Sign In Subscribe Now Community health centres in Central Zone increased access to measles vaccination as of Monday to help prevent the spread of the highly contagious disease A province-wide advertising campaign to raise immunization awareness will also be launched next week and will be translated into over 14 languages Community health centres in Central Zone now have walk-in availability including some with evening measles-specific clinics and additional Saturday availability.  Alberta reported 55 new measles cases to bring the total number of cases since March to 265 A total of 42 people were infectious and could transmit the disease to others Central and South Zones continue to be the hardest hit The South Zone saw a huge spike with 48 new cases to reach 154 over recent months Both evening and weekend immunization appointments are now being added.  Three new cases were reported in Central Zone for a total of 75 this year.  "Most of the cases that we see in Central Zone are from the northeast area Medical Officer of Health with Central Zone She said a 95 per cent immunization rate is needed to prevent further spread and immunization in the northeast area of the zone is at about 72 per cent.  "There's been some cooperation with the communities that are affected." AHS has planned for and is ready to ramp up additional measles clinics across the province including extending hours at existing measles-specific clinics and opening additional clinic space "We have started conversations about measles assessment and treatment centres AHS and the (Health Ministry) have been working together to fine tune that plan," said Dr He added that the province will be prepared to launch the services when the threshold has been met So far a provincial measles outbreak has not been declared since outbreaks have been localized He said no measles-related deaths have been reported and three people with the measles were in intensive care on the weekend Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said there would need to be ongoing increases in cases in every single zone for a provincial outbreak to be declared The vast majority of cases are in the Central and South Zones but what is concerning is that most cases are impacting children under the age of 18 "Getting immunized against measles is the single most important thing you can do to protect your loved ones and yourself and your community especially those young infants who have just come into the world and aren't able to be immunized as well as pregnant women and those with certain immunocompromising conditions," LaGrange said.  Sookram said areas affected in the Central and South Zones are where vaccine coverage has fallen sometimes due to concerns about safety We know immunization decisions can be deeply personal but we're here to support families with science-based information and to make sure people know where to go and what to do it has saved the lives of over 154 million people in the last half century the vast majority of lives saved — 101 million — were infants or children," Sookram said.  The province has also introduced a new early dose of measles-containing vaccines now available for infants six to 11 months of age in the North HealthLink 811 also introduced a dedicated measles hotline Albertans seeking information about measles can fast track their call through HealthLink by calling 1-844-944-3434 The hotline will speed up access to assist Albertans with accessing their immunization records or general information; provide advice for those experiencing measles symptoms and are feeling unwell; and assist with booking measles immunization appointments or locating a nearby public health clinic offering immunization For more information about the measles, including how to access the vaccine which is available for free, Albertans can also visit www.alberta.ca/measles Alberta's New Democrats Leader Naheed Nenshi said measures announced on Monday should have been in place months ago.  Now we have more than 200 people who have gotten needlessly sick and people are in intensive care with this terrible disease," Nenshi said in a statement “It’s wrong to say Albertans forgot the importance of vaccinations when the Smith government is full of vaccine deniers actively spreading misinformation that discourages people from getting their shots." 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 Become a free member today and receive top local stories right to your inbox Two people died in the motor vehicle collision on Highway 11 on April 28.  Sylvan Lake RCMP responded to the incident that took place on Highway 11 at Range Road 35 West of Sylvan Lake at 2:13 p.m.  emergency responders located two women from Rocky Mountain house Two other individuals from a pick-up were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  RCMP remained on scene for several hours conducting an investigation.  the RCMP is continuing to investigate.  and Alberta RCMP is reminding riders and other motorists to be aware of each other on roadways there were 235 collisions involving motorcycles according to an RCMP release. As a result of these collisions 204 were injured and 26 were fatally injured.  Take some time before getting on your bike to check your fluids Refer to Alberta Transportation’s Rider Guide for a checklist Both riders and passengers must wear helmets that meet safety requirements and state the date of manufacture and shatter-proof eye-wear can reduce the risk of injury in the event of a collision Avoid buying used helmets as they could have defects Stay in sight of larger vehicles and avoid blind spots or white in order to be noticeable on the road Stay clear of loose gravel or rocks thrown by other vehicles on roadways and be cautious as excess debris and sand may affect tire traction and overall handling Speeding in and out of traffic on a motorcycle is illegal and dangerous Slow down on unfamiliar roadways and don’t feel pressure to keep up with more experienced riders “Last May saw 37 motorcycle collisions,” says Sgt “Let’s ensure this riding season is a safe one make sure to complete a full check before turning or changing lanes to ensure smaller vehicles or motorcycles are not in your path.” A 28-hectare wildfire west of Sundre is classified as being held.  On May 3, Mountain View County said it was actively monitoring Wildfire RWF030 which is in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) west of Sundre They said the fire was approximately 40 hectares in size.  Mountain View County noted in its release Saturday that the wildfire is under the jurisdiction of Alberta Forestry.  "Resources from the Town of Sundre and Clearwater County are currently assisting with suppression efforts Provincial air and ground resources have also been deployed to support the response," they said.  2025 there have been 30 wildfires in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area Alberta Wildfire says that the wildfire danger is still currently high in the Rocky Mountain House Forest Area While cooler temperatures are present today persistent winds continue to elevate the wildfire risk.  "Some precipitation passed through the region overnight but it was not enough to reduce the wildfire danger and more is needed to significantly lower the risk," they said on May 4.  "Dead and dry vegetation remains a major concern as it is highly flammable and provides an easily available fuel source for wildfires." The countdown is on for one of Alberta’s most exciting automotive events of the year. The third Annual Sylvan Lake Collector Car Auction returns Saturday but this year’s event is getting a major upgrade the auction will kick off with a Friday night gala titled Collector Cars & Country Stars drinks and charitable giving—setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend Boasting a free entry for guests 18 years or older those in attendance will enjoy performances from some of Canada’s top country artists Brody Siebert and Devin Cooper - winners of multiple provincial music awards and rising stars on the national scene It’s the first time we’re bringing in this level of entertainment alongside the cars,” says Todd Schwindt The evening will also include both silent and live auctions with signed Fender guitars and other memorabilia up for grabs Held at the auction house’s expansive five-acre indoor facility at 3 Industrial Drive the venue is currently undergoing renovations to accommodate the new vision Upgrades include a revamped auction area featuring black carpet enhanced signage and a stage suitable for hosting both cars and concerts “We’re refurbishing and restoring the inside of the facility to include a brand-new auction area,” Schwindt says Saturday’s main event will spotlight an impressive lineup of classic vehicles One of the most anticipated is a 1970 Chevelle SuperSport Convertible powered by a rare LS5 454 big block - a six-figure car by any standard The auction is now open for consignments and interest is growing ensuring a comfortable and accessible experience for all attendees Whether you’re a collector, a music fan or someone who simply loves the energy of a live auction, the Sylvan Lake’s Collector Car Auction Weekend promises a high-octane mix of entertainment A head-on collision north of Ponoka has claimed the lives of four people.  police responded to a report of a serious two-vehicle collision on Highway 2A near Township Road 434.   a GMC Acadia with a deceased 41-year-old female and a Volkswagon Tiguan with a 26-year-old male and a 14-year-old male was airlifted by STARS to the hospital but succumbed to their injuries.  All four of those who died were residents of Maskwacis.  but preliminary reports indicate that the Acadia was passing other vehicles when it hit the Tiguan head-on.  One of Red Deer's own will represent Canada in Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics.  Red Deer's Jocylen Peterman and her husband who now live in Chestermere, punched their ticket to the Olympics in Mixed Doubles curling Gallant won bronze in his only Olympic appearance as a member of Brad Gushue's rink at the 2022 Beijing Olympics also represented Canada in the 2022 Beijing Olympics in women's curling.  but to have the opportunity to do it twice and also to do it with my husband as a teammate and we just can’t wait to be in Italy next year We’re excited about the road in front of us and we will be doing everything we can to prepare ourselves for the Olympics,” said Peterman in a Canadian Olympic Committee press release Peterman and Gallant provisionally earned their nomination to the Canadian Olympic Team by winning the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Trials on January 4 They then competed at the 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship in Fredericton where their sixth-place performance secured Canada’s Olympic spot in mixed doubles curling but lost a heartbreaking 7-5 loss to Estonia The performance over the week was still enough to earn them a spot in the Olympics.   “Jocelyn and Brett are superb athletes and even better people which makes us happy and proud that they’ll be representing Canada in Milano Cortina," said Nolan Thiessen Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada.  "In addition to their achievements on the ice they play a leading role with our Athletes Council and are driving forces for positive change in our sport system We couldn’t be more excited to have them wearing the maple leaf on the ice in 2026." Since their debut as a mixed doubles team in 2016 the veteran pair has steadily made their mark on both the national and international curling scenes They captured silver at the 2019 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and reached the podium at the 2023 and 2024 Canadian Championships At the 2022 Mixed Doubles World Championship At the 2025 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Trials capped off by a 8–7 win over Rachel Homan—who had represented Canada in this event at Beijing 2022—and Brendan Bottcher in the final “Since Jocelyn and I started playing mixed doubles it’s been our dream to represent Canada at the Winter Olympics as teammates and we’re going to embrace this opportunity We appreciate that Curling Canada adjusted its qualifying process for mixed doubles in order to provide more time to get ourselves ready for the Games and we’ll be using that time to the best of our ability to be in peak form in Italy,” said Gallant in a Canadian Olympic Committee press release Canada was fifth in mixed doubles curling at the Olympics in 2022 but won gold in the inaugural event in 2018.  Mixed doubles curling will take place February 4 to 10 (Day -2 to 4) in Cortina d’Ampezzo seven countries qualified for the Olympic mixed doubles tournament based on the Mixed Doubles Olympic Qualification Points ranking which was determined by combined placements at the 2024 and 2025 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships The Alberta RCMP recently met with partners in law enforcement and government to discuss concerns around the use of illegal opioids Targeting drug and fentanyl related crimes is part of the Alberta RCMP’s Data 2 Action (D2A) current focus D2A is an Alberta RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy that turns data and intelligence into actionable tasks focused on the four pillars of policing: targeted prevention The framework is designed to bring RCMP resources and supports alongside external partners across the province to tackle crime D2A builds its intelligence by looking at where crime is being committed By working with local partners and specialized agencies the RCMP is able to develop strategies and coordinate resources to respond to the specific needs of communities Alberta RCMP will be working with agencies from across Alberta including ALERT the Canadian Center of Recovery Excellence “The Alberta RCMP is committed to doing all that we can to reduce the risk of opioids in our communities but it isn’t just a police problem,” said Supt officer in charge of the Alberta RCMP Crime Reduction Strategy we can develop a fulsome approach to address the underlying issues that lead to crime and the use of illegal fentanyl in our communities.” Some of the initial steps that the RCMP has taken to address the concerns of fentanyl in include establishing a new Community Response Team which is a quick response crime reduction team designed to be able to swiftly tackle a variety of issues in support of detachments and districts Community Response Teams combine focused outreach with targeted enforcement to improve safety reduce victimization and address social determinants contributing to the root causes of crime They work with frontline members and local partners in the community to address the driving causes of crime in a comprehensive and engages support to create wrap around services and programs there were 87 occurrences in which fentanyl was seized in the Alberta RMCP jurisdiction About 1.4 kg of solid fentanyl and over 600 tablets were seized In 36 of the 87 occurrences where fentanyl was seized weapons were also seized ranging from knives and brass knuckles to rifles While the most instances of fentanyl seizures were in larger communities such as Grande Prairie and Red Deer there were seizures made in 34 detachments areas across the province “The misery that is caused to the people of Alberta due to illegal drugs and related crimes cannot be understated,” said S/Sgt “The Alberta RCMP is committed to using every resource available whether it’s at the detachment level or involves specializes supports like our Community Response Teams to target the root causes of crime and to meet the danger that Fentanyl and the illegal drug trade causes to the well-being of our community.” Pay parking in Sylvan Lake starts on May 15.  the Town of Sylvan Lake wants to remind residents to make sure they are registered for free pay parking.  there will be extended pay parking zones along the east and west areas of 50 Ave.  Individuals who are already registered will not need to register again unless they have a new license plate.  People who have never registered before should register early to allow time for permit approval.  For new residents registering for the first time it is also important to note that residents can add up to four vehicles and that parking enforcement is based on plate numbers so be sure to have a utility bill or a government-issued photo ID at hand.  Further instructions on registering can be found on the Town of Sylvan Lake website Individuals can also call 403-858-7280 if they need assistance.  Staff at a Rocky Mountain House medical clinic are "heartbroken and devastated" over the death of a young physician and her mother in a fatal collision on Monday Sarah Walton was working at Rocky Medical Clinic as part of her family medicine residency training and was pursuing a career in emergency medicine she touched the hearts of many with her warmth and unwavering joy," the clinic posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Walton family during this difficult time We will remember her kindness and the light she brought into the lives of her patients and co-workers." Walton worked as a nurse at the local hospital "before bravely pursuing her dream of becoming a physician," says the clinic died at the scene of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 11 at Range Road 35 Two other people from a pickup were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Walton had also been involved with Community Health International Health and Learning Development (CHILD) a non-profit society that helps children in Haiti CHILD said Walton had worked as a registered nurse in Edmonton before joining the organization where she used her interest in nutrition children's education and global health to help others Walton was one of four recipients of the RhPAP (Rural Health Physicians Action Plan) 2020 Rural Medical School Award which provided $5,000 to help them with their studies towards rural practice Her RhPAP profile said she grew up in Rocky Mountain House and while working for three years as a registered nurse at Rocky Mountain Health Centre decided to become a doctor and enrolled in University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine she enthusiastically described her experiences as a physician-in-training in her home community you are the [Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit] team I think this inevitably leads to more growth and confidence as a practitioner.” RCMP are continuing to investigate the collision The Co-Operators Play Zone Spray Park opened for the season on May 2.  water at the spray park will be activated once the temperature reaches 16 degrees the temperature will be determined by data provided by Environment Canada.  It is also important to note that water used at the spray park drains into the North Collection pond at Pogadl Park and is reused for irrigation purposes for the Town.  The spray park is equipped with activation buttons which means water is only used when activated "In the event the Town reaches Stage 2 Water Restrictions the Spray Park will operate on reduced hours during the restriction. Once the Town reaches Stage 3 Water Restrictions the Spray Park will not operate until restriction levels are reduced back to Stage 2." Individuals can find more information on the spray park on the Town of Sylvan Lake website EdmontonNews2 dead after crash in central Alberta on MondayBy Karyn MulcahyPublished: April 29, 2025 at 1:54PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved The Sylvan Lake RCMP are currently on the scene of a serious motor vehicle collision Highway 20 will be closed in both directions.  The public is advised to take alternative routes.  an update will be sent out with more information.  and receive top headlines in your inbox Monday to Saturday The province's refocusing of the health care system continued on May 1 Health Minister Adriana LaGrange introduced Bill 55 the Health Statutes Amendments Act,  which addresses "outstanding policy items" in the new system.  Amendments under the bill will make changes to the Provincial Health Agencies Act Health Information Act, and the Public Health Act.  and we are in the final stages of refocusing Alberta’s health care system The proposed changes will help us continue to improve the health care system for all Albertans," said LaGrange in a media release accompanying the press conference The amendments introduced will transfer several public health functions currently handled by Alberta Health Services (AHS) to Primary Care Alberta which became a functional entity in February of this year leaving AHS to primarily handle in-hospital patient care.  will take over front-line public health services such as communicable disease control public health inspections and surveillance The medical officers of health who work in the province will move to the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health LaGrange emphasized that Albertans will see no interruptions in service while the changes are implemented "Albertans will continue to access public health services as they always have," said LaGrange An amendment to the Protection of Persons in Care Act will provide additional capabilities for the province to investigate allegations of abuse.  Another change being made is to the Health Information Act,  which is going to allow the Ministry of Seniors Community and Social Services further powers and confirm the ministry as custodians of health information so that it can fulfill its mandate in providing care under Assisted Living Alberta.  several sections of the Hospitals Act will be repealed as aspects of hospital management will be integrated into the Provincial Health Agencies Act and other aspects have been deemed to be outdated and no longer relevant.  Changes under the amended legislation will also allow the new health shared services entity a fifth agency which services and administratively supports all four new health agencies created by the province to provide support for health foundations across all sectors and remove all references to health regions.  The amended legislation is likely to be proclaimed in the fall of 2025 It remains to be seen how critics and health sector stakeholders will respond to the new legislation Enter your email to connect to 30 more days worth of stories by journalists living & working in Sylvan Lake Thank you for supporting local journalism The Sylvan Lake Yetti will be hosting a Crossover Weekend tournament at the NexSource Centre on May 3 and May 4.  The Sylvan Lake Yetti are part of the Junior B Tier II North Division Lacrosse league.  Players are aged 17 to 21 and come from Sylvan Lake and other locations in Central Alberta.  all 16 teams from both the North and South divisions will come to play the two divisions don't play each other until provincials the teams decided they wanted to see more competition with each other."  and the first year the Yetti have hosted the Crossover Tournament," Hanson said.  The Yetti began practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the beginning of April.  we have a quick turnaround to prepare for our season," Hanson said.  The team's first regular season game was on April 19 and the regular season goes until the second week of July.  and provincials are the August long weekend in Calgary this year," Hanson said.  and anyone is welcome to come out and watch," she said.  the Yetti will be playing on Saturday at 5 p.m against the Southern Alberta Chaos in Arena 1 the Yetti will play against the Strathmore Venom at 6:30 in Arena 2.  More information on the Yetti can be found on the Yetti Jr No One Covers Sylvan Lake Like The Sylvan Lake News Don’t miss out on reading the latest local provincial and national news. Join our community and receive daily news alerts & breaking news Advance voting starts today in Central Alberta ridings Battle River-Crowfoot and Yellowhead.  Electors have four days for advance voting or they can go to an Elections Canada office by April 22 Central Alberta voters can cast their ballots in the federal election as early as Friday Sunday and Monday (April 19-21) from 9 a.m Join thousands of other like-minded readers and sign up below to gain immediate & unlimited access to our news for the next 30 days – plus start receiving our newsletters The Stone Castle and Holbrook Cottage plaque has gone missing.  The plaque originally attached to a pedestal at the location explaining the history was removed Sylvan Lake and District Archives office manager Christina Lust said.  "I noticed it was gone a week ago when my husband and I were out for a walk How long it's been gone is unknown."  The Archives are also looking for 'The Ozarks' cabin sign The Alberta government is taking the federal Liberal government to court.  Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz and Minister of Affordability and Utilities Nathan Neudorf jointly announced that Alberta was taking the federal government to Alberta's Court of Appeal over matters of constitutionality where it came to Ottawa's net-zero emissions by 2035 plan It proved to be yet another record-shattering night at the Ponoka Stampede's 2025 WPCA Tarp Auction held May 2 in the Stagecoach Saloon on the Stampede grounds the Stampede marked a record sale total and it's also the very first time the auction broke the $600,000 mark Prime advertising space was available on the chuckwagons of the best 32 drivers in the world plus for four wildcard wagons on chuckwagon racing’s predominant racing circuit will be closing Thursday and will vacate it's current location on April 30.  The company is at the end of its current lease and can no longer stay in operation due to a raise in rent for the space "Our landlord investor group initially requested a 48 per cent increase in base rent and an approximately 12 per cent increase in triple net King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to visit Canada this month The two will attend the State Opening of the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa according to a post from the Royal Family on social media Friday (May 2) During his first post-election news conference Friday (May 2) Prime Minister Mark Carney said King Charles will deliver Canada’s speech from the throne on May 27.  "This will be the first time in nearly 50 years that Canada’s Monarch takes part in the State Opening of Parliament This historic honour matches the weight of our times," Carney said.  The prime minister added that Canada has "a steadfast defender in our sovereign." Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters Thirty-six of the world's top chuckwagon drivers will descend on Ponoka tomorrow night for a chance to secure top dollar prices for their tarps at the 2025 Ponoka Stampede.  The Ponoka Stampede's 2025 WPCA Tarp Sale kicks off with a reception at 5 p.m at the Stagecoach Saloon at the Ponoka Stampede Grounds After decades of rumours around what could be buried under the the PNE grounds the truth is finally surfacing – literally during construction of the new Freedom Mobile Arch amphitheatre at Hastings Park at the Pacific National Exhibition grounds in Vancouver crews found a captured German gun from the First World War a number of other military artifacts were found Seaforth Highlanders of Canada Museum curator James Calhoun said there have been rumours for years that there were German guns buried at the PNE grounds "This subsequent find just shows that there was more stuff stored at the park and we’re likely to find it," Calhoun said Friday (May 2) from the Seaforth Armoury in Vancouver where the historic artillery and military artifacts have been moved.  crews have found a captured German howitzer from the First World War four captured German machine guns from the First World War two British/Canadian nine-pounder cannons from the 1870s and the "trail" of the howitzer Calhoun explained the captured guns were brought back to Canada as "trophies" and scattered throughout the country was one of the first organizations to ask for more trophies.  He said there were plans for a permanent exhibit but it never quite happened as the Depression happened Fifteen or 16 artillery pieces were stored at Hastings Park in 1933/34 and another five were cut up for scraps.  "Our attitudes changed throughout the late ‘20s and ‘30s and we got rid of stuff." Calhoun added a newspaper article in the 1940s said the remaining pieces were discarded in an "out of the way corner" in Hastings Park That area used to have a ravine that was eventually filled in when the military took over the park in 1942 "We think that they pushed them all into a ravine and just buried them.” Calhoun said it's an incredibly exciting find He said an officer was "gobsmacked" that construction could unearth these items buried in metres of dirt while also wondering why the items weren't taken to the Seaforth Armoury building Put yourself in the position of somebody in World War Two Now we're at the point that it's magical." Calhoun said there could be as many as nine more artillery pieces buried and at least 10 machine guns but the piece he's hoping for is a 210-millimetre Morser that used to sit at the entrance of Stanley Park where it was the most-photographed captured gun in Vancouver.  “We think that might be buried in the ravine at the PNE so we’re very excited about going in to look for it.” Geordie Howe is an archeologist with the Vancouver Park Board In his close to 50 years as an archeologist he said getting the phone call about this was not one of his normal days.  played at the PNE for all the years I’ve been around here as a young boy The annual Meltdown event is coming back to Sylvan Lake soon.  The Metldown is an event that celebrates the end of winter and welcomes spring's arrival with colourful activities.  There are many exciting events for people to take in this year There are also some new activities this year culture and tourism supervisor Channelle Brooker said Sylvan Lake community members can start exercising their right to vote on April 18 individuals have a couple of options regarding where to vote.  Advance voting from April 18 to 21 will be taking place at the Wellness and Community Connections Centre.  Election day is April 28 and voting will take place at the Wellness and Community Connections Centre and the NexSource Centre The Town of Sylvan Lake Volunteer Centre received a $600 grant from Volunteer Alberta.  The grant is provided yearly to organizations that apply and meet the criteria Community Services Supervisor Val Munro said  The funds from the grant will be used to promote and market Volunteer Week recognizing the many volunteers for their work and service to the community "We will be able to promote the Volunteer Centre as the place to go not only for providing our volunteers with opportunities but also helping other agencies and Town departments by providing them with volunteers who are screened and vetted Changes are being made to drop-in sports in Sylvan Lake.  Due to ongoing incidents of vandalism during the Family Drop-In sports program and the drop-in sports at the Multi-Campus (2 Falcon Ridge Drive) will only be open to adults for the remainder of the drop-in sports season.  The decision was made to protect the facility and equipment and was based on observed patterns of behaviour culture and tourism Monique Callicott said.  "The incidents of vandalism have consistently occurred during Family Drop-In hours whereas the adult-only sessions have not experienced these issues." "While we cannot definitively confirm who is responsible for the vandalism the timing strongly suggests a correlation with the Family Drop-In time slot," she added.  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.