Sign In Subscribe Now A rodeo cowboy’s first win at the pro level is not unlike an NHL hockey player’s first goal or a major league ball player’s first home run It happens only once and it’s cause for celebration that celebration took place this weekend at Taber’s Spring Classic Pro Rodeo when he bulldogged his steer in 4.1 seconds and took home first place money of $2497.11 And the 33 year-old wasn’t done as he added a 10th place $129.01 at Medicine Hat’s Broncs and Honky Tonks event to his weekend haul Ness made the commitment to give professional rodeo a shot this year after a successful semi-pro career that included multiple finals appearances in the CCA “I never won any of them and was never season leader,” Ness acknowledged “But I was pretty often right there on (Championship) Sunday I always felt that I should win a finals or be season leader at that level before I went pro which is why it took me so long to pull the trigger But I’m getting a little older and the years are dwindling so I decided to get going on a pro career.” The father of two (soon to be three) wasn’t the only one cracking out at the pro level that day as he rode Ty Livingston’s horse for his winning run “He’s a horse they were hazing on last year and they switched him over this winter He had his first pro rodeo that morning in Medicine Hat and then I got on him that night in Taber I had one practice run on him and he feels great; It felt really natural for him and it looks like he loves it And I had Scott Guenthner hazing for me so that was cool too.” The win does a few things for the likeable Central Alberta hand He’ll fill his permit and take a big step toward another goal “I’ve always wanted to run one down at Ponoka,” Ness noted “I just think that’s the coolest thing and I haven’t been able to do that as a bulldogger yet.” As for any jitters as he hits the pro circuit “I guess I’m at that point in my career where I don’t get caught up in who I’m bulldogging against but it’s when we’re outside the arena and talking bulldogging … that’s when I really look up to guys like Scott You’re hearing it all differently and they’re saying different things.” With the decision to be a CPRA bulldogger made the first-time winner has some decisions to make as to travelling partners and what he’ll be mounted on as the season progresses but this all happened a little quicker than I expected so I don’t really have a plan together quite yet Plus I have a really good job I have to work around so there’s definitely a few things to work out.” One thing Ness won’t have to work out is how to get that first win That box has already been checked and now it’s all about keeping that momentum going Next up on the CPRA calendar are the Kananaskis Pro Rodeo at Coleman and the Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo with both events slated for May 2-4 For complete unofficial results go to rodeocanada.com Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Two people are in custody following a home invasion in Drayton Valley and a stabbing in Brazeau County over the weekend the Drayton Valley RCMP responded to a complaint of a home invasion with a firearm in Drayton Valley.  A victim was taken to hospital for treatment.  While members were gathering information about the complaint they were dispatched to a secondary complaint of a male that had been stabbed multiple times at a rural property in Brazeau County police determined the two events were related and perpetrated by the same suspects Search warrants were executed at a residence in Tomahawk The two suspects were arrested in Red Deer by the RCMP Emergency Response Team without incident RCMP say the suspects were known to police.  They believe both instances were targeted and there is no ongoing risk to the public Blackwell and Goulden were brought before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody They are to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Breton Bachelor of Science in Nursing students Haley Reid Savanna Billington and Keaira Houle spend time together at the Clean Energy Technology Centre in Drayton Valley between studies for their BScN degree DRAYTON VALLEY — You’ve heard it takes a village to raise a child What you may not have heard — but it holds just as true — is that it takes a municipality to graduate a rural nurse The town of Drayton Valley has taken this to heart and has partnered with the University of Calgary (UCalgary) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) to deliver the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program the new Drayton Valley BScN program admitted its first nine students preparing them to become registered nurses (RNs) through a blend of virtual learning and hands-on clinicals and labs “We are a community of 6,700 people three hours away from Calgary and we wanted to make sure we provided a service that allowed people to stay within Drayton Valley if they wanted,” says Kundiso Nyambirai growth services manager for the Town of Drayton Valley The town reached out to UCalgary and AHS as a potential location for the newest iteration of the Bachelor of Nursing – Rural Community Route program which launched with its first set of students in Wainwright in 2021 and people to watch over exams at the Clean Energy Technology Centre which also houses the Health Care Aide Academy and space for tutors and homeschooled children town and industry donors are well-positioned to offer financial help to students through the Zero-Fee Tuition program which can provide up to $5,000 per eligible student Area businesses raised $40,000 to help support the grants which are offered to students of the BScN program as well as the other post-secondary programs offered in town Nyambirai says subsidizing tuition helps remove educational barriers and allows students to climb the next step in their educational journey Whether it’s getting academic upgrading so they can level up some of the subjects they didn’t do so well in in high school to where today I’m looking to attract certificate programs we were looking for the next level for students The town is trying to further sweeten its offerings to students as staff work on a student recreation package which offers a subsidized student rate for pool and recreation centre access in addition to ongoing conversations to secure prioritized daycare spaces for students with children — all in an effort to retain healthcare workers locally In addition to the town’s efforts and the support of area businesses the Drayton Valley Health Foundation is planning its contribution to healthcare education and long-term community wellness as well The group plans to support the creation of a future eSIM lab motivate) lab uses simulation to recreate clinical events safely In addition to benefiting patients in the region recruitment and retention of healthcare staff “You have young adults born and raised in Drayton Valley who see opportunities elsewhere and that’s tough from an economic development perspective because the 18-25 age group is meant to be a workforce for the community and they’re the ones most susceptible to outmigration,” says Nyambirai they can find these amenities in Drayton Valley The first year of the BScN program in Drayton Valley is already underway, but applications are being accepted for the second cohort of students to begin the program next September. Deadline to apply is March 1. See details here   Our work takes place on historical and contemporary Indigenous lands Treaty 7 & Treaty 8 and the homeland of the Métis Nation of Alberta and 8 Métis Settlements We also acknowledge the many Indigenous communities that have been forged in urban centres across Alberta © Alberta Health Services 2025 Terms of UsePrivacy Statement The 2024 statistics for the Drayton Valley RCMP continue to show that Drayton Valley is a safe community Staff Sgt. Ryan Hoetmer attended the Feb. 12 council meeting to present council with the detachment’s annual report Though their statistics show that they have reached a five-year high for call outs Hoetmer said a large number of those calls were mischief He says those calls typically had to do with homeless individuals using spaces such as bank vestibules and other businesses as shelter Violent crimes did make it to the list of ten most common call outs Hoetmer says that crime tends to have trends there are fewer calls as people spend more time indoors mischief is the most common with 255 calls last year There were only 134 calls under the Mental Health Act but those calls required more resources than any of the other calls “It’s number seven in the list of most common calls but it remains our highest time commitment,” says Hoetmer.  Part of the reason is the transportation of individuals to the Centennial Centre in Ponoka He says the only thing they can do is continue to advocate for more support in regard to mental health calls Another area in the report that was highlighted was the response times of the detachment Eighty-one percent of calls receive a response within 15 minutes That time frame includes the 4.75 minutes that are required for the dispatcher to make the call to the officer and for the officer to get on the road officers are arriving within five to 10 minutes of a call Their efficient response time beats out the average response time in the province by five per cent Hoetmer says while their response time is above average they can’t respond to reports or complaints that they don’t get Two Drayton Valley residents have been charged with drug trafficking and a slew of other offences after a search warrant was executed at a local motel last month.  the Drayton Valley RCMP General Investigation Section carried out a search warrant on March 28 leading to the arrests and seizures of drugs and cash.  has been charged with three firearms-related offences and three weapons offences as well three counts of drug trafficking Two impressive first year teachers have been selected as Zone 4 Edwin Parr candidates this spring was selected by the Wild Rose School Division Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division Edwin Parr served as the Board Chair of the Athabasca School Division as well as the president of the Alberta School Trustees’ Association now known as the Alberta School Board Association The Edwin Parr award is presented by the Alberta School Boards Association to one teacher in each zone every year The candidates have to be teaching in their first year and have demonstrated excellence in the Teaching Quality Standard School divisions get to nominate teachers from their divisions in each zone Drayton Valley is in the Central Zone and besides STAR and WRSD they share it with Battle River School Division Each year the divisions each select a candidate they wish to be considered for the award "Julia Kormysh exemplifies the true spirit of Catholic education and a steadfast dedication to making a difference for her students resourcefulness and unwavering positivity make her a shining example of what it means to teach with both heart and purpose,” says STAR superintendent Laurie Kardynal in a statement started subbing at the end of 2023/24 school year Molzan says the need for a sub was last minute and the teaching plan wasn’t fully outlined Kormysh showed initiative by taking the plans and putting her own touches on them to make them work “She just came in and put her own twist on everything and just ran with it,” says Molzan “She right away jumped on board and took on the challenge.” someone who could walk into any classroom and be successful.  “As soon as she started her interview we just knew we needed to have her who is a homeroom teacher for Grade 8 students Joelle has quickly established herself as a remarkable educator demonstrating a profound commitment to both the academic and social-emotional growth of her students Her classroom is a vibrant and supportive environment where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed She goes above and beyond to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences for her students and her dedication to their well-being is truly inspiring Her collaborative spirit and willingness to learn from her colleagues have also made her a valuable asset to our school community,” says Card-Esau in a statement from WRSD Members of local Indigenous groups are working toward opening a charter school with the goal of offering students an education that goes beyond academics a member of the board for the Roots of Resilience not-for-profit society says the group is applying to the Minister of Education to be able to open a charter school in Drayton Valley The society is held an information night on Feb. 13 Bearhead says her 40 years of working in education has made it clear that the system is failing children and staff as human beings “I’m always a big believer in doing the best you can to try to work with what exists already and do what you can to help guide that,” says Bearhead and recently served as a school board trustee but she says people weren’t ready to progress with changes she feels need to be made The goal of opening the charter school is to offer a learning experience that encompasses a child’s entire well-being While the students will learn from methods that indigenous people have always used for passing on knowledge Bearhead says the school isn’t just open to indigenous children Any child in the area from Kindergarten to grade 12 will be welcome to attend.  One thing that Bearhead wants the public to be aware of regarding charter schools is that they are still public schools Roots of Resilience will be funded in the same manner that Wild Rose School Division and the St Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic School Division are but I really struggle with anything that takes away from public schools,’” says Bearhead “I had to say to her ‘This is public education She says there are only provisions for charter schools in Alberta Charter schools receive the same funding for facilities and the same requirements to follow the Alberta curriculum and the Education Act parents do not have to pay extra to enrol their children in a charter school “But they are intended to be schools of choice,” says Bearhead “They give parents and kids a choice in their education.” charter schools are not without controversy According to the website of Alberta Teachers’ Association “there is only one pot of money for schools in Alberta When money is diverted to private and charter schools it leaves public schools in a funding shortfall.” Bearhead says charter schools have to offer a unique approach to education that isn’t available in the geographic area Bearhead says it’s important to the RoR society to define the holistic success for the school which means the students will be doing better in body She says that pushing people hard to do well academically while ignoring all other aspects of the student’s progress doesn’t work well it’s important for educators to meet the students where they’re at and offer opportunities for the students to see themselves reflected in what is being taught Bearhead says they plan to offer language programs for those who are interested in learning the language of their ancestors to help those students connect with their heritage the Interim District Captain in the Otipemisiwak Metis Government for District Eight and member of the RoR society says she feels her own children would have benefitted from what the proposed school will be offering.  Snow says she has two children as well as a niece that she is the guardian of With all three of them going to school in Drayton she says they went to almost every school in the community “I found that it was very lacking as far as teaching to our culture,” says Snow She says every year she would fill out the demographic forms indicating that her children were indigenous knowing that the school division would get additional funding for those students.  “I found that all of the funding in the Wild Rose School Division went to Rocky Mountain House,” she says Snow wanted to work with the system and try to help improve things “I’ve always wanted to see more funding and programming and culture stuff in this area just like there is in Rocky Mountain House,” says Snow Bearhead says the RoR school will resonate with indigenous children.  Everyone is indigenous to somewhere,” says Bearhead She says public charter schools are smaller and have unique approaches to education.  “They are actually intended to be models for how education could happen in any or all public schools,” she says Bearhead says when the students see themselves reflected in the content they’re learning they have a better chance of relating to it and absorbing it.  By making the students the centre of the system not just the content they’re supposed to be learning She says each student has different strengths they plan to help students excel at their strengths Another important part of education is offering the students a safe space.  how can they focus on learning?” says Bearhead She says if students are feeling ostracized Roots of Resilience will also offer hands-on learning for students This experiential learning will be land-based which means there will be more of a balance between indoor and outdoor learning She says there are many different areas of the curriculum that can be taught outdoors beyond science and physical education rather than just read about it or hear about it Snow says she wants to see children in the area have an opportunity to choose an education that best suits them EdmontonNews2 accused in armed home invasion, stabbing in Drayton Valley area By Alex AntoneshynPublished: April 22, 2025 at 5:55PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Police in Drayton Valley have seen an increase in the last year of incidents under the Mental Health Act Ryan Hoetmer told town council that calls of that type have seen a steady increase over the past several years and they remain a big drain on resources for the town Hoetmer explained that when the officers take somebody into custody under the act they then take that person to the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury in Ponoka He says the drive itself eats up several hours of the officer’s time but they also have to wait until staff at the centre take over He said the Centennial Centre has been working to make the intake process more efficient officers have had to wait a couple of hours he says they make a call when they are on their way and usually the intake is complete within half an hour When asked how long people are kept at the hospital Hoetmer explained that they were normally kept for a week or two he believes they might be kept for a month Many of their calls under the Mental Health Act are from people the RCMP are already aware of and Hoetmer says it can be a challenge keeping on top of those cases He says the RCMP bring the subject into the hospital Once they are deemed healthy enough to depart the person is often sent back to their community in a cab the individuals are in the same position they were in prior to the process beginning “I’m a big believer that there’s a bit of a gap there,” said Hoetmer “When they are sent in a cab back to Drayton they’re put back into the same position as before There is no follow up program or some place for them to go in between.” He said often RCMP watch the individuals as their mental health slowly declines until they have the grounds to apprehend them again Councillor Amila Gammana asked Hoetmer if he felt the reason people were being released on such a short timeline was due to a lack of resources Hoetmer said he wasn’t sure what the reason for it was and that Alberta Health Services would better be able to answer that “I would hope it’s not a resourcing concern that when the doctor is making their determination they are healthy enough to leave the facility,” he said Mayor Nancy Dodds asked Hoetmer if he’d seen an increase in resources since the new pillar ministries had been put into place but Hoetmer says thus far they haven’t seen a change “We still have our one [Regional Police and Crisis Team] that operates out of Rocky but as I’ve talked about before they are in our community maybe once a week,” said Hoetmer This means if there is an emergent issue that requires a response the RPACT are not the ones who are responding to the call It is instead left to the members of the Drayton Valley detachment.  but it’s our members that are doing the apprehensions and are going to the crisis when it’s happening,” said Hoetmer Dodds says council had recently had a meeting with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and one of the topics was the role of the RCMP in those areas She asked Hoetmer to put together a list of concerns and forward it to Council Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines. Parkland in 2025 federal election; Dane Lloyd winsMayerthorpe and Parkland County voters selected their rep in Canadian Parliament Polls in Alberta have closed and citizens across the riding of Parkland with the new riding’s MP projected to be Conservative Dane Lloyd We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe region saw a seven-way race for the MP’s seat in the Canadian House of Commons This election, Mayerthorpe has been moved out of the Yellowhead riding and into the new Parkland constituency.  With 271/272 polls counted, preliminary results are: Parkland is 10,108 square kilometres; Mayerthorpe is joined by Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Drayton Valley and Brazeau and Parkland counties in the constituency.  Only a portion of Lac Ste. Anne County surrounding Mayerthorpe, including the hamlets of Green Court and Rochfort Bridge, is in Parkland. Sangudo falls in the St. Albert—Sturgeon River riding, which elected Conservative Michael Cooper.  Lloyd, who has served as the MP for Sturgeon River—Parkland since 2017 as a Conservative, launched his campaign to represent Parkland.  “We have a lot of unfinished business for this country,” Lloyd said near the beginning of the campaign. “I’m looking forward to having the privilege of representing Mayerthorpe.”  Lloyd told the Freelancer the Conservatives are advocating for the agricultural and energy sectors, accusing the Liberals of trying to “stop those activities.” Birrell, a Stony Plain-area resident, previously ran for the Alberta Greens in Spruce Grove–Stony Plain in the 2023 provincial election.  This election, he said that a high cost of living has been an issue for many citizens, and he cited unemployment rates and the number of children living in poverty as important topics.  Fearnall opted to run for the Liberal Party.  “At the end of the day, I couldn’t sit at the sidelines, because this is an incredibly important election,” Fearnall told the Mayerthorpe Freelancer.   “I think it’s the most important election of my lifetime, and there was a certain point when I knew I had to put my hand up.”  Klassen ran with the newly-established United Party.  “I chose to run in the election simply because of all the stuff that’s happening in Canada,” Klassen told the Mayerthorpe Freelancer.   “It’s not hard to see there’s something really wrong in Ottawa.”  Lavigne, a Breton-area resident and host of the online The Lavigne Show, also ran.  “During the convoy (protests), I was concerned about where our government was headed,” Lavigne told the Mayerthorpe Freelancer. He said he wanted to run to advocate for “parental rights, our future and making sure our children were safe from government overreach.” Finally, Schulthies was the Christian Heritage Party candidate. “I wanted to give people a Christ-centred foundation that they can vote on, and an alternative to all the other platforms out there,” Schulthies told the Mayerthorpe Freelancer. transmission or republication strictly prohibited 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 CHICAGO, March 6, 2025 /CNW/ -- Hub International Limited (Hub) a leading global insurance brokerage and financial services firm announced today that it has acquired Drayton Valley Insurance Agency Terms of the transaction were not disclosed Drayton Valley Insurance Agency is an independent firm providing personal and commercial insurance to clients in the region Owner Dale Jones and the Drayton Valley Insurance Agency Team will join Hub Prairies Drayton Valley Insurance Agency will be referred to as Drayton Valley Insurance Agency About Hub's M&A ActivitiesHub International Limited is committed to growing organically and through acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen industry and product expertise. For more information on the Hub M&A experience, visit WeAreHub.com CONTACT: Media: Jessica WiltsePhone: 312-596-7573[email protected]M&A: Clark WormerPhone: 312-279-4848[email protected]  Do not sell or share my personal information: The Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) has approved the sale of the Drayton Valley Thunder effective immediately A local ownership group comprised of a consortium of business owners has purchased a majority stake in the team resulting in 100% local ownership The new ownership group is committed to maintaining the Drayton Valley Thunder as a locally owned financially sustainable hockey team that fosters player development infrastructure improvements and by providing quality entertainment “We believe this new ownership group is well-positioned to continue the Thunder’s legacy of success and community involvement,” stated Interim Team President Kevin Young “Our team is committed to providing a positive and enriching experience for players fans and the entire Drayton Valley community We are eager to work closely with our new ownership group and its member teams to ensure the continued growth and prosperity of the league.” the Thunder have named Eric Schneider as their new Vice-President Schneider will oversee all aspects of the team’s hockey operations Schneider will immediately begin a comprehensive review of the hockey operations department to optimize performance and ensure the team’s long-term success Following approval of the sale by the AJHL Board of Governors Commissioner Ryan Bartoshyk acknowledged the commitment and enthusiasm of the new ownership group “The acquisition of the Thunder by a local group creates an opportunity to rejuvenate the team in Drayton Valley By implementing a comprehensive business plan that focuses on financial sustainability the new ownership group can position the Thunder as a thriving franchise in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.” “I would like to thank outgoing majority owners for their commitment to the team and league,” added Bartoshyk The Drayton Valley Thunder will host two regular season home games on December 13th and 15th where members of the new ownership group will be on site to support the team in their new role alongside fans and community partners The official Instagram account of the AJHL AB – The Edmonton Oilers announced today that this year's Celebrating Oil Country feature town is Drayton Valley which recognizes communities across Oil Country the unmatched passion and dedication of Oilers fans were on full display all across Oil Country with all the communities showcasing their unwavering support," said Tim Shipton "We are looking forward to celebrating with the town of Drayton Valley on November 8 and recognizing the community at the Oilers home game on November 14 to show our appreciation for their ongoing support." This year's festivities will begin in Drayton Valley with Oilers Day on Friday executives and other representatives from the Oilers touring the town and visiting businesses and local schools The day will also feature a civic ceremony celebrating the town and a minor hockey skate Oilers TV heads to Vermilion for Celebrating Oil Country The events in Drayton Valley will wrap up with the Oilers delegation attending the Drayton Valley Thunder home game that evening which will include some iconic Oilers game presentation elements where the community and fans from Drayton Valley will be featured throughout the game when the Oilers face off against the Nashville Predators at Rogers Place "We are absolutely thrilled and filled with excitement that the Edmonton Oilers have chosen Drayton Valley as this year's Celebrating Oil Country feature town," said Drayton Valley Mayor Nancy Dodds "Our community has a dedicated Oilers fan base and this is an incredible opportunity for our residents to come together and celebrate our shared passion for hockey and the team and we are honoured to be a part of this amazing initiative." "This event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of Drayton Valley," said Drayton Valley's Chief Administrative Officer Wally Ferris "We can't wait to highlight our vibrant community and our incredible local businesses that make our town so special; we look forward to proudly showing off our town and our community’s passion for hockey." the Oilers celebrate a community in Oil Country that makes up a part of one of the most dedicated and passionate fan bases in the world The celebration includes a delegation from the Oilers organization visiting the town for an Oilers Day live broadcasts and other feature content spotlighting the town and its people funding and other support for local minor hockey development and recognition during an Oilers home game The 2023 feature town was Vermilion and the inaugural community in 2022 was Whitecourt The Nipawin Hawks have acquired 2006 born defenseman Justus Cutler from the Drayton Valley Thunder of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) for a player development fee and the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) playing rights for Reid Mackay. Cutler has suited up in eight games for the Thunder this season collecting one assist. Prior to making the jump to junior, the Edmonton, Alta. product played for the U18 AAA Sherwood Park Kings. In two seasons there the 6’3″ defender scored seven goals and added 29 assists in 75 games. He also had 86 penalty minutes. Hawks General Manager Tad Kozun said the 18-year-old will make their defense group better now and during the rebuild of this young roster. “Justus is a big body what will help us solidify our blueline and make us harder to play against in our own zone,” Kozun said of the acquisition. “He can also move the puck, almost 30 assists in his AAA career in a couple years, that shows he gets the puck up and out quickly and can distribute in the opponents end as well. We’re excited to bring Justus into our organization.” Nipawin’s next action is Friday when they host Notre Dame on Greg Classen jersey retirement night. He is expected to be in the lineup versus the Hounds. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account A Brazeau County man is facing animal cruelty charges after Alberta SPCA and RCMP officers seized 72 dogs from a rural property near Drayton Valley last month Police said in a Thursday news release that on Nov officers in Drayton Valley were called to assist Alberta SPCA peace officers with a check on a property to ensure the landowner was following conditions of a court order 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 determined the man was in possession of more livestock than his court order allowed Alberta SPCA said officers observed numerous dogs all living outside without proper shelter for the weather conditions officers returned to the property and the property owner surrendered 72 dogs many of them puppies that had not yet been weaned from their mothers said they’re seeing more and more examples throughout the province where animal owners have an exceptional amount of dogs on their properties Alberta SPCA has taken in upwards of 800 animals this year “I’d like to tell you this is a unique situation breeders aren’t able to find enough owners to take in dogs and then they run into situations where they’re in the care of far too many dogs.” By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Alberta SPCA executive director Leanne Niblock said this latest example shows the “dire situation” facing animal welfare workers “We’re experiencing unprecedented pressure as the rising cost of living as well as the lingering impacts of the pandemic have created a situation where there are too many animals without proper care in all corners of our province,” Niblock said Police said the man voluntarily worked with the Alberta SPCA to support many dogs in and around the property is charged with assault on a peace officer possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose Kurz was remanded into custody but has since been released He’s scheduled to appear in Drayton Valley court on Jan “We are thankful that ultimately the property owner did the right thing in working with the Alberta SPCA in supporting these animals.” 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 Dec 10, 2024The effects of climate change on winter have claimed another victim, in this case, a community ski hill in Canada. A non-profit ski hill in the North Saskatchewan Valley of Alberta has announced it’s closing its doors for good via an update from the hill’s Facebook page The Drayton Valley Brazeau Snow Club has been in operation since 1965 The family-oriented resort was a staple of the community with a T-bar and terrain options for all types of skiers A statement from the organization’s president cited a lack of insurance to protect the hill’s volunteer staff and guests in the event of an accident as the main reason for its closing Beckett also stated that “mother nature has not been kind to us over the last 10 years.” The Club lost their $14,000 insurance premium with the Rural Municipalities of Alberta in 2022 but the hill was unable to open for the entire season due to poor conditions the hill has only been able to open for three An aerial view of The Drayton Valley Brazeau Snow Club Photo: FACEBOOK/The Drayton Valley Brazeau Snow Club The DVBSC plans to liquidate all of its property and assets and the hill’s snowcat were made available for auction on December 7 The land and its remaining infrastructure will be auctioned off in March of 2025 Beckett plans to donate the funds from the auction to other community-based non-profit organizations that ‘cater to the betterment of our youth.’ In his statement Beckett acknowledged the positive influence the hill had on its volunteers and guests as well as thanked the community for its support over the hill’s 60-year history He also thanked the hill’s Ski Patrol for their work to provide first aid to guests whenever the hill was able to open.  From ski resort news to profiles of the world’s best skiers