Q: This project (Heavy Metal Place) has been in the works for quite a while. How exciting is it to see it come to fruition? A: “We couldn’t be more excited for not only the community who has been following our progress and anticipating the great new amenities, but also for our staff and partners who have been putting in countless hours to get us across the finish line.” Q: The facility obviously addresses the need for ice in the community, but it is so much more than an arena now that it’s all said and done. Can you talk about all of the different ways the facility will impact residents in the region? Q: The arts community was vocal throughout the process noting they needed a dedicated space. How important was it to find the right fit for a dedicated space? A: “This was important for a few reasons.  First, the current location was a shared spot within the main library branch so freeing up that space there gives the library even more space to address their programming needs.  Having a dedicated space for the visual arts and their programming, all within a facility that will give them far greater exposure to the broader community, allows them and ultimately the City to expand this important aspect of cultural program offerings in our community.” Q: The City is growing and attracting new businesses and amenities regularly. How important was it to negotiate a deal to keep the Spruce Grove Saints playing at a facility they’re comfortable with and ensuring their place in the community? Q: There’s also a new transit hub near Heavy Metal Place. How exciting is it to see some of the plans for that corner of the City coming to fruition? Can we expect any other additions to the area? A: “There were certainly investments taking shape in that area of the City before we announced plans to build Heavy Metal Place and we are already seeing many more things under construction and in the planning stages.  Without getting into any specifics that still may be in the construction, planning, or approval phases, we can certainly see the benefits of the facility as being both an anchor and focal point for growth in the immediate area, but also to the City as a whole.” Q: Finish this statement: In 10 years, we can look back on Heavy Metal Place as a successful and beneficial endeavor for the City of Spruce Grove, if _______. A: “…the Saints have won multiple championships, there is continued growth and opportunities for our community groups, exposure for the City as a whole has increased with investments happening or on the horizon, and the community has and will continue to take advantage of increased recreation and cultural opportunities.” Q: I know council was careful not to overlap services with the Tri-Leisure Centre, another collaboration of all three communities. Is there any possibility we could see heavy metal place used as Expansion space for the TLC (in the same way the library has a second branch opening at the facility)? The grand opening of Heavy Metal Place, located at 50 Westwind Drive in Spruce Grove, is Saturday, May 10 and you’re invited! Join the City for an official ribbon cutting at 2 p.m., then head inside for free public skating (bring your skates and helmet), facility tours, live entertainment, cake, Pop-Up Playground games, and more. For details visit sprucegrove.org/HeavyMetalPlace. 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 EdmontonNewsRCMP looking for vehicle involved in hit-and-run in Spruce GroveBy Steven DyerPublished: April 11, 2025 at 5:07PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved The City of Spruce Grove has been recognized as a Global JustServe City for its efforts in community building and supporting diverse groups through promotion of volunteer opportunities “Each and every resident in our community has benefited from the work done by a volunteer, whether it’s a coach, mentor, fundraiser, advocate or simply someone who gives their time and effort to improve the quality of life of their neighbours,” said Spruce Grove Mayor Jeff Acker. “Volunteers truly are at the heart of our community, and they collectively make Spruce Grove a more desirable place to live, start a business and raise a family.” Spruce Grove was one of just five cities in North America and the only Canadian city to receive the distinction in 2024. Others include Boise, Nampa and Meridian, Idaho, and Mesa, Arizona. Oshawa, Ontario is the only other Canadian city currently holding the designation. The City of Spruce Grove and Mayor Jeff Acker were recently featured in a video promoting the JustServe program. To learn more about volunteer opportunities available in Spruce Grove, including those posted on JustServe.org, visit our volunteer page. 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. Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account A Spruce Grove daycare is under investigation after four children in its care were allegedly assaulted The allegations dating to incidents on Feb 19 at Little Stars Montessori Early Learning Centre have prompted the Alberta government to remove the facility’s ability to care for infants the province put the centre’s child care program on probationary licence status 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 “Licensing staff are closely monitoring the program in the interim Alberta’s child care licensing team is investigating this matter and is also collaborating with police,” Matt Jones “The safety and well-being of children in this province is our government’s top priority Alberta’s government is aware of the alleged complaints filed against Little Stars Daycare in Spruce Grove and we take these complaints very seriously These allegations are deeply concerning,” Jones said RCMP announced Thursday they are investigating four separate reports relating to assault by an adult staffer on a child “The management of the daycare discovered some allegations of abuse on Feb 19 and then they notified the parents,” said Dyson 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. Dyson confirmed the alleged assaults weren’t sexual but physical and investigators believe there may be more we want to make sure that they’re safe and they’re protected And we can make sure that we can bring some justice to the persons that are responsible for harming kids,” Dyson said “We’re taking it seriously and that we’re pulling it all the stops to investigate it properly especially involving a vulnerable group like children That throws doubt up in their minds in regards to sending your kids to go to daycare.” Postmedia contacted Little Stars Montessori ELC CEO Razia Qarni who confirmed that the room in which the alleged assaults took place has been shut down for investigative purposes but the daycare is still open and operational Gina Slaney said investigators have identified persons of interest and the investigation is progressing it’s really tough to leave your kids in the care of someone else so when you hear that people aren’t treating your kids fairly or potentially hurting them “We’re doing everything we can to get to the bottom of this.” Anyone who has concerns about the safety or well-being of a child in child care is encouraged to reach out to Child Care Connect at 1-844-644-5165 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 sees 2025 election as crucialMayerthorpe and Parkland County voters go to the polls on April 28 the Liberal Party candidate for Mayerthorpe the rest of the Parkland riding is Ashley Fearnall We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentFearnall opted to run in the 2025 federal election hoping to be Parkland’s MP in Canadian Parliament 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.” Mayerthorpe has been moved out of the Yellowhead riding and into the new Parkland constituency Parkland is 10,108 square kilometres with a population of 114,679 including approximately 79,006 registered voters Drayton Valley and Brazeau and Parkland counties in the constituency including the hamlets of Green Court and Rochfort Bridge A rural Ontario native, Fearnall moved to Sturgeon County with her husband after 2021. “I chose Alberta; I fell in love with an Albertan, but I also fell in love with the community,” Fearnall told the Freelancer. “From Spruce Grove to Seba Beach to Wabamun and Drayton Valley to Parkland County, it’s a beautiful riding.” Fearnall said the conversations she’s had in Parkland reflect that many recognize this election’s importance. “Canadians, including here in Parkland, are worried about what’s happening in the United States,” Fearnall said. “They’re worried about their jobs, the 51st state rhetoric and the trade war.” She identified that as the most important election issue, adding she believes Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney is the leader who will stand up for Canada. “We will fight for workers and businesses, protect our sovereignty and build an economy that is more resilient and less reliant on the United States,” she said. “We can’t control what the United States is going to do, but we can focus on making things easier at home for people.” Parkland could benefit from affordable housing plans, she argued. As for the carbon tax, Fearnall said Carney’s decision to cancel the consumer tax “put money back into folks’ pockets.” Fearnall said the industrial carbon tax that remains reflects a plan to reduce emissions and build an economy focused on clean energy. “Climate change is an important issue, and it’s important we find a united way to discuss the issue,” she said. She cited “weather-related” emergencies in Parkland in recent years. Fearnall has commenced her campaign, and she said she is trying to take her team to all parts of Parkland. While 338canada.com projects Parkland as “safe” for the Conservatives, Fearnall said she isn’t concerned. “I think most folks I’m talking to at the door recognize this is the most important election of our lifetimes,” she told the Freelancer. 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 Spruce Grove gave an update on their 2025 crosswalk improvements “The list of crosswalk improvements is based on consultant studies, resident concerns, department assessments which are guided by the City crosswalk policy, recommendations in the Corporate Plan, and budgets for crosswalks as well as pedestrian linkage, which we share with the capital projects group,” said Heidi White. The first item on the priority list is Grove Drive and Spruce Ridge Road, where they plan to upgrade existing signals to include audible Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) with an estimated cost of $15,000. They plan to add a sidewalk ramp at Deer Ridge Park Drive playground for accessibility and a temporary crosswalk for $4,000. The next is a crosswalk realignment at McLeod Avenue and Manor Drive for $13,000. The existing crosswalk terminates in a private driveway which creates safety concerns. The City plans to move crosswalk, sidewalk, and ramps to the west side of the intersection. For Jennifer Heil Way and Nelson Drive, the City plans to add a crosswalk to the south side of the intersection for $15,000. At Campsite Road and RCMP and Walmart access, the City is adding upgrades to improve pedestrian access with the addition of ramps and sidewalk connections for $60,000. Grove Drive and Woodside Crescent will be having the addition of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) to the existing crosswalk with pedestrian activated overhead LED lights, a center median RRFB, and audible button for $30,000. At Pioneer Road and McLeod Avenue, the City is developing east of Pioneer Road to address the increasing pedestrian demand for access. They plan to add pedestrian crossing ramps, line painting, and signs for $10,000. There is a number of improvements planned for King Street for purposes of corridor consistency and the implementation of the King Street Corridor study. In total, this first priority list of projects will cost an estimated $248,000. Future improvements include Kings Link and Lilac Bay and the King Street and Longview Drive intersection, King Street RRFB at Jespersen Avenue crosswalk, McLeod Avenue at Home Depot crosswalk, the Spruce Ridge Road playground, Spruce Ridge Road at Spring Gate crosswalk, Century Road at Kings Link and Vanderbilt Common crosswalk, and the Woodhaven Drive and Westview Cres and Windermere Drive crosswalk. 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For over 70 years Denny’s Canada has offered their communities a place for people to come in Situated at Unit 200 - 100 Jennifer Heil Way the newest Denny’s establishment is the first of the popular dining brand in the city with the hope of many more to come for the region As Senior Regional Manager for Franchise Operations & Special Projects John Yoingco and his team are excited to welcome its new guests to a warm inclusive nostalgic space that has something for everyone we can’t wait to bring our service to the local area Denny’s Spruce Grove is the perfect place to enjoy wonderful food or to bring your friends and family for a memorable meal Visitors and residents alike will have the chance to experience the best in family dining while enjoying the beautiful legendary Denny’s menu items such as the classic ‘Moons Over My Hammy®’ sandwich and a wide range of Signature Slams will all be available to order "Denny’s could not be happier to establish a footprint in the fantastic city of Spruce Grove Alberta has always been an amazing market for us and bringing a local Denny’s location to the people of Spruce Grove has been a long-term goal for our team that we are proud to have accomplished,” explains Ron Cecillon “Our team has been working hard to get this new location ready for service and we are delighted to say that we are now open 7 days a week Come see us today at Denny’s Spruce Grove.” Denny’s Spruce Grove location is now open with seating available for 116 guests and will be operating 7 days a week The team is delighted to become a part of the close-knit local community and offer outstanding diner delights at any time of day Northland Properties Corp DBA Denny’s (Denny’s Canada) is headquartered in Vancouver and is part of the highly regarded worldwide Denny’s organization Northland Properties Corp DBA currently operates and franchises 73 Denny’s restaurants across Canada having a well-deserved reputation for high-quality food and guest satisfaction guests will always find delicious value and variety More information can be found at www.dennys.ca or on social @dennyscanada Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:  https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e62a3103-4041-4fdd-8959-9bdc00d1969d https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee473b7d-0ff1-4495-8c78-0a2585d6808c https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9698a259-891d-44e4-adab-84039202e216 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/22321a17-cdfd-4708-b9fe-591a68554d09 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/feb8ee0f-6c7e-46ad-88f3-d98c33775d1f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62742e2f-c7be-4d17-97e1-19cd7ea6d531 AB: The Town of Stony Plain and the City of Spruce Grove are excited to announce the completion of the Joint Trail Connection project a major milestone in enhancing connectivity and promoting active lifestyles for residents of both communities The project culminates in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening event The Joint Trail Connection project has been a collaborative effort aimed at creating seamless pathways for commuting residents and those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the region The newly completed trails now offer uninterrupted access between Stony Plain and Spruce Grove The project has two completed trail sections: “The completion of the Joint Trail Connection project marks a significant achievement for both Stony Plain and Spruce Grove that has been years in the making,” says Mayor William Choy “These trails represent more than just a physical connection between our communities; they symbolize the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents I invite everyone to join us at the ribbon-cutting event and experience firsthand the benefits this project brings.” “The pavement barely had a chance to dry before the trail was in use It’s been great to see people using and enjoying it immediately further showcasing how much this connection between Stony Plain and Spruce Grove was needed for safety and convenience,” says General Manager of Planning and Infrastructure “This trail system is a practical addition to our infrastructure offering accessible and convenient pathways for all users.” The grand opening event will take place at the newly completed trail section along the south side of Highway 16A Parking is available in Rotary Centennial Park in Spruce Grove Town of Stony Plain and City of Spruce Grove Councils invite everyone to attend and celebrate this momentous occasion “The Joint Trail Connection project between Spruce Grove and Stony Plain is a wonderful way to connect our municipalities and provide both residents and visitors with another convenient way to travel between both communities,” said Mayor Jeff Acker but it supports accessibility and will further strengthen the ties between our communities We are looking forward to seeing how trail users foster those connections now that the trail has been completed.” “Building sustainable connections is a way to bring our two communities closer together and the recent construction of the Joint Trail Connection project provides a space for this through recreational trail use The new pathway is a welcomed addition to our trail system and brings residents of both communities more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and create new memories and connections,” says Jamie Doyle General Manager of Sustainable Growth and Development Services 2024Time: 2-3 PMLocation: south of 16A (this section runs east-west connecting Veterans Boulevard to Campsite Road); parking is available at Rotary Centennial Park in Spruce Grove For more information about the Joint Trail Connection project, visit our Parks & Trails webpage Contact Us Town Office: 780 963 2151 Public Works: 780 963 2469 Email Us 780 818 6766 Increase Contrast It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience. Glenn Stupar visited the Edmonton Humane Society to pick out a cat He came home with a 14-month-old calico named Stardust a Christmas present for his daughter Keisha and she became a beloved — though always spunky and independent — member of the family and then I come out and she’d be sitting there ‘OK it’s breakfast time,'” Stupar recalled When I went out into the front room and saw the screen I put it all together quickly.” Sophie had managed to wiggle out a window of the family’s seventh-floor Spruce Grove apartment and find her way safely to the ground Stupar caught a fleeting glimpse of what he thought was Sophie running across a street but Sophie and her family were reunited just before Christmas at least a year and a half of which was spent outside ‘I am determined to get her home before Christmas and it’s gonna be a Christmas miracle,'” said Jess Hood Only Sophie knows where she spent the years immediately after her escape from the Stupar home She most recently found shelter in a hole in a concrete wall between a car wash and a liquor store in Spruce Grove about four kilometres from the apartment building Several people had taken to feeding Sophie She apparently became well-known around the loading dock of the nearby Sobeys grocery store She also caught the attention of a senior couple that shopped there who brought food to her hidey-hole for a year and a half “They would go every single day at noon to feed her,” said Hood They consider themselves her grandparents.” a woman who adopted from Community Cats also noticed Sophie and began feeding her Hood later started visiting the hole in the wall to check on Sophie Community Cats had lined up a foster placement for Sophie but getting her into a trap proved challenging Hood went nearly every day to try to coax Sophie into the trap She posted a sign asking people not to feed her  — which in some cases appears to have been ignored — as irregular feeding sets back the process “I had to really gain her trust,” said Hood expecting a short stay ahead of her transfer to a foster She cut the worst mats out of her long hair and scanned her for a microchip Stupar got the call from another Community Cats volunteer the week before Christmas “She started off by asking if I ever had a cat named Stardust because I forgot her original name,” he said “They told me the story about where she is and how long she’d been there and how long it took Jess to actually trap her He was also surprised to learn Sophie had a chip had a vet appointment and “miraculously” had a clean bill of health To bring her home again for Christmas seven years later who in the years since the cat went missing moved out on her own and got engaged who found himself getting choked up whenever he passed a pet aisle was gifted another cat by his kids a few months after Sophie’s disappearance Stupar and his family will never know for sure whether Sophie remembers them but already they’ve noticed a cat who is much more cuddly and affectionate than the young feline who escaped out the window all those years ago His daughter — who has the rare chance to reunite with her childhood pet as an adult — is “ecstatic.” Community Cats recommends booking an appointment to have your pet chipped When it comes to searching for a missing cat Start where the cat was lost and work outward to a radius of one to two blocks — lost cats usually remain very close to home Knock on neighbours’ doors and ask them to check garages and sheds Missing posters should be large enough to see from a distance — poster board in fluorescent colours with a photo and contact information work well The rescue also recommends posting on lost pet pages and checking the Animal Care and Control website daily as frightened cats might hide for several weeks after escaping The Spruce Grove Saints has parted ways with former Head Coach Ryan Marsh. Article contentThe Saints announced on Apr. 4, after the end of their regular season, they would be parting ways with their Head Coach Ryan Marsh, who had been coaching with the Saints for two seasons. “We parted ways with our head coach and are looking for a new direction,” said General Manager Rob Sklaruk. “I think it’s the best case now for us in the organization, moving into a new rink and a little bit of a change of a direction, some new excitement amongst the team, I think that’s all warranted.” Sklaruk said they’re looking for a “repeater” in what they do. The search for the new coach has them looking for a person with drive, someone who is patient and can develop the players in a way with an attention to detail. Sklaruk had also said they are looking to get a head coach “hopefully soon,” but was unable to provide a timeline. “I think there’s a lot of work that needs to be done behind the scenes,” said Sklaruk. “I think, at our level, when we start building a roster, a head coach is going to have a lot of say in that. So, I think there’s still lots of work cut out but I think about what we have going in a positive direction and I think we are headed in that right direction.” The Saints will not only be going through a search for a new coach, but will also be moving to their new arena in Heavy Metal Place. “It’s going to be a long road ahead of us. Getting a head coach put in place is going to mean a lot to us,” said Sklaruk. “Hopefully, we can get on that path and get back to the glory days of the Saints.” For the off-season, the Saints will be holding two camps. The first camp is the Saints Spring Camp being held May 2 to 4, and then the Saints Hockey School will be held Aug. 25 to 29. Registration is available online on the Spruce Grove Saints website at sgsaints.ca. Dane Lloyd is heading to Ottawa for a third term Lloyd is one of the 144 Conservative Members of Parliament confirmed to be elected as the official opposition of Mark Carney’s Liberal minority government. “I’m still looking at the final numbers but it looks like, in terms of total vote count, I might have the third highest vote count in the country. I just want to say thank you to the people of Parkland for once again placing their trust in me, and I won’t let you down.” Lloyd attributes the continued support to the work he did door-knocking to understand what resident’s priorities were. He believes residents want to see a government who cuts back on red tape and taxes, supports Albertan industries, and attracts investments to the country “They want to see a government that rules back on some red tape and taxes on industries like our energy industry and our mining industry so we can create good jobs and bring investment back into our country, particularly in Alberta,” said Lloyd. “They want to see a government tough on crime. People are sick and tired of seeing repeat violent criminals just being let out on the street, and they want the government to take strong action to hold these criminals accountable.” Support for the military, cost of living, cheaper groceries, and cheaper gas were some of the other priorities Lloyd said were important to constituents. Lloyd told constituents to “hold the line” and “not lose hope” as Conservatives continue fighting for their priorities. He noted Conservatives won their highest popular vote since Brian Mulroney in 1984, adding he believes this would have normally led to a Conservative majority. Lloyd attributed the Liberal’s ability to form government to the “collapse” of the NDP. “Those votes went to the Liberal party,” said Lloyd. “Despite the fact the Conservatives won the highest popular vote since Mulroney, the Liberals also won a large amount of the popular vote and it has resulted in the election result we see today.” Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre will stay on according to Lloyd as the party believes he has “earned the right” to lead. Though the Conservatives were projected to have a large lead in early polling, Lloyd does not attribute the Liberal victory to a Conservative collapse. He believes it is the defamation of the NDP which skewed the results, adding the Conservatives did not drop more than two or three points from where the polls had been. “I believe Pierre Poilievre is going to be staying on as our leader. I think he’s earned the right to contest another election as our leader, even though he did lose his own seat, but I think he’ll be back in Parliament fairly quickly, and we’ll be ready for the next election,” said Lloyd Despite the results, Lloyd believes the Conservatives made significant gains in key areas and have a good shot at forming government the next time around. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentA 45th federal general election will take place on Monday, Apr. 28, 2025 with advance voting beginning Friday, Apr. 18 and continuing until late Monday, Apr. 21. Voters in the Tri-Region have seven candidates to choose from. The incumbent member of parliament in the Parkland riding is Dane Lloyd, representing the Conservative Party of Canada. Lloyd is seeking his third term after being elected in 2017. Lloyd is running against Keri Goad of the New Democratic Party, Ashley Fearnall of the Liberal Party of Canada, Daniel Birrell of the Green Party of Canada, Jason Lavigne of the People’s Party of Canada, Kevin Schulthies of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada, Wade Klassen of the United Party of Canada. Individuals can vote at the Multicultural Heritage PERC Building in Stony Plain (5413 51 Street), Delta Square Developments Ltd. in Edmonton (17940 106A Avenue North-West), Meadowlark Professional Building in Edmonton (8702 Meadowlark Road North-West), St Albert Centre in St. Albert (375 St. Albert Trail), or Elections Canada in Edmonton (12315 Stony Plain Road North-West) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. In light of changes to the Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) program Spruce Grove will be eliminating the program within the City “Some of the key changes were no speed or mobile enforcement outside of safety sensitive areas such as playground zones, school zones, construction zones, no speed enforcement whatsoever through intersection safety devices, red light cameras, and most importantly, no ATE of any kind of highway,” said Marlin Degrand, Manager of Enforcement Services. “We sought and got clarification and that includes Highway 16A as a connector passing through the City.” Having taken into account the cost-benefit analysis in the financial aspect as well as human resources, the investment is “just not there.” Other municipalities within the region have began their approaches to address this gap in enforcement, with some municipalities taking traditional approaches to enforcement by enhancing the programs and engineering they already have while others are using a combination of that and working with their vendor or programs to see what ATE programs would still be viable under the new guidelines. “Given these realities, we’ve made the decision to wind down photo enforcement operations in Spruce Grove,” said Mayor Acker. “This decision was not made lightly. Road safety remains a top priority for Council, and we will continue exploring other tools and strategies to help reduce speeding and dangerous driving in our neighbourhoods. That includes investing in traffic calming, enforcement through our peace officers, and public education.” Some of the proposed safety measures are more engineering, education, and bylaw, meaning more traffic calming signage like your speed signs or speed changes by Council, light phasing adjustments on Pioneer Road, traffic flow adjustments, and ‘advanced’ smart traffic controls are being explored. “We want to be clear: this change reflects the impact of new provincial regulations—not a reduction in our commitment to safe roads. We’re simply no longer able to operate an effective or affordable photo enforcement system under the current rules,” said Mayor Acker. The Spruce Grove Saints finish their season after their loss against the Blackfalds Bulldogs. Article contentThe Saints regular season has come to a close after a hard fought weekend. On the Friday, Mar. 28, the Saints faced off against the Brooks Bandits and won in overtime 4-3, but they weren’t able to get the goals they needed on Saturday, Mar. 29, against the Blackfalds Bulldogs and lost 4-3, effectively ending their regular season. “It was a big win for our team,” said Head Coach Ryan Marsh. “We played a good game. I thought we executed the game plan really well that night, we prepped for Brooks all week and I thought we hit everything we wanted to do. We stayed disciplined and only took the one penalty, earlier in the year we got in some penalty trouble and it kicked our momentum, and we did a good job staying resilient.” In the third period, Marko Djordjevic was able to hit the back of the net for the Saints at 7:40, but the Bandit Luke Bibby quickly responded at 7:57. The Saints brought up the score before the end of the second period with a goal from Josh Polak at 9:04, ending the period with a 3-3 tie and sending the teams to overtime. Overtime saw James Richards from the Saints score at 4:11, bringing them the victory and successfully sending them to their next game against the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Saturday. “There was desperation through our game, but ultimately we weren’t able to win the game,” said Head Coach Marsh. “We gave up a late goal in the second period which was disappointing and killed a bit of our momentum. We just weren’t able to get it into overtime. We had good looks, our goaltender played well and made some key saves, but it was a disappointing end to the year.” The game against the Blackfalds Bulldogs started off slow, with only one goal in the first period from Austin Borggaard at 9:53. Second period was opened at 4:39 by Mason for the Saints, succeeded by teammate Stephen Kirkpatrick much later in the period at 18:51. The Bulldogs finally responded with Thomas Neu landing a goal at 19:34 and ending the period 2-2. Third period opened with a penalty shot from Neu at 4:00, and the Bulldogs saw another goal shortly after thanks to Jason Davenport at 8:51. Polak managed to score a goal for the Saints at 11:12, but the Saints weren’t able to generate another goal to get ahead and win the game, losing to the Bulldogs 4-3. “We’ve just been making sure our returning players have a really good off-season from a strength and conditioning, skills and skating standpoint,” said Head Coach Marsh. “We have our spring camp coming up in May where we’ll potentially see new prospects and some summer camps we need to prepare for, but we’re going to be looking for ways the team can be a better team next year as a whole.” Spruce Grove is presented the first and second reading of the Policing Commitee Bylaw “The obligations for our community are that we must have a Policing Committee now,” said Marlin Degrand. “Prior to this, it was an option that had always been there for municipalities, some of which had taken that up like Fort Saskatchewan and St Albert for instance.” Administration has researched the approach being taken or recommended in 11 municipalities in the region and in other parts of Alberta with RCMP contracts and a population over 15,000. The municipal obligations include the need of a committee, and the option to create a join committee with Stony Plain is available. With that research, Administration has drafted a bylaw for a stand-alone committee for the City of Spruce Grove. “You’ll see in the recommendations here there are some non-voting members that are recommended to be attached to this to assist not only the new committee in their core duties but also to make sure there is no straying from those core duties and they know how to clearly implement them,” said Degrand. It is important to note that the Committee has no role in relation to determining or recommending matters of budget or the overall strength of the Detachment. All financial authorities and anything not specifically noted remains with Council and the City. As for the size and composition of the committee, it can range from three to seven members in size, inclusive of all appointees from the local level. It is recommended the bylaw indicate there be a range of between five and seven members allowing for flexibility in the event a member is no longer qualified and there is a short-term vacancy, and it is recommended one or two of those members be Council members, most likely two as it allows for flexibility. The second reading of this bylaw was carried unanimously on Feb. 3 during Spruce Grove’s regular Council meeting. This bylaw may be amended and will be brought to Council for third reading at the Feb. 24, 2025 Council meeting. The municipalities within the Tri-Region highlighted their achievements at the 2025 State of the Region We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentSpruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Parkland County united together for the 2025 State of the Region held on Mar. 20 at Heritage Park Hall. The respective municipalities demonstrated their growth with personalized videos displaying their achievements. Parkland County was the first municipality to present their video, with the County presenting their ‘Steak of the Region’, a steak themed video for their State of the Region which highlights their agricultural heritage, strong communities, a diverse economy, smart planning, and solid infrastructure. Some highlights from Parkland County’s video include talking with Nina Ulmer from Sausage Lady Single Batch Farms, Wabamun Waterfront funding and development, the Entwistle Pumphouse, and the heavily anticipated Heavy Metal Place. “And let’s not forget that it’s our strong rural communities that keep the whole system thriving,” said Mayor Allan Gamble. “Thriving producers can’t succeed without a strong community backing them up.” Spruce Grove followed Parkland County and demonstrated their enthusiasm with an Amazing Race Spruce Grove themed video, following councillors on teams blue, yellow, and pink to race through the City. “The Re-Imagined Central Park project is really taking shape, the old skatepark was removed and construction on the new wheeled sports facility is well under way,” said Councillor Dave Oldham. Highlights from Spruce Grove’s video include the Re-Imagined Central Park project, secured funding for the Spruce Grove Composite High School replacement, the new Transportation Master Plan, the new Municipal Development Plan, and the announced funding for Meridian Housing Foundation Spruce Grove. Stony Plain was last but not least and went 90s style in their video, taking the audience through advancements on Old Town South Redevelopment, and the Joint Trail Connection, alongside memorable community events like Lettuce Get to Know Each Other, the Youth Centre’s 20th Anniversary, and Summer Sessions. One of the biggest projects Stony Plain has been working on is the Community Recreation Facility, which they touch on in the video. “This recreation centre, set to open in late 2026, was designed with the growing needs of residents, both present and future, in mind,” said Mayor William Choy. “With features including community spaces, walking and running track, a turf field, two multi-purpose courts, a curling facility, and concession.” The three municipalities presented their videos at the State of the Region event, but all videos are available on the respective municipality’s websites. The Parkland Pregnancy Support Centre had spread information about their upcoming Hope Beverley House Program We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentClint and Karen Carlton from Parkland Pregnancy Support Centre, a local non-profit charity, presented an update of their services in front of Spruce Grove Council on Feb. 3. This update consisted of information related to their Hope Beverley House Program, as well as their goals and support needs. “Imagine a mother holding her child close knowing that their home is no longer safe,” said Karen. “She has nowhere to go and nowhere to turn, but has hope that somewhere someone cares enough to find her a way. We’re here for that hope.” Clint and Karen came to present their new safe space, describing it as not just a shelter, but a second chance, a place where fear is replaced with safety, and a promise of a brighter future. “I’m here because I believe that no woman should have to face these moments alone,” said Karen. During Covid-19 in 2020, the Parkland Pregnancy Support Centre launched their U Can Talk to Us: Family Violence Prevention and Awareness program which has since connected with hundreds of families experiencing domestic violence. “Alberta shelters are not conveniently situated for our residents,” said Karen. “Jesse’s House in Morinville and Yellowhead Emergency Shelter in Hinton are always full when we call for an open bed, as they give priority to residents from their local area.” In 2024, there was 1,675 domestic violence related files otherwise shown as 131 per month, 30 per week, or just over 4 per day. Out of all these cases, only 231 actually led to charges for various reasons. Now, Parkland Pregnancy Support Centre welcomes residents to Hope Beverley House, the first women’s safe house in the Tri-Region. “This program was created in response to the heartbreaking issues faced by women and children in our community,” said Karen. “The program, a residential facility located at an undisclosed location in the Tri-Region area for emergency short-term stays for women and children, offering supports including basic needs, medical care, referrals, and emotional support.” The facility itself currently houses 10 beds, offers shower and laundry facilities, is aligned with community partners and resources, and takes Tri-Region residents as priority. Currently, the facility is in need of an abundance of items to help their residents in need. Kitchen ware, kitchen supplies, towels and dish clothes, as well as items for bathrooms, bedrooms, living spaces, and children’s rooms are all in need. Start-up costs are situated at just over $29,000, more than the organization anticipated. One of the highest costs besides rent include furnishings because, for health reasons, the facility is require to purchase new mattresses and beds and are not able to use second-hand ones. Although operating costs are to be covered, Parkland Pregnancy Support Centre requests $10,000 from Spruce Grove to cover start-up costs for the initial opening of the facility. “You’re not only supporting the mothers, you’re carrying the future of the children,” said Karen. “This home is that.” Q: How has Spruce Grove grown as a community over the past five years? A: “I think the easy answer relates to sheer volume as one of the fastest growing municipalities in Alberta. I think it goes beyond that for me. With this growth, we’ve seen an expansion of diversity in our community which, of course, encompasses a wide variety of backgrounds, identities, experiences, and I think as leaders, this helps us evaluate our programs and services that we may not have thought of previously, which is a great thing. Q: What are some of the things the City has done to keep up with that growth? Q: How do you keep the benefits of a small to mid-sized city as you expand and experience that growth? What are some of the biggest benefits of that growth? Q: What are some of the biggest challenges the community faces? Q: What do you expect the community to look like in 10 years?  Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add? Spruce Grove City Council is deliberating the idea of a new aquatics facility within their ten year plan “This was based on the motion presented at the Corporate Plan deliberations, specifically the indicating of exploring the feasibility of adding an indoor or outdoor pool in the ten-year capital plan along with some funding options to be brought back to Council prior to the Corporate Plan approval,” said David Wolanski, General Manager of Community and Protective Services. Assumptions were made about the project due to the time constraint as well as the information used being public information, as there were no consultations in the short period of time. In comparison, the outdoor cost estimates between $11 and $14 million with estimated operating costs between $250,000 and $400,000 annually, these numbers being exclusive of any debenture borrowing or lifecycle costs. “Remember, this is only for a roughly four month season, typically ranging from May long weekend to September long weekend for an outdoor pool,” said Wolanski. The generally consistent amenities would include four to eight lanes of teaching or lap pool, some diving capability, a leisure pool and/or lazy river, spray features, waterslides, and multi-purpose rooms and support spaces. Based on these ranges and estimates, Administration projects the outdoor facility project, both on the low and high end cost, will be able to take place in the capital plan during 2028, while the indoor facility projects 2029 for the higher end and 2034 on the low end. How Canada Wins: A blueprint for a prosperous nation We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentOur intention in developing the series of stories you are about to read is simple: We believe in Canada, and in Canadians, and we believe in a shared, prosperous future for the people and communities who comprise this country. We believe it is a great country – and one that does not have to be made great, again – and will use our platform to shed light on the ambition, vision and voices of those who strive to make it better. Welcome to How Canada Wins: A blueprint for a prosperous nation. Over the next several weeks, and then beyond, we will be speaking with local leaders and advocates about the forces and issues shaping our lives. We will spotlight solutions along with the challenges, echoing the ambitions of the forebears who helped build Canada. We will connect with business leaders, city planners and community advocates. We want to harness the power of our platform to exchange ideas. We want to talk about big dreams, and the steps required to turn them into reality. This rolls into our editorial mission, which rests on five pillars: Ambition, pride of country and national service, quality of life, self-determination, and building great communities. We are proud to be part of those communities. We get tense whenever Canadian athletes compete for gold on the international stage. We got a lump in our throat when Céline Dion sang from the base of the Eiffel Tower at the Olympics last summer. We even believe in a future – distant as it may seem – where a Canadian team somehow wins the Stanley Cup. This series will explore the concept of championship wins in each of our communities, all by using the same rigorous journalistic process we employ every day. After all, our editors and reporters live alongside you in your communities. You can read about our mission right here: www.postmedia.com/editorial-mission-statement/ We believe in Canada. We believe this series of stories – and, indeed, our editorial mission – can help light a path toward a shared prosperity for all of us, in all our communities. A Spruce Grove business is changing lives this Christmas with its window campaign Once you step inside Brickhouse Smokery in Spruce Grove you can choose a photo from the window and read the print on the back It’s a wish made by someone in the community “Customers can just come in and choose a story that relates to them that they feel in their heart,” said Amanda Wilhauk The campaign is part of Trevor and Amanda Wilhauk’s 12 Days of Giving coinciding with their business anniversary they spend the first 12 days of December giving back whether that’s meals for their local police force or helping a grandfather provide Christmas for the grandson he has custody of while his wife is in palliative care “There’s so many people in our community that want to help they don’t always know where to go to offer that help Wilhauk says some of the wishes are simple: a little girl who would like a hairbrush or a mom who can’t afford the unicorn stuffies her children wants for Christmas like the 12-year-old boy who has never been to school in the country he’s from where disabled children are not allowed to attend school His sibling was asked by teachers about their home life and when it was revealed that the boy had never been to school “So they brought him into the school they discovered that he needs a special wheelchair and there’s no way this family could afford that They literally changed that young man’s life he’s just trapped in a body that doesn’t work And so now he gets to go to school every day and he will get a full education,” said Wilhauk who adopted a wish and changed a 12-year-old’s life “They chose to pay for a funeral of a 24-year-old young man that had passed and the family could not afford a memorial of any kind Wilhauk says that in starting this campaign she never questioned if wishes would go unfulfilled “I didn’t even think for one minute that no one is going to walk by a wish when a mom is like I just need a little bit of food in the evenings for my children No one’s going to walk by that,” said Wilhauk The folders in the window at Brickhouse Smokery are now mostly empty That’s because of the 76 wishes that came in And that’s not to say the five remaining couldn’t change a life one is a story of a family who lost their baby and grandfather in the same year the young father walks to work every day between Stony Plain and Spruce Grove The ‘Come to the Brickhouse Window’ campaign ends Dec Premier Danielle Smith says she will address Albertans Monday on a "path forward with the federal government" after a meeting with her caucus 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 Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market opens on Sunday for first time in 40 years vendors hope the change will have positive impact on businesses Hundreds gathered at the Alberta Legislature Saturday to support the push for a referendum for Alberta to separate from Canada The rally was met with a counter-protest from some First Nations communities who say they want to remain part of Canada : From a donation centre to a local Ukrainian kitchen in Edmonton Don’ya Kitchen will be featured in Dragon’s Den in May one staff did not expect her to go to the national television and showcase her culture after leaving Ukraine A group of First Nation leaders in Alberta are calling out Alberta Premier Danielle Smith over recently introduced Bill 54 -- which would lower the threshold for referendums -- meaning albertans could be voting on separation Fulton Creek Business Park proposed a rezoning development to expand the industrial land of Edmonton but the proposal requires removing and replacing thousands of trees and changing the course of the creek and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices EdmontonNewsDaycare in Spruce Grove issued probationary licence days after alleged assaultsBy Amanda AndersonPublished: March 14, 2025 at 7:30PM EDT Building an accessible home in Alberta is an inaccessible option for many who need it most We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAfter navigating a mountain of red tape and spending a small fortune on transforming their garage into an accessible home, the Chan family in Spruce Grove hopes to shed light on how difficult the process can be. Al Chan had been dealing with what he believed was a knee injury for months. Trips to the doctor’s office, the hospital emergency room, and multiple specialists all provided the same inconclusive answers until he started losing control of his leg entirely at random times. On Dec. 24, 2023, Al’s leg went limp under him and he fell on his back deck. (His Wife) had already gone to bed for the night, and didn’t hear his calls for help. Eventually, Al called an ambulance and was taken to hospital. “They thought it was a knee issue, but it was actually his back. He fell, tried to get up, and fell again. I was asleep. My mom died on Christmas Eve, so it’s hard for me. He crawled into the house and had to call an ambulance. They sat him up and kept saying, you’re not sitting straight. The next day at the hospital, he was saying, I can’t feel my legs, is that weird? That’s how it all started,” said Darla Chan, Al’s wife. The fall left Al paralyzed from the waist down and in need of a wheelchair and his home became largely inaccessible. There is not enough room for him to get into the bedroom, or the bathroom in his wheelchair, and accessing the bottom floor of the house is not possible. The only area of the house he can still access is the main kitchen and living area. He is currently staying in an assisted living facility while Darla turns their garage into a home he can be comfortable in with a catwalk giving him access to the main house. This has not come without complication. The current square footage allowed when building an accessible add-on to a property, such as the one the Chans are undertaking, is not enough to build the ideal home. There is a 1.5-foot turning radius every six feet, with an accessible bedroom and bathroom, living area, and other essentials. The garden suite will be complete with the Catwalk allowing access to the living area of the family home. Originally, the family was looking at building a home in Stony Plain, but discovered they could not obtain the proper permitting to ensure all of Al’s accessibility needs are met. Though the upgrades they are currently making will make the garage a liveable home, there are still restrictions in place in Spruce Grove preventing an ideal build.  “In Stony Plain, there aren’t any permits available to build this kind of garden suite,” Darla said.  “They’re really strict on the laws for size and even to get a permit for this. I think this will be the first one in Spruce Grove.” The family selected Adam Arsenault and Red Plaid Developments to complete the project. Arsenault identified a need for adequate 55+ housing over his time in the construction industry and has been building accessible homes with the help of spinal cord injury Alberta has been building accessible homes for the past few years.    “I’ve been in construction a long time and what we consider a 55-plus home or community is in my opinion inadequate. I got frustrated with what we were calling a 55-plus home and it became a mission of mine to develop an actual 55-plus home, which has developed into championing in general for persons who require accessible housing,” Arsenault said. Arsenault acknowledged it may be difficult for the provincial government to create legislation as the permitting process varies based on the bylaws of the individual municipalities, but said there is a solution. He believes the biggest issue is the cost associated with building an accessible home. If provincial or local governments could provide a subsidy to offset the cost, accessible homes could be a viable option for those with disabilities and for the 55-plus community. The Chan family project ended up costing around $300,000 to build their garden suite. Darla agrees the provincial government and local municipalities need to take a serious look at legislation surrounding accessible homes, noting the option is not only ideal for families in their situation but for those with aging parents. If outfitted properly, an accessible home like the one being built in the Chans backyard could provide a comfortable alternative to a seniors living facility. “People have aging parents. Even if this wasn’t accessible, people could have their parents in their backyard rather than live in a home. My husband went from the Glenrose to a home and it’s costing us $3,000 a month. I’m the only breadwinner and I’m trying to pay for that and the garden suite, it’s difficult. There aren’t a lot of homes for seniors who are not outrageously expensive.” Seniors’ housing has been one of the top priorities for councils across the region as they work to meet the needs of an aging population. Arsenault and the team at Red Plaid Developments said accessible homes can be the answer if something can be done about all of the red tape in the way. “When someone is in a wheelchair they need turning circles, they need space, which is just something you would not need in traditional housing. There’s no allowance for that in our municipal bylaws. Nobody is saying if you’re building accessible, you can have a little more space, they’re saying you can build accessible but you need to constrict to the same space as traditional housing. We need more space, but we can’t have more space,” Arsenault said. The Alberta Parenting for the Future Association presented their services to Spruce Grove Council “The Alberta Parenting for the Future Association has three streams of service which we work under,” said Pamela Geddes, Executive Director. “Sometimes, people hear one or another, but they are basically all us.” Alberta Parenting is the parent organization and the non-profit started in 1993, the Parkland and West Family Resource Network is the program started by the provincial government when they canceled the Parent Link Centre’s, and the centre located in Stony Plain is the Family Connection Centre. “Everything we do at Alberta Parenting, all of our programs and services fall within three domains,” said Geddes. “Social connections and support, caregiver capacity building, and child and youth development and well-being.” Social connections and supports are services that promote positive connections between infants, children, youth, parents, families and communities, caregiver capacity building is supports and services aimed at developing and strengthening parenting skills and knowledge, and child and youth development focuses on supports and services which assist the child to reach their developmental potential. “Why we’ve been around so long, 32 years working in the Tri-Region, is we’re adept at navigating change, we’re always looking for new programs and services we can offer to meet the needs, we’re flexible in our service delivery model and we use evaluations and surveys constantly to evaluate best practices and make sure what we’re offering is what the grassroots people are looking for and asking for,” said Geddes. At Alberta Parenting, they have well-trained staff who receive annual professional training and the organization follows Alberta’s wellness initiatives Wellbeing and Resiliency framework, which formats what they do. “Our continuum of service, we have universal programs,” said Geddes. “Those are the generic programs where parents enter to do fun things with their kids and we engage them, and that’s when we work with them on finding do they need more targeted supports, more intensive supports, and if it exceeds our capacity then we refer out to more intensive services.” Alberta Parenting offers programs and supports from pre-natal, to early childhood, youth (six to 18 year-olds), parent education, and family support, as well as in-home support as part of their home visitation program. The home visitation program falls under Alberta’s home visitation network and is a specialized program where 99 per cent of parents are referred from their first visit with the public health nurse when the parents require a little bit more help reaching their goals and raising their children and home visitation is allowed for up to six years. “We receive federal and provincial grant funding and 80 per cent of our funding goes to direct frontline service delivery with less than 10 per cent to administration,” said Geddes. “We’re pretty frugal and we try to make the money meet the families, and anything new that we get in through our grant applications goes directly to the family supports.” Alberta Parenting also serves as a HUB for the Tri-Region, receiving all of the services referrals and determining the appropriate programs for each family, which can be from one of the Network Spoke partners as part of their Hub and Spoke model, an external community organization, schools, medical professionals, or self-referrals. “Our Family Connection Centre, this April 1, we celebrate 10 years in the building,” said Geddes. “It’s really hard to believe we just moved in there.” Other statistics show in 2024 they distributed 8506 kg of food and 6855 prepared meals (to 481 families representing 2251 unique individuals), the youth grew, harvested, cleaned, packaged and filled the community fridge with 816 kg of fresh produce, and they distributed 5682 coats (not including toques, mittens and snowpants). Spruce Grove announces Heavy Metal Place grand opening We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentHeavy Metal Place will officially open to the public on Saturday, May 10, 2025, providing an exciting new community gathering place and more opportunities for recreation, culture, and learning in Spruce Grove. Residents are encouraged to “save the date” for the grand opening celebration which will include guided tours of the facility, live entertainment, and many other activities. “We’ve been watching this incredible facility rise and take shape week by week, month by month for the past two and a half years and I am so thrilled that it’s finally time to throw open the doors and share it with both residents and visitors,” said Mayor Jeff Acker. “This is the largest infrastructure project we’ve ever done as a City and it’s going to be an incredible place where we can come together to build community connections and make lasting memories for years to come.” Once open, Heavy Metal Place will include a branch of the Spruce Grove Public Library, an art gallery, a black box theatre, a community arena, and a spectator arena that will be home to the Spruce Grove Saints hockey club starting with their 2025/2026 season. Unfortunately, despite everyone’s best efforts, the facility will not be available for the Spruce Grove Saints this season. Construction at Heavy Metal Place is still underway, and throughout February work focused on implementing the finishing touches on the facility, with more than 100 workers on site. In addition to construction, there was significant work related to start up, testing, and inspections. Other updates include the flooring in the Spruce Grove Public Library branch is complete and the SuperNet connection has been installed, in the black box theatre, the retractable seating has installed, the flooring has been installed and painted, and the acoustic panels are being installed. The theatre lighting system has also been delivered, and the system to hang art in the art gallery is being installed. More details about the grand opening celebration will be announced soon. in a highway collision involving an ambulance south of Spruce Grove Monday afternoon responded to a report of a collision on Highway 627 and Range Road 273 they confirmed the SUV was driving south on Range Road 273 when it struck the ambulance at the intersection of Highway 627 Police said the driver and passenger of the SUV were flown by STARS to the University of Alberta hospital while two of the EMS personnel onboard the ambulance were transported to hospital by ground ambulance one paramedic was taken to hospital with minor injuries and was treated and cleared A second suffered moderate injuries and remains in hospital the ambulance was travelling on Highway 627 when the southbound SUV crossed the intersection blowing the stop sign and striking the ambulance which did not have lights and sirens activated “It was a T-bone type of collision,” said Savinkoff was this someone that slid through the intersection These are things we’re still investigating.” Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify that the ambulance was not responding to a call when the collision occurred EdmontonNews‘Every parent’s nightmare’: Alleged assaults at a daycare in Spruce Grove under investigationBy Amanda AndersonUpdated: March 13, 2025 at 8:12PM EDT at Cougar Creek Golf Resort for the fourth annual Tri-Region Mayors’ Golf Classic Together with the City of Spruce Grove and Town of Stony Plain we are proud to present this amazing opportunity to connect partners The Tri-Region Mayors’ Golf Classic isn’t just a day of golf; it’s a celebration of community spirit and generosity. This year, all funds raised will be dedicated to NeighbourLink Parkland a vital organization that supports and enhances the lives of those in need within our community Please consider the range of partnership opportunities available to you and your organization for this event. Click this link for a copy of the sponsorship package that outlines everything available You can secure your partnership here. Your day will feature a round of golf at Cougar Creek Golf Resort Join us in making a positive impact on our community while enjoying a day of camaraderie and networking on the course We have a lot of fun planned for an engaging day General Office: 780-968-8888 Toll Free: 1-888-880-0858 After hours: 780-968-8400 By GHD Digital It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser parts of the site may not function properly for you We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience AB – The Canadian Union of Public Employees is pleased to officially represent workers of the Spruce Grove Public Library Spruce Grove Public Library staff will join CUPE Local 30 as a new unit This unit is the 11th group of library workers within CUPE Spruce Grove Public Library employs approximately 25 employees The library offers programs and services including computers and printing special events and meeting spaces for rent There are plans to open a second location in March 2025 EdmontonNewsNew baseball stadium in Spruce Grove takes shape, slated to open in June 2025By Evan Kenny and Craig EllingsonPublished: November 07, 2024 at 9:54PM EST A new Spruce Grove Transit Centre is opening soon Located at 50 Westwind Drive, this transit centre includes parking stalls for Park and Ride users at no cost, a passenger drop off and pick up zone, bike racks, and a heated shelter where riders can wait for their bus. With the construction of Heavy Metal Place still being underway at this time, it will not impact the operation of the Transit Centre or ability to access Park and Ride parking stalls, but the number of parking stalls will temporarily be limited to approximately 50 stalls in the southeast corner of the site. Once Heavy Metal Place is complete, a total of 600 parking stalls will become available for Park and Ride users at no cost. The opening of this new Transit Centre also includes several changes to Route 560 that will also go into effect on Dec. 2. It was necessary to save some travel time in another part of the route by removing some existing bus stops, according to the City of Spruce Grove. If the stops were not removed, riders would have experienced longer travel times and would have experienced a significant increase in the cost of operating the service. For riders who currently use these bus stops transition to the new schedule and route, a shuttle bus will temporarily provide service to the affected 12 stops and take riders to the Transit Centre. This temporary service will operate for up to two months and will run every 30 minutes on weekdays during peak hours from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m. and 3 to 6:30 p.m. Alternatively, those impacted by the bus stop changes can walk to a different Route 560 bus stop or book an on-demand trip and transfer to Route 560. For more information about transit services or the route map, visit the City of Spruce Grove website. Q: Can you give us an overview of the current business situation in the region? Is it healthy? Is it not? A: “It’s certainly healthy, there’s no question, and probably more than healthy. The region is one of the fastest-growing regions in the province, people are doing well with all of that. We’re seeing growth, we’re seeing new building permits. All three regions, Parkland County, Stony Plain, and Spruce Grove, are seeing an increase in building permits and that’s always good news. We’re really happy with the way things are going.” Q: What are some things that the chamber focuses on in order to maintain and grow businesses in the region? Q: When you work with municipalities, do you try to attract certain types of businesses or is it more of a first come first served type of business model? Q: What are some of the biggest advantages while trying to attract businesses to the region? What are some of the challenges? Q: Do you feel it is important to have diversity in the businesses you attract and how do you achieve that diversity? Q: What steps do you think need to be taken to attract more business to the area? Q: What would your perfect scenario look like ten years down the line? Q: Is there anything you’d like us to add or anything you feel we’ve missed? A: “I think that, especially in these trying times, we have to remember that this too shall pass. This is going to go and we’re going to get back to being who we are, and we have to make sure we don’t forget that, if we’re caught up in the problems of the day we’ll forget where we’re going. I think that’s the one thing I want people to know.” ensuring a high quality of life for residents means keeping up with the demands of a rapidly growing population in a prosperous and abundant region 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 City of Spruce Grove surpassed 40,000 residents in 2024 and does not expect to see a slowdown in the number of residents moving to the region. Spruce Grove is also expanding its physical footprint, with new businesses and amenities currently under construction near Pioneer Road. From an intricate trail system to high-quality local sports, enjoying state-of-the-art facilities like the soon to be opened Heavy Metal Place, or the opportunity to take the family to one of the many dedicated park spaces strewn across the City, newcomers are pleasantly surprised with what Spruce Grove has to offer. Development activity in 2024 in Stony Plain included over 200 permits issued for alterations, additions, and secondary suites alongside new builds. These projects highlight ongoing improvements to existing spaces, contributing to the town’s evolving landscape and attractiveness to residents and businesses. The year also saw an estimated construction value surpassing $100 million, solidifying 2024 as a pivotal period of growth for Stony Plain within the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. This milestone reflects careful planning and efforts to foster balanced and meaningful development. “We just approved our strategic plan which includes references to economic development strategies. We take a lot of pride and a fair amount of effort goes into our role in developing a localized economy. Working with businesses to expand, or relocate to Stony Plain is one of the more significant things we do to enrich the lives of the residents who live here,” Goulden said. Goulden added the Town, currently sitting at just over 17,000 residents, is preparing to be home to 30,000 people in the near future. Ensuring they grow at a pace their residents are comfortable with will be crucial for the town as they look to execute their strategic plan. Parkland, the most rural of the three municipalities, has been prioritizing diversifying the County’s economy by bringing in new business and development, and protecting Prime Agricultural Land. From rural-residential living, to a plethora of new agricultural opportunities and a growing hub in the Hamlet of Wabamun, Parkland has a wide variety of opportunities to offer its residents. “What I really think is amazing about Parkland County is it is so diverse and we have such an abundance of opportunity here. We have everything from living in a Hamlet, to country residential in our acreages, to being really close to nature and beautiful landscapes which provides a quality of life you don’t get in other places,” said April Gallays, Manager of Subdivision and Planning Coordination for Parkland County. A major priority for the county is protecting prime agricultural land and ensuring the diversification of their business sector does not lead to the land being used for non-agricultural purposes. Council made it a priority to protect these lands and encourages growth in the ag sector regularly. “In Parkland County, you’re surrounded by fertile farmland ready for cultivation and expansion. The vast expanse of arable land ensures you have ample space to grow the crops and raise the livestock needed for your value-added agricultural operations. The possibilities are limitless, and the land is yours to cultivate.” The County states. Maintaining its agricultural footprint is as important as ever to the County as it continues efforts to diversify and grow its business sector, as outlined under the MDP. Achieving these goals in a growing County does not come without challenges. The County does have a roadmap to help navigate the growth they are experiencing with the newly approved Municipal Development plan. Creating the MDP was a multi-year collaborative process, which included approximately 60 hours of community engagement with more than 20 open houses and workshops held throughout the community.  “The goal is to create a flexible and adaptable planning system to allow someone to build a business in Parkland County or Build their dream home here. It really takes a lot of leadership to get us to that point,” Gallays said. Parkland County’s new MDP was adopted by Council following its third reading on February 25, 2025. It sets the framework for the next 30 years in the County, by identifying where growth will occur including residential, industrial and recreational development. The MDP also contains policies for future land use, infrastructure and transportation requirements, and areas for environmental protection.  This will help guide the County through ensuring the Coordinated expansion Gallays referenced. The MDP has strategies to help funnel growth to preferred areas, and to expand the options residents have when it comes to living in the County. “Some of the strategies we’re taking into consideration is finding alternative ways to provide housing. Whether that be single detached dwellings, semi detached or providing different garden suites  on a site,” Gallays said. “That’s kind of happening at the land use bylaw level and we’re in the process of really trying to navigate that. What the MDP does Is help push those bylaws through a little quicker to help support the development of those buildings.” Like municipalities across Canada, all three regions are still tasked with their fair share of hot-button issues. Addressing concerns on available affordable housing, crime rates, homelessness, and how to deal with the rapid growth they anticipate to continue, all take up space at the top of the priority lists. While dealing with some of these major issues fall out of the purview of the municipalities, they all directly affect residents within the community, and inherently the administrations tasked with ensuring life runs efficiently in their respective municipality. Administration in all three of the local communities, under the guidance of Council, continue to look to make an impact on areas of these major issues they can control. “One of the broader challenges municipalities face is there are a lot of big issues out there and at a local level there are only so many policy tools available to address them. I think what we need to do is work really hard to address what we can address,” Goulden said. “We have good relations with the RCMP, we have direct contact with them almost daily, we do fund the RCMP so we do have a funding level ability to influence those challenges. Even with crime itself though, we believe at the local level if we bring people in, create that connected community and make them feel like they’re part of a community, we’ll inoculate us from some of that crime and leave that for the provincial and federal governments who can affect criminal codes,” Goulden said. Presented by Chevrolet In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league as well as offseason acquisitions through trades We speak with the coach/GM of each team to get their thoughts on the new crop of players The Spruce Grove Saints finished fifth in the BCHL’s Alberta Division in 2023-24 and were defeated by the Okotoks Oilers in the wildcard round we speak with Saints head coach Ryan Marsh about the moves his team made this offseason Seguin totaled a combined 111 points in 113 games for Bonnyville over the past two seasons We brought him in to be a really good two-way player that can play in all situations Max finds ways to get to the right spots both offensively and defensively He’s a player that we went really hard after and he’ll be a key piece to our success this year.” Miceli posted a .915 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average in the regular season for Cornwall last year to go along with five shutouts and a record of 15-8-0 “This is a big recruit for us as well He’s someone we’ve been looking at for a while so we were really happy to be able to sign him and bring him in to compliment Ryan De Kok who is returning from last year’s team We think we have a really good tandem back there We felt we needed to get a bit bigger in net and he certainly provides that.” Polak led Shawnigan Lake in points last year with 53 in 30 games a total that tied him for 11th in all of the CSSHL He went on to play seven regular-season BCHL games with Spruce Grove He also suited up for all three of their wildcard series game “He’s an exciting right-shot forward who will bring speed to our group He got some valuable experience by joining us late last season and in the playoffs We’re excited to add his versatility and ability to play both centre and wing.” Lachaine played for Culver Military Academy from 2022 to 2024 he tied for the team lead in scoring with 38 points in 47 league games while his 17 goals were also most on his team “We’ve had our eye on him for the last few years and built a good relationship with him We’re very excited to be able to recruit him He’s the type of player that fits the identity of a Spruce Grove Saint He also has some skill around the net and a good shot from distance He can be an energy driver for our team.” Losier scored 16 goals and added seven assists for 23 points in 41 games for Merritt last year “He brings a little bit of what we didn’t have last year He finds ways to get into soft areas and get his shot away We were looking for someone to be a bit of a trigger player for us whether it’s at 5-on-5 or on the power play He’s a big body that will go to the net and get to the dirty areas.” 25 assists and 30 points in 53 games for St Andrew’s during league play in 2023-24 He’s a passionate player – he just loves the game He has aspirations to move on and secure something at the Division I level we’re really excited about the way he moves his presence on the ice and the details in his game.” Kenny played the past two seasons at Shawnigan Lake and was their second highest scoring defenceman in 2023-24 with 18 points in 25 games He played one game for Spruce Grove last year as an affiliate He’s been a captain or assistant captain for his teams coming up through the ranks of minor hockey physical type of defenceman with range and who can lean on guys We’re looking for him to come in and give us some depth and physicality Perron was the overall second leading scorer in the JPHL last season finishing his campaign with 48 points in 33 games “Adam will bring size and a power-forward element to our team He is a forward with range and who is willing to go to the hard areas He also brings a physical component to his game He uses his frame to protect pucks well and has good touch around the net.” Muhlfeld was his team’s leading scorer last season with 36 points in 31 games “He caught our eye after putting up some really good numbers in the JPHL last year We brought him in at the end of the year just to come in and practice a bit and he left a really good impression We’re looking to provide some healthy competition in our lineup and some forward depth We’re excited to see what he can do when we get to main camp.” Quintilio had a .923 save percentage last year to go along with a 1.52 goals-against average “Joseph is a talented young goaltender with good size He will provide good depth and healthy competition within our goaltending group.” Juck’s BCHL rights were acquired by the Saints in a June 25 trade with the Trail Smoke Eaters The 18-year-old had a breakout year offensively with Lloyminster last season “I had a chance to see him up close during his time in Alberta We thought he would be a really good fit for us and what we want to do as we build our defence corps I’m really impressed with his details on and off the ice Peters notched 17 points in 42 games with Chilliwack he spent two years with the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League The Saints acquired him in a July 16 trade with the Chiefs “We felt like we needed to add a player like him with a high skill set and some speed We’ve had some good chats with him since the trade He’s someone we’re going to count on to drive our offence The fact that he’s a 20-year-old with experience we’re looking for him to be a key part of our group.” Golden brings three years of junior experience to the Saints lineup playing in 43 contests with Cowichan Valley last year and another two seasons with the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League from 2021 to 2023 He was acquired by Spruce Grove in a July 4 trade with the Capitals “We’re excited to bring in a veteran presence on our back end with some BCHL experience He’s a big body with high character and has Alberta roots I’ve spent some time with him in the offseason and have been really impressed so far.” Edmonton WatchPolice investigating assault claims at a Spruce Grove daycareMounties say they're investigating four assault claims at the Little Stars daycare in Spruce Grove. CTV News Edmonton's Nav Sangha has the story. We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentStony Plain and Spruce Grove are holding their respective Halloween festivities for this year. From a fun-filled Halloween House Hunt to a scary walk through The Walking Dead House, there are enough scares around for everybody. “We’re thrilled to bring back The Walking Dead House for a second year at Heritage Park,” says Event Coordinator Tevra Graham. “It’s quickly becoming a must-attend Halloween event for families in our community, and this year’s activities are sure to bring even more excitement.” The Walking Dead House returns to Heritage Park on Oct. 26 from 10am to 4pm. There will be two paths for guests to take, one less scary for the younger children, recommended for ages eight and under, while the other is a scarier, thrilling path recommended for ages eight and up. Entry is free, but guests are asked to bring a cash donation for the Parkland Search and Rescue or a non-perishable food donation for the Parkland Food Bank. There are many activities to engage in, from the Parkland Search and Rescue Services Haunted House, a mad science show, magician show, slime making, axe throwing from 10am to 1pm, a rage room from 1pm to 4pm, and a take home craft kid. In addition to The Walking Dead House, Stony Plain is also hosting the return of the Halloween Haunted House Hunt. Starting Oct. 21, daily clues will be posted at 9am on the Halloween webpage, guiding participants to miniature haunted houses hidden throughout public spaces in Stony Plain. Once a house is found, a new one will be hidden until all five are discovered. People who find the houses can bring them to the Town Office during business hours to claim a prize with a limit of one prize per person. Spruce Grove is holding their own Halloween House Hunt, starting Oct. 14. Each house is hidden around the trail system and in public outdoor locations within Spruce Grove, with the six houses being released on Oct. 14, Oct. 17, Oct. 21, Oct. 24, Oct. 28, and Oct. 31. There will be a total of three clues hidden for each Halloween House location, with hints posted on Spruce Grove’s Halloween webpage. If a house is not found within the first three clues, final clue will release at 9am the following morning. When a house is found, they can be returned to Border Paving Athletic Centre for a prize. Players may only win once. “I’m excited to see the return of these exciting Halloween events in Stony Plain,” says Mayor William Choy. “Halloween is a time for fun, creativity, and community spirit, and these events offer something for everyone. I encourage everyone to come out, take part in the festivities, and make some great Halloween memories!” Sign In Subscribe Now Become a free member today and receive top local stories right to your inbox The Parkland RCMP investigating alleged assaults at Little Stars Daycare in Spruce Grove after receiving a complaint the detachment received a report of an assault that allegedly took place at the child care facility The Parkland RCMP General Investigative Section is investigating.  RCMP say they have identified four victims.  19 and were reported between March 6 and 12.  "If your child attends this daycare and you believe your child may have been a victim to an assault please contact Parkland RCMP at 825-220-7267," stated a press release 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 the Google Play Store or for access to the RCMP news and information download the Alberta RCMP app through the Apple App or Google Play 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 The Spruce Grove Public Library is gearing up for 2025 We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentSpruce Grove City Council was presented a 2024 Annual Review and 2025 Budget by the Spruce Grove Public Library Board during their Sept. 9 council meeting. This presentation outlined the services the library provided through this year, and the budgeting and funding needed for the upcoming three years. “Annually, Spruce Grove Public Library Board representatives come before Council to provide an update on their activities and discuss their budget requests,” said Sean Renaud, Strategic Initiatives Lead. “The purpose of this presentation is to ensure the sustainability and sufficiency of library services as directed by the community on the board.” As part of their annual review, Jocelyn Wilson, Finance and Advocacy Chair for the Spruce Grove Public Library Board, started the presentation talking about their new Plan of Service that was just announced Mar. 20 of this year. This plan is available to read and review at the Spruce Grove Public Library and their website. This plan contains the four main pillars for their Plan of Service which are to provide and sustain Collections, programs, and services that respond to community need, to identify and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in all we do, to prepare and respond to the future environmental and infrastructure needs, and to establish and ensure effective governance that encourages organizational excellence. “While in the past, presentations have been focused on current services and our achievements,” said Wilson. “This year, we’re really focusing on our preparation for the new library in 2025.” The Spruce Grove Public Library is preparing to open their second branch in the new Heavy Metal Place, the Civic Centre project that has been commencing this year. This new branch means the library will be able to meet their projected needs from years prior. The current space in the library at 16,000 square feet allows for only 0.41 square feet per person during max capacity. The recommended needed space was 0.76 square feet per person, and this 2025 space will exceed the 0.76 square feet needed. “Our current space is quite a bit under what is recommended for this size of community,” said Wilson. Public computer use has been on the rise, and the library will be continuing to support technology needs. Their physical computer work station usage has been up 50 per cent from this time last year, and they expect for computers, charging stations, and wifi needs will be more in demand at the new location. “One of the areas that we know is on the minds of our community is our hours of operation,” said Wilson. “We’re looking to have more than 65 open hours per week across both locations, be open seven days a week, and truly be that go-to resource for people who need services.” For the 2025 budget, the library is perceived to be stable for 2025 and the budget ask does align with the Spruce Grove corporate plan. The projected budget for 2025 has a revenue of $2,145,895 and expenses of $2,150,067, leading to a deficit of $4,173. 2026 is projected to have a surplus of $3,099, with $2,823,402 in revenue and $2,820,303 in expenses, while 2027 only has a surplus of $114, revenue being $2,313,402 and expenses being $2,313,288. Spruce Grove is a celebrating an important milestone “Over the past 10 years, we have had an average annual growth rate of 3.4%, and there are several reasons for this,” said Mayor Acker.  “As a City and a community, we have a range of quality programs, services, and amenities that are attractive to individuals of all ages. This includes our parks and playgrounds, various community events, shops and services, and the feeling of community pride that we have in Spruce Grove.” Spruce Grove has been growing exponentially over the past couple years, having grown over 11.8 per cent in the last five tears according to the Regional Dashboard. With Spruce Grove’s steady growth rate, they’ve quickly became one of the fasting growing municipalities within Alberta. This growth can be attributed to the countless new businesses that have settled into Spruce Grove, as well as the area and amenities available around the City. Spruce Grove promotes and supports many initiatives and programs for the betterment of residents. Programs like Residential Boulevard Gardens are reasons why Spruce Grove has been having this growth, a symbol of their commitment to their residents, a commitment to helping Spruce Grove continue to grow. “We are a place that people want to call home,” said Mayor Acker. “Whether you’re a resident or a business, you see the benefits of being in Spruce Grove and it’s been wonderful to welcome them to our great city.” “I am confident we will continue to attract new people and investment to Spruce Grove and our city will continue to grow into a place that we are all proud to call home.” The Spruce Grove Saints are climbing back up the standings after winning two games back-to-back, breaking their losing streak. Article contentThe Spruce Grove Saints recently played against the Blackfalds Bulldogs on Nov. 20, emerging with a 6-2 win. The Saints managed to keep up to momentum for their following Nov. 22 game against the Prince George Spruce Kings, winning 5-2 and effectively breaking their short-lived three-game losing streak. “We’ve been playing a good team game over the past couple games,” said Head Coach Ryan Marsh. “We limited goals-against and we’ve got some real key saves from Ryan De Kok.” Matthew Ronn started off the scoring in the third period at 4:19, but was ultimately not enough for the Blackfalds. Ethan Kronewitt scored a goaland Stephen Kirkpatrick was able to score an empty-netter for the Saints as well, solidifying the Saint’s victory against the Blackfalds at 6-4.  “We found a way to win that game,” said Marsh. “I would say at times we weren’t as as good as we can be, but we hung in there and got some key saved from Ryan De Kok at key times. It was a 4-4 game late in the third, and we found a way to generate a fifth goal and then we were able to get an empty net goal after but we just did what we could and found a way to win.” The first period against the Prince George Spruce Kings was not in the Saint’s favour. Trent Ballentyne opened the scoring for the Spruce Kings at 14:02 and Brock Cummings was able to add another at 16:14, ending first period 2-0 for the Spruce Kings. From then on, the Saints were able to make a thrilling comeback, with Josh Polak scoring at 8:59 followed by Lachaine at 10:31 during a power play, successfully tying the game before the last period. The Saints dominated the game in the last period, Miller scoring the first goal of the period at 7:32, effectively placing the Saints in the lead. Combined with an empty-netter from James Richards and a final goal from Ryan Harvey, the Saints emerged victorious with a 5-2 win under their belt. “We had a little bit of a slow start in the first,” said Marsh. “It was really a good sign against Prince George when we started to overtake the game in the second and third period, and that’s where we won the hockey game, our play in the second and the third, and we finished off really strong.” The next home game will be on Dec. 6 against the Okotoks Oilers. Puck drop is at 7:00 p.m. One person was arrested after a stabbing in Spruce Grove on Monday We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentEmergency crews were called to 1 Avenue near Queen Street around 1:20 p.m. A 37-year-old man was taken to hospital for minor injuries. Officials say the suspect was cooperative and later released while the investigation continues. Police say there is no danger to the public. 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.