Story Type: News – Local

Four women stand together beside flowering plants outside a house.

Concert helps Care Bear drivers keep up with gas prices

Written on October 8, 2026. Posted in Community Life.

Days after the Pincher Care Bears Society accepted $725 to help cover fuel for its volunteer drivers, gas in Pincher Creek jumped 16 cents a litre.

President Bonnie Gaetz-Simpson and treasurer Pat Bratz accepted the cheque Sept. 17 on behalf of the group, which has driven residents to medical appointments since 1988. The money came from an invitation-only benefit concert this summer.

Regular gas sold for 165.9 cents a litre on Sept. 22 and 181.9 cents on Sept. 28, an increase of nearly 10 per cent in less than a week. Some relief arrives Oct. 1, when the province again suspends its 13-cents-a-litre fuel tax for the rest of the year. Even with the tax break, the Sept. 28 local price would still be about 169 cents a litre, 41 to 54 cents more than in January.

According to YCharts, at the start of the year, when Alberta’s fuel tax was also on hold, gas in Calgary and southern Alberta sold for 115 to 128 cents a litre.

To get a ride to a medical appointment in town, clients pay $20,while a return trip to Lethbridge costs $100 and to Calgary $200.

“Drivers need to commit up to a full eight-hour day to drive someone to Calgary,” Bonnie says. “They shouldn’t also have to be paying for increased fuel costs on top of giving up their time and not being compensated for the extra vehicle wear and tear.”

“Clients pay a fee toward their transportation, but the donations to the society subsidize the cost of fuel,” Pat says.

The society works a casino in Lethbridge every three years to help cover its costs, but with gas prices climbing, the next casino date in 2028 is far away and the group needs donations more than ever.

A bearded man in a cap smiles while playing guitar. Text promotes a Lloyd Spiegel concert at Empress Theatre, October 14, 2026, with ticket details and contact info.

Earlier this summer, longtime friends Amanda Elliott and Kathryn Marsh held the fourth in their annual invitation-only benefit concert series.

“The last three times, we picked the food bank, the women’s shelter and the SPCA. This year we thought of the Care Bears because at OK Tire we already offer a free annual oil change for Care Bear volunteer drivers,” says Kathryn, office manager for the business.

Country Vets, which Amanda co-owns, and OK Tire covered the costs of a concert featuring local classic country singer-songwriter Richard Inman, and all ticket revenue went to the Care Bears.

The seven volunteer Care Bears drivers made 175 trips to medical appointments in the first six months of this year.

Care Bears take the load off adult children who might otherwise lose a full day of work taking a parent to an out-of-town appointment, and being able to book their own rides helps seniors keep living independently. The service can’t take people who use wheelchairs.

“When people hear that this volunteer service has been continuously running since 1988 they are blown away,” Bonnie says. “For a small town like ours that is amazing.”

To book a ride to a medical appointment, call 403-339-2273. Donations can be mailed to Pincher Care Bears Society, PO Box 44, Pincher Creek, AB, T0K 1W0.

Fort Macleod ER closed tonight, Pincher Creek among backups

Written on October 5, 2026. Posted in Health & Wellness.

The emergency department at Fort Macleod Health Centre will be closed overnight, from 11 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, until 7 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, Alberta Health Services says.

AHS says it couldn’t find staff to cover the shift on short notice. If coverage turns up, the closure will be cancelled.

Anyone with a medical emergency during those hours should call 911. Ambulances will keep running and will take patients to nearby hospitals, including Pincher Creek Health Centre, Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge, Cardston Health Centre and Claresholm Community Health Centre.

For non-emergency health questions, Health Link is available 24 hours a day at 811. Local pharmacies can also help with some needs.

Residents with concerns about the closure can call AHS Patient Relations at 1-855-550-2555.

Alberta Health Notices

A steel bridge span lies beside an excavator and pickup truck at the edge of a meadow surrounded by forest.

Allison Creek camp asks for pause on West Fraser harvest

Written on October 1, 2026. Posted in Environment.

A group camped near Allison Creek in the Crowsnest Pass wants a planned logging project paused until West Fraser Timber and the province release the science behind it.

Defenders of the Eastern Slopes set up the camp Sept. 22 in the Allison and Tecumseh creek watersheds, about 15 kilometres northwest of Coleman, where West Fraser plans to harvest about 454 hectares of forest.

The same day, the group says, its members spoke with contractors and West Fraser representatives as crews tried to move a bridge toward Atlas Road and a new logging road. The bridge has not moved and remains at the edge of a meadow, the group says.

DOES describes itself as a grassroots group of Albertans concerned about protecting the Eastern Slopes. It focuses on headwaters, native forests, wildlife habitat and threatened species.

“We are not a large formal environmental organization,” says Colin Smith, the group’s media spokesman, in a written response. “The group brings together people who are prepared to advocate directly for the protection of these landscapes.”

West Fraser and the province

West Fraser says its harvest plan follows the direction of the Alberta government’s Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program, which it says directs forestry companies to prioritize fuel reduction near communities identified as high-risk for wildfire.

The company says Alberta’s regulatory framework “includes requirements for forestry companies while harvesting, including strict provisions regarding critically sensitive areas and to protect water sources.”

West Fraser says it also obtains authorizations under federal regulations where required.

Ace of spades card on ad for Chase the Ace at the Pincher Creek Legion

The company referred questions about the program to the province. It did not answer questions about the harvest timeline, species in the area or whether it plans legal action in response to the camp.

Alberta Forestry and Parks says the Allison Creek harvest was planned and approved under the current forest management plan. Under the fuels reduction program, which directs harvesting within approved plans to lower wildfire risk near communities, the department says the harvest’s design and timing were reviewed and adjusted to reduce community wildfire exposure “as soon as possible.”

The department says forest management planning weighs wildlife habitat, biodiversity, watersheds, recreation, wildfire risk and timber supply, and that harvest areas are approved through annual operating plans under Alberta’s timber harvest planning and operating ground rules.

Forestry and Parks staff monitor operations for compliance with approved plans and legislation, it says.

The department did not say what specific environmental or species assessments were done for this harvest, whether it has received concerns from DOES or other groups, or what its data shows about westslope cutthroat trout in the area.

The harvest area

DOES calls the area “one of the most diverse forests” in Alberta.

“The characterization comes from decades of field observations of the Allison Creek/Tecumseh Mountain landscape by people with extensive knowledge of the area’s natural history,” Smith says.

The group has described the proposal publicly as a 1,100-acre clearcut. Smith says that figure comes from West Fraser’s August presentation to Crowsnest Pass municipal council, which he says lists an initial proposed harvest area of 550 hectares and a current area of 454 hectares, about 1,120 acres.

Poster for Pincher Creek Chamber’s 31st Annual Awards of Excellence on October 23, 2026. Ticket prices and event details are listed, with a link for tickets at PincherChamber.ca/tickets.

According to DOES, the Alberta government and West Fraser have not presented “any scientific evidence” to justify the project.

Smith says that statement needs context.

“We are not saying that no scientific work whatsoever has been done,” he says.

Smith says West Fraser’s August presentation referred to an equivalent clearcut area analysis and an independent hydrologic risk assessment, which the company said found the proposed harvest to be low risk.

“But stating the conclusion of an assessment is not the same thing as making the science available for independent scrutiny,” Smith says.

He says DOES has not seen the complete hydrological assessment or its underlying data.

The group wants evidence on water quantity and quality, peak and low flows, sediment, stream temperature, fish habitat, and cumulative effects from past logging and roads in the watershed. It also wants evidence tying the harvest plan to wildfire risk reduction.

Smith says the group recognizes that reducing wildfire risk to Crowsnest Pass communities is an important goal.

Job ad for “Shootin’ the Breeze” seeks part-time and full-time staff for photography, writing, and reporting; contact publisher@shootinthebreeze.ca. Background shows printed news text and a hand holding a voice recorder.

“But that still leaves a fundamental scientific question,” he says. “Why these 454 hectares? Why this type and intensity of harvesting? What alternatives were evaluated? And what evidence demonstrates that this particular intervention provides the necessary wildfire-safety benefit while minimizing harm to the headwaters?”

Species

Smith says the area around Allison Creek, Deadman Pass and Tecumseh Mountain has an unusual mix of tree species, including western redcedar, western larch, ponderosa pine, western white pine, limber pine and whitebark pine.

Of those, whitebark pine is listed as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act. Western redcedar is ranked imperilled in Alberta on Canada’s Wild Species database, a ranking that carries no legal protection. Nationally, it is ranked secure.

The group also points to westslope cutthroat trout in upper Allison Creek. Alberta’s population of the fish is listed as threatened under the federal act, and DOES says it is working to obtain the provincial genetic records on the trout.

David McIntyre, who holds a master’s degree from the University of Washington’s College of the Environment, says he first documented the area’s forest more than 40 years ago and has worked to protect it ever since. He describes the watershed as a “living sponge” that sustains the drought-affected Oldman Watershed.

Clear cutting and associated roads will disrupt creek and spring hydrology, McIntyre says, raising peak flows and worsening low flows while increasing sedimentation. He is also concerned about westslope cutthroat trout in upper Allison Creek.

McIntyre says the forest contains some of Alberta’s oldest trees, which he says serve as records of climate change over the past thousand years through growth-ring analysis.

What’s next

The group plans to continue taking action if construction proceeds. Smith says those actions will remain lawful, peaceful and safe.

An older couple smiles while leaning on a wooden railing outdoors, above text describing their $879 profit share from Vision Credit Union and a website link.

DOES has not yet formally requested an environmental assessment or independent scientific review from the province or West Fraser.

Smith says the group intends to request the release of existing scientific assessments first. He says additional studies should then be considered where information gaps remain.

“We don’t believe the first step should necessarily be commissioning another study if relevant scientific work already exists,” Smith says. “The first step is transparency.”

Residents seeking time with town council face new rules

Written on October 1, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Anyone hoping to make their case to Pincher Creek town council now gets five more minutes to do it, but they’ll need to do more of the work ahead of time.

Council adopted a rewritten procedural bylaw Sept. 28 that gives delegations 20 minutes instead of 15. It also requires written requests 10 days in advance, any slides by the same deadline, and a clear statement of what the delegation wants from council, such as funding or a letter of support.

Bylaw 1596-26 also drops three sections on petitions and changes how council chooses its deputy mayor. It passed second and third readings with one clerical fix and no other changes since first reading on Sept. 14.

The new bylaw repeals and replaces Bylaw 1596-24 in its entirety, following a months-long review by administration that found several outdated or incorrect clauses. The work is part of a broader review of town policies and procedures.

Delegations

The town’s chief administrative officer now sets the format for delegation requests, and submitting one doesn’t guarantee a spot at the next meeting. A person or group that has presented can’t return on the same subject for three months unless council waives the rule by special resolution.

CAO Konrad Dunbar said the goal is to give administration enough information to prepare for requests before a meeting, rather than fielding requests council has no information about.

“It’s not great for us when a delegation comes in and says, ‘We want this,’ and I don’t know about it,” he said.

The change can allow some requests to be dealt with at the same meeting rather than returning to a future agenda, he said.

Event flyer for International Credit Union Day at Vision Credit Union on October 15, inviting community members to bring food bank donations in exchange for a wall calendar.

Coun. Valerie Wynder questioned whether allowing the CAO to prescribe the format for delegation requests could unintentionally create barriers.

“I’m just wondering if limiting it to a specific online form or something might exclude some members of our community from being able to navigate that and have a delegation, because they maybe don’t have the skills to submit online,” she said.

She added that future administrations could interpret the provision differently and make it harder for some residents to bring matters before council.

Dunbar said the wording is intended to give the town flexibility as it moves toward more online and digital processes. The report to council says requests could come by form, online submission or email, as technology allows.

Coun. Mark Barber said staff would likely help any resident who struggled to submit a request in the required format.

The discussion also focused on whether council should make decisions immediately after hearing from a delegation.

Coun. Sahra Nodge said she supports receiving information in advance but does not want every request decided on the same night.

“Sometimes, there’s value in waiting two weeks to discuss something, because we can get caught up in the enthusiasm of a presenter and be very gung-ho and keen in the moment. And I’ve found that the reflection time from when someone presents something and then you’re deciding a couple weeks later is a valuable time to just kind of think about it,” she said.

Event poster for a Secondhand Dreamcar concert at the Empress Theatre on November 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM, featuring a photo of the band members.

Mayor Wayne Oliver agreed, saying there can be value in allowing a request to “percolate” before council makes a decision.

The bylaw gives council several options after hearing a delegation. It can receive the presentation as information, refer it to a committee, defer it to another meeting, appoint a special committee or deal with the matter at the meeting. Deciding that night takes a special resolution if the request isn’t a separate item on the agenda.

Dunbar said council retains that flexibility, and the changes were meant to create options for council, rather than obligations, while allowing administration to prepare items that are ready for a decision.

Petitions removed

The biggest change to the bylaw came at first reading, and it wasn’t in the original draft.

Nodge raised concerns that the bylaw’s petitions section conflicts with how the Municipal Government Act defines a petition, which is a formal process that requires signatures from a set percentage of electors.

She said using the same term for a much less formal process risks confusing residents about which route actually compels council action.

Dunbar said the sections were intended to address requests to council rather than create a separate public petition process. He noted other written requests can already be handled through the bylaw’s provisions on communication with council.

Council agreed the petition sections overlapped with the bylaw’s broader delegation and correspondence provisions and voted to remove sections 118, 119 and 120.

Get Stuff’d meat and seafood shop sign, located at 214 13th St. in Fort Macleod, open Thursday through Saturday from 12 noon to 6 p.m., phone 368-996-1968, follow us on Facebook at Get Stuff’d.

On Sept. 28, Nodge noted that a heading in the bylaw still referred to petitions, and council struck the word before passing the final readings.

Deputy mayor and committees

The changes also give council greater flexibility over the deputy mayor position.

The old bylaw provided for an automatic eight-month rotation. Council now chooses its deputy mayor each year using whatever method it considers appropriate. Dunbar said councils can use different approaches, including votes or dividing the position among multiple councillors.

Committee preferences are also handled differently. Councillors will provide their preferences to administration before the organizational meeting and staff will compile the responses into one summary for the agenda package.

Dunbar said this allows councillors to see which committees have attracted interest before making appointments. Council retains authority over the appointments.

Another change gives council, rather than staff, authority over councillor seating at the organizational meeting.

The annual council meeting schedule is removed from the body of the bylaw, and council instead sets its schedule by resolution at the organizational meeting.

Dunbar said this avoids amending the procedural bylaw whenever council wants to change a meeting date.

Ad for Blinds and More Fall Sale: 40% off Alta Blinds from Sept 15 to Nov 30, 2026. Living room with large windows covered by wood blinds. Contact info and locations listed.

Correspondence and reports

The updated bylaw consolidates provisions dealing with communication to and from council. The old rules assumed signed paper letters, but Dunbar said most communication now comes by email.

Under the new wording, the CAO determines whether correspondence should go on an agenda, receive a direct response or be referred to the mayor, while council is still informed about what was received and how it was handled.

The bylaw also formalizes written council reports, following council’s June 22 direction to move away from verbal reports during meetings. Reports are due by 4 p.m. the Wednesday before each meeting, and a verbal report no longer counts.

One change doesn’t appear in the bylaw at all. When council finishes its agenda, the mayor now simply adjourns the meeting and notes the time, with no motion or vote, Dunbar told council Sept. 28. A motion is still needed to end a meeting before the agenda is done.

Council’s Oct. 26 organizational meeting will be the first held under the new rules, including choosing a deputy mayor and setting council’s seating and meeting schedule.

Council pushes back on provincial gravel pit rules

Written on September 23, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

MD of Pincher Creek council will tell the province it has concerns about changes that give provincial gravel pit approvals priority over local planning, following its Sept. 8 meeting.

Council also heard a neighbour’s objection to a proposed gravel pit east of Pincher Creek and agreed to keep subsidizing waste service at Castle Mountain Resort.

Provincial gravel pit approval changes

Council directed administration to send the province the MD’s concerns about proposed changes to how gravel pits are approved.

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas is updating its Code of Practice for Pits. The changes follow amendments to the Municipal Government Act through Bill 28 and recommendations from the provincial Sand and Gravel Task Force.

The province and municipalities have each played separate roles in approving aggregate pits on private land, with the province focused on environmental impacts and municipalities on land-use planning.

Bill 28: Municipal Affairs and Housing Statues Amendment Act, introduced a new section to the MGA that makes provincial approvals paramount. Municipalities are required to bring their land-use bylaws and planning documents in line with decisions made at the provincial level rather than running a parallel approval process.

The MD received information from Rural Municipalities of Alberta, which said in a Sept. 18 statement: “Based on what is known and not yet known about how x. 619.1 will be implemented, the change may introduce significant risks to municipalities, landowners and industries.”

The RMA lists:

—Impact of poor co-ordination and alignment across different government processes.

—Limited ability to appeal a pit registration coupled with a lack of public hearing or community engagement in the provincial registration process.

—Unclear division of roles and responsibilities with potential unintended consequences.

—Need for improved communication and inspection and enforcement measures to prevent expansion of operators with a poor history of compliance.

Proposed gravel pit rezoning

Council also held a public hearing on Bylaw 1374-26, which proposes changing the land-use designation of a quarter-section east of Pincher Creek (NE-7-9-1-W5) from agricultural to direct control. The proposed rezoning would allow gravel pit development on the property.

The public hearing drew a written objection from an adjacent landowner, but no one appeared in person to speak against it.

The neighbour argued there is no need for a third gravel pit within less than a mile of the site, urging the MD to explore alternative sites or expand existing pits rather than disturb native grassland.

The letter raised concerns about dust, noise, traffic and groundwater contamination, and said the pit could put the writer’s property, livestock and family at risk, and permanently harm land values. The letter asked council to reject the application and prioritize conservation of the grassland over further extraction.

Gavin Scott, senior planner with the Oldman River Regional Services Commission, outlined the history and reasoning behind the proposed amendment.

An open house is scheduled for Oct. 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the MD council chambers.

Castle Mountain Resort to keep free recycling and garbage service

Council agreed to continue providing Castle Mountain Resort Inc. with a fully subsidized cardboard recycling service and residential garbage bin after reviewing the expense of the arrangement.

Administration will write to the resort to say the service continues at no cost for now but could be revisited.

The cost varies, says Jessica McClelland, executive assistant for the MD. The landfill picks up a full cardboard bin at an average of $317 a trip, plus the landfill’s tipping fee.

“Some months it’s once; some months it could be twice,” she says.

Library seeks support for dark sky event

Pincher Creek Municipal Library asked the MD for financial support for a dark sky event planned for January 2027. The library plans to expand the program to two days, running 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

The total cost is expected to be $8,200. The library has already secured $6,000 through grants, leaving $2,200 to raise.

Council received the request as information and recommended the library contact the MD’s grant writer to explore other funding options.

Lundbreck growth study

Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw 1373-26 after a public hearing at which no one spoke and no written submissions were received.

The bylaw amends the MD’s municipal development plan, replacing an existing hamlet policy with new wording that requires the Lundbreck Hamlet Growth Study be referenced in all future development matters in the hamlet.

It also calls for the study to be periodically updated with current data and progress on its action items.

Council approves ALUS letter of support

Council also approved a letter of support for Alternative Land Use Services, which is applying for funding through the Ecosystem Services Grant Program.

ALUS pays farmers and ranchers to maintain wetlands, grassland and other habitat on working land.

Committee meeting

The MD council committee met earlier the same day. Committees make recommendations rather than decisions.

Food centre reports increase in demand

The Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre told the committee it served 427 people between May 2025 and April 2026, including 282 existing clients and 145 new clients.

The number was up from 412 people in 2024-25 and 197 in 2023-24.

The centre provides free food hampers to eligible residents in the town and MD, based on a means test.

An average of 77 households were served each month. The centre recorded 785 deliveries and 140 pickups. People in Pincher Creek can have hampers delivered, while rural residents generally pick them up in town.

The centre reported $392,314 in income and $341,895 in expenses for the year. Board chair Davina Brown also reviewed the centre’s strategic priorities and outcomes with the committee.

Councillors discussed ways the MD could help promote the food centre, including a program that allows ranchers to donate beef in exchange for a tax receipt.

Tourism group seeks $12,500

Representatives from the South Canadian Rockies Tourism Association told the committee the organization is seeking municipal funding for the 2026-27 year to support regional destination marketing and management.

Senior board adviser Sacha Anderson and executive director Erin Fairhurst outlined the association’s work, which they said helps secure additional partner funding and supports tourism projects without adding to the workload of municipal staff.

The association said the municipal contribution would form part of an 80-20 funding request to the province, with the town and MD of Pincher Creek, and Improvement District No. 4 providing the 20 per cent local share.

The association outlined several areas of planned work. One is a resident sentiment campaign aimed at helping rural residents understand tourism and provide feedback about its growth.

It is also developing a detailed inventory of tourism assets across the MD. The inventory will include attractions, recreation sites, events, accommodations, short-term rentals and visitor services. The association said the inventory could help identify needs such as signage, parking, washrooms and trails.

Another proposed focus is public education around responsible recreation. The association plans to promote Leave No Trace principles, safety guidelines and appropriate recreation areas.

The association also detailed its regional advocacy work involving transportation, signage, trails, parking, cellular coverage and recreation access. It said a regional approach could help connect local priorities with provincial tourism strategies and future funding opportunities.

The association is also exploring a destination marketing fee, a levy on hotel and other accommodation bookings that funds tourism promotion. It said any such fee would require local discussion, industry participation and municipal consideration.

RMA convention plans finalized

The committee also reviewed plans for the Rural Municipalities of Alberta fall convention and trade show, running Nov. 2 to 5 in Edmonton.

Couns. Dave Cox and John MacGarva will take a budget and finance course Nov. 2, then join the remaining councillors, the chief administrative officer and the public works manager for the convention.

Catch the wind: Business loan partnership pitched to council

Written on September 23, 2026. Posted in Business & Economy, Civic & Government.

A regional non-profit is proposing a formal partnership with the Town of Pincher Creek that would give local businesses access to interest-free improvement loans, free consulting and business training.

The proposal by Community Futures Alberta Southwest includes loans of up to $25,000 for business improvements, with the town covering interest costs within a council-approved annual limit. It was presented by Mark Brown, executive director, at town council’s Sept. 14 regular meeting.

“Catch the wind” is a reference to the Cowley Ridge wind farm built west of Pincher Creek in 1993. Brown used it as a metaphor for the untapped energy of local entrepreneurship, saying ambition and local capital, like wind, generate nothing until something is built to capture them.

“There’s a second invisible force in the town: the energy of people with ideas and businesses to build,” he said.

Brown identified four challenges that can hold back small businesses: capital leaving the region when loans come from national banks, a financing gap for viable but unproven businesses that banks decline to fund, an aging group of business owners without succession plans, and entrepreneurs building businesses without outside guidance.

He cited a failure rate of about 75 per cent within five years for small businesses in Alberta.

To address those pressures, Brown proposed a partnership built around four components. The first is a referral pipeline, in which town staff would direct entrepreneurs who inquire about business licences or starting a business toward Community Futures for free consulting, coaching and training.

“Most businesses would get these services free. We provide up to six hours of free coaching or consulting,” Brown said in a later interview. “We also offer free online education, and then if a business decides they want to take that part of it farther, they can.”

The second component is a redesigned business improvement loan program offering interest-free loans of $5,000 to $25,000 over terms of three to five years.

Community Futures would administer the financing and report back to the town. Its own board, not council, would approve each loan, a process Brown said typically takes one to four weeks.

Brown said the redesign grew from a 2025 Community Futures survey of more than 900 business owners across southern Alberta.

“The research we did said that that program is still needed, but $10,000 doesn’t buy you much nowadays,” he said.

“So, they’re looking for an increase to that from $5,000 to $25,000 in amounts, up to five years, and again, interest-free, or the town would pay the interest on that loan over the course of that loan,” He said.

The third component is joint promotion, with Community Futures and the town advertising Pincher Creek’s business-friendly programs together rather than separately.

The fourth is a standing seat for Community Futures in the town’s economic development discussions.

Brown also described a separate service, the exit navigator program, aimed at helping business owners prepare for retirement or ownership transitions. He said it is underused but important for keeping storefronts from sitting vacant when longtime owners retire.

He asked council to direct administration to work with Community Futures on a memorandum of understanding. This would set out how the partnership would work, what it would cost the town and who would be responsible, while providing real numbers for council to base a decision on.

Community Futures has similar formal arrangements with the towns of Cardston and Claresholm, and Brown said he is also in talks with the MD of Pincher Creek about the program.

Community Futures Alberta Southwest is a non-profit funded by Prairies Economic Development Canada, the federal economic development agency for the Prairies. Brown described it as a one-year contribution agreement with Ottawa.

It serves Pincher Creek, Fort Macleod, Cardston, Claresholm, Waterton and other communities in the region from its office in Fort Macleod. Its focus is on economic diversification and support for the agricultural and tourism sectors.

According to figures Brown presented, the organization has funded 391 businesses and invested $21.3 million since 1999, with about $2.23 million currently circulating through repaid and re-lent loans.

In Pincher Creek, Community Futures has approved 96 loans totalling $5.31 million since 1999, with about $760,000 still in circulation.

Business Loans, Business Succession, Business Training, economic development, Entrepreneurship, Small Business

Treaty rights, ID hurdles top concerns for First Nations voters

Written on September 23, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

For some Piikani and Kainai members, the Oct. 19 referendum raises a question that isn’t on the ballot: what a provincial vote can mean for treaties signed with Canada.

For others, the harder question is whether they can prove who they are at the polls.

Both concerns came up Aug. 29, when about 30 members of the two First Nations gathered at the Fort Macleod community centre for a referendum information session billed as a chance to “be informed, be heard.”

Organizer Nicole Crowshoe Johnston’s main goal was getting First Nations voters registered and encouraging attendees to request mail-in ballots. The last day to do so is Friday, Sept. 25.

Johnston and guest speaker Stephen Carter urged a No vote on the referendum’s nine policy questions.

“Our treaty is with Canada”

One attendee asked how Alberta could enact anything affecting First Nations, “given our treaty is with Canada.”

Carter agreed, saying there “was zero discussion about what First Nations rights would look like in an independent Alberta.”

He said the referendum itself could not count as consulting First Nations.

The premier’s office disagrees that consultation is required.

“Seven hundred thousand Albertans signed petitions asking for a referendum on this issue. The referendum question does not trigger any duty to consult,” Sam Blackett, press secretary to the premier, said in a statement to Shootin’ the Breeze.

First Nations have already taken the argument to court. Johnston said they could not rely on a few chiefs to push back against the independence movement.

“We need to stand behind the chiefs,” she said, referring to court action by the Chiefs of the Blackfoot Confederacy over treaty rights and the Crown’s duty to consult.

On May 13, the Court of King’s Bench sided with Piikani, Siksika, the Blood Tribe and Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, quashing the chief electoral officer’s decision on Mitch Sylvestre’s separation petition on treaty rights and duty-to-consult grounds.

The province and Sylvestre appealed. The Alberta Court of Appeal granted a partial stay allowing signature verification to continue. On July 24, Elections Alberta declared the petition successful, with 222,597 verified signatures, more than the 177,732 required.

Normally, a successful petition on a constitutional question goes to the justice minister, who must refer it to cabinet for a referendum before the next provincial election. Elections Alberta says those steps are on hold pending direction from the Court of Appeal.

Sylvestre’s petition asked: “Do you agree that the Province of Alberta should cease to be a part of Canada to become an independent state?”

That question is not on the Oct. 19 ballot.

Question 10, which is on the ballot, is not a vote to separate.

It asks whether Alberta should remain a province, or whether the provincial government should begin the constitutional process required to hold a later, binding referendum on separation.

Johnston said that even if the separation question were overturned, the Oct. 19 vote and its other questions will go ahead.

Proving who you are

Several attendees described difficulties with recent changes to Alberta’s ID and driver’s licence rules. One man said his federally issued Indian Status card was not recognized when he sought a provincial ID card.

Others cited new costs including a $100 fee to replace an expired licence, plus the expense of obtaining birth certificates and marriage licences, especially for those who had lived in other provinces or the United States.

Attendees also shared practical help. One pointed to the ID program at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge. According to Alberta Health Services, it runs Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon, helping homeless, at-risk and recently housed people, as well as others served by AHS programs, get Alberta ID and health cards.

Another said people living on reserves can get help proving their identity at home. Elections Alberta’s voter brochure confirms that voters on a reserve or settlement can have an attestation filled out by “a person in a position of authority,” such as a chief or chair, office administrator or elder, who can confirm their identity and where they live.

Johnston urged attendees to request mail-in ballots to avoid long lines, and volunteers with laptops helped people register on the spot.

“Who might be next”

Other worries went beyond the ballot box.

One senior who shares a Calgary rental with two grandchildren in post-secondary studies said the family pays $3,500 a month for rent and utilities.

“On my pension, it’s a real struggle to cover food and other basic expenses,” she said. “Even getting food from the food bank is tough as it is often old and mouldy.”

Another attendee raised Question 4, which asks: Assuming that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents continue to qualify for public health care and education as they do now, do you support the Government of Alberta charging a reasonable fee or premium to individuals with a non-permanent immigration status living in Alberta for their and their family’s use of the health care and education systems?

She said that if Albertans vote to charge immigrants for health care, Indigenous people could be next, citing relatives in the United States who became homeless after being unable to pay for care.

“When we start excluding people from services based on race, we have to be careful of who might be next,” Carter said.

Who ran the session

Johnston is a Calgary resident who describes herself as a community advocate with roots in Piikani Nation.

She is inspired by Tania Cameron, an Anishinaabe woman from Ontario who launched First Nations Rock the Vote in 2015. Cameron announced on Facebook Sept. 2 that Treaty 8 had hired her to educate members and mobilize communities for the Alberta referendum.

Carter has managed campaigns across the political spectrum, including for former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, former premier Alison Redford and Calgary mayors Naheed Nenshi and Jyoti Gondek. He recently launched Alberta’s Voice. The registered third-party advertiser has raised more money than any other referendum campaign to stay in Canada.

Carter’s slogan sums up his position: Stay in Canada. Vote No to the Nine.

Though the session was promoted as a chance to receive information, Carter urged a No vote on all nine yes-or-no questions rather than explaining each one.

“If any option takes three lines to express, vote against it,” he told the audience, a line he returned to several times.

“I don’t trust Danielle Smith to do it right,” Carter said. “The nine questions remove us from Canada. They are separation questions under the guise of other topics.”

Blackett said the questions grew from the government’s Alberta Next town halls, and that “Albertans’ frustrations have been fuelled by the last 10 years of disastrous policies from Ottawa under Justin Trudeau that hurt Alberta’s economy and broke the immigration system.”

“During the Alberta Next town halls, Albertans made it clear that the status quo cannot continue. Albertans have demanded real change, and these nine questions are how we deliver it,” he said.

“Our government has been clear: we support a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. This means Alberta remaining a province of Canada while advancing provincial autonomy and fighting to undo Ottawa policies that harm Albertans and intrude on our constitutional rights.”

How to vote

The referendum is Oct. 19. Voters can cast ballots in person on voting day, at an advance poll, or by mail-in special ballot.

Special ballots must be requested by Sept. 25 and received by Elections Alberta by Oct. 16.

All 10 questions, and information on requesting a special ballot, are on Elections Alberta’s website at elections.ab.ca.

Town and MD approve $467,255 for six community groups

Written on September 23, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Six local organizations will receive a combined $467,255 in 2026 funding from the Town and Municipal District of Pincher Creek after councils reviewed their requests at a special joint budget meeting Sept. 9.

Funding amounts are split equally between the town and MD.

The meeting also prompted a push to rethink the joint budget process, after councillors questioned whether recurring recipients should be treated as ongoing budget lines and raised concerns about incomplete financial information.

Councils also approved 2027 per-capita grants for 21 community groups.

Pincher Creek Municipal Library

The largest allocation is $285,000 for the library.

The library requested a 7.5 per cent increase in its municipal funding for 2027, followed by annual increases of five per cent from 2028 through 2030.

Representatives told councillors library visits are up an average of 10 per cent since 2022 and cardholders by six per cent. Programming sessions are up 25 per cent and participation is up 20 per cent over the same period.

The library also highlighted expanded programming, a reorganized children’s section and a partnership with United for Literacy. It would like to use the former Consistent Fitness space in the multipurpose facility for programming.

Library board members asked why they had not heard back on three expansion options presented months ago. Town officials said they cannot afford the $4 million originally sought from the town but are open to a lower-cost option.

Grant specialist

The Southwest Alberta Sustainable Community Initiative will receive $80,000 for its grant specialist position.

SASCI representatives said the program has helped secure $13.2 million in funding since it began in 2018.

The grant writer applied for $2.1 million and obtained $1.12 million in funding for 2025.

Humane society

The Pincher Creek Humane Society will receive $40,000. The shelter helped 276 animals in 2025.

The organization said veterinary costs are its largest expense at about $100,000 annually. It is exploring an in-house veterinary service to reduce those costs.

Heritage Acres

The Oldman River Antique Equipment and Threshing Club, which runs Heritage Acres Farm Museum, will receive $35,000.

The group had asked for $200,000 for redevelopment, conditional on securing more funding to hire staff. The club said the $200,000 would help unlock matching grants rather than cover operating costs.

Heritage Acres representatives said gate admissions for the museum’s annual show increased 64 per cent over the previous year.

The funding motion included an offer of a letter of support and future case-by-case funding talks.

Search and rescue

The Southwest Alberta Regional Search and Rescue Society will receive $22,255. The society’s 30 members have volunteered more than 2,600 hours, not including administration and equipment maintenance.

The group responded to 22 call-outs in the previous 12 months, including incidents requiring helicopter and long-line rescue resources.

Historical society

The Pincher Creek and District Historical Society, which runs Kootenai Brown Historical Park, will receive $5,000.

Council members said incomplete financial information from the society made it difficult to make decisions involving taxpayer funds.

The society’s board president said there was confusion over what financial information had been requested and what had been submitted.

Joint grants under review

The councils directed the joint grant subcommittee to review the history of the six organizations included in the joint budget and develop a policy and framework for the process. Councillors also raised concerns about financial reporting from some organizations.

Councillors said joint grants are discretionary and do not guarantee ongoing funding. The review is intended to clarify how organizations become part of the joint budget and how future requests should be assessed.

Per-capita grants

For 2027, councils also approved per-capita funding for 21 community organizations:

—Syncline Castle Alpine Trails Association, $380

—McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association, $500

—Pincher Creek Dolphins Swim Club, $1,500

—Five-Pin Bowling Association, $2,000

—Pincher Creek Mustangs Football Club, $2,000

—Windsor Heritage Drop-In Centre, $2,000

—Coalfields Community Centre, $2,500

—The Cowboy Show, $2,500

—Group Group Youth Society of Pincher Creek, $2,500

—Adaptable Outdoors, $3,000

—Pincher Creek and District Agricultural Society, $4,000

—Pincher Creek Care Bears Society, $5,000

—Pincher Creek Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43, $5,000

—Pincher Planters $5,000

—SASCI, $5,000

—Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre, $7,160

—Pincher Creek and District Chamber of Commerce, $7,500

—Community Hall, $15,000

—Pincher Creek Handi-Bus Society, $15,000

—Allied Arts Council of Pincher Creek, $20,000

—Pincher Creek Family Centre, $30,000

Correction: A Sept. 23 version of this story incorrectly reported that overall attendance at Heritage Acres Farm Museum rose 64 per cent over the previous year. The 64 per cent increase was in gate admissions for the museum’s annual show.

Missing referendum signs a police matter, not a town one, CAO says

Written on September 23, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government, RCMP & Public Safety.

Signs promoting Alberta independence have been knocked down or taken repeatedly in Pincher Creek since they went up Sept. 8, according to a volunteer with the campaign that placed them.

They asked not to be named for fear of being targeted in the community. They filed a report with RCMP on Sept. 10 for the first incident but not subsequent ones.

Pincher Creek RCMP confirm they haven’t received further complaints about damaged or removed referendum signs since then.

According to the volunteer:

—Signs near Community Hall were pulled down the evening of Sept. 9 and moved down the fence line. One was broken in half and others piled together under horse manure.

—Four signs placed in front of the library were knocked down or removed each night from Sept. 11 to 14, and replaced each following day.

—Two of four replacement signs at the library were gone the morning of Sept. 16 and four signs were taken down on Remington Avenue the same day.

—Two large signs along Highway 3 were on the ground Sept. 16 after standing the night before.

Shootin’ the Breeze is not aware of any damage to or removal of local signs advocating the federalist position.

What the law says

In a June 29 post on Facebook, Elections Alberta said it is responsible only for monitoring the messages on referendum advertising and ensuring advertisers include the required authorization statement.

Complaints are handled by the RCMP. Pincher Creek RCMP confirm that damaging or taking a sign can be treated as mischief or theft under the Criminal Code.

Town’s role

The Town of Pincher Creek has no power to set rules for referendum signs, or to investigate when they go missing, says chief administrative officer Konrad Dunbar.

“We want to maintain a neutral stance,” he says.

Dunbar meets with any campaign that asks. Local independence supporters met with him before Aug. 31 to go over proposed sign locations.

“It is not in our mandate — we are not allowed to direct sign placement or remove signs. But we can confirm whether the locations a third party advertiser has in mind are on public or on private land,” he says.

A 2025 provincial amendment bars municipal councils from passing bylaws or resolutions about election signs or advertisements.

Dunbar says that before the change, each municipality could set its own sign rules, which for a provincial vote meant a patchwork. The amendment “created equal access all across the board,” he says.

If town staff need to move a sign for safety or mowing, they either contact the organization responsible or briefly move and replace it, he says.

Waterton Avenue is part of provincial Highway 6, so provincial highway rules apply. They prohibit signs on medians and signs that obstruct sight lines, interfere with traffic signs or create other hazards.

Placement guidelines

In an Aug. 20 letter to the Town of Pincher Creek, Let Alberta Decide lawyer Keith Wilson said volunteers had been told to follow guidelines similar to Calgary’s sign rules.

According to the letter, signs should:

—Not be placed within about 15 metres of an intersection.

—Not be placed within about 10 metres of a crosswalk.

—Be at least two metres behind the curb or roadway edge where practical.

—Not be placed on medians or traffic islands.

—Be spaced apart from similar campaign signs.

—Not block sight lines for drivers, cyclists or pedestrians.

—Not interfere with sidewalks, pathways, transit, traffic-control devices, utilities or municipal operations.

—Be securely installed and maintained.

Wilson said the campaign will remove its signs promptly after the Oct. 19 referendum.

Dunbar says the guidelines are in line with provincial highway guidelines.

He invites anyone with questions about sign placement to contact him at 403-627-3156.

Alberta Separation | Independence | Bill 54, Election Signs, Referendums

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the Town of Pincher Creek" on the left side, featuring a stylized image of people seated around a meeting table on the right.

Council holds off on cutting utility franchise fees

Written on September 23, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Pincher Creek town councillors put off a decision on utility franchise fees Sept. 14 after debating whether trimming the charges to ease pressure on residents’ bills was worth the hit to the town’s budget.

Council also heard Northback Holdings’ economic case for its proposed Grassy Mountain coal mine, voted down a funding request from the library, and set a date for its tax recovery auction.

Council debates utility costs

Council deferred decisions on both the natural gas and electricity franchise fees to Sept. 28.

It was asked to set the franchise fee percentages for 2027 and 2028 at once, as the town now budgets on a two-year cycle. Residents pay these fees on their gas and power bills.

The natural gas fee with Apex Utilities has sat at the maximum allowable 35 per cent since 2024, bringing in about $849,000 in 2025. The electricity fee with FortisAlberta, capped at 20 per cent, brought in about $673,000 in 2025.

Coun. Brian McGillivray proposed reducing the gas fee to 30 per cent, saying residents are facing difficult choices between groceries, rent and utility bills.

Coun. Sahra Nodge has historically supported the higher fee because it allows the town to collect revenue from utility customers who do not pay property taxes. However, she said the increasing dollar amounts have changed her view.

Chief administrative officer Konrad Dunbar told council a reduction from 35 to 30 per cent would reduce revenue by about $134,000. He said that could affect the town’s target of a three per cent tax increase and that keeping services at current levels might require other changes.

Mayor Wayne Oliver said framing the fees as percentages was misleading, since a household’s actual savings from a five-point cut would amount to only about a dollar or two per bill.

He asked administration to report back on how much franchise fee revenue the town collected last year compared with what was budgeted. He also suggested councillors review their own annual utility bills before making a decision.

Northback outlines economic impact of coal mining

Northback CEO Brad Johnson presented council with findings from a socioeconomic impact study the company commissioned from the accounting firm EY to support its bid to revive the Grassy Mountain coal project in the MD of Ranchland, north of Blairmore.

Johnson said Northback provided EY with project data, including expected costs, employee numbers and other activities. EY then used Statistics Canada data and economic modelling to estimate the project’s broader effects.

The proposed mine would require about $1.4 billion in capital investment during a two-year construction period, Johnson said.

According to the study, about $1.2 billion of that spending could contribute to Canada’s gross domestic product during construction.

The study also estimates about $14 billion in additional Canadian exports over the life of the project.

Johnson said the mine could support about 9,577 full-time-equivalent positions during construction. Operations could support about 1,756 full-time-equivalent positions nationally.

He said the regional impact could include about 875 full-time-equivalent jobs, including direct, indirect and induced positions. Northback expects about 425 full-time-equivalent employees to work directly at the mine.

Johnson said the company expects about $3.8 billion in wages over the mine’s operating life and that about 90 per cent of its operating spending would remain in Canada.

The company is still completing its integrated application for regulatory approval. Johnson said Northback expects to submit the application within the next six months. That could be as early as December, depending on the completion of technical modelling, particularly related to water.

He said the regulatory process could eventually lead to a statement of concern process and additional information requests.

Oliver asked how Northback would address housing needs if the project proceeds, saying the region has limited housing options and could see an influx of workers.

Johnson said Northback has considered the issue and expects employee busing to be part of its plans. The company could provide transportation from Pincher Creek and communities farther east, as well as from Crowsnest Pass, he said.

Johnson also said Northback owns surface land in Crowsnest Pass and is open to discussions with the municipality about potential housing opportunities.

Library funding request denied

Council voted 6-1 against contributing up to $1,100 to Pincher Creek Municipal Library’s two-day dark sky planetarium program, planned for January 2027. Coun. Mark Barber was the only member in support.

The expanded two-day program is expected to cost $8,200. The library has secured $6,000 through grants and is seeking the remaining $2,200.

McGillivray questioned whether the town should contribute while looking for ways to reduce spending and support residents facing financial pressures. He said the request should have gone through the joint funding process instead.

Tax recovery auction set for November

Council approved the terms and process for its 2026 property tax arrears recovery public auction, set for Nov. 16 at 3 p.m. in the council chambers at town hall.

Council also set reserve bids for two properties heading to auction, a mobile home lot at $26,600 and a house at $313,400, based on assessed values.

Oliver questioned whether the reserve amounts were reasonable and why the figures must be discussed publicly.

Dunbar said the practice follows the Municipal Government Act’s requirement that current owners have the opportunity to recover their assessed value.

Regional water planning grant

Council agreed to join the MD of Pincher Creek’s application for a 2026-27 Alberta Community Partnership grant for a regional water and wastewater expansion and upgrade plan. The MD would serve as managing partner, with the town as a participating partner.

The proposed plan would examine the costs of servicing areas including the Pincher Creek Airport and Pincher Station.

The grant program can cover 90 per cent of eligible planning costs, up to $150,000. The application deadline is Oct. 1.

Council reviews second-quarter finances

The town recorded an operating surplus of about $2.24 million for the first six months of the year, largely because the full year’s property taxes were billed in that period. Council accepted the operating statements for the six months ending June 30.

Total revenue for the period reached about $9.18 million, about 75 per cent of the $12.15-million annual budget. Net municipal property taxes came in at about $5.66 million, essentially matching the full annual budget.

Other revenue was closer to the halfway mark:

—User fees and sales: $1.47 million of $2.92 million.

—Franchise and concession fees: $816,000 of $1.43 million.

—Government operating transfers: $623,000 of $838,000.

—Rental income: $322,000 of $829,000.

Total expenses stood at about $6.94 million, or about 52 per cent of the $13.41-million annual budget, in line with the midpoint of the year.

Salaries, wages and benefits made up the largest single expense category at $2.37 million, about 46 per cent of the $5.19 million budgeted for the full year.

Recreation and culture was the largest department expense at $2.08 million of a $4.22-million budget.

Spending on water supply and distribution, wastewater treatment, roads and protective services all tracked between about 28 and 46 per cent of their respective annual budgets.

Dunbar said administration has not identified any major concerns with the statements. He said the town is also working toward more detailed quarterly reporting as it moves through its two-year budgeting process.

Cyclists return to Pincher Creek to raise funds for affordable homes

Written on August 26, 2026. Posted in Community Life.

Thirty-six cyclists rolled into Pincher Creek for the second consecutive year, climbing through challenging terrain and riding through rain — all to help families turn the dream of homeownership into reality.

Ride Through the Rockies returned to the community Aug. 14-16, bringing riders together to cycle more than 300 kilometres over three days and raise money for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta.

The annual event has raised more than $2.5 million since it began in 2013, including nearly $450,000 this year, to support affordable homeownership.

Founded by Ken Crockett, vice-president of Star Building Materials, the event brings people together from the building and home construction industries to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

Crockett says the idea came from a similar cycling fundraiser in Winnipeg that supports Habitat for Humanity Manitoba.

“I felt there was an opportunity to create something similar here in southern Alberta,” he says. “We wanted to bring people from across the industry together.”

The ride has grown from 13 cyclists in its first year to 36 riders this year. Participants came from across Alberta, British Columbia and Manitoba.

Each rider is expected to raise at least $2,500. Many raise more through personal fundraising pages and donations from their networks.

The event has become more than a fundraiser.

“It has become a community united by the belief that, together, we can help build stronger communities and brighter futures,” Crockett says.

Pincher Creek earned its return invitation by offering the combination of scenery, challenging cycling routes and community support organizers look for.

“The community has been incredibly supportive and engaged,” Crockett says. “From the local partners and volunteers to the businesses and residents who encouraged riders along the route, everyone has helped make the event feel at home in Pincher Creek.”

Riders based themselves in a local motel for all three nights, heading out each morning and looping back.

Nina Wulder, manager of marketing and communications at Star Building Materials, says each day brought a different route in and around the community. The group logged 125 kilometres on the first day, which proved to be the toughest.

“It was very wet and about eight degrees [Celsius], so it was a very challenging day for cyclists to be on the ride,” she says. “Very cold, very wet, not the ability to get warm again.”

Jeff Hodgson, vice-president of stakeholder and community engagement at Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, says conditions improved just in time.

“Friday was such a wet day for them,” he says. “I was glad that the weather improved greatly on Saturday and Sunday.”

Each morning before setting out, riders gathered to hear the story of a Habitat family, a tradition Wulder says helps push cyclists when the conditions turn difficult.

“When things get hard like that, we dig deep and try to think of the families that we’re helping,” she says.

A large group of cyclists in matching shirts poses outdoors around a bicycle.

Ride Through the Rockies participants pose with their bicycles and cycling gear in Pincher Creek during the three-day fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta, Aug. 14-16.

Ashley Williams, Isolated Peak Photography

Hodgson and Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta’s president and CEO, Gerrad Oishi, attended the riders’ Aug. 15 celebration dinner at Kootenai Brown Historical Park, where a Habitat homeowner shared her experience with affordable homeownership.

“It was just a pleasure to get to know them and to thank them for their efforts,” Hodgson says. “They’ve developed their own bike riding community, and it was just great to witness that.”

Crockett, along with Claudio Palumbo, regional vice-president of Qualico Southern Alberta, presented a $434,897 cheque to Oishi for Habitat Southern Alberta. Fundraising continues, and as of Tuesday the total had climbed to $449,167.

The money will support current construction projects in Chestermere, including 24 homes under construction and another 17 expected to start later this year.

Habitat’s model is designed to help families who cannot afford traditional homeownership. Eligible families purchase their homes with no down payment and no interest. Their mortgage payments are adjusted so they do not exceed 30 per cent of household income.

Families also contribute 500 volunteer hours through Habitat. That can include work at construction sites, in the community or at Habitat ReStore locations.

Hodgson says the model gives families more financial stability.

“Children raised in a stable home environment have better outcomes,” he says. “That takes the stress of shelter off their plate, so they can meet the other needs that they have.”

Habitat Southern Alberta has partnered with more than 400 families since it began in 1990. Those partnerships have touched the lives of more than 1,200 children.

Last year alone, Habitat moved 30 families into homes, including 82 children.

But Hodgson says the need for affordable housing continues to grow.

Rising land, construction and material costs remain challenges for the organization. Fundraising events such as Ride Through the Rockies help Habitat increase the number of homes it can build.

“We are trying to ramp up the homes that we build to meet the growing need,” Hodgson says.

The organization’s work also has a local connection.

In 2019, Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta worked with the Pincher Creek community to build two homes for local families.

Hodgson says both families remain in those homes. One of the homeowners also volunteered during this year’s Ride Through the Rockies.

“It’s great to see that connection come full circle,” he says.

Crockett says the fundraising total is important, but the community built around the event is what makes him most proud.

In its first year, 13 riders raised $65,000. This year’s 36 participants included six women, most from the home-building industry. The ride has grown in its routes, destinations and fundraising, but its purpose, Crockett says, remains unchanged.

“The fundraising total is remarkable, but behind that number are thousands of individual decisions to participate, volunteer, donate, sponsor and support the event,” he says.

Organizers hope to expand the event and its impact in the years ahead. Crockett says the goal is not simply to reach another fundraising milestone. The priority is ensuring the money raised continues to create tangible support for affordable homeownership.

“The ride may be over for this year, but its purpose continues,” he says. “We’re looking forward to building on this year’s success and continuing to bring people together for a cause that matters.”

Those who wish to contribute can donate online at my.habitatsouthernab.ca/2026RTTR.

Affordable Housing, Cycling, Fundraising, Ride Through the Rockies

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the MD of Pincher Creek" across the top, featuring an image of large windmills in a field with mountains in the background.

News briefs from July 14 MD of Pincher Creek council table

Written on August 26, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Approving an unbudgeted $20,000 capital increase for a new truck deck, responding to residents’ concerns over road dust, and advancing plans for a new municipal gravel pit were among the issues before Municipal District of Pincher Creek council during its July 14 meeting.

Councillors also backed local agricultural initiatives, updated agricultural policies and authorized several infrastructure and administrative items.

Christie Mines Road dust concerns

Council considered a request from residents asking the MD to resume dust control on Christie Mines Road.

A letter signed by 31 residents said dust along Range Road 11 is a growing concern because of increased traffic, including heavy equipment. They said it affects nearby residences as well as wildlife and fish habitat, and raises safety concerns for pedestrians, cyclists and police vehicles.

An addendum from the Edges of Waterton cycling group cited dust on Christie Mines Road, Alberta Ranch Road and nearby intersections.

Council directed administration to send a letter advising residents they can apply individually for dust control, as other landowners in the MD do. The group is invited to meet with council if they wish to discuss the issue further.

Truck deck budget increased

Council approved a $20,000 increase to the 2026 capital budget to purchase a new deck for a one-ton truck.

Administration said the existing truck deck could not be transferred to the new vehicle. The new truck’s crew-cab configuration has different cab-to-axle dimensions than the single-cab truck the deck was built for. Using the old deck would create weight distribution and safety concerns.

The additional funding will come from the equipment reserve.

The existing deck will remain on the current vehicle, which will be converted into a public works welding truck. The old welding truck will be declared surplus and sold.

Road maintenance support for Cowley

Council agreed to provide road grading services to the Village of Cowley. The municipality will charge the village according to the hourly rates outlined in its fees policy.

Ownership maps to be released

Council authorized an agreement with Inside Outside Studios, also known as i-Hunter, to release the May 2026 MD ownership maps. Council also directed administration to renew the agreement if future versions of the ownership maps are released through the company.

Funding approved for agricultural organizations

Council approved $5,000 for the Foothills Forage and Grazing Association — $2,000 in core funding and up to $3,000 more for individual events in 2026 — from the budget for grants to groups and organizations.

Council also approved a $1,500 contribution to Ag for Life for 2026, with funding coming from the same budget.

Lundbreck growth plan moves forward

Council gave first reading to a bylaw that would amend the municipal development plan to recognize the Lundbreck hamlet growth study as a guiding planning document.

The study examines existing conditions, future growth opportunities, infrastructure, transportation and community services. It is intended to guide future land-use and development decisions in Lundbreck.

A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8 at 3 p.m., before council considers second reading of the bylaw.

Proposed gravel pit advances

Council also gave first reading to a land-use bylaw amendment needed for a proposed municipal gravel pit, known as the Sapeta Pit.

The amendment redesignates part of a parcel from agriculture to direct control to allow for a future natural resource extraction operation. The site is west of Range Road 1-5 and south of Township Road 9-2.

Administration said Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has already approved the project as a Class 1 gravel pit. A public hearing on the proposed land-use amendment will take place Sept. 8 following the Lundbreck bylaw hearing.

Agricultural policies updated

Council approved updates to the MD’s agricultural pests policy and weed-control policy following recommendations from the agricultural service board.

The revised weed-control policy outlines responsibilities for managing weeds on municipally owned land while continuing inspections and enforcement on private land under provincial legislation.

Council also approved revisions to the agricultural pests policy.

Wording on problem wildlife investigations was updated to specify coyotes in cases of livestock harassment. References to the former Alberta Agriculture and Forestry ministry were changed to Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation.

The policy also adds emerald ash borer and wild boar to Alberta’s list of declared agricultural pests.

Agricultural fieldman appointed

Council appointed Ayla Peacock as the MD’s agricultural fieldman, effective July 14. She was originally proposed for the role of assistant fieldman.

Administration said provincial legislation recognizes only the position of fieldman, not assistant fieldman, and using the assistant title could create legal issues if enforcement decisions were appealed.

Appointing Peacock as fieldman also eliminates the need for annual renewal of her inspector’s licence. The change ensures enforcement authority remains valid and provides continuous coverage when the primary fieldman is unavailable.

Cardiac-care campaign supported

Council authorized a letter of support for Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation’s Bringing Hearts Home fundraising campaign, which aims to expand cardiac-care access in southern Alberta.

The MD previously committed $15,000 from its tax rate stabilization reserve to the campaign in March 2026.

The regional campaign is pushing for continued provincial investment following the government’s commitment of $59 million over three years toward the overall $445-million project.

Agriculture, Municipal Government, Roads

A hand places a blank ballot into a wooden ballot box.

Crowsnest council sets byelection date after MacDonald resigns

Written on August 26, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Crowsnest Pass voters will head to the polls this fall after council set the date for a byelection to fill the seat vacated by Colleen MacDonald.

At its Aug. 18 regular meeting, council passed a motion setting Nov. 17 as election day and Oct. 20 as nomination day. Barbara Kelly was appointed returning officer, with Kristin Colucci as substitute returning officer.

The byelection is required under the Municipal Government Act, which mandates a vote be held within 120 days of a council vacancy. MacDonald resigned effective Aug. 6, meaning the municipality had until Dec. 4 to hold the vote.

Nomination period now open

The nomination period began Aug. 19, the day after council approved the election date, and continues until noon on Oct. 20.

Nomination packages are available through the municipality and papers can be submitted at the municipal office at 8502 19th Ave. in Coleman.

Under a legislative change introduced in 2025, anyone intending to run must file a written notice, known as Form 29, before accepting campaign contributions or incurring election expenses. The municipality is required to maintain a public register of candidates who have filed that notice.

Kelly has served as returning officer for the municipality’s previous three elections. Colucci, her substitute, has worked on the past six elections and leads the department responsible for municipal elections.

The returning officer appoints election workers, establishes voting stations, orders election supplies, receives nomination papers and oversees the conduct of the election.

Voting subdivisions unchanged

Council opted to keep the municipality’s existing three voting subdivisions rather than treat Crowsnest Pass as a single one.

Subdivision A covers Coleman, subdivision B covers Blairmore and Frank, and subdivision C covers Bellevue and Hillcrest.

Voting stations are expected to remain at their usual locations: the MDM Community Centre gym for Bellevue and Hillcrest, the Elks Community Hall for Blairmore and Frank, and either the Crowsnest Curling Club or Coleman Seniors Centre for Coleman.

Voting stations will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., as required under the Local Authorities Election Act.

Advance, special and institutional voting

As a municipality with a population of more than 5,000, Crowsnest Pass is required to hold an advance vote. The returning officer will set the exact date, which must be more than 24 hours before election day. Administration is targeting Nov. 5, depending on when ballots can be printed following nomination day.

Special ballots are available to eligible electors who cannot vote during the advance vote or at a voting station on election day. Under other 2025 changes, special ballots can no longer be returned through the municipal office drop box.

Institutional voting will be held at Peaks to Pines Lodge, Crowsnest Pass Health Centre, Tecumseh Apartments and Westwind Apartments.

Election costs

The byelection was not included in the municipality’s budget. Council approved $25,000 from the mill rate stabilization reserve to cover election expenses. There will be no cost recovery through a shared election with the school board.

The 2020 byelection saw 553 voters cast ballots out of 4,540 eligible. In comparison, 2,028 of 4,932 eligible voters cast ballots in the 2025 municipal election.

Administration recommended reducing the number of voting polls because the byelection is expected to have lower turnout than a general municipal election. Using one poll per voting subdivision is expected to save about $4,800.

Administration also presented an option to eliminate the voting subdivisions and operate three polls at Blairmore Community Hall, which would have saved an additional $1,400. Council chose to retain the three established voting subdivisions while reducing the number of polls.

MacDonald’s resignation

MacDonald resigned after a legal challenge to her eligibility to run in the 2025 municipal election. It alleged she did not meet the six-month residency requirement under the Local Authorities Election Act ahead of the October 2025 vote.

The court had not ruled on the merits of those allegations before MacDonald resigned.

MacDonald received 714 votes and finished last among the six successful council candidates.

In her resignation statement addressed to CAO Patrick Thomas and Mayor Pat Rypien, and published in the Pass Herald, MacDonald said defending her eligibility had come at “enormous personal cost,” affecting her reputation, emotional well-being and family finances.

She said she ran for council to serve the community and did not regret seeking office.

MacDonald also expressed hope her successor could focus on serving the community without experiencing the same level of what she described as personal scrutiny.

With MacDonald’s resignation, the byelection will now determine who fills the vacant seat, with results expected to be declared Nov. 23, ahead of council’s Nov. 24 meeting and December budget deliberations.

Municipal Elections

Map showing Pincher Creek, the Captus project site, Drywood Power Plant and nearby highways, rail, transmission lines and natural gas infrastructure.

Early-stage AI data centre plans take shape south of Pincher Creek

Written on August 20, 2026. Posted in Business & Economy.

South of Pincher Creek, on an industrial site that once housed a natural gas processing plant, Captus Generation is exploring plans for a natural-gas-fired power plant and an AI data centre that could bring a new form of digital infrastructure to the region.

The Calgary-based company wants to develop the project on an 825-acre site about 20 kilometres south of Pincher Creek. Under the concept, Captus would build a power plant, while a technology partner would build and operate the data centre using electricity generated on site.

Many details — including the size of the facility, who would operate it, its final design, water requirements, traffic impacts and when construction could begin — remain undetermined.

Laura McKinnon, the MD of Pincher Creek’s development officer, says representatives from Captus have met with council several times to discuss the company’s operations, but no application is before the municipality.

The distinction is important because the MD changed its land-use bylaw last year to establish a specific process for data centre developments, including requirements for public engagement and technical information before a decision can be made.

About Captus Generation

Captus Generation was founded in early 2024 by a group of midstream energy professionals under CEO Harry Andersen, who had previously served as chief operating officer at Pembina Pipeline. The company initially explored building a natural-gas-fired power plant on the site and pursuing an industrial partner to use the electricity.

In October 2025, Captus was acquired by Summit Point Capital LP, a private equity firm the company describes as experienced in major infrastructure projects across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Andersen resumed his role as CEO, and Eric Gallie joined as chief financial officer. Summit Point Capital currently funds the company’s operating costs.

Paul Connolly, Captus vice-president of commercial development, says the company sees the project as a continuation of the region’s industrial history.

“We are building on the region’s energy legacy of 75 years of natural gas production,” he says, adding that both the power plant and data centre would be privately funded, with no government subsidies or tax breaks.

The proposal

Captus says the project is being considered on an industrial property already designated for heavy industrial use, with existing natural gas and power infrastructure. Electricity generated by the plant would be sold to the technology company operating the data centre.

Laurie Stretch, Captus spokesperson, says plans shifted toward a data centre after the company identified the property as suitable for digital infrastructure.

“The critical next step is to sign an agreement with a technology partner,” Connolly says.

Negotiations are underway, he says, but a technology partner has not been finalized.

The power plant would be built specifically to supply the data centre. Captus says it would be connected to the provincial electricity grid for backup, rather than relying on the grid for its primary power supply.

Stretch says the first phase of the power facility could be around 400 megawatts, although the final capacity will depend on the requirements of the eventual data centre partner.

Power supply and environmental claims

Both Connolly and Stretch say the project would generate its own electricity rather than draw on Alberta’s grid — meaning, Captus says, it would not put upward pressure on local power prices, a concern raised about data centres elsewhere.

Any surplus power could be sold to the grid.

Connolly says the project would not draw on freshwater sources. Instead, cooling would rely on non-potable saline water drawn from deep underground and circulated through a closed-loop system.

“Many of the questions we’re being asked stem from mistakes in other jurisdictions that are not comparable to the Captus opportunity,” he says.

Connolly further says the power plant would use modern, high-efficiency natural gas turbines producing lower emissions than older facilities, and that carbon capture and storage could be added later.

He says environmental studies are underway to confirm the project’s impacts, and that Captus intends to meet or exceed regulatory standards.

The company says the development would not remove agricultural land from production, since the site already carries that industrial designation, and that it would have no impact on the Waterton Reservoir or other regional water bodies.

Those environmental claims would be subject to further study and regulatory review as the project advances.

Economic case and regulatory groundwork

Captus says the project represents a potential investment of around $1 billion, along with several hundred construction jobs and several dozen permanent operating positions once complete.

Connolly says the development would also boost municipal tax revenue supporting local services and infrastructure, though the company cannot yet calculate a specific figure without a finalized data centre design.

Ahead of any formal application, the MD of Pincher Creek adopted an amendment to its land-use bylaw in September 2025 specifically addressing data centre operations. McKinnon says the change was made pre-emptively, in step with a broader trend across Alberta municipalities, rather than in response to a specific proposal.

According to Land Use Bylaw Amendment 1361-25, any future data centre application would have to seek redesignation to direct control.

The bylaw also requires the applicant to hold a public open house and submit detailed plans covering water use and disposal, employee numbers, roads and traffic volumes, any associated power plant or battery storage, weed management, reclamation, historic resources, noise, fencing and security lighting.

A noise impact assessment is required as well.

McKinnon says the municipality regularly updates its land-use bylaw to prepare for emerging development trends, pointing to recent amendments covering gravel pits, irrigation dugouts and short-term rental accommodations.

The requirements are not exhaustive and council can request additional information or studies.

What remains unknown

Captus has not finalized the project’s overall size or electrical demand, nor identified a data centre operator. That uncertainty extends to the data centre’s design, schedule and operating requirements.

Connolly says Captus expects to file for regulatory approval with the Alberta Utilities Commission once the technology partnership is secured.

The AUC process would be separate from the municipality’s land-use approval process.

Public engagement to come

Captus first engaged with the community in 2024, before the data centre concept had been finalized. The company held presentations with the MD and Town of Pincher Creek and hosted an information session at Twin Butte Community Hall in May 2024.

Stretch says Captus later went quiet while its ownership situation was being resolved.

The company has since restarted its community outreach through newsletters, website updates and discussions with the municipality. More information is available online at captusgeneration.com, where residents can subscribe for updates.

Another community session will be required through the AUC process.

The company also plans further engagement once a technology partner is selected and residents can be shown more specific information about what is being proposed.

For now, there is no confirmed construction date. Connolly says the company cannot estimate one until a technology partner is secured and the scope of the project is established.

For the MD, the next significant step is a formal development application.

Until one is submitted, McKinnon says, council has no proposal before it to approve or reject.

*******************

Correction: Captus Generation data centre project

Shootin’ the Breeze wishes to correct information in the related article Conservation Group Demands Scrutiny of AI Data Centres, published in the Aug. 12 issue (not the article above).

The story incorrectly stated that Captus Generation had been acquired by Gryphon Digital Mining Inc. Captus announced in January 2025 that it had agreed to be acquired by Gryphon, but in August 2025 it announced the transaction would not proceed, and the purchase agreement was terminated. The company remained under the ownership of BTG Energy and West Lake Energy Corp.

In October 2025, Captus Generation confirmed it had been acquired by Summit Point Capital LP, a private equity group.

The story also described the project’s scope and details based on a news release issued by Gryphon Digital Mining. Those details reflected Gryphon’s plans for the site and do not represent Captus Generation’s current proposal.

We sincerely apologize to Captus Generation and our readers for the error.

The incorrect information was included based on several published news reports, as well as a news release that appeared on Captus Generation’s website at the time of our reporting. Before publication, we made several attempts to contact Captus Generation for comment but were unable to reach the company.

We have since contacted Captus Generation again and have included the company’s response and perspective in our updated reporting on the proposed project, Early-Stage AI Data Centre Plans Take Shape South of Pincher Creek.

We regret the error and are committed to ensuring our reporting is accurate, fair and balanced.

Data Centres, Land Use Bylaws, Natural Gas

Humane society pauses dog intakes following suspected distemper case

Written on August 19, 2026. Posted in Community Life.

A suspected case of distemper has prompted the Pincher Creek Humane Society to pause dog intakes for 14 days and to warn dog owners in the area to make sure their pets are vaccinated. The shelter announced the pause Aug. 12.

Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. It is often fatal, especially in puppies and unvaccinated dogs. There is no cure, only supportive treatment.

It does not infect people, but it can spread among dogs and some wild animals such as foxes, skunks and raccoons.

The pause comes after Blossom was taken to the shelter Aug. 8 by a Good Samaritan who found the puppy just south of town in the MD of Pincher Creek.

After initially showing no signs of illness, Blossom was taken to a veterinary clinic for evaluation after she began vomiting and developed blood in her stool.

Two parvovirus tests taken Aug. 11 produced inconclusive results. While waiting for the second test, Blossom experienced head tremors, which, coupled with her other symptoms, led the veterinarian to strongly suspect distemper. He determined Blossom’s odds of surviving with a good quality of life were slim and she was euthanized.

Shelter manager Crissy Riegert says a distemper test was not sent for official confirmation, as the veterinarian was confident in his assessment. Erring on the side of caution, the shelter proceeded with the pause based on that assessment rather than pursue additional testing.

While no other dogs at the shelter had direct contact with Blossom, Riegert says there is a possibility of indirect exposure through staff or other means. The shelter is taking extra precautions to protect the other dogs in its care, stepping up already strict disinfection measures.

Waylon, a puppy who had no direct contact with Blossom but was housed in the same run, is under strict isolation. He was vaccinated shortly after Blossom became ill and, along with the shelter’s other dogs, showed no symptoms as of Monday, Aug. 17.

Riegert says the shelter routinely quarantines incoming animals for 14 days because of the incubation periods of illnesses such as distemper and parvovirus.

“We are hopeful that our policies and procedures have done their job,” she says.

Riegert encourages dog owners to make sure their animals are up-to-date on vaccinations.

“It really does make a difference,” she says. “It not only protects your dog, but potentially protects the dogs that are not vaccinated.”

Riegert says Blossom’s exact source of exposure is unknown. Because the puppy showed no symptoms when she arrived and became ill days later, the shelter is concerned distemper may be present in the area.

Early signs of distemper can include eye and nasal discharge, fever, coughing, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes progressing to tremors, seizures or other neurological signs. Owners who notice these symptoms should contact a veterinarian immediately.

The dog intake pause is in place until Aug. 27, provided no other dogs develop symptoms. It applies only to dogs and the shelter continues to accept cats.

Anyone who finds a stray dog during the pause is asked to call the shelter in advance. While the shelter can’t take in a dog directly, staff can meet people outside the facility to check for a tattoo or microchip and try to reunite the dog with its owner without bringing it inside.

If a dog cannot immediately be returned home, the shelter may work with other animal shelters or volunteers to find temporary placement until the pause is lifted.

The shelter can be reached at 403-627-5191.

The Pincher Creek Humane Society will post updates on its social media pages and advise if the intake pause needs to be extended beyond Aug. 27.

Canine Distemper, Pet Vaccinations

Construction vehicles working on a double lane highway

Mountain section of Highway 3 twinning still without a timeline

Written on August 18, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

Alberta’s transportation minister says the province is still working through the most challenging stretch of the Highway 3 twinning project — the section between the Crowsnest Pass and Piikani Nation — and cannot yet say when construction will move forward.

Speaking at an Aug. 11 rural media roundtable, Devin Dreeshen said the complex mountain section remains in the design phase. He was also questioned about wildlife crossings and other transportation issues.

Pressed on when planning for twinning the Crowsnest-to-Piikani section will finish and when construction tenders might follow, he said the province is still deciding the best route through the mountain pass.

“You can’t design and engineer forever,” he said, adding a decision on alignment will eventually need to be made.

The Treasury Board requires projects to be fully shovel-ready before construction money is approved. Dreeshen promised more details on timelines later.

The 47-kilometre twinned section between Taber and Burdett is now complete, while the remaining segments are in various stages of planning, design and engineering.

Dreeshen said the province divided the overall Highway 3 twinning project into eight sections so work could begin on the less complicated stretches first. The mountain sections near the British Columbia border are more complicated, while the connection near Medicine Hat still requires design work.

Dreeshen described Highway 3 as the next step in supporting southern Alberta’s growing economy. He linked the project to the province’s investment in irrigation infrastructure, saying expanded irrigation is expected to increase agricultural production and attract new agri-food investment, which would mean more commercial traffic along the corridor.

As work continues in Alberta, he said, the province is also discussing Highway 3 improvements with British Columbia. He acknowledged concerns that twinning the highway to the Alberta border could simply shift congestion west if similar upgrades are not completed in B.C.

Alberta will continue talks with the B.C. government about extending twinning on the B.C. side of the border, he said, adding the province wants Highway 3 to function as an economic corridor that extends beyond Alberta’s border.

Wildlife crossings called a success

Dreeshen said wildlife overpasses, underpasses and fencing have proven successful in reducing collisions between vehicles and animals.

“I think we should be telling that story better,” he said.

He noted that other jurisdictions, including Montana, have shown interest in Alberta’s wildlife crossing program.

Following the roundtable, a department spokesperson from the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors told Shootin’ the Breeze that the proposed Island Ridge Wildlife Overpass remains in the design phase. It is planned for the north side of Highway 3 near the Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area, west of Crowsnest Pass.

The Iron Ridge Wildlife Underpass is also in the design phase. It is planned for the Jim Prentice Wildlife Corridor, about five kilometres along Highway 3 between Coleman and Crowsnest Lake.

Other wildlife crossing projects along Highway 3 are in preliminary design.

The Rock Creek Wildlife Underpass, which runs along Highway 3 between Lundbreck and Burmis along with a short distance north up Highway 22, was completed in December 2025.

Construction on the $10.7-million underpass and wildlife fencing project began in June 2024.

The underpass provides a safe crossing for wildlife such as deer and elk through an area with a high number of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Camera monitoring recorded an estimated 76 animals using the underpass during its first month of operation, with mule deer accounting for most of the recorded crossings.

Post-construction data collected in 2026 is expected to be released through Alberta’s open data portal in early 2027.

The ministry also pointed to Reconnecting the Rockies, a scientific initiative led by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas in partnership with researchers and non-profit organizations. The project is studying how wildlife move through the landscape before, during and after wildlife crossing infrastructure is built.

Reconnecting the Rockies aims to create a connected system of wildlife crossings and fencing along 80 kilometres of Highway 3 between Hosmer, B.C., and Lundbreck. It is designed to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions while restoring movement for species including grizzly bears, elk, deer, sheep and wolverines across one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Canadian Rockies.

Other issues

Dreeshen also addressed transportation issues elsewhere in Alberta, including regional air service, photo radar and truck enforcement.

He said the province is reviewing expressions of interest from airlines interested in providing regional air service to communities such as Medicine Hat, after WestJet ended service earlier this year. Alberta is also examining models used in other provinces, including Saskatchewan, where governments subsidize a certain number of seats on regional routes.

Dreeshen defended the province’s restrictions on photo radar, saying Alberta relied on the technology more than most jurisdictions without seeing better traffic safety results. Municipalities can still apply for exemptions if they can demonstrate a need for photo radar outside school, playground or construction zones.

On truck safety, Dreeshen said Alberta has shut down 20 trucking companies and five fraudulent driver-training schools since October as part of an ongoing enforcement campaign. While it is too early to measure the long-term impact, he said removing unsafe carriers should improve safety over time.

Highway 3 Twinning, Wildlife Crossings

More home dialysis among goals of Lethbridge unit expansion

Written on August 18, 2026. Posted in Health & Wellness.

Southern Alberta’s kidney-care system is getting more room to grow as cases of advanced kidney disease have risen by 20 per cent over the past five years.

A new hemodialysis unit at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge increases weekly treatment capacity by 25 per cent, while an expanded kidney-care clinic gives patients more options for home-based dialysis.

The province has invested $23.4 million in the expansion, increasing the number of treatment stations at the hospital from 24 to 30 and allowing the hemodialysis unit to support up to 180 patients each week.

The expansion is more than a Lethbridge project. It is part of a regional kidney-care system that serves patients from Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod and other surrounding communities.

For rural patients, distance is part of the picture. Hemodialysis is typically needed three times a week, and the drive to Lethbridge is about 100 kilometres each way from Pincher Creek and about 150 from Crowsnest Pass.

Although there are dialysis centres in Blairmore and Fort Macleod, patients typically receive their first few treatments in Lethbridge before they can transition closer to home. The Lethbridge expansion does not add spaces at the rural centres, but growth in home dialysis could let more patients avoid the drive.

Shakhawat Hossain, patient-care manager with Alberta Kidney Care South, says the larger Lethbridge unit is important because patients starting dialysis need closer monitoring during the first few weeks.

“Usually when we start this treatment, especially the hemodialysis treatment, we try to keep them in our bigger centre, and our bigger centre is Lethbridge for this area,” he says.

Once patients are stable, the care team can move them to a rural centre, based on where they live and available space. Crowsnest Pass Health Centre and Fort Macleod Health Centre are the two rural options in the area.

Fort Macleod has capacity for 38 patients, while Crowsnest Pass has capacity for only five, Hossain says.

Staff settle into new shared space

The Lethbridge unit, which opened in late July, “has been good so far,” Hossain says.

“We’re adjusting some things here and there, and finding out what’s been working, what’s not, and working with the rest of the team, making sure that everybody is satisfied and making sure that we provide the best care possible.”

The new unit also brings staff together in one location. Previously, the dialysis team worked in a unit outside the main area, which made communication between nurses and other staff more difficult, Hossain says.

The new space is brighter and larger, allowing staff to work more closely and support each other during patient care.

A system under growing pressure

Hossain says the services offered have not changed. What has changed is the unit’s ability to keep pace with a growing patient population.

The Lethbridge centre was not over capacity, but he says it was getting close.

“Even in the next five years, if our number goes to 160, 170, we’re ready for it,” Hossain says.

Planning for the new unit factored in projected demand across the wider region, which includes Taber, Cardston, Pincher Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Fort Macleod and Picture Butte, among others.

Increasing the number of patients who can be treated at home will be a key measure of the program’s success, Hossain says.

Patients can choose between two options: peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis. The kidney-care clinic has four clinical rooms and five treatment areas, and supports both.

“Over the coming months, we’re looking to see if we can increase our home modality capacity so that we can have more and more patients receiving their treatment in their home,” Hossain says.

Alberta Health Services will also track patient comfort, treatment effectiveness and staff satisfaction in the months ahead, he adds.

The home-based approach could also help reduce pressure on hospital-based care, although Hossain says it is too early to tell whether the new unit has affected emergency department wait times or patient flow.

How patients get access

Patients with chronic kidney disease are followed regularly through the clinic. When a nephrologist determines a patient needs dialysis, a modality team explains the options.

After discussion with their care team, patients can choose between peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis or in-centre dialysis, depending on what fits their needs.

Province highlights closer-to-home care

In a July 30 media release, Adriana LaGrange, Alberta’s minister of hospital and surgical health services, framed the expansion as part of the province’s push to deliver care closer to home.

Martin Long, minister of infrastructure, said the new renal program providing home-dialysis training supports a service many Albertans rely on multiple times a week.

The province says the $23.4-million investment is part of broader health-care infrastructure spending in southern Alberta.

It also includes $59 million over three years for cardiac services at Chinook Regional Hospital and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, and $74 million over three years for a new health centre in Cardston.

Dialysis, Home Dialysis, Kidney Disease

Graphic with the text "Municipal News from the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass" on the right side, featuring a stylized image of people seated around a meeting table on the left.

Personal data status unknown after Crowsnest Pass cyberattack

Written on August 11, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Two weeks after a cyberattack hit the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass, officials still cannot say whether residents’ personal information was affected — even as most services have been restored.

The municipality detected the breach July 29 and immediately brought in external cybersecurity specialists to investigate. The incident was announced in a July 30 news release.

Most systems and services have since been restored, according to deputy chief administrative officer Kristin Colucci, though tax and utility billing have been slower to come back.

Officials say they are still working to determine the full scope of the incident, including whether any personal information was affected.

“As the investigation is ongoing, the municipality is unable to provide further details at this time,” Colucci says. “If the investigation determines that any personal information has been affected, appropriate steps will be taken in accordance with applicable privacy legislation.”

Billing delays

Property tax withdrawals and utility billing notices, both by mail and email, are normally processed on the last day of the month but have been delayed by the incident.

Municipal office staff are currently unable to provide account information, such as balances and account numbers.

Residents can still make payments online using a credit or debit card, and Colucci says tax and utility billing services are expected to resume early next week.

Investigation continues

The municipality has not said what caused the breach, which systems were initially affected or when the investigation will conclude.

“If we determine that personal information was affected, we will share that update and let residents know how to get more information,” Colucci says in the July 30 release.

Officials say they will continue to share updates as the investigation progresses. Residents with questions or concerns can call 403-562-8833.

Cyberattacks, Cybersecurity, Data Privacy

A camper trailer under a permanent roof structure

Town votes down plan to allow RVs as permanent homes

Written on August 4, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government.

Can recreational vehicles designed for temporary use also serve as permanent homes? The Town of Pincher Creek has decided no — at least not under current land-use rules.

At its July 27 meeting, council voted 6-0 to defeat Land Use Bylaw Amendment 1639-25-C, which would have allowed RVs to be used as permanent homes in the town’s manufactured and mobile home parks through discretionary approvals. Coun. Sahra Nodge was absent.

Under current rules, RVs are a prohibited use in those parks and cannot legally serve as full-time residences. The bylaw process now ends and that prohibition stands.

The request

The change was requested by Ok Hee Kim, a mobile home park owner, who asked council to allow RV residential use under discretionary approval.

In her application, Kim said many people cannot afford traditional housing or the cost of relocating an older mobile home, and allowing RVs as dwellings could expand options in an area with limited affordable housing.

She also said it would formalize existing non-compliant RV occupancy.

The case for

At a July 27 public hearing, several residents backed the change, citing the region’s housing affordability pressures.

One woman said she moved to an RV after being priced out of rentals, and described her lot as clean, affordable and well maintained. Restricting RV living, she said, would harm vulnerable, low-income residents, particularly as affordability pressures grow and aging infrastructure limits other housing options.

Another resident shared personal experience and said RV living is an option for people struggling with rising housing costs.

A written submission supported letting council consider RV occupancy through discretionary approval and suggested conditions such as ownership rules, seasonal limits, parking and screening, to regulate it.

The case against

Senior planner Steve Harty recommended council defeat the amendment, and several residents who spoke against it echoed his concerns.

Harty said RVs are legally classified only for travel and recreation, are not recognized as permanent housing under provincial rules, and fail national building code standards for insulation and fire safety. Also, RVs are not generally designed for year-round living in Alberta’s climate.

Residents who opposed the amendment raised the same fire-safety concern, noting RVs are built to different standards than permanent homes.

Harty also flagged a gap in tenant protections, noting Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act may not clearly cover RV rental arrangements.

Both the planner and a number of residents warned the change could set a precedent. Harty cautioned that approving RV use in one district could invite similar requests elsewhere and that adding it to the R2 land-use district would open the possibility across all five of the town’s manufactured and mobile home parks.

Residents echoed that a bylaw change could have wider effects, including RVs appearing in unexpected public spaces.

Some opponents also raised concerns about neighbourhood impacts, infrastructure, enforcement and pressures they associated with more transient populations.

The vote

The land-use amendment received first reading June 22 and the town mailed notices to 175 nearby property owners June 30, ahead of the July 27 public hearing.

After hearing all submissions, Mayor Wayne Oliver asked whether anyone had new points to raise. None were offered and council voted unanimously to defeat second reading.

With that, the bylaw process ends and RVs remain prohibited as permanent homes under the town’s current land-use bylaw.

Administration noted the decision is final and cannot be challenged.

Affordable Housing, Fire Safety, Housing Affordability, Land Use Bylaws, Manufactured Home Parks, Mobile Home Parks, Public Hearings, Recreational Vehicles, RV Living, Tenant Protections

Gavel rests on sounding block on a table.

Water Not Coal asks court to overturn petition ruling

Written on August 4, 2026. Posted in Civic & Government, Environment.

The fight over coal mining near the headwaters of the Oldman River is headed to court. Corb Lund‘s Water Not Coal campaign has asked a judge to overturn Elections Alberta‘s decision that its petition, signed by more than 200,000 Albertans, fell just short of forcing a referendum.

One of the two projects the petition targeted is Northback Holdings’ Grassy Mountain, near the Oldman headwaters in the Crowsnest Pass. The other is Valory Resources’ Blackstone project in Clearwater County, near the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River.

The campaign filed its application for judicial review July 29 in the Alberta Court of King’s Bench, on behalf of initiative proponent Lund. It argues Elections Alberta applied verification standards stricter than the Citizen Initiative Act requires, wrongly excluding thousands of valid signatures.

The application asks the court to declare the initiative successful or, failing that, send it back to Elections Alberta for reconsideration.

“More than 200,000 Albertans signed this petition in good faith, and they deserve a fair and reasonable process,” Lund said in a statement.

“Thousands of Albertans were effectively shut out by verification processes that don’t make sense. This judicial review is about ensuring that citizens’ voices weren’t lost in technicalities.”

How the count fell short

Water Not Coal submitted 207,435 signatures to Elections Alberta on June 10. An initial count validated 196,088 — well above the 177,732 needed to force a referendum.

A second-stage verification, conducted from June 11 to July 2, dropped that number to 172,088, leaving the campaign 5,644 signatures short. It was the first citizen initiative petition verified with scrutineers present, a change introduced through Bill 23, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2026.

What the application alleges

The judicial review application raises several concerns about how Elections Alberta carried out its verification.

On the legal standard, it points to sections 4 and 6 of the Citizen Initiative Act, arguing the chief electoral officer demanded more than the legislation sets out and undermined its purpose of encouraging public participation in direct democracy.

On the verification calls, the application says the process required electors to recall precise details from a petition they may have signed months earlier, with limited opportunity to clarify their answers.

It also says the calls did not display “Elections Alberta” in caller ID as previously indicated and questions whether the agency considered the recent electors-list data breach and its possible effect on response rates.

On the statistical side, the application challenges the five per cent margin of error and the sampling method, arguing the process failed to account for uncertainty in small sample sizes, applied the mid-point of a formula rather than its low-point, and replaced non-responding electors too quickly.

Together, the campaign says, those practices rejected too many signatures and accepted too few.

The petition and how it got here

The petition, formally titled No New Coal Mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, sought to prohibit new coal exploration and mining in the region, exempting mines already in active production as of Jan. 1, 2026.

The campaign began after Elections Alberta issued a notice of initiative petition Feb. 10. Signature collection ran until June 10, when Lund and supporters delivered 18 bins of petition sheets to Elections Alberta’s Edmonton office in a horse trailer.

Elections Alberta’s response

As of publication, Elections Alberta had not publicly responded to the judicial review application. In an earlier written response to Shootin’ the Breeze on the caller-ID concerns, however, the agency said caller ID displaying “Elections AB” was active during verification, and that testing confirmed it worked as intended.

Some recipients may not have seen the identification, the agency said. Individual telephone companies may not include caller ID in their registries and some recipients may have had spam-blocking or caller ID settings that hid it.

Electors selected for verification received a text message before a verification phone call, if they had provided a phone number, the agency said. If a call went unanswered, staff left a voice mail explaining its purpose, a callback number and the verification questions.

Electors who provided an email instead received a message asking them to verify their petition information.

“No signatures were deemed invalid or failed verification because an elector did not answer a phone call or respond to an email or voice mail,” the agency said.

Citizen Initiative Act, Citizen Initiative Petitions, Coal Mining, Eastern Slopes, Judicial Review, Petition Verification, Referendums, Water Protection

Story Type: News – Local

Related stories

West Fraser and the province

The harvest area

Species

What’s next

Related stories

Delegations

Petitions removed

Deputy mayor and committees

Correspondence and reports

Related stories

Provincial gravel pit approval changes

Proposed gravel pit rezoning

Castle Mountain Resort to keep free recycling and garbage service

Library seeks support for dark sky event

Lundbreck growth study

Council approves ALUS letter of support

Committee meeting

Food centre reports increase in demand

Tourism group seeks $12,500

RMA convention plans finalized

Related stories

“Our treaty is with Canada”

Proving who you are

“Who might be next”

Who ran the session

How to vote

Related stories

Pincher Creek Municipal Library

Grant specialist

Humane society

Heritage Acres

Search and rescue

Historical society

Joint grants under review

Per-capita grants

Related stories

What the law says

Town’s role

Placement guidelines

Council debates utility costs

Northback outlines economic impact of coal mining

Library funding request denied

Tax recovery auction set for November

Regional water planning grant

Council reviews second-quarter finances

Related stories

Christie Mines Road dust concerns

Truck deck budget increased

Road maintenance support for Cowley

Ownership maps to be released

Funding approved for agricultural organizations

Lundbreck growth plan moves forward

Proposed gravel pit advances

Agricultural policies updated

Agricultural fieldman appointed

Cardiac-care campaign supported

Nomination period now open

Voting subdivisions unchanged

Advance, special and institutional voting

Election costs

MacDonald’s resignation

About Captus Generation

The proposal

Power supply and environmental claims

Economic case and regulatory groundwork

What remains unknown

Public engagement to come

Wildlife crossings called a success

Other issues

Staff settle into new shared space

A system under growing pressure

How patients get access

Province highlights closer-to-home care

Billing delays

Investigation continues

The request

The case for

The case against