locations with the necessary infrastructure to support these facilities," Manshanden said.  The Government of Alberta’s AI Data Centre Strategy has set a target of attracting $100 billion in data centre investment opportunities in the province over the next five years the limited time horizon for final investment decisions and proposed two to three-year timelines to be operational warranted consideration of an expedited process for RVC council Council was first introduced to data centres at an early March meeting There are currently four proponents seeking support to develop sites within the County Beacon AI is currently preparing an area structure plan to be presented for adoption at a public hearing in June.  Administration proposed that the County proceed with these discrete data centre projects and then use the lessons learned from the process to develop a long-term strategy to capture future investment opportunities Each project will be located adjacent to necessary energy infrastructure which may include high-voltage electricity transmission lines Their locations are typically not located within existing area structure plans and on land generally designated as Agriculture General two will be located near the Balzac Industrial Park Each project proponent is considering investments ranging from $1 billion to over $10 billion in the long-term with the creation of roughly 300 well-paying jobs at each facility.  TORONTO — Scott Laughton was probably still feeling it. The Maple Leafs forward blocked a shot in the dying moments of Toronto's Game 6 victory over the Ottawa Senators to clinch a spot in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The puck off Jack Sanderson's stick appeared to get him somewhere on his right arm. William Nylander had given Toronto a 2-0 lead in the second period before Ottawa pushed back to eventually even the score in the third. Max Pacioretty then buried the winner for the Leafs a few minutes later. Laughton, however, was singled out by captain Auston Matthews in the locker room celebration after that shot block led to Nylander's second goal into an empty net to seal a 4-2 final. "Very grateful for you guys," Laughton said on a team-produced video that included deleted expletives. "Let's keep this thing going." Acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers at the NHL's March trade deadline, Laughton took awhile to get going in Toronto. But the gritty centre from nearby Oakville, Ont., is showing why general manager Brad Treliving brought him in as the club turns its attention to the Florida Panthers. "I feel super fortunate," Laughton said ahead of Game 1 against the defending Stanley Cup champions at Scotiabank Arena. "Coming home, and to come to a team like this, to have a chance at this point my career … being in this market brings out the best in you. His homecoming, however, didn't get off to the best start. The 30-year-old Laughton, who isn't necessarily counted on for scoring, had one goal and one assist through 18 games for the team he supported growing up. Life off the ice was hectic. There were a lot of people from his past coming out of the woodwork — he also looked far from a finished product some nights trying to grasp a new system — before the 20th overall pick in 2012 finally steadied himself down the stretch on Toronto's fourth line between Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok. "A guy that knows his role," Matthews said. "Not trying to be somebody he's not." The six-foot-one, 191-pound Laughton, also a key member of a penalty kill that held Ottawa to three power-play goals, said "getting out of my own head" was key in solidifying the transition. "I was overthinking everything," he said after almost 13 years with the Flyers. "(Lorentz and Jarnkrok) have helped me in just going out and playing simple and getting to our role right away." Leafs centre John Tavares said Laughton, signed through next season with a salary cap hit of US$3 million, is too good to struggle for long stretches. "The comfort level sets in and your role and identity within the team comes to fruition," said the fellow Oakville product. "He's already become a big part of the room." Laughton spent his first month in Toronto at a hotel before wife Chloe and the couple's first child, a son named Reed born back in the fall, joined in him. A settled home life is something he also credits with getting comfortable. "It takes time sometimes with guys when you make trades," Leafs head coach Craig Berube said. "It doesn't happen overnight … he's definitely a big part of our success." Laughton played lacrosse growing up, including for a number of teams coached by the brother of Leafs president Brendan Shanahan. Laughton's mom recently dug up a picture of the pair when Shanahan, then an NHL forward, came to a practice or game. "Small world," said Laughton, who guessed the shot was roughly 25 years old. Now suiting up for another Shanahan with a much bigger prize at the end of the post-season marathon, he said getting recognized for his Game 6 shot block was a special moment. "We get contributions from all over the lineup," Laughton added of his most painful NHL assist. "We're going to need a lot more." "He's someone we brought over for this exact reason," Toronto goaltender Anthony Stolarz added. "The rest is history." Laughton attended a Battle of Ontario playoff game in the early 2000s with his dad. They couldn't recall the exact year, but the memories are there. He's now making new ones on the other side of the glass. There's also still pinch-yourself element Laughton hasn't quite been able to shake. "You drive into the rink here," he said. "It's a weird feeling to come home and you've got family around. It's really cool." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 5, 2025. but city inspection finds some residents still not complying Residents of Cochrane Pond Park are hoping that one more weekend clean up will be enough to restore the park to its former glory John’s ordered the park’s residents to vacate the premises as a result of serious life safety and fire concerns that pose risks for residents and visitors On the weekend of April 26 and April 27 park residents teamed up and sprung into action bringing in dumpsters to clean up debris and doing their part to widen roadways to make vehicular travel safer for drivers and pedestrians Subscribe now to access this story and more: Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience Long-time park resident Sandy Jackman says visible progress was made in that weekend’s park clean up and hopes that another community-wide clean up effort this weekend will rid the park of the remaining debris and abandoned trailers every one participated,” Jackman told The Telegram went around to cut grass and cleaned up sites that grew in most of them are gone and (we) are working on the burnt trailer this weekend.” Jackman says that the photos that have been circulating of some of the park’s derelict trailers and crumbling structures do not represent the majority of respectful community members who inhabit the park “Why do the media go and take photos of the major sites that have been destroyed from carelessness “There are much more good ones there than the ones who destroyed their site It’s been very stressful but we do not mind whatsoever We as community are working very hard to clean up the park We as campers are aware and doing everything that we can to get our park deemed safe and open again.” Jackman maintains it’s still a safe place to kick back and relax with friends and family A lot of the people who camp there are 50-plus and some have medical issues We can go visit our friends and come home and not worry.” Jackman estimates there are three park sites that still require significant cleanup efforts but with so much work having been accomplished last weekend she is hopeful that those involved with the site’s rectification efforts will be able to focus in and make quick work of the remaining sites “There are only three major sites that needed massive cleanup,” Jackman said “We are working on them this weekend because we got everything else done.” John’s issued a statement this week indicating that a recent inspection indicated there are still residents in the park refusing to comply with the order to vacate While it was confirmed that the city will not be taking action to remove non-compliant individuals from the park it was noted that further refusal to comply may result in charges being laid against the occupant or the park licensee when the park was temporarily closed for similar safety-related reasons she says there have been no incidents aside from the recent incidents we have never had any issues,” Jackman said “The only concern we have is the squatters who make themselves comfortable in the park during the winter months because of the housing crisis in the city Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page The British Virgin Islands is an explorer's dream with more than 60 isles and cays to discover Expert-backed tips and a step-by-step breakdown to ward off these pests We tried it: Filtrete Smart Tower and the Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09 transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump is opening a new salvo in his tariff war In a post Sunday night on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he has authorized the Department of Commerce and the Office of the U.S Trade Representative to slap a 100% tariff “on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands.” “The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death," he wrote complaining that other countries “are offering all sorts of incentives to draw" filmmakers and studios away from the U.S "This is a concerted effort by other Nations and It wasn’t immediately clear how any such tariff on international productions could be implemented It’s common for both large and smaller films to include production both in the U.S Big-budget movies like the upcoming “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," for instance Incentive programs for years have influenced where movies are shot increasingly driving film production out of California and to other states and countries with favorable tax incentives Yet tariffs are designed to lead consumers toward American products American-produced movies overwhelming dominate the domestic marketplace China has ramped up its domestic movie production culminating in the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” grossing more than $2 billion this year its sales came almost entirely from mainland China The Motion Picture Association didn’t immediately respond to messages Sunday evening The MPA’s data shows how much Hollywood exports have dominated cinemas the American movies produced $22.6 billion in exports and $15.3 billion in trade surplus in 2023 Trump has made good on the “tariff man" label he gave himself years ago slapping new taxes on goods made in countries around the globe That includes a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% baseline tariff on goods from other countries Trump has exerted extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions set to be subject to new tariffs in the weeks ahead Trump has long voiced concern about movie production moving overseas Shortly before he took office, he announced that he had tapped actors Mel Gibson Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone to serve as “special ambassadors" to Hollywood to bring it "BACK—BIGGER U.S. film and television production has been hampered in recent years, with setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hollywood guild strikes of 2023 and the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area The group's annual survey of executives, which asked about preferred filming locations, found no location in the U.S. made the top five, according to the Hollywood Reporter Central Europe and Australia came out on top The problem is especially acute in California. In the greater Los Angeles area, production last year was down 5.6% from 2023 according to FilmLA Gavin Newsom proposed expanding California’s Film & Television Tax Credit program to $750 million annually Chicago and San Francisco have also used aggressive tax incentives to lure film and TV productions Those programs can take the form of cash grants “Other nations have been stealing the movie-making capabilities from the United States,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Sunday night after returning from a weekend in Florida “If they’re not willing to make a movie inside the United States we should have a tariff on movies that come in." Associated Press writer Gary Field contributed to this report from Washington TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel approved plans Monday to seize the Gaza Strip and to stay in the Palestinian territory for an unspecified amount of time, two Israeli officials said, a move that, if implemented, would vastly expand Israel’s operations there and likely draw fierce international opposition which was approved in an early morning vote by Israeli Cabinet ministers also calls for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to move to Gaza’s south That would likely amount to their forcible displacement and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis Details of the plan were not formally announced and its exact timing and implementation were not clear Its approval came hours after the Israeli military chief said the army was calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers The plan may be another measure by Israel to try to pressure Hamas into making concessions in ceasefire negotiations said the new plan would not begin until after U.S President Donald Trump wraps up his expected visit to the Middle East this month allowing for the possibility that Israel might agree to a ceasefire in the meantime All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing military plans setting off what is believed to the be the worst humanitarian crisis in nearly 19 months of war The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages Israel’s offensive has displaced more than 90% of Gaza’s population and The officials do not distinguish between combatants and civilians in their count The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said Monday that the bodies of 33 people killed by Israeli strikes have been brought to hospitals over the past 24 hours The Israeli military offered no immediate comment on the strikes Israel is trying to ratchet up pressure on Hamas The Israeli officials said the plan approved to the included the “capturing of the strip and the holding of territories.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that the cabinet had decided on a “powerful operation in Gaza," including “a movement of the population to protect it.” The plan would also seek to prevent Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid a role that Israel says strengthens the group's rule in Gaza It also accuses Hamas of keeping the aid for itself Aid workers deny there is a significant diversion of aid to militants The officials said Israel was in touch with several countries about Trump's plan to take over Gaza and relocate its population under what Israel has termed “voluntary emigration." That proposal has drawn widespread condemnation and rights groups have warned it could be a war crime under international law Israel has been trying to ratchet up pressure on Hamas to get the group to agree to its terms in ceasefire negotiations But the measures do not appear to have moved Hamas away from its negotiating positions The previous ceasefire was meant to lead the sides to negotiate an end to the war Israel says it will not agree to end the war until Hamas' governing and military capabilities are dismantled has sought an agreement that winds down the war without agreeing to disarm Israel's expansion announcement angered families of hostages who fear that any extension of the conflict endangers their loved ones urged Israel's decision-makers to prioritize the hostages and secure a deal quickly called on soldiers “not to report for reserve duty for moral and ethical reasons." Some reservists have indicated they will refuse to serve in a war they increasingly view as politically motivated Israel wants to prevent Hamas from handling aid The defense official said the plan would “separate” Hamas from the aid by using private firms and by using specified areas secured by the Israeli military The official added that Palestinians would be screened to prevent Hamas from accessing the aid According to a memo circulated among aid groups and seen by The Associated Press, Israel told the United Nations that it will use private security companies to control aid distribution in Gaza said it would not participate in the plan as presented The memo summarized a meeting between the Israeli defense body in charge of coordinating aid to Gaza It was written by a group briefed on the meeting and sent Sunday to aid organizations all aid will enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing Some 500 trucks entered Gaza every day before the war The memo said that facial-recognition technology will be used to identify Palestinians at logistics hubs and text message alerts will notify people in the area that they can collect aid COGAT did not immediately respond to a request for comment The UN accuses Israel of wanting to control aid as a ‘pressure tactic’ After Israel said it was going to assert more control over aid distribution in Gaza Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs sent an email to aid groups urging them to reject any “draconian restrictions on humanitarian work." which OCHA sent Monday to aid groups and was shared with the AP further stated that there are mechanisms in place to ensure aid is not diverted OCHA said in a statement that the plan would leave large parts of the population It said the plan “appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic — as part of a military strategy.” Aid groups have said they are opposed to using any armed or uniformed personnel to distribute aid that could potentially intimidate Palestinians or put them at risk Hamas decried Israel’s efforts to control distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza as a violation of international law the militant group said the effort is “an extension of the starvation policy” adopted by the Israeli government in Gaza Associated Press reporters Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah and Josef Federman contributed to this report Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war The Cochrane Tourism Association (Explore Cochrane) has announced Sebastien Leskow as its new board president “Sebastien is committed to working closely with the Cochrane Tourism Association board and community partners to align tourism growth with municipal and regional plans,” the association said in a news release “His vision focuses on building a strong sustainable tourism industry that supports the local economy while enhancing the quality of life for residents.” Leskow has lived in Cochrane for the past 10 years serving as general manager of the Canalta Hotel He brings over 12 years of hospitality experience across southern Alberta and a deep passion for tourism “I believe tourism can be a powerful driver for Cochrane—not just for visitors but for our local businesses and residents as well,” he said “Growing tourism sustainably means more recreation facilities and activities that benefit everyone who calls Cochrane home.” Leskow steps into the role at a time of increased interest in local experiences and rising provincial tourism growth He joins vice-president Valerie McCracken and treasurer Bree Floyd to form a refreshed executive team for 2025 The new president is committed align tourism growth with municipal and regional plans The association’s mission of building a strong sustainable tourism industry that supports the local economy while enhancing the quality of life for residents will be his focus “We have something truly special here in Cochrane,” Leskow said “I’m excited to help showcase it to the world in a way that preserves what makes it great while creating new opportunities for all of us.” For more on Cochrane’s alignment with Alberta’s growing tourism sector, see the related article: Cochrane aligns with Alberta's booming tourism growth The premiers of Canada's three territories say the country's push to remove internal trade barriers needs to consider the unique economic situation of the North. Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai, Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson and Nunavut Premier P.J. Akeeagok say they will be exploring the creation of a "territorial trade zone" that would make sure modern treaties with Indigenous people and the needs of the territories are recognized as trade barriers come down. The premiers met this weekend in Yukon for their annual Northern Premiers’ Forum. Pillai told reporters at a joint press conference Sunday that the territories are willing, where possible, to remove trade barriers but any conversations have to consider agreements that are in place with northern Indigenous governments. Newly-elected Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised a plan to eliminate trade barriers between provinces and territories by Canada Day. Pillai said that is a tight timeline for the North. "We want to be at that table moving toward July 2, but in that short time frame, we (need to) have a lot of discussions, and there's some very significant, legally binding, constitutionally anchored agreements that we also have to have a look at," he said. "I think it gives us an opportunity to be willing partners at the table, but it also gives us a chance to educate our other colleagues about what's unique here," he said. Akeeagok said the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement has enshrined articles that give Inuit the right of first refusal on procurement and require consultation for any legislative change. "We are very open in terms of breaking down the barriers, streamlining a lot of these processes, among other things," he said. "But it requires us to be able to sit down with them and just talk and to be able to have a meaningful consultation with them." Pillai said significant projects in the North already often require companies from large nearby provinces to be completed, which allows those companies to reap the benefits. "If you're going to have us start to remove these opportunities for Northern companies, how are you going to, as well support the three territories in helping to grow this economy?" he said. Simpson says even if the territories hold on to some of their exemptions under the Canada Free Trade Agreement, reducing any barriers to doing business will benefit the North and the rest of Canada. "I'm very hopeful about the work that's happening, and I'm confident that we're going to see the benefits of it," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 4, 2025 Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account A multi-month investigation by Calgary police has resulted in a large seizure of drugs and weapons Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience investigators from Calgary received a tip from the York Regional Police Services in Ontario about a Calgary-based drug dealer officers were able to identify a suspect and see drug trafficking activity police conducted a traffic stop in Crescent Heights and one man was taken into custody without incident A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 22 grams of fentanyl 18 grams of crack cocaine and two cell phones Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A search of an apartment located in the 100 block of Second Ave. S.W. resulted in the seizure of a Taser and a search of a flat in Cochrane resulted in a large seizure of the following items: Jacob Seal, 29, of Cochrane, is charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited device, and one count each of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm with ammunition and unauthorized possession of a firearm. Seal is expected to appear in court Monday. “The seizure of these drugs and firearms undoubtedly prevented significant harm to our community,” says Acting Staff Sgt. Jake Debolt of the CPS District 4 General Investigations Unit. “We remain committed to collaborating with all of our law enforcement partners to protect Calgarians from the devastating impacts of drug trafficking and the associated violence.” Anyone with information related to suspected drug trafficking activity occurring in Calgary is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account led by one of the Cochrane area’s finest ringette players claiming gold at this year’s national Ringette Championships.  a Water Valley born and Cochrane raised ringette product captained the Canadian National Championship winning 19AA Zone 2 Blaze to a resounding victory at this month's 2025 Canadian Ringette Championships in Ottawa.   the Blaze trounced their tournament competition winning all eight games they played en route to a dispatch of the Quebec Cyclones by a score of six to two in the championship game.  then beat Team New Brunswick in the quarter final and Rive-Sud from Quebec in the semi’s setting up a finals matchup against the Cyclones.  who won the Athlete of the Game award for the championship final said it felt great to win her sport's highest competition “We had a really talented team this year and at nationals we decided we had something to prove.”  Pighin said the feeling of winning the championship was unlike any other she’s had during her time playing ringette “It was really a reward for all the hard work but for our entire careers,” she said.  As the team captain, Pighin’s responsibilities did not stop with her play on the ice the leader of the Blaze said the hardest part of the whole tournament was not the physical grind of playing game after game or the mental strain that competing for a national championship puts on any athlete it was trying to manage the balance of emotions contending within each of her teammates.  “The biggest part was getting through to Wednesday staying together as a team,” she said “Keeping the emotions positive [on the bench] keeping the girls out of the negative…just keeping it together emotionally on the bench is one of the harder things to do.” With Pighin’s Blaze career coming to end with a golden finish The captain is completing her first year as a business student at the University of Calgary but she’s hoping to continue her ringette playing days on the Rocky Mountain Rage a National Ringette League (NRL) team that will begin its inaugural season later this year.  The NRL is Canada’s highest level of ringette which are expected to announce its coaching staff will operate out of Cochrane and will hold tryouts at the end of August.   Pighin said getting an opportunity to play for her hometown team in Canada’s premier ringette league would mean a lot to her.  “I grew up in Cochrane,” Pighin said “I feel like [making that team] would be a big 360 moment [for] what that support did for me and where it got me.” and the Town of Cochrane is helping to put on a lineup of free events and activities designed to promote mental well-being and strengthen community connections Organized by Cochrane Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) in collaboration with numerous local partners this year’s Mental Health Week is being dedicated to breaking down stigma and equipping residents with tools to support their mental health “Mental Health Week is a powerful opportunity to come together and support one another’s well-being,” said Kim Krawec in a statement on the Town of Cochrane’s website we’re offering impactful programs and resources that help Cochranites prioritize mental health not just for one week in partnership with the Cochrane Rotary Club is launching the “Pathway to Mental Health” initiative key Cochrane pathways will feature mental wellness tips encouraging residents to engage in self-care while enjoying the outdoors Part of the national campaign led by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Mental Health Week serves “as a vital reminder that mental well-being is just as important as physical health.” The Town of Cochrane stated that it is “stepping up with an interactive and inclusive series of events ensuring there is something for everyone.” This year’s lineup of events features a diverse mix of activities The Town is giving a special highlight to an original theatre production written highlighting the power of storytelling in mental health awareness “And there is even more in store throughout the week!” The Town stated on its website.  For the full schedule of events and more information, visit the Town of Cochrane’s website Since he was a child Cochrane resident and amateur astronomer Abdur Anwar has been fascinated by looking up at the night sky but what Anwar wants to draw Cochranites' attention to at the moment is the fascinating cosmic show going on in the daytime sky The sun is currently in its solar maximum period can now look up through special solar filters and see a wide array of dramatic activity from sunspots to solar flares and other prominences dancing waves across the sun’s surface but I've met quite a few astronomers here,” said Anwar; “people who are interested in both the night sky and the sun and moon So that's why I thought the current solar activity might be of interest to some residents here.” The sun has an 11-year cycle with the low point called solar minimum This has led to intense auroras Cochranites have been observing for the last several months now I ended up also becoming interested in our sun because the things that happen on the sun on a daily basis affect things on Earth as well,” he explained then a few days later we end up with Northern Lights on Earth and also just the 11-year cycle of the sun where we see the Northern Lights and just sunspots in general just grow or diminish over that 11-year cycle It was always really fascinating to me.” Earth experienced a significant solar storm in May last year around Mother’s Day the event tripped off beautiful auroras all across the globe While Gannon did not mirror the infamous Carrington event in intensity another Carrington-like event is a possibility and if something like that hit the Earth now it would wreak absolute havoc on our satellite networks and possibly even our electrical grids “We're not quite as prepared for this as we probably should be,” stated Anwar it's one of those events that rarely happens We normally don't get events that big that might affect us significantly on Earth or knockout part of the power grid most of the time the worst of it is that you know a couple of satellites fall out of the sky …  because all that extra energy coming from the sun ends up causing the Earth's atmosphere to swell So then they end up just de-orbiting.” The potential for such incidents is one reason to continuously observe the sun is because the surface of the sun is amazing and beautiful and can be viewed with relatively little equipment “You don't need complicated or expensive equipment to be able to view the sun,” he said “A simple safe solar filter might cost about $50 you can still see a lot of the day-to-day activity going on in the sun in terms of sunspots because they're changing almost everyday with new ones coming up Anwar uses a regular achromatic reflecting telescope with a Day Star Quark solar filter attached to a planetary camera so he can capture vivid real time images of the sun; however it can be much simpler for the more casual observer “You can even just get a pair of solar glasses for probably $5 to $10 and that'll allow you to keep track of some of the larger sunspot groups that show up every couple of weeks right now … Some of them are big enough that you don't need any magnification to see it.” by using a regular telescope with some kind of stick and paper attachment in front of the eyepiece to project an indirect image of the sun for casual viewing Anwar stresses the importance of not looking at the sun directly without the proper filter to avoid damaging your eyes don't look at the sun through anything that doesn't have a solar filter because that can be quite dangerous,” he said “But you can find different strategies online for how to look at the sun through any kind of equipment.” For more information on solar viewing, and other astronomy tips, Anwar also suggests visiting the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) website at www.rasc.ca STONEY NAKODA FIRST NATION – A police chase ended in charges for a man accused of pointing a long gun at another man while driving in a stolen truck on Stoney Nakoda First Nation on Wednesday night (April 30) an investigator and public information officer with Cochrane RCMP said Cochrane RCMP officers immediately responded with assistance from the Calgary Police HAWKS helicopter and RCMP Police Dog Services and quickly tracked down the whereabouts of the truck “The suspect driver drove head-on towards an officer forcing the officer to swerve into the ditch to avoid contact,” she said the officer deployed a tire deflation device successfully puncturing three of the suspect vehicle’s tires The vehicle came to a stop where the driver immediately fled into the woods.” Police officers quickly arrested two passengers in the vehicle “With coordinated efforts from the police helicopter and police dog services the driver who fled the truck was quickly located and arrested without incident,” said Sauve “A search of the vehicle yielded a rifle including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle; careless use of a firearm; possession of a firearm for dangerous purpose; possession of a prohibited weapon; possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose; possession of property obtained by crime; breach of release order; possession of a controlled substance; and unlawfully drive a motor vehicle uninsured and suspended who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act was also arrested and held for a judicial interim release hearing The youth was charged with a total of 11 offences with some including possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose possession of a prohibited weapon and obstruction The youth was released on conditions and will appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane later in May Cochrane RCMP encourage the public to report any criminal or suspicious activity to police and where to patrol in the future,” said Sauve If you see a crime in progress, dial 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store More SPOTLIGHT > is Emergency Preparedness Week for the Town of Cochrane and the Town is calling on residents to take immediate and decisive action to protect themselves but preparedness is within our control,” the Town of Cochrane says on its website “Emergency preparedness goes beyond just the responsibility of the municipality; it’s a shared commitment When individuals take charge of their own readiness and better equipped to respond and recover in times of crisis Whether it be from severe weather events like wildfires to power outages or floods Cochrane has the potential to face some unique challenges The Town believes that understanding the risks is the first step in ensuring the safety of both individual households and the wider community.  residents can play a vital role in protecting themselves and Cochrane as a whole.,” the Town said in a statement on its website.  FireSmart practices are one of the critical components of Cochrane’s emergency preparedness strategy as wildfire season approaches creating defensible space around properties and using fire-resistant landscaping can “help to protect individual homes but also to safeguard the broader community.”  The Town says that “by reducing fire risks residents play a pivotal role in building a safer "While we can’t prevent natural disasters we can work together to reduce risks and minimize the impact on our homes Director of Community Services and Emergency Management for Cochrane in a statement on the Town’s website "Emergency preparedness week is a time for all of us to take action and ensure that we are as prepared as we can be for a disaster impacting our community." the Town of Cochrane will share emergency preparedness tips across social media and other communication channels reinforcing this year’s theme of “Be Prepared Know Your Risks.” The Town states that residents are encouraged to assess their own preparedness and take meaningful steps toward protecting themselves and their community Re-elected Airdrie-Cochrane Member of Parliament Blake Richards pulled no punches in a forceful speech to local Conservative Party supporters after the Liberal minority government was declared in the April 28 federal election Richards held his post-election event at Rival Axe Throwing in Airdrie the fight is not over," he declared, "and we are going to get another opportunity real soon and it going to get the change we need in this country Richards said while he was disappointed the Liberals seemed to have narrowly held on to power for now he felt change was going to come in Canada sooner rather than later you are always hoping for a majority government for your side but I think I will focus on the positives tonight because there is lots of time for us to look at the future," he stated "The positives tonight is we have added a substantial number of Conservatives into Parliament to fight on behalf of Canadians We have a government in the Liberals who have been disastrous for the country We all got to make sure to keep pulling hard on the rope so we can get this across the line whenever the next election comes We have to make the change this country needs." and all who voted to elect him decisively for another term "It's always an honour to represent your community and your fellow residents in our Parliament," he said "For people to give their confidence to me to be their representative Richards also expressed his strong support for Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre despite the latter's loss in his own seat in Carleton "Obviously this is someone who has contributed an incredible amount not only to the Conservative movement in this country but in his representation of his riding .. Meanwhile in Cochrane at The Canadian Brewhouse second place finisher and Liberal Party candidate Sean Secord reflected on his own campaign over the past eight weeks “It was a short election so there wasn’t a lot of time to get active I was only asked to run eight weeks ago," he said "A lot of the time was spent scrambling to get a team together and campaigning but in that short time I have met a lot of amazing people We had so many good volunteers come out and I think we were able to represent the Liberal party and able to get my name out as a good candidate for this riding I feel really good about the people that I’ve connected with There are a lot of Liberals in this riding that repeatedly said they need someone to vote for and get behind I’m happy that I’ve stepped forward and I’m very happy for this experience.” Secord gave credit to the Liberals' well-thought out platform and the transformative presence of Mark Carney as party leader during the campaign Mark Carney showed that although he wasn’t a career politician he stood up with the right attributes at the right time to be the leader that we need for the situations that we’re dealing with at the moment," Secord said the Conservative Party and Richards garnered just over 71 per cent of the vote in Airdrie-Cochrane with the Liberals placing second with just over 23 per cent of the vote The NDP's Sarah Zagoda received 3.6 per cent of the vote trending fairly closely to overall national vote of the NDP as a whole The Libertarian candidate David Sabine received 0.9 per cent of the vote and Christian Heritage Party candidate Christopher Bell rounded out the vote with a 0.5 per cent showing A total of 69,621 votes were cast in Airdrie-Cochrane The whirlwind federal election has come and gone leaving more questions than answers the Liberals pulled off a miracle in retaking government it is going to be difficult for Prime Minister elect Mark Carney to come up with a new deal for Canadians that all regions can accept It also leaves him in a weaker position when it comes to Donald Trump and the impending renegotiation of the USMCA free trade agreement The NDP were essentially gutted in this election with their seat total being reduced to single digits in Parliament as well as now being leaderless after the resignation of Jagmeet Singh but by a strange quirk of fate the party might still be in a position to offer the Liberals a deal to hold onto the balance of power– likely with some sort of affordable housing agreement the party with probably the most regrets in this election is the Conservative Party the party picked up more seats and expanded its popular support across the country when compared to last election; however it still has to taste the ashes of defeat after poll numbers once seemed so promising the party’s leader Pierre Poilievre failed to hold on to his own seat in Carleton.  As Poilievre searches for potentially a new seat to run in the new Carney Liberal government will likely have some breathing room for the next few months the NDP will be in no hurry to see the Liberals fail for the next year or so while they search for a new party leader and even the lesser ones like the Greens and People’s Party this election can probably be viewed as the “no winners election,” reflecting the polarizing times and Canadians’ frustration with the national political process as a whole.   Northern OntarioNewsLoaded firearm, $200K in drugs seized in CochraneBy Dan BertrandPublished: April 28, 2025 at 2:11PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved More than $150,000 worth of fentanyl and five guns have been seized from an apartment in Cochrane Police say an investigation started in January after local authorities got a tip from the York Regional Police in Ontario about a drug trafficker in Calgary Officers investigated the suspect over a three month period and observed activity consistent with drug trafficking Calgary police pulled over a vehicle in Crescent Heights and subsequently found 22 grams of fentanyl Officers then searched an apartment on 2 Avenue SW where they found a taser An apartment on 1 Avenue E in Cochrane was also searched as part of the investigation with a 3D-printed receiver and a Glock slide which had been reported as lost in Ontario “The seizure of these drugs and firearms undoubtedly prevented significant harm to our community,” said Acting Staff Sgt Jake Debolt of the CPS District 4 General Investigations Unit “We remain committed to collaborating with all of our law enforcement partners to protect Calgarians from the devastating impacts of drug trafficking and the associated violence.” Twenty-nine-year-old Jacob Seal of Cochrane is now charged with two counts each of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited device and one count each of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm with ammunition and unauthorized possession of a firearm He was scheduled to appear in court on Monday Anyone with information related to suspected drug trafficking activity in Calgary is asked to call the police non-emergency line at 403-266-1234 or submit a tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers As cases of measles in Alberta rise to numbers not seen in decades the province is out with a new advertising campaign and increasing vaccine-positive messaging Premier Danielle Smith says she will address Albertans Monday on a "path forward with the federal government" after a meeting with her caucus On the same day as the Alberta Rally for Independence Alberta Premier Danielle Smith appeared on her radio show is facing numerous charges after fleeing a traffic stop and crashing into a house in Calgary’s Radisson area late Friday night were called to the scene near the Woodland Close and Lochend Road intersection The annual Calgary Bike Swap filled downtown Calgary with bike buzz on Saturday A fire in Calgary’s Ramsay area significantly damaged one home and spread to a neighboring house listen to NewsRadio Calgary live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Calgary anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices CANMORE – Canmore Minor Hockey Association (CMHA) says it will focus on “offering high-quality affordable development programs” as top-level minor hockey sets up shop closer than ever it has been announced that three new AAA teams are coming to Cochrane over the next two seasons which the Canmore and Banff leagues currently do not offer Bow Valley athletes can try out for AAA teams in Cochrane which is approximately 75 kilometres east of Canmore “We recognize that elite hockey opportunities are expanding which is great for the sport,” Michael Hay we understand these programs can be costly and that every child develops at their own pace Not every player needs to enter an elite pathway early on to succeed continued development within the community can be just as effective.” CMHA registration fees increased by 10 per cent – the first increase since 2018 – but the association’s fees remain 20-30 per cent below Calgary-area leagues such as Cochrane and Airdrie minor hockey associations In 2024-25 and using U11 rep registration as an example in Airdrie it’s $1,315 and in Cochrane it’s $1,625 Hay added that it remains committed to “supporting all players The new teams get on the ice in 2025-26, with the inaugural season of the U13 AAA Bow Valley Timberwolves in the Cochrane Minor Hockey Association, which will play in the newly established U13 division in the Alberta Elite Hockey League (AEHL) Then in 2026-27, the AEHL will continue expanding in Cochrane The AEHL is also adding a U18 team in Spruce Grove According to Cochrane Minor Hockey Association 13 players from Banff and Canmore participated in the Timberwolves U13 AAA spring ID camp on April 4 Canmore and the MD of Bighorn were registered in the Cochrane league CHMA had roughly 300 players registered Hay said they believe that they have some of the best resources in the province for players with elite or competitive aspirations small-group development and video analysis “We’re excited that players have more opportunities than ever to grow in the game Whether they choose to stay in Canmore or explore elite pathways elsewhere we hope they continue to use CMHA’s development resources to support their journey,” Hay said The latest expansion reflects an increasing demand for “elite-level programming,” said Hockey Alberta.  Associations selected for the expansion were evaluated by “readiness and the broader development pathway across the province.” president of Cochrane Minor Hockey Association said the AEHL expansion was “a major milestone for the association and community,” and he’s “incredibly proud that Cochrane and the Bow Valley draw zone” were approved for the AEHL expansion “It gives our athletes the opportunity to chase their hockey goals while staying closer to home It creates more choice in their development path and keeps the fun and connection in the game,” said Oaten including former Canmore Eagles forward Alex Young Rocky View Schools (RVS) is prioritizing accessible transportation while supporting families amid rising costs.  The regular transportation fee has been raised by $70 for Grades 1 to 12 in 2025-26 while maintaining family and early registration discounts—introducing a half-price rate for Kindergarten students and charging a full feel for students requiring access to a second stop. This way RVS says it can sustain service levels within budget and keep instructional funds focused on classroom.  The recommendation came from the Transportation Committee The regular transportation fees this year will be $395 per year which increased over the current rate of $325.  The early registration incentive is also recommended for families to look into considering it reduces last minute transportation registrations in September The partial payment provides an indication of the parent or guardian's commitment to have their children on the bus starting in fall.  because having the registrations done in advance makes organizing the routes much easier.  trustees discussed their commitment to ensuring students have a safe and accessible transportation while minimizing the impact of rising costs especially when it comes to transportation; however mounting costs require an increase in the fee to close the gab between government funding and the costs for providing the service.  "Given all the unknown variables where transportation were discussed for the 2024-25 budget year it was determined to leave fees at the same level and utilize reserves to fund the additional cost forecast for the current year," RVS Board of Trustees Chair Fiona Gilbert said.  The Alberta Transportation Grant for the 2025-26 year increased by 2.3 per cent compared to the previous year costs increase relates to contractor services which are anticipated to increase to reflect a few factors the consumer price index is slightly over two per cent for some of RVS contract bus service operators; for two of RVS' largest operators the increase for the 2024-25 school year was 25 per cent; and for the 2025-26 a scheduled increase of 12 per cent to effectively provide a 40 per cent increase over two years.  "This is a one time correction to bring them near the market rates and contracts will resume providing Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases for the 2026-27 school year," Gilbert said.  one of the primary reasons why there was a big increase in cost is due to some input costs related to provision of transportation services have outpaced CPI year over year which precipitated to amend the existing ten year term contracts for the two large contract bus operators.  RVS provides transportation to approximately 13,500 students each year on more than 300 routes; these numbers are predicted to rise for this school year as enrolment increases.  BY Alex HudsonPublished Apr 30 Calgary's Roundup MusicFest is celebrating 25 years of operations, and the event has announced the lineup for its 2025 edition, taking place on July 9 at Prince's Island Park Pat Benatar will headline alongside her guitarist husband, Neil Giraldo. Rounding out the lineup are Tom Cochrane, JJ Wilde and former INXS frontman DJ Fortune. A ticket presale begins today at 10 a.m. local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday (May 2), also at 10 a.m. local time. "We're pulling out all the stops for the event's 25th year," said Communications Director Sarah Geddes. "Roundup has certainly earned its place as one of Calgary's most beloved festivals, and Prince's Island Park is the perfect backdrop for a night of nostalgic fun!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Roundup MusicFest (@roundupmusicfest) Be the first to get our biggest stories delivered to your inbox.