This surge in demand for newcomer services in Calgary is a direct result of Alberta’s record-breaking population growth, which has brought both benefits and challenges. In 2023, the western province witnessed a staggering surge in its population, with 202,324 new residents bringing the total to 4.8 million, as reported by Statistics Canada. This represents the largest annual increase in Alberta’s history, equivalent to 550 people moving to the province every day. While much of this growth stemmed from international migration, Alberta also set a national record for interprovincial migration, welcoming a net gain of 55,107 people, the highest ever recorded by any province.

The majority of these interprovincial migrants originated from Ontario and British Columbia. For instance, Statistics Canada estimates that 38,236 Ontarians migrated to Alberta last year, compared to only 14,860 Albertans who moved to Ontario.

Alberta has historically experienced periods of rapid population growth, primarily driven by its oil and gas-based economy during times of high commodity prices and bustling oil patch activity. However, the current situation in Alberta differs from the past, according to Mark Parsons, chief economist for ATB Financial. Parsons noted that Alberta’s relatively robust economy and rapid job growth are major factors contributing to the influx of people into the province. However, what sets this period apart is the role that affordability, particularly housing affordability, plays in attracting new residents.

Experts attribute Alberta’s appeal to its real estate market’s affordability compared to major urban centers like Toronto and Vancouver. The Alberta government even capitalized on this advantage with its “Alberta is Calling” ad campaign in the spring of 2023, targeting residents of southern Ontario and Atlantic Canada. The campaign encouraged Canadians unable to afford homes in their current locations to consider relocating to Alberta, boasting higher salaries and lower real estate prices.

The surge in newcomer services demand is straining resources at the Centre for Newcomers and other similar organizations across Calgary. Ernst emphasized the need for additional funding and support from both government and private sectors to meet the growing needs of immigrants and refugees settling in Alberta. As the province continues to attract newcomers at unprecedented rates, ensuring their successful integration and access to essential services remains a pressing challenge for communities and policymakers alike.

Ndatuje, who accessed “non-top secret RCMP records systems,” was arrested by the INSET, and his first court appearance is scheduled for March 11 in Calgary Provincial Court. The RCMP, in a Tuesday news release, emphasized its commitment to combating foreign interference and implementing measures to monitor and manage any further unauthorized disclosures of information following the security breach.

“The RCMP is committed to combatting foreign actor interference at all levels and is actively leveraging all tools at its disposal,” the news release stated.

The ongoing investigation is now before the courts, and the RCMP has indicated that there will be no further comments at this time. Individuals suspecting foreign interference activities are encouraged to report them to local police or the RCMP National Security Information Network.

This incident follows a recent case in Ontario where former RCMP intelligence official Cameron Ortis was sentenced to 14 years in jail for violating the official secrets law. Ortis had leaked operational information, leading to his conviction in November. Additionally, in January, a 58-year-old woman employed by Calgary’s 911 service, Mariana Buonincontri, faced charges related to organized crime for sharing personal information, highlighting the seriousness of information breaches within law enforcement.

Upon arrival, EMS took charge of an adult patient who had already received care from Parks Canada officials. Stuart Brideaux, a public education officer, stated in an emailed statement on Tuesday that the patient had sustained fortunately minor soft tissue injuries. They were transported to Canmore Hospital in stable and non-life-threatening condition.

Parks Canada promptly issued a bulletin on Facebook late Monday, announcing the closure of Castle Mountain Lookout and Silverton Falls, including Rockbound Lake. This area, situated between Banff and Lake Louise, Alta., is temporarily off-limits to the public. Parks Canada urged visitors to respect the closures for the safety of both the public and their team members.

The bulletin did not provide details on why the closure was enacted, and Parks Canada has yet to respond to inquiries as of Tuesday.

While cougars are a natural presence in Banff National Park, attacks on humans are infrequent. The region has witnessed only one documented fatal cougar attack, which occurred in the same park. In January 2001, Frances Frost, 30, was cross-country skiing near Lake Minnewanka when she fell victim to a cougar attack. Wildlife officials located the cougar near her body and promptly eliminated the threat.

Experts emphasize the importance of preventative measures when in cougar territory. Encountering a cougar, they suggest facing the animal, retreating slowly, and appearing large and aggressive by shouting, waving sticks, or throwing rocks – the best defense against potential confrontations with these predators.

Around 9 p.m., officers responded to the Sikh temple in northeast Calgary after violence erupted during a protest. Up to four people reportedly suffered minor injuries during an assault that took place amid the demonstration.

Gurpartap Baidwan, an organizer of the protest, revealed that some temple congregants had gathered in opposition to the elected leadership committee’s actions.

“(We were meeting) to oppose their various bylaw violations and a series of wrongdoings and grievances,” he informed Updated News.

Baidwan accused the leadership of not adhering to the rules of their faith or following the governance of the Sikh religion.

“They are required to abide by the Sikh Rehat Maryada that is issued by the Akal Takht, which is kind of like our Vatican,” he explained.

“The issue that we’re having is that this committee that has come in is acting outside those parameters. They are not just violating the Sikh Rehat Maryada, which is the Sikh code of conduct, but they are also violating the institution’s own bylaws as prescribed under Alberta law in the form of being a non-profit organization.”

Protesters additionally alleged a lack of communication, an unwillingness to resolve conflicts within the community, and general negligence on the part of the leadership.

Baidwan stated that the protests commenced on Dec. 24, lasting for 15 days and nights despite cold weather conditions.

Calgary police have not disclosed details regarding the cause of the assault or whether any charges have been filed.

Natalie Fay, the external relations manager for the Banff field unit, revealed that Parks Canada received an alert from a GPS device originating from the Red Deer River Valley around 8 p.m. on Friday, indicating a bear attack. In response, a specialized team trained to handle wildlife attacks was immediately deployed. Unfortunately, adverse weather conditions prevented the use of helicopters, so the response team had to travel to the location by ground, working through the night.

The Wildlife Human Attack Response Team arrived at the scene at 1 a.m. and tragically discovered two deceased individuals.

Fay further reported that during the response operation, the team encountered a grizzly bear displaying aggressive behavior in the vicinity. In the interest of public safety, Parks Canada staff made the difficult decision to euthanize the bear.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) arrived at 5 a.m. to transport the victims to Sundre, Alberta. As a safety precaution, an area closure remains in effect in the vicinity of the attack.

Area Closure Notice – The Red Deer and Panther Valleys. For more information, visit https://t.co/a3YChN13Qx pic.twitter.com/QGSbQ30Gj0

— Banff National Park, Parks Canada (@BanffNP) October 1, 2023

The driver of the SUV, who was just days away from his 18th birthday at the time of the incident, was initially charged as a youth with first-degree murder. However, following a legal process, Court of King’s Bench Justice Anna Loparco convicted the now 20-year-old driver of manslaughter.

In a recent court ruling, the young man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. The decision by Justice Loparco also stipulated that the driver should receive an adult sentence, emphasizing the gravity of the offense.

This sentencing brings some closure to a tragic chapter in Calgary’s history, as the community remembers Sgt. Andrew Harnett’s dedication to serving and protecting his city.

In a sentencing decision made on Wednesday, the young man responsible for the deliberate killing of Sgt. Andrew Harnett, a Calgary police officer, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. However, the judge gave the defendant four years of credit for the time he has already spent in custody, which means he has eight years left to serve.

The tragic incident occurred on December 31, 2020, when Sgt. Harnett, who was 37 years old at the time, lost his life. The young man responsible for his death, who was just days away from his 18th birthday at the time, was initially charged as a youth with first-degree murder. However, he was ultimately convicted of manslaughter by Court of King’s Bench Justice Anna Loparco, who also ordered that he receive an adult sentence due to the severity of the offense.

Justice Loparco noted in her decision that Sgt. Harnett’s wife was pregnant with their first child when he was killed, highlighting the profound impact of the tragedy on the officer’s family.

During the sentencing hearing, the young man expressed remorse and apologized to Sgt. Harnett’s family, saying, “I accept responsibility. I’m very sorry.”

The Crown had sought a sentence of 11 to 13 years, while the defense argued for a sentence of 7 1/2 years, with credit for time already served.

The trial revealed that Sgt. Harnett had attempted to stop the SUV after noticing that its license plate did not match its registration. The driver testified that he felt scared when the officer and another person approached the vehicle, and he saw Sgt. Harnett place a hand on his gun. In an attempt to evade the police, the SUV took off with Sgt. Harnett clinging to the wheel, desperately trying to stop the driver.

Justice Loparco concluded that the driver had displayed “callous indifference” to the officer’s life and had purposefully acted to dislodge Sgt. Harnett from the vehicle.

It’s worth noting that a publication ban remains in place on the offender’s name until the end of an appeal period.

Additionally, a passenger in the SUV, Amir Abdulrahman, had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2021 and was sentenced to five years in prison. He was granted day parole earlier this year.

The Calgary outbreak has resulted in 337 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli infection. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has indicated that the province is exploring the implementation of new regulations related to shared kitchens and food safety in response to this incident.

Martha Friendly, the executive director of the Childcare Resource and Research Unit, noted that Canada is currently in the process of strengthening its child-care system with recent financial support from the federal government. However, food safety has not been a prominent topic in these discussions. Child-care regulations regarding food provision vary from province to province, with some requiring child-care centers to supply food for children, while others mandate that centers serve food provided by parents.

Friendly highlighted that in provinces where there is no requirement for child-care centers to supply food, such as Alberta, there may be limited regulations governing food handling and safety.

David Farnell, CEO of Real Food for Real Kids, a Toronto-based daycare catering company, emphasized that his company implements numerous procedures to ensure the safety of meals and snacks provided to children. Many of these procedures go beyond what is regulated by the province. He acknowledged that these safety measures come at a significant cost but are deemed necessary due to the high stakes involved in providing safe food for children in daycare settings. The E. coli outbreak has underscored the importance of robust food safety practices in daycare facilities and the need for consistent and comprehensive regulations to protect the health of children in such environments.

WestJet clarified that the flight was added to their schedule to accommodate delegates attending the Conservative Party convention in Quebec City. While it was a commercial flight, passengers were not required to indicate whether they were attending the convention when booking their tickets. WestJet’s operational leadership had approved the use of the public address system for Poilievre’s speech.

Notably, Juno Award winner, television star, and author Jann Arden expressed her dissatisfaction with Poilievre’s address, stating that the PA system on a plane is meant for the flight crew and not as a political platform for social media.

Some social media users defended the speech, highlighting that the flight was specifically added by WestJet for convention attendees to return home, so it wasn’t a typical public flight. They argued that the speech might have given the impression that the flight was filled with ordinary travelers unrelated to the Conservative Party of Canada.

Political scientist Lori Williams from Mount Royal University suggested that strategically, the speech may not have significantly benefited the Conservatives. Delegates at the convention were likely already strong supporters, so no new votes were likely gained. Those who were not already supporters might have reacted negatively to the forced listening of a speech. WestJet also received some backlash for allowing a partisan speech on one of their flights.

Pierre Poilievre shared a video of his speech on his LinkedIn page. Despite some conflict on social media, there were no reported complaints from passengers who were actually on the flight.

Starting at the close of October, Air Canada will discontinue non-stop flights to several destinations, including Ottawa, Halifax, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Cancun, and Frankfurt.

In response to these changes, the Montreal-based airline expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to passengers on affected routes. They assured affected customers that they would be provided with alternative travel options, including potential rerouting through other airports or a full refund.

Remarkably, Air Canada confirmed that these changes would not result in any employee layoffs. The adjustments are a part of the airline’s broader strategy to enhance its overall operational stability.

Air Canada attributed some of the modifications to an industry-wide pilot shortage, which has created resource challenges for the airline. Furthermore, they cited difficulties in the aviation supply chain, particularly in terms of maintenance parts supply, which sometimes causes delays in returning aircraft to service. Consequently, these factors prompted a comprehensive review of the network schedule to optimize resource deployment in response to ongoing industry challenges.

Despite these alterations, Air Canada remains committed to the Calgary market and the Western Canadian region. The airline assures that there will be no changes to its one-stop connections from Calgary to key hubs in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal.

In a noteworthy commitment to continued growth, Air Canada has announced plans to increase its total flying capacity for the winter season of 2023/24 by 12% compared to the previous year (2022/23).

These adjustments reflect Air Canada’s dedication to maintaining a strong presence in Calgary while addressing industry-specific challenges to enhance its overall service quality and efficiency.

The evacuation effort involved nearly two dozen flights departing from Yellowknife by noon on that very Friday. According to officials, there were points in the day when planes were taking off every half hour, demonstrating the urgency and scale of the evacuation operation.

Calgary had prepared to accommodate up to 5,000 evacuees, offering them essential support in terms of lodging, transportation, and meal vouchers. This comprehensive assistance aimed to ease the burden of those affected by the wildfires.

Lois Lafferty, another resident from Yellowknife who had arrived in Calgary, shared her emotional experience, saying, “The past week has been so overwhelming to see everything from my childhood from where I was born and stuff – everything burning to ash.” Her words underscore the deep impact the wildfires have had on the lives and memories of those affected.

To aid in the evacuation efforts, military aircraft have been dispatched to Yellowknife, ensuring a continuous stream of incoming flights to Calgary throughout the day. Additional flights for Saturday are on standby should the need arise.