Red Deer RCMP are looking for a missing teenager after she was last seen in Wetaskiwin April 25 We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentFourteen-year-old Kaylee Saddleback is described as being five-feet She has a medium complexion with black hair and brown eyes so if you have any information regarding Saddleback’s whereabouts contact Red Deer RCMP at 403-406-2200 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 EdmontonNewsPedestrian killed in hit-and-run crash on highway southeast of EdmontonBy Karyn MulcahyPublished: May 02, 2025 at 5:34PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Leduc—Wetaskiwin 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 221 of 221 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 221 of 221 polls are reporting as of 4:22 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to be re-elected in Leduc—Wetaskiwin is in second place with 11,126 votes (17.32%) and Katherine Swampy Lake has represented the riding since 2006 Leduc—Wetaskiwin used to be named Edmonton—Wetaskiwin The riding’s boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election 24,796 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account Sign In Subscribe Now 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." 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 Conservative incumbent MP Mike Lake swept the riding of Leduc-Wetaskiwin in the 45th federal election on April 28.  with ballots beginning to be counted across the 221 local polling stations Lake had 71.9 per cent of the vote with over 7,000 votes leaving little doubt of Lake's decisive victory.  "It felt pretty good the whole campaign," said Lake from his constituency office in Beaumont adding his campaign team is now just watching the national results come in What remains to be seen is what side of the aisle Lake and the Conservative Party of Canada will be on as advance poll numbers are added to election day results as the evening goes on This is Lake's seventh term as MP and he has now been an elected official for 19 years Mike Lake was first elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament in 2006 in a landslide victory for the Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont riding the Liberals had held the district since 1991 The constituency changed to Edmonton—Wetaskiwin in 2015 and is now the Leduc-Wetaskiwin riding he was re-elected with 65.7 per cent of the vote Lake said while the name of the riding and the boundaries have changed a bit but also a real feeling of hope and optimism and a belief that we can do better than we have over the last 10 years," said Lake.  He said regardless of what the national election results will be he's thankful and privileged for the opportunity to serve and he'll continue to work hard for the people of Leduc-Wetaskiwin and completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta becoming the national accounts manager for the Edmonton Oilers NHL team Lake previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry under Prime Minister Stephen Harper Lake commended his opponents for putting their names forward in the democratic process.  "I just have such an appreciation for anyone who puts their name on a sign .. that decides to run for something they believe in and puts their name behind it," he said The other Leduc-Wetaskiwin riding candidates are:  - Ronald Brochu — Liberal Party of Canada  - Kirk Cayer — United Party of Canada  - Christopher Everingham — Canadian Future Party  - Jose Flores — People’s Party of Canada  An estimated 7.3 million Canadians voted in the advance federal election polls over the Easter weekend Preliminary data showed that 100,000 people across five different Central Alberta ridings used advance polls to cast their ballot ahead of election day including 24,796 voters in the Leduc-Wetaskiwin constituency.  Sign up for free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters The Government of Alberta recently announced $1 million in funding through the Fire Services Training Program Grant to support more than 65 local fire services across Alberta "This firefighter training grant will keep our community safe and equipped to handle emergencies," said Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely in a press release "The first to respond in an emergency is often a community’s local fire service which makes it critical that local firefighters in Camrose receive training that is reflective of industry best standards and fits the needs of the communities they serve," stated the press release "The funding provided to Camrose through the Fire Services Training Program Grant will help do just that by supporting them in delivering a wide range of training for their firefighters." “Firefighters put their lives on the line to protect us and we’re making sure they have the training they need to do their jobs safely and effectively Well-trained fire services are essential to keeping our communities safe and these grant investments will help firefighters respond with skill and confidence when Albertans need them most," said Ric McIver municipalities are responsible for determining fire service needs for their community including local fire service levels and organization but the majority of people voted to send Conservative candidate Mike Lake back to Ottawa 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 content“It’s such a privilege to represent the constituents that I get to represent 10 years ago it shifted back into my home area who has represented the bulk of the region for 19 years Lake has represented the area since he was first elected in 2006 but this will be his third riding after the boundaries were changed to remove Edmonton entirely “I think with the shift this time around adding a little bit more of the rural area and becoming more of a normal sized riding it’s been exciting to see what that would look like,” he said The boundary changes meant between 150,000 and 180,000 constituents in Edmonton were taken out of the riding Thorsby and Warburg were added along with the voters in the Four Nations of Maskwacis “The conversations I had at the door were very supportive and I can’t wait to get to work for the people of Leduc-Wetaskiwin,” he said Wake was declared the winner in a landslide with 125 of 221 polls reporting 921 votes and New Democrat Party candidate Katherine Swampy People’s Party of Canada Jose Flores came in with for 669 votes followed by Kirk Cayer from the United Party of Canada with 317 and Christopher Everingham of the Canadian Future Party with 143 Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre had conceded defeat to the Liberals but adding the Conservatives should also be proud of the work they’ve done We got the highest share of the vote our party has received since 1988,” Poilievre said “We denied the NDP and Liberals enough seats to form a coalition government.”  “It’s not what we wanted federally,” said Lake. “And at this point, we don’t know exactly what it is. We’ll have to wait and see, but right now it’s the biggest Official Opposition with 144 seats and it’s going to be a force that sets up for a feisty Parliament. From Day 1, I’ll be working very hard to put into words, into action, the concerns my constituents have.” Election results that were validated on May 1 showed Conservative incumbent Mike Lake was re-elected with a total of 47,947 votes The total number of valid votes cast in the Leduc-Wetaskiwin riding were 64,161 (341 ballots were rejected). There was a total of  88,675 eligible voters in the constituency The final vote tallies for the other candidates were as follows:  Conservative incumbent Mike Lake had 74.1 per cent of the vote with 19,142 votes as over half of the poll stations in the riding had reported their numbers.  and votes are starting to be counted.  early results had NDP candidate Katherine Swampy in the lead for the Leduc-Wetaskiwin riding.  Conservative incumbent Mike Lake had taken the lead with just over 58 per cent of the vote with 627 votes.  Liberal candidate Ronald Brochu has the second-most votes with 199 and Swampy currently has 177.  the option to vote in the advance polls will be available next week We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAdvance polls will be set up from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m. April 18-21, at the Royal Canadian Legion Br. No. 229, 5156 50 Ave. for Millet voters and at the Wetaskiwin Senior Citizens Society, 5216 54 St. for Wetaskiwin residents wanting to cast a ballot ahead of election day. Advance polls for Wetaskiwin County and Maskwacis residents were still being confirmed at Wetaskiwin Times press time. You can also vote in person at any Elections Canada office across the country, any time before 4 p.m. MST on April 22. Those closest to Millet and Wetaskiwin are at 6108 50 St., Suite 112 in Leduc or at the Duggan Wellness Centre, 6601 48 Ave., Suite 27 in Camrose. Voters living in Maskwacis can vote at the Camrose office or at 5001 52nd St., Suite 220 in Lacombe. To vote in the federal election, you must be a Canadian citizen who is at least 18 years old on election day and be able to prove your address. Most Canadians who are eligible to vote are already registered in the National Register of Electors. If you are registered and you checked off both Elections Canada boxes on your tax return, your registration will be updated with your current home address. To check if you’re registered at your current address, use the Online Voter Registration Service at Elections Canada If you can’t check online, you can call 1-800-463-6868 in Canada and the U.S. This could include your driver’s licence or any other card issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial/territorial or local) with your photo, name and current address. Alternatively, you can provide two pieces of identification. Both must have your name and at least one must have your current address. An example would be the voter information card and bank statement or a utility bill and student ID card. A full list of acceptable ID is listed on the Elections Canada website. If none of those options are available, you can still vote if you declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station vouch for you. The voucher must be able to prove their identity and address. A person can vouch for only one person (except in long-term care facilities). While being able to provide an address is part of the voting process, people who are homeless or of no fixed address are also able to vote. To prove your identity, you can show a piece of ID with your name on it, like a birth certificate or health card. To prove your address, you can show an official letter called a Letter of Confirmation of Residence. If you have gone to an establishment that offers food, housing or other social services, you can ask the administrator of the establishment for this letter. Some examples include: shelters, soup kitchens or a community-based residential facility You can also declare your identity and address in writing and have someone who knows you and who is assigned to your polling station vouch for you. The person vouching for you must be able to prove their identity and address. A person can vouch for only one person, except in long-term care facilities. To find your polling station, go to the Elections Canada home page and in the Voter Information Service box, enter the postal code that appears on your Letter of Confirmation of Residence. You can also call Elections Canada, toll-free, at 1-800-463-6868 to find out where your polling station is. Whether it's understanding what programs are needed to accommodate Wetaskiwin's residents or leveraging funding from other levels of government understanding who calls Wetaskiwin home With that in mind, the City of Wetaskiwin's 2025 municipal census will determine the total population and collect vital demographic information that will help staff plan and enhance programs and services, assess the city's growth and optimize grant funding.  Municipal departments and related agencies require accurate statistical data to make informed decisions about various population-based services – everything from transportation, utilities and road maintenance to fire protection Up-to-date demographic information helps the City manage revenues efficiently while also providing needed insight to school boards businesses and others who use the data to guide decision-making. Additionally many provincial and federal government grants are allocated on a per capita basis and a comprehensive census count ensures the City receives the maximum available funding How do I participate in the Wetaskiwin census The census will include questions about your dwelling type and the number of people who reside in your household as of Thursday Information will be requested for each resident Once completed, your personal information is encrypted and stored securely under the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act The easiest way to complete the census is online, using the secure access code you received in the mail before May 1. The online portal will be open to June 30 – here's what to expect complete your online census online between May 1 and 7 to be entered into a draw for one of four $75 gift cards! Complete your census online between May 8 and 14 and be entered into a draw for one of three $50 gift cards For those needing help navigating the online portal City employees will host two drop-in census events: Both drop-ins will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – bring your secure access code For residences that have not completed the census online by Thursday enumerators will collect census information door to door – look for their Wetaskiwin 2025 Census-branded badges, tablets and business cards from the City's census team For those who prefer to complete their census by phone call the City census team at 780-361-4400 ext 8833 – provide your secure access code and a staff member will help you complete your census The Wetaskiwin community is grieving the loss of a long-time supporter Life-long Wetaskiwin resident and former Wetaskiwin City Councillor Kevin Lonsdale passed away suddenly last Thursday In honour of his work with the City of Wetaskiwn Lonsdale was first elected to City Council in 2017 especially minor football,” said Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam “Kevin performed his duties as Councillor in an engaged and thoughtful manner with the best interests of the city in mind His legacy will continue on through the work he left behind.” In a social media post brother Keith Lonsdale said the family was touched by the gesture He would have never asked or expected for the flags to be lowered for him as do we.” “He was a Wetaskiwiner through and through,” said friend Lynn Ware “Nobody knew and understood Wetaskiwin like he did.” Ware said many people got to know Lonsdale through sports “Kevin was a beloved coach to many athletes over the last 30 years…His passing is definitely a huge deficit to our community.” Over the years but he was always passionate about the community he called home “Kevin took everything to heart and he never forgot those that he held dear He could be found kneeling at the 50-yarad line to pay respects to one of his former players Adam before games and I believe his spirit will always be flet by those who knew him Kevin.” As a director and coach with the Wetaskiwin and District Amateur Football Association Lonsdale had a passion for the game and wanted to see the association which recently announced it would be folding Wetaskiwin football alum and coach Daniel Branco said he first met Lonsdale as a kid on the field playing alongside Lonsdale’s son and nephew Kevin was still thinking about the future or the game We had just met to talk about ways to help save minor football in Wetaskiwin His passion and dedication never wavered.” “Kevin’s legacy isn’t measured in wins or trophies It’s written in the relationships he built and the love he gave to the sport and community noting before game he would often walk the field reflecting on the past and honouring teammates and friends who had passed before him it will be Kevin’s memory that lives on in those same conversations.” “Kevin was a character a memory of an old teammate or advice on how to grow the game we both loved,” he said I’ve been inundated with an influx of memories…some not quite newsworthy but cherished all the same by those of us who lived them I can only imagine how many others are experiencing the same waves of emotion and reflection during this time.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content a fire advisory is in effect for the County of Wetaskiwin.  The county advises that due to extreme dry weather conditions that it's essential to use caution with any open burining within the county.  Existing fire permits remain valid (subject to suspension or cancellation) New fire permits will continue to be issued The fire advisory will remain in effect until conditions improve While the County of Wetaskiwin is currently considered at low risk for wildfires surrounding counties are on alert due to dry conditions Leduc County is currently under a fire advisory due to an increased risk of wildfire because of dry conditions and high winds.  A fire advisory means the fire hazard rating has increased and there may be restrictions on burning It is also a warning that more restrictions could be forthcoming if conditions don't improve.  open burning with issued fire permits and fires that are contained within approved burn barrels or fire pits are acceptable Fire permits may be issued at the discretion of the fire authority for the area.  The situation will continue to be monitored and fire officials will update the public of any change at leduc-county.com and albertafirebans.ca Ponoka County implemented a fire advisory due to forecasted warm Their response area includes Ponoka County the Town of Rimbey and the Summer Village of Parkland Beach open burn and fireworks discharge permit will be approved on a case by case basis.  A fire advisory is also currently in effect for Camrose County and Beaver County is under a fire restriction.  are now under a fire restriction as there is an increased risk of wildfire due to dry conditions All existing fire permits are cancelled and open burns must be extinguished Fire permits will not be issued during the restriction including large and small brush piles of leaves or branches, are prohibited The Vision Credit Union Wetaskiwin branch donated $500 to the Wetaskiwin Lions Club for the Stride for Diabetes on April 29.  A new K-8 school in Wetaskiwin is moving along at the pace of the Provincial Government but its not the only Capital project that needs addressing The report stated there are currently five K-8 schools in Wetaskiwin, but only two are properly equipped to offer “robust physical education, band, home economics, and industrial arts programs”.   Enrolments at all five city schools have been such that each school building is significantly under-used and with future enrolment projections projected to decline.   With that, the Alberta Government received approval to start planning a new K-8 replacement school at the current Norwood School site. The new school will be able to accommodate 420 students and will replace Centennial, Norwood and Parkdale Schools.  “We’re looking at a two-storey building, hoping for a field house space,” Facilities and Finance Committee trustee Laura White told the board.  Following the meeting, Assoc. Superintendent: Business Sherri Reid said site testing was done over Spring Break and the results are expected to be received in about eight weeks.  It’s expected to cost $21,051,520  to build the new school with constructed slated to start April 1, 2026 and completed  Aug. 31, 2028.  Reid said a replacement of the sprinkler system at Clear Vista School has been presented to the Provincial Government for this year and WRPS is waiting to hear back on that request.  The Capital Projects report said there is evidence of a high rate of corrosion and pin-hole leaks in the sprinkler system pipe and fittings that necessitated the investigation on the status of the sprinkler system.  This investigation uncovered a number of serious issues that will inevitably cause or contribute to multiple sprinkler failures throughout the building.  That project is estimated to cost $858,520. If approved, WRPS would work on replacing the sprinkler system in August 2025 and be completed by August 2027.    WRPS’s third priority is the modernization of Pigeon Lake Regional School. Located in the rural community of Falun, the Grade 7 to 12 school “is designed in such a way that the School Board is unable to offer robust programming related to vocational trades, for example; Construction, Welding, Automotive Mechanics,” reads the report.  A facility modernization would address this inequity and is expected to cost $2,540,000. If approved, WRPS wants to start the year-long project April 1, 2026.  The other major project WRPS is working on is a solution in the western portion of the school division.  There are currently three schools in Ward 4; Alder Flats, Winfield and Buck Mountain Central. Alder Flats and Winfield educate K-Grade 6 students while Buck Mountain is a Grade 7-12 school.  Historically, enrolments at all three of the schools means the building are “significantly underutilized” and future enrolment projections anticipate further enrolment decline.  Alder Flats currently has 81 students and that number is expected to drop to 67 in 2026. Winfield is projecting they will go from 74 students in 2024 to 67 students in 2026. Buck Mountain is anticipating a slight increase from 146 this year to 156 in 2025.  An idea being proposed by WRPS is to build a new K-12 school that would accommodate 365 student while providing economies of scale and provide the opportunity to enhance and increase program offerings.  But, Reid noted, nothing has been decided.  “We went through the consultations and there’s still a need to look at those schools, but there’s no formal plan that’s been put together.”  At the end of 2023, a series of meetings were scheduled for January where parents and community members were told lower birth rates, as well as parents choosing to send their kids to schools outside their catchment and more opting to home school were reasons behind declining enrollments across the division.  At the Buck Lake family of schools, attendees expressed concern that Winfield and Alder Flats too far apart to consolidate the three schools into one, which would lead to long drives and more time on buses. There was also worries about safety and violence in relation to the proposed changes and a fear of people moving away and the potential loss of community identity, but there was also the realization that that no change could lead to a slow death of the community.  The final project on WRPS’s wish list is the modernization of Career and Trades Spaces at Wetaskiwin Composite High School. This school received a major modernization in 2016, but a significant portion of the capital dollars were required to upgrade electrical and mechanical systems which meant holding off on upgrades to the CTS spaces.  While the high school is designed to offer vocational trades programming, the facility spaces and program equipment need upgrading. It’s expected to cost $508,000 and the board is hoping for approval to start next April 1 and finishing the project in August 2027.  With the project list submitted to the Provincial Government, Reid said they will spend the next few months advocating to get those projects approved and will likely have a decision next February when the 2026 Provincial Budget is announced.  Beaumont resident Chris Everingham in running in the federal election as the Canadian Future Candidate for Leduc-Wetaskiwin Originally from Ontario, Everingham moved to Alberta when he joined Canada’s armed forces and never left. After serving for seven years, including two tours in Afghanistan, he made Alberta his home. Having done extensive volunteer work in prior elections with candidates, Everingham is ready to help make a difference in the communities he loves. “I love this province, these communities, the people amazing. This is my home, where I want to raise my children, and where I want to see us grow and succeed as a community,” he said. What stands out most to Everingham about the Canadian Future Party, led by Dominic Cardy, is its principles. “We don’t want to be the party putting people down, we don’t want polarizing politics. The goal is simple, to move the country forward, make us economically strong, and keep us a strong democracy,” Everingham said. “To see it crumbling before my eyes, and to have people questioning our democracy, it makes me sad. We have to bring back our powerful stance on democracy, and the Canadian Future Party is the party I believe can do that. It might be a slow process, we’re a small party, but we’re loud, very proud, and here to help.” When it comes to the Leduc-Wetaskiwin Riding, Everingham is very concerned that there is still a water advisory in Maskwacis. “The fact that any individual in Canada has to boil their water is ridiculous in my eyes,” he said, adding that “it’s concerning, I’d love to work with them to move things forward.” As the communities in the riding continue to grow for years to come, Everingham said it’s important that people moving here have homes to move into. “We are growing really fast, which is amazing. It’s great to have new people, but we have to work on getting new people into new homes. I don’t want to see Leduc-Wetaskiwin falling behind with that.” The federal election is set for Monday, April 28.  No one was injured during a standoff with police in a rural home in Wetaskiwin County at the end of the year We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentOn Dec. 30, Wetaskiwin RCMP were called to a rural home on Twp. Rd. 441 in Wetaskiwin County after receiving a call about an assault at the residence.  “It was an assault on a family member, but not a spouse,” said Alberta Media Relations Cpl. Troy Savinkoff.  After attempts to contact the suspect were unsuccessful, Wetaskiwin RCMP contained the residence and the Alberta RCMP Emergency Response Team was deployed to assist.  “For every call we receive, we do a risk assessment and we new the risk was elevated in this situation,” said Savinkoff.  Because of that increased risk, people were advised to avoid the area along Twp. Rd 441 between Range Roads 224 and 822 and for those living there to shelter in place.  Police obtained a warrant to enter the home and arrest the suspect. Upon entering the home, officers were shot at by the suspect.  “Very thankfully, no one was hurt,” said Savinkoff,  noting the original assault victim had already fled the building.  Police exited the home and continued efforts were made to de-escalate the situation. After several hours the suspect surrendered and was safely taken into custody. The suspect was treated for a minor injury and taken to cells.   Following the suspect’s arrest, Wetaskiwin General Investigation Section took carriage of the investigation, seized multiple weapons and ammunition and charged 34-year-old Eric Dylan Dixon with: Attempted murder with a firearm; Resist peace officer; multiple Firearm offences, Assault; Forcible confinement; and Uttering threats.  Dixon was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Jan. 9 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin.   “This incident highlights the dangers our officers face when responding to reports of armed and dangerous individuals.,” said Chief Supt. Dale Kendall, “When these high risk events occurs, the RCMP deploys our Critical Incident Program members which includes the Emergency Response Team as well as crisis negotiators whose goal is to safely contain and deescalate these events whenever possible.”  After hearing a presentation from the Wetaskiwin Spray Park Committee earlier this month Wetaskiwin City Council made a decision to move the project forward We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentDuring the April 14 regular council meeting Spray Park Committee co-chair Chelsey Wood told Council they would have to modify the design and go with a low-through system instead of a recirculating one while holding off on plans for an accessible playground because they hadn’t quite reached their fund raising goal but wanted to start construction on the spray park this summer with plans for a summer ribbon cutting After receiving the update from the Wetaskiwin Spray Park Committee on the status of the project Council passed a motion later in the meeting to backstop funding up to $500,000 from the Canada Community Building Fund for the Wetaskiwin Spray Park project so long as the committee continues to fundraise and apply for grants In the highlights from the City Council meeting the additional funding from the City will allow the Committee to begin construction on both the spray park and the accessible playground during the summer instead of needing to construct each element separately due to funding constraints A statement from the Spray Park Committee said “We’re excited to share that we’ve officially reached a major fundraising goal thanks to the generosity of so many community supporters and government grants We can officially begin construction this summer.”  they’re now able to move forward with the full vision of the project including the addition of an accessible playground “This ensures we can keep things moving without delay and we’re so grateful to everyone who has helped get us here” the committee is still actively fundraising and looking for further opportunities to cover the remaining costs which includes the finishing touches to make the park a cohesive and welcoming space Wetaskiwin City council agreed to lower wastewater fees three per cent We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle content“Council and Administration have worked extremely hard to get additional funding for the wastewater treatment facility,” Wetaskiwin Mayor Tyler Gandam during the April 12 regular Council meeting.  After attending a Peace Hills Utility meeting as a board member, Gandam asked for an amendment to lower the rate further and change it to six per cent effective May 1 for a total of nine per cent.  Coun. Wanye Neilson said the $3.9 million in wastewater revenue from the fee contributes to the total operating cost of the system and puts money in reserves.  “For every one per cent decrease on our bills, we are decreasing the amount of money going into our reserves by $40,000.”  Increasing the reduction takes $360,000 away from the money going into reserves, said Neilson.  City manager Sue Howard said the difference would be that at three per cent, there would be just over $1 million put into reserves. At six per cent, it would be just under $1 million going into reserves.  There is currently about $2 million in reserves, $1 million in equity share for $3 million in capital projects. A capital projects list from Aquatera to maintain the wastewater treatment plant and infrastructure exceeds that amount, said Neilson.  “Which means it will take four or five years to collect enough money for the next project.”  Neilson added that when he was first elected to Council, one of the biggest concerns Council faced was that previous councils had not put money into reserve for future capital projects.  “We’re doing to Peace Hills what we had complained about previous councils doing.”  With Peace Hills projecting a two per cent increase in water rates next year, Neilson said the City would be better off keeping money in reserve now and using it to offset that increase next year.  If there is not money in reserves to complete those projects, Peace Hills can, with Council’s approval, apply for grant projects and funding or borrow the money.  Howard pointed out those grant applications would take away from other city infrastructure projects, like roads.  “While I appreciate the rates may go up Jan. 1, 2026, for the next eight months we can get a bit of a break,” said Gandam.  Ultimately, Council approved a motion to decrease wastewater fees by six per cent for all customers.    Wetaskiwin RCMP confiscated drugs and guns and arrested four people We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentJust before 10 a.m the Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit stopped a black Ram 1500 on 53 St officers developed grounds to arrest the driver and the three passengers under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act A search of the occupants and the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 110 grams of fentanyl a loaded sawed off .22 rifle and a shotgun a 47-years-old female resident of Wetaskiwin was charged with two counts of Possession a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking three counts of fail to comply with a release order and being part of a criminal organization for trafficking a 34-years-old female resident of Wetaskiwin was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking ten firearm related offences and being part of a criminal organization for trafficking a 38-years-old male resident of Wetaskiwin was charged with two counts of possession a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking 11 firearm related offences and being part of a criminal organization for trafficking a 40-years-old male resident of Wetaskiwin was charged with possession a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking; ten firearm related offences and being part of a criminal organization for trafficking Klatt and Johnson were all taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded in custody with their next court date set for March 4 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin The majority of students in the Leduc-Wetaskiwin riding decided Conservative candidate Mike Lake should be given another term We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentRunning alongside the federal election intermediate and high school students participated in Student Vote Canada Monday Students learned about democracy and elections, researched the parties and their platforms, and debated the future of the country before casting their ballots for the official candidates running in their school’s electoral district.   Locally, Lake won an overwhelming majority of the votes with 3,433 votes and 61.55 per cent of the popular vote, followed by Liberal candidate Ronald Brochu with 855 votes, NDP candidate Katherine Swampy with 715 votes, Jose Flores from the People’s Party of Candidate with 229, Christopher Everingham from the Canadian Future Party with 182 and the United Party of Canada’s Kirk Cayer with 164 votes.   Nationally, Canadian students elected a Conservative Party minority government, with the Liberal Party forming the official opposition.   The Conservative Party won 165 seats and 36.4 per cent of the popular vote, forming a minority government. Pierre Poilievre won in the riding of Carleton, Ont.   The Liberal Party won 145 seats and 31.7 per cent of the popular vote, forming the official opposition. Mark Carney won in the riding of Nepean, Ont.   The Bloc Québecois won 18 seats and 2.1 per cent of the popular vote. Yves-François Blanchet won in the riding of Beloeil—Chambly, QC.    NDP leader Jagmeet Singh lost in the riding of Burnaby South in BC, but the NDP did win 13 seats and 14.5 per cent of the popular vote.    The Green Party’s Jonathan Pedneault lost in the riding of Outremont, QC, and Elizabeth May won in Saanich—Gulf Islands. The party won two seats and 7.5 per cent of the popular vote.    There were 870,340 valid votes reported from 5,900 schools, with results from all 343 electoral districts. There were also 30,453 rejected ballots.  The Wetaskiwin Curling Club wrapped up another successful season with a Year End Wind-Up Celebration April 12 that included dinner dancing to The Wright Laws and recognition of some of the club’s outstanding members Curling Club president Robyn Gerrard presented awards to:   Supporting Business of the Year – Irv’s Westside Auto  All of the recipients were selected by the curlers.  The Junior Club finished their season in March with a fun ‘bring your parent to curling’ game night, pizza and awards, with recognition to sponsors:  Fully Promoted Wetaskiwin – Trophy Sponsor  Domino’s Pizza Wetaskiwin – Pizza Sponsor  The city and County of Wetaskiwin have joined forces to develop a comprehensive regional tourism strategy aimed at "showcasing the area’s rich cultural heritage “When promoted collectively, the region offers something for everyone," said the city's economic development coordinator "We have the potential to increase visitor traffic The strategy will be developed in collaboration with local tourism operators and will serve as a guiding framework to align tourism efforts across the region Key objectives include identifying shared assets unlocking opportunities for new development and building capacity for sustainable tourism The project is being supported by the Government of Alberta’s Northern and Regional Economic Development Program which funds initiatives that strengthen and diversify regional economies “We understand the value of collaborating,” said Richard Horncastle director of economic development for the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI), the county’s economic development agency “We’re eager to work with tourism operators across the region to show everyone just how diverse and incredible our corner of Alberta is "And we’re also excited to work with the city on this project reducing costs to taxpayers while ensuring we get the best possible value for our public dollar.” “We have many hidden gems within the county and are excited to support them and share their stories,” said Reeve Josh Bishop “It’s a good opportunity to tie these attractions together with the city’s to promote the region as a destination.” A consultant will be selected in the coming weeks with work on the strategy set to begin soon after  “While economic uncertainty in the U.S may mean Canadians are choosing to vacation within Canada, it can also make life difficult for business owners as costs increase," said Horncastle “We want to support our small businesses through these challenging times.” “We have lots to discover right here in the Wetaskiwin region,” said Coffey “We’re looking forward to working with our tourism operators to let everyone know that.” 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. It was a thrilling local debut for Can-Am Wrestling in Wetaskiwin Friday night at the Co-op Place Rec Hall. But some of the biggest wins of the night weren’t scored by the competitors in the ring.  Article contentFans were treated to six matches featuring some of the best available talent from Canada and the U.S., including wrestlers that have been seen on television for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and All Elite Wrestling (AEW). In all, more than 450 people got into the excitement of the matches and cheered and booed based on their favorites.  Wetaskiwin referee, Oscar Henry proved to deliver the biggest surprise of the night when he’d had all he could take from the boisterous Sean Gaston and stunned the villain to silence by catching him with a surprise pin. Calling upon Mayor Tyler Gandam from the crowd to officiate so he could dole out justice, Oscar reminded Gaston why the referee’s orders should always be heeded.    Community champions were also recognized with belt presentations in the ring. The biggest supporters of the night’s wrestling action were Trackside Distillery, Reflections Glass and Legacy Dodge — each presented with their own custom championship in the ring. Those sponsors were also on hand as $4,000 in community donations were given in cash to support the Wetaskiwin Allied Arts Centre, Connect Wetaskiwin, the Parkdale School PAC, and The City of Wetaskiwin Social Club, respectively.  “This was all truly a community effort,” said Can-Am Wrestling Commissioner and co-founder Otto Gentile of the matches in Wetaskiwin. “With rising costs of operation, we could not create the community successes without local business support. Wetaskiwin has welcomed us warmly and showed us how much heart that it has. We are already looking forward to coming back next year.”  The Calgary-based wrestling circuit, Can-Am Wrestling, began touring in 1997 and have presented events from Vancouver Island to Ontario over the past three decades.  Since returning to action after the pandemic, the company is promoting roughly 60 dates per year across Alberta and will present it’s 500th in the coming months, making it one of the most prolific professional wrestling companies in Canadian history.  Local mat fans were thrilled to learn at the end of the night that professional wrestling will return to the Rec Hall in 2026, with the feature attraction being Short Sleeve Sampson, a celebrated little person who reigns as the “Midget Wrestling Warriors” world champion.  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. The Best Western Wayside Inn banquet room was full as family and friends gathered Saturday night to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions this year’s 2025 Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame inductees.  Article contentDon Buskas, Fritz Kirstein, Ken Mastel, Wayne Vanouck and the 1996 Doane Raymond Rockies Midget AA Baseball Team will join the more than 500 other inductees who have their plaques added to the walls of the Hall of Fame in Wetaskiwin Co-op Place.  “Sports has a way of bringing our community together,” said Hall of Fame president Sandy Wright. “Honoring these inductees builds community pride and we owe a debt of gratitude to the people who had a vision to have a sports hall of fame in Wetaskiwin.”  As a Builder and Official, Buskas was nominated for the more than three decades he spent officiating hockey and baseball at a variety of levels in Wetaskiwin as well as in Alberta Provincials, Western Canadian and Canadian Championships.   “His steady hand an unwavering committment to officiating commands respect,” said Hall of Fame treasurer Greg Zilkie. “He upholds the integrity of the game and has played a vital role in developing young officials.”  Born in Wetaskiwin and raised on a farm in the Malmo district, Buskas became involved in organized sport in Grade 7 when he attended Rosebrier school and took up curling, a sport he played for 21 years.  In high school he played one year of minor hockey.  Then, like many parents, took up coaching once his three children were playing softball.  He also coached his two son’s hockey teams which led to his involvement in officiating hockey.   Buskas was also Referee-in-Chief for Wetaskiwin Minor Hockey from 1997-2010 and when he was not officiating or assigning games, he spent countless hours supervising in the stands, helping to make the standards of the officiating in Wetaskiwin “top notch”.    Buskas has instructed at clinics for hockey officials in many Alberta communities and has been a strong supporter of young officials, helpeing groom many to advance to the Junior and College levels.    Buskas has always had high standards for himself and the officials he has taught and supervised.  He is a stickler on procedures, rules and how Wetaskiwin officials conduct themselves on and off the ice.  He does not tolerate any “goofing around” on the ice and has made sure all the referees show up to the rink in the proper attire.  Whenever there is a rules dispute, Buskas is the one called on for advice.   Hockey Alberta has presented Buskas numerous awards for his work and commitment to refereeing.    When his oldest son started playing baseball there was a lack of officials, so Buskas took up officiating that sport in 1993. He served on the Provincial Umpire Committee from 2000 to 2021 and was supervisor for Baseball Alberta Zone 4 for five seasons.    Buskas holds a Level 5C certification and has traveled all over central Alberta to watch and mentor younger officials while officiating games from the local level to National Championships.  When the Edmonton Capitals won the North American League Championship in 2005, Buskas was the plate umpire. Buskas umpires in the Western Canadian Baseball League and has the honour of umpiring the only perfect game in Western Major Baseball League history on June 28, 2018 when the Edmonton Prospects won 4-0 over the Ft McMurray Giants.   For his service and contributions in baseball Buskas has received many awards and citations.   “Thank-you for this,” said Buskas. “It was a complete surprise…Officials learn life lessons on and off the field and I’m very proud and honoured.”  Fritz Kirstein was inducted as an Athlete for his athletic achievements in Soccer, Curling and Golf from 1907-1935.     Kirstein was born in Rovno, Russia (now part of the Ukraine) in 1891.  Soon after his birth, his parents immigrated to Canada and in 1902, they moved to the Wetaskiwin area.   Kirstein was also a talented curler.  In the 1920’s, he competed against teams from other centres with a Wetaskiwin group composed of two curling teams.  They won the competition and were awarded the Ash Trophy for Central and Northern Alberta.  Travelling to Edmonton to compete in city bonspiels, in 1928 Kirstein was on a team that won Edmonton Bonspiel Visitors’ Competition.     In 1935-36 he was a coach with the first Wetaskiwin Colonels Hockey Team when his oldest son Ken was on the team.    “Kirstein competed in an era none of us can imagine”, said his granddaughter, Sandy Wright.  “Athletic opportunities, facilities, equipment, coaching and funds did not even compare to today’s situations. The small town nine-hole golf courses with sand greens and the curling rinks with natural ice are long gone and so is the five-and-a-half-day Wetaskiwin work week.”   Ken Mastel was inducted as an Athlete and Builder for his college and university careers playing volleyball and for the over 40 years he has spent coaching volleyball, dedicating countless hours to youth.  “Ken is a remarkable individual whose accomplishments have enriched our community,” said Hall of Fame vice-president Kristi Paukstat  Growing up in Richmound, SK, he played every sport possible including baseball, fastball, hockey, curling, badminton, tennis, racquetball, track and field and of course volleyball. Being a natural athlete, he excelled in all sports, but volleyball was close to religion in Richmound. The high school team from this tiny hamlet could compete against the biggest city schools.  After his family moved to Medicine Hat, Mastel was known as an exceptional curler and competed in two Alberta Provincial championships by the age of 16.  After graduating high school, curling had to be put on the back burner when he was offered scholarships over the next five years to play post-secondary volleyball.  Mastel played on the Medicine Hat College Volleyball Team from 1979 to 1981. Both years he was named Captain, MVP, and selected as an Alberta College Athletic Conference All-Star. He was also selected as the college’s Male-Athlete-of-the-Year in 1981.  When Mastel transferred to the University of Calgary he made the number one nationally ranked Dinos as an unrecruited walk-on where he played for the next three years.  During this time, the team was never ranked less than fourth in Canada. In 1976, the Dinos won the Canada West and the National Championships in 1982.  In 1986, Mastel graduated from university with B.PE and B.Ed degrees and was hired to teach at Pigeon Lake Regional High School and coach volleyball. Pigeon Lake teams had never been to provincials before, but, in six of the next seven years Mastel coached teams to provincials, compiling some incredible winning streaks.   After seven years at Pigeon Lake Regional, Mastel moved to Sacred Heart School in Wetaskiwin where he coached many league championship teams. For a few years, he was recruited to coach the WCHS boys’ volleyball team. In 1992 and 1993, Mastel coached Alberta’s Provincial U16 boys’ team in the Western Canadian championships. In 1992 they won Gold and in 1993 Bronze. Over the years Ken has coached at numerous volleyball camps including the elite International U of A/AVA Jasper Volleyball camp.   Even though he is officially retired, he still gets calls to help coach or consult for teams. In the past two years he has helped coach the WCHS senior girls, the junior high teams at Sacred Heart, the Beaumont High School senior boys’ team and the U18 Camrose Vikings girls’ volleyball club team.  As an adult Mastel played fastball with the Wetaskiwin Traders and the Millet Thunder Clubs, winning several silver provincial medals.  “When I was a kid, all I wanted to do was play sports,” said Mastel. “As the seasons changed, the sports changed.”  Inducted as an athlete, Wayne Vanouck has been involved in motorsports since the 1960’s and at the age of 80, is still an active participant.   Vanouck partnered with Martin Vanouck in 1968.  Vanouck took the role of crew chief and Vanouck and Sjogren Racing was formed. Helped by their cutting-edge engineering skills, they progressed up the scale, building ever more powerful and professional cars into the 1980’s and had amazing success with their Top Alcohol Dragster, the “Sorcerer”, over those years.   In 1984 they acquired enough points to win first place in the world in Top Alcohol Dragster with the American Drag Racing Association and through 1985 they were able to put #1 on their dragster and no one else could use that number.   For a small, low budget crew from Wetaskiwin, Alberta to achieve that level against all the well-financed machines in the US and Canada is exceptionally remarkable.  They did score some local and international sponsors such as Goodyear and Quaker State which helped.  Over the years they collected dozens of trophies in professional drag racing   In the early 1980’s, the team built a modified tractor and gave tractor pulling a try with their first puller “Sorcerer 2” which has a V12 Packard engine from a PT boat and is still running today.  Forty years later they are the largest Pulling Team in Canada, growing from one modified tractor to 10, ranging from 1000 to 6000 horsepower.  They have won multiple championships in every class in the pulling league.     In 2019 the Wetaskiwin Ag Society built a pulling track and had their first of many pulling events. Because of Vanouck’s dedication, focus, expertise and assistance, they dedicated the track to him,    Vanouck, Sjogren and the rest of the team are superstars in the racing business and bring widespread positive attention to Wetaskiwin and because of that, Wetaskiwin, is known all over North America.   “He’s a man of few words,” said Hall of Fame director Don Loov. “He’s a man of action and he gets things done.”  In accepting the honour, Vanouck said, “Tractor pulling is a sport of friends and comrades and I’d like to thank the Hall of Fame Committe as well as my friends nominated me. We wouldn’t be successful without the help of the community, our family, friends and team members who have worked to make it possible to do what we do without them.”   The 1996 Doane Raymond Rockies Midget AA Baseball Team   The 1996 Doane Raymond Rockies are Wetaskiwin’s one and only age group baseball team to win a Provincial AA title.  These men from the area were 16 to 18-years old when they won the championship and beaome the first age group baseball team to be inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame.     In 1995 most of Millet’s top midget aged players would jump ship and join Wetaskiwin to play for a AA team.  The young team saw some success but ultimately fell short against strong squads from Leduc and Westlock.    The 1996 squad was a different story as the last remaining talent from Millet joined a now veteran, battle tested AA squad.  With a new name, uniforms and a sponsor the team was ready to take the next step.    The team entered the 1996 season as one of the prohibitive Championship favourites along with Barrhead, Rocky Mountain House, Sherwood Park and Red Deer.  The team had middling results early as coach Harvey Heck had to figure out how all the parts fit together.  Once that got sorted out the team was off and running.  The team boasted strong defence, and a high-powered offence that loved the long ball, with a few speedsters mixed in.    This formula saw the squad run off a 10-0 record through three provincial playdown rounds to qualify for the finals in Rocky Mountain House as the number one seed. They capped off the 15-0 run with a championship. The provincial championship qualified the team to compete in Westerns in Leduc where they were unsuccessful in making the championship game.   As soon as the trophy was lifted and the victory lap finished, it was over. Most of the squad never played baseball again. Despite the short window of their achievement the squad will always have that undefeated run in 1996 that put Wetaskiwn baseball on the map and cement their claim as Wetaskiwn’s only Provincial AA Champions.  “This is very exciting for our team,” said Heck. “When I received the call, I was speechless. It’s very hard to go undefeated at Provincials and I want to thank the parents and players for their commitment to the team. It’s not easy, at that age, to give up your summer.”  Nisku and Wetaskiwin Regional Chamber of Commerce held the 2025 Wetaskiwin Business Awards Gala at the Best Western Wayside Inn in Wetaskiwin on April 11 The awards this year was a groovy Solid Gold 70's theme.  The evening included a silent auction and a three-course meal - Agriculture and Food Business of the Year - Arts and Culture Organization of the Year and Accessibility (DEIA) Business of the Year - Tourism and Hospitality Business of the Year presented to Edmonton International Raceway Wetaskiwin firefighters were busy Wednesday as they responded to a motor vehicle collision 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 first call came in for a garage fire in the Parkview Dr. Area just before 10:30 a.m.  With 10 Wetaskiwn firefighters and four more from the Millet Fire Dept. responding, they were able to put the fire out quickly.  Wetaskiwin Fire Chief Amber Coleman said a bystander who attempted to extinguish the fire sustained minor burns.  The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.  Several hours later, firefighters were dispatched to another garage fire, this time in the area of Range Rd. 232 and Twp. Rd. 460 in Wetaskiwin County.  Sixteen firefighters answered the call and the fire was extinguished before it could spread.  Amber Gendron said she and her husband were on their way home from work when they saw black smoke billowing up.  Gendron’s said her husband is a retired firefighter so they decided to check out the cause of the smoke to see if anyone needed help.  “We knew it wasn’t just a grass fire and what if it turned out to be an accident or a house fire and some needed help? We could help, right?”  When the couple arrived on scene, the garage was full involved and a crowd had gathered so they got people to move their vehicles out of the way to make room for firefighters and determined everyone had evacuated the building.  Gendron said they were impressed with the first responder’s response soon after the vehicles were cleared out of the way.  “Their response was very good,” she said. “We need to appreciate our emergency services. It is who we call when we can’t and we call them because they can, and they do fight the battles for us.”  Coleman agreed, saying, “The dedication, skill, and teamwork shown by our first responders during these incidents was truly exceptional. Their quick actions not only controlled two fully involved garage fires but also protected the attached homes and prevented further loss in our community. It’s a clear example of what can be accomplished when training, teamwork, courage, and commitment come together in the face of challenging situations.  “We are incredibly proud of every member who responded — their hard work, professionalism, and willingness to drop everything to serve others is what keeps this community safe. We owe them our gratitude and recognition for the sacrifices they make daily and the pride they bring to this department.”   The action and excitement of live professional wrestling returns to Wetaskiwin on Friday, April 18 with a six-match showdown at the Co-op Place Rec. Hall.  Article contentIt has been almost two years since wrestling was featured here and the talent assembled for the upcoming event is second to none. The circuit, which opened in Calgary in 1997 has been actively on tour across Alberta this year with regular stops in Innisfail, Olds, Okotoks and Calgary in addition to other select appearances.   It will be a showdown to see which WWE influence has served them better as “The Prospector” Wes Barker takes on “Backstage Pass” Braydon Goss. Barker has spent considerable time over the past year training in Texas with WWE Hall of Famer Booker T, appearing on events down south in addition to his Canadian commitments. Goss, who fancies himself as the man with the “curls for the girls” is a graduate of the Calgary-based Storm Wrestling Academy,  led by former WWE star Lance Storm.   Scorpious (Atlanta, GA) vs. Mentallo (Guadalajara, Mexico)  Wes Barker (Bigfoot Creek) vs. Braydon Goss (Penticton)  Son of Irish (Limerick, Ireland) vs. Sean Gaston (Kelowna)  Jude Dawkins (Denver, CO) vs. Bobby Sharp (Edmonton)  The Brand (Minneapolis, MN) vs. Dean Holstein & Jesse Youngblood.  Organizers have been encouraged by the sponsor support locally to bring the event to Wetaskiwin, including Community Champion sponsors Trackside Distillery, Legacy Dodge and Reflections Glass.  “It is shaping up to be the largest rural event in company history,” says co-owner Otto Gentile. “We are really excited about the roster that we have assembled and we think Wetaskiwin is in for the best night of wrestling that they have ever seen.”  In addition to the action between the ropes, Can-Am Wrestling has committed to donate proceeds in person at the event to local community causes including the Wetaskiwin Allied Arts & Crafts Centre; The Parkdale School PAC; Connect Wetaskiwin and more.  Advance tickets are available for the event, which starts at 6 p.m., at Fas Gas and Esso on the Run for $20. Tickets at the door will be $30 on event day.                 The 45th Canadian federal election is fast approaching Leduc—Wetaskiwin replaced the former Edmonton—Wetaskiwin riding as part of the 2022 Canadian federal electoral redistribution The riding boasts a population of over 114,000 and includes the cities of Beaumont The last federal election in 2021 saw Conservative candidate Mike Lake emerge victorious in the Edmonton—Wetaskiwin riding for a third consecutive time Lake received 48,340 votes — good for 55.7 per cent — to retain his seat in the House of Commons Behind Lake were NDP candidate Hugo Charles (21.0 per cent) the People’s Party of Canada’s Tyler Beauchamp (8.8) and Veterans Coalition candidate Travis Calliou (0.4) and be able to prove their identity and address Those on the National Register of Electors list should received a voter information card approximately three weeks before election day This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy The Wetaskiwin Longhorns playoff run came to an end at the hands of the Innisfail Eagles this weekend the Longhorns and Eagles were tied at one game apiece in the Best of Five semifinal the Longhorns hosted the Eagles at Wetaskiwin Co-op Place in a tightly fought battle that saw Wetaskiwin’s RJ Reed opened the scoring for the lone goal of the first period He notched his second of the game to put the Longhorns up 2-0 before the Eagles came back cutting the Wetaskiwin lead in half heading into the final frame With the Longhorns Chris Bailer in the box serving two minutes for cross-checking the Eagles scored on the powerplay to tie the game and send it to overtime where the Eagle scored the go-ahead goal to go up two games in the series the Longhorns headed to Innisfail for a do or die game that would determine if the teams came back to Wetaskiwin for Game 4 or if the Longhorns’ season was over the Eagles scored with a minute-and-a-half left to open the scoring in the game The Eagles restored their lead with a powerplay goal of their own and while the Longhorns battled, there efforts were stymied by the Eagles goalie who stopped 24 of the 25 shots he saw while the Eagles scored two more in the third to take the win and move on to the next round where the Eagles will take on the two-time reigning Vanberg Cup champion Lacombe Generals after they swept by the Stony Plain Eagles.  Alberta RCMP have charged two men after a search for a stolen Jeep not only led to its recovery but also uncovered a second stolen vehicle Wetaskiwin Mounties said in a Wednesday news release they received a report on Dec 24 about a stolen vehicle with on-board GPS tracking Police obtained a search warrant and tracked the Jeep to a property in Wetaskiwin County and prepackaged fentanyl intended for distribution 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 Mounties charged Wetaskiwin resident Darryl Walter Admussen possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of property obtained by crime RCMP also charged Leduc man Scott Alexander Clendon with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 Admussen and Clendon were released from custody The third suspect was released without charges This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Wetaskiwin RCMP responded to a report of an individual brandishing a handgun outside the employee door of a local business in the area of 56 St RCMP say they quickly located the person and made an arrest without incident.  hosted by the Association for Life-Wide Living (ALL) will be held in Wetaskiwin in October and the planning is already underway.  is an organization under the Association for Life-Wide Living (ALL) based in Camrose Samson Cree Nation Chief Vernon Saddleback, along with ALL, will be holding a Zoom meeting 'reunion' for the 2024 BRAIN Conference attendees at 2 p.m to discuss the group's progress over the last six months and to plan the next conference.  The first conference brought together a wide range of people from scientists and experts in technology and trauma to individuals sharing their lived experiences with brain injury recovery "We're hoping to harness that at the upcoming meeting," said Ross Topics on the agenda include the Samson Health and Brain Centre and a progress report on the group's efforts to publish a book collecting together articles from the attendees of the first conference.  Ross said the planning committee would be moving forward to "do real things in turbulent times." 25, is to feature local fashion designer D'Arcy Moses and the launch of the BRAIN book "We have some wonderful things lined up," said Ross The Town of Thorsby and the County of Wetaskiwin are collaborating to enhance water services and ensure robust water security for the region the county stated Thorsby's sophisticated water system is at the heart of the initiative which seeks to provide enhanced water options for residents Thorsby and the County of Wetaskiwin are currently assessing the feasibility of a collaborative water distribution model to identify a more secure and sustainable water source in response to the county's current dependence on wells The initiative is designed to secure a reliable water supply that meets immediate needs and supports future growth throughout the greater region “Without a glacier fed waterbody within our municipality water security is critical to the success of the County of Wetaskiwin,” said Reeve Josh Bishop in the release “This opportunity could increase the efficiency of the water systems within both municipalities," said Bishop adding the county commends Thorsby for their forward-thinking approach “Thorsby's future success has always been about marketing and distributing its water,” said Thorsby Mayor Darryl Hostyn have been diligently setting the groundwork to make this a reality." and neighbouring communities — are invited to engage with the county and Town of Thorsby as they explore future development of critical water services.  "Our current focus includes optimizing water management strategies and maintaining water infrastructure to ensure safe "This initiative not only addresses the diverse water needs across our region but also promotes sustainable development and equitable resource access." the municipalities aim to bring down overhead costs increase capacity and spur industrial and commercial growth "This strategic approach enhances the potential for new investments in emerging sectors strengthening Alberta’s economy and supporting long-term sustainable development." visit county.wetaskiwin.ab.ca/regional-water There’s a group of people in Wetaskiwin who are about to have their supports taken from them because the Provincial Government can’t find $270,000 in the budget We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentTouchstoneplace Clubhouse will close at the end of April because Recovery Alberta is removing the funding for this program as it doesn’t fall within their mandate anymore.  This is a program that has been around for more than 20 years, first operated by Good Shepherd and now operated by Unlimited Potential Community Services, a charity that tops up the annual budget but cannot carry the whole budget.  Touchstoneplace Clubhouse is an organization whose goal is to provide a sense of belonging and accomplishment while helping adults living with mental illness enrich their lives. They have about 85 to 100 people accessing the program and connecting with people who accept them for who they are and where they are.  This program has been in Wetaskiwin for decades making it possible for people living with mental illness to live, work and participate in this community and now Recovery Alberta is saying because it isn’t within their mandate, they can no longer fund the program.  Someone explain to me how that makes sense in anyone’s world.  Question or comments? Email cmax@postmedia.com  The City of Wetaskiwin is paying tribute to a former city councillor after hearing of his passing lowering the flags at city hall to half-mast who was served on city council from 2017 to 2023 according to a post on the city's Facebook page.  The post on April 11 stated that city council and staff were "deeply saddened" to learn of the passing of the former councillor especially minor football,” said Mayor Tyler Gandam His legacy will continue on through the work he left behind." Gandam then expressed condolence's to Lonsdale's family and loved ones.  "He would have never asked or expected for the flags to be lowered for him but he would have appreciated the gesture Over 450 archers attended the largest regional archery tournament this past weekend.  Article contentHosted by Wetaskiwin Composite High School Sabres Archery Team at Co-op Rec Hall, 29 schools from across Alberta sent archers to the tournament, which saw archers from Clear Vista School, Sacred Heart School, Pigeon Lake Regional School, Falun School, Northstar Millet Homeschool and Gwynne Valley Rural Academy join the WCHS Sabres on the range.   Among the top scores were these Wetaskiwin archers.  Joey Dickmann shot 271, third place Grade 11 Boys  Sareen Martens shot 266, second place Grade 11 Girls  WCHS team came in third place with combined score of 3,115  Chase Bolton shot 241, second place Grade 5 Boys and second place Elementary Division   Jenny Kohut shot 279, first place Grade 8 Girls and first place Middle Division   Grayson Monea shot 253, second Grade 7 Boys  Logan Risto shot 270,  second Grade 8 Boys  Prior to hosting their annual tournament, the local archers achieved some successes in Stettler at the Wm. E. Hay Nockbusters 9th Annual Winter Shoot Feb. 7 and 8 where Ava Rowland, Nolan Jr. Stanley, Dominik Smith, Kate Berger, Madisyn Chawner, Adriana Greuter, Keira McComb, MacKinley Hartmann, Julie Borduzak, Grayson Monea, Wyatt Nielsen scored personal bests.  Gwynne Valley Rural Academy’s Jenny Kohut scored 271, putting her in the number one spot for Middle School Girls.  Sacred Heart School’s Logan Risto scored 269 to land top spot among Middle School Boys.  On Feb. 21, Alder Flats and Buck Mountain Central School archers were in Drayton Valley for the St. Anthony Invitational Tournament which saw Dawson Elcocks, Devin Gillespie, Alexander Carefoot, Isaac Schwengler, Hayley Elcocks and Walker Baumann score personal bests.  Those scores also placed Schwengler second among High School Boys and first among Grade 12 Boys while Hayley Elcocks places second among Grade 11 Girls and High School Girls overall.  Gwynne’s Kohut also attended the Austin O’Brien Open in Edmonton Feb. 21 and 22 where she placed first among Grade 8 Girls and first among Middle School Girls with a score of 287 with 18 tens.  Wayne Vanouck has been involved in motorsports since the 1960s and at the age of 80 He was born in Wetaskiwin and graduated from Wetaskiwin Composite High School in 1963 he was always tinkering with engines and cars Wayne is being inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame for his 65-year involvement and achievement in motor sports Wayne got into drag racing in the early 1960s and because there were always budget considerations in those days He constructed the intake manifold from scratch; a metal box with two four-barrel carburettors on top and neoprene tubes moving the mixture to the heads and raced it at Alberta drag strips.  Wayne partnered with Martin Sjogren in 1968 Marty took the role of crew chief and Vanouck and Sjogren Racing was formed  Helped by their cutting-edge engineering skills building ever more powerful and professional cars into the 1980s They had amazing success with their Top Alcohol Dragster In 1984 they acquired enough points to win first place in the world in Top Alcohol Dragster with the American Drag Racing Association Through 1985 they were able to put  number one on their dragster and no one else could use that number Alberta to achieve that level against all the well-financed machines in the U.S  They did score some local and international sponsors such as Goodyear and Quaker State which helped Over the years they collected dozens of trophies in professional drag racing.  What makes Wayne special is he kept Wetaskiwin front and centre throughout his time drag racing in Canada and the U.S They raced at most of the big NHRA tracks and Wetaskiwin was always displayed prominently on their cars The announcers introduced them as “That team from Wetaskiwin Canada." At one big event the announcer said the team decided to build a modified tractor and give tractor pulling a try with their first puller “Sorcerer 2” which has a V12 Packard engine from a PT boat and is still running today Forty years later they are the largest Pulling Team in Canada growing the pulling team from one modified tractor to 10 the 10 units include: two alcohol injected minis named “Temporary Insanity” and “The Sheriff”; two 2WD trucks “Bad to the Bone” and “Class of 72”; two 4WD trucks “Maniac” and “Pandimonium”; two modified tractors “Sorcerer” and “Thunder Road”; a modified diesel tractor “Up in Smoke” and a four-engine unlimited tractor “Prairie Outlaw." They have won multiple championships with all 10 tractor pull units They also own the first self-propelled sled in Western Canada The sled is what the tractors pull in the competition Wayne and Marty’s team compete in every class in the pulling league Wayne still drives from time to time and at a pull in Vermillion in 2024 he came in first place in one of the super minis and over the speakers the announcer said you just got your a***s handed to you by an 80-year-old”  The team attends about six pulls in the summer with a fleet of semi’s transporting their machines In 2019 the Wetaskiwin Ag Society built a pulling track and had their first of many pulling events naming it “The Wayne Vanouck Motorsports Track” which speaks highly to the respect they have for Wayne and his team Tractor pulling is about the entertainment of the fans and the show in Wetaskiwin is one of the best in the league Besides his recognition from the Ag Society Slicks Motorsports Bar in Wetaskiwin has a mural of Wayne in his dragster and framed pictures of Wayne hang on the walls Wayne’s passions for motorsports has been passed on to his family His daughter Angela is a driver on the pulling team a member of the pulling league committee and one of the Wetaskiwin Pull organizers His granddaughter Sarah is also one of the event organizers and attends many of the pulls with the team Marty and the rest of the team are superstars in the racing business and bring widespread positive attention to our community in Canada and internationally They were and are heroes and inspirations to young up and coming racers in the Wetaskiwin area and the rest of Alberta has also become leaders in the pulling community and are as well known for pulling as they are for drag racing They are still based in Wetaskiwin and continue to give our community widespread notoriety in Western Canada on the pulling circuit dedication and 65-year involvement in motor sports Wayne is more than worthy of being inducted into the Wetaskiwin and County Sports Hall of Fame The Wetaskiwin community is proud of Wayne’s accomplishments and his continued involvement as an octogenarian is a positive example and an inspiration for everyone The 2025 Induction Dinner will take place on Saturday at the Best Western Wayside Inn Banquet Room in Wetaskiwin Invitations are open to everyone and banquet tickets are available for purchase at the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum The deadline for purchasing tickets will be March 29 Local consumers have already shifted their purchasing power to local producers ahead of an Alberta Government campaign We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentLast week Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson unveiled the Province’s ‘Buy Local’ campaign that encourages consumers to eat drink and buy local to show unified support for the province’s agriculture and food industry “It’s time to let these hard-working Albertans know we have their back we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products,” he said “The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride We are pleased tariffs don’t impact the ag industry right now and will keep advocating for our ag industry.”  who operates the Wetaskiwin Farmer’s Market with her husband Stan baking and growing have been doing this for years It’s all sourced locally so tariffs won’t affect them.”  While tariffs don’t impact the agriculture industry right now Sigurdson said global uncertainty is threatening the livelihoods of hard-working Alberta farmers processors and their families and while Alberta’s government supports consumer choice it’s providing tools to help folks easily identify Alberta- and Canadian-made foods and products “Choosing local products keeps Albertans’ hard-earned dollars in our province Alberta has an abundance of fresh foods produced right on our doorstep.”  said she’s been attending Farmer’s Markets for 51 years and is a regular at the Wetaskiwin “The last few years I’ve noted more people coming to the markets,” she said Rondeaux said she purchases all of the fruits for her jams from another farmer’s market regular The only fruit she doesn’t purchase are the oranges for her marmalades the baker behind Millet’s Creme de le Cakes said she hasn’t seen a huge increase in customers but she’s definitely noticed more people are coming to the markets looking for produce and eggs “There’s a lot more people coming than there used to be,” she said