Alberta Archives - National Times

13 Aug

Alberta Announces Nearly $21 Million to Strengthen Support for Sexual Violence Survivors

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has announced nearly $21 million in funding to expand specialized services for people affected by sexual violence and abuse, with investments aimed at improving access to support for survivors, children, youth and families across the province. As part of the funding package, the government will provide $17 million to 15 sexual assault centres and the Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services. The allocation includes an additional $3.3 million towards the province's commitment to increase funding for sexual assault centres by $10 million by 2028-29. The province is also committing $3.7 million in annual funding…

10 Aug

AHS INVESTIGATES E. COLI CASES LINKED TO PRAIRIE WINDS PARK WATER FACILITIES

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

CALGARY ( Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Health Services (AHS) and public health officials are investigating three cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) associated with exposure to the water facilities at Prairie Winds Park in Calgary. According to public health information, individuals who visited the spray park or wading pool between July 25 and August 4 may have been exposed to the bacteria. The investigation is continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the cases and whether there are any additional infections connected to the facility. As a precautionary measure, the City of Calgary-operated spray park and wading pool have been temporarily…

09 Aug

ASIRT Investigates Calgary Police Shooting Involving Man Armed With Bow and Arrow

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Calgary

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is investigating a police shooting in southwest Calgary after officers used multiple less-lethal and lethal options during an encounter with a 36-year-old man armed with a bow and arrow. The incident took place shortly before 2 a.m. on July 30 at a residence in the 1000 block of Bridlemeadows Manor S.W. Police had initially been called after receiving a report that a man was firing a bow and arrow in a backyard. Officers had also attended the same address earlier that night. According to ASIRT, police learned that the man was…

06 Aug

Alberta Opens Applications for Scholarship Supporting Youth Leaving Government Care

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): The Alberta government has opened applications for the Duke and Duchess Scholarship, a financial assistance programme aimed at helping young people transitioning out of government care pursue higher education. Announcing the launch of the application process, Minister of Children and Family Services Searle Turton encouraged eligible students to apply before the August 31 deadline, saying the scholarship recognises academic achievement and supports students as they begin the next stage of their education. The scholarship is administered through Alberta's Advancing Futures Program, under which 25 students will each receive CAD 2,000 to support their studies. The funding is…

06 Aug

Canadian Industrial Services Firm Fined Over Worker Injury at Alberta Worksite

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): An Alberta court has imposed a CAD 132,000 fine on industrial services provider Brock Canada Field Services Ltd. after the company admitted to violating workplace safety regulations in connection with a serious on-site accident that left a worker injured. The company pleaded guilty on July 30 in the Fort Saskatchewan Court of Justice to one count under Alberta's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act for failing to ensure the health and safety of a worker. Worker Seriously Injured in Fall The case relates to an incident that occurred on August 10, 2023, at a worksite in Redwater,…

02 Aug

Alberta’s International Student Protests Raise Questions About PGWP Eligibility and Canada’s Education System

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta’s international student protests have continued in recent weeks, drawing attention to Canada’s international education system and the rules governing the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. Hundreds of graduates have demonstrated in Alberta after learning they are not eligible for PGWPs, despite completing programs at designated learning institutions. Many students say they invested significant financial resources to study in Canada with the expectation of gaining Canadian work experience after graduation. The protests include graduates connected to programs offered through Portage College partnership arrangements and CIOT College. Students say they were under the impression that their programs would…

31 Jul

WestJet Strike Countdown Begins: 72-Hour Notice Sparks Travel Chaos, Airfares Surge Across Canada

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Thousands of Canadian travellers are facing uncertainty after WestJet flight attendants served a 72-hour strike notice, putting the airline on the brink of a labour disruption ahead of the August long weekend. Unless a last-minute agreement is reached, a strike or lockout could begin as early as August 2, threatening to disrupt travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers across Canada and on international routes. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing approximately 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, says cabin crew should be paid for every hour they are on duty, including time spent boarding passengers,…

28 Jul

Alberta Introduces Self-Requested Preventive Health Screenings to Boost Early Cancer Detection

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): In a first-of-its-kind initiative in Canada, the Alberta government is expanding access to preventive health screening by allowing residents to undergo certain diagnostic imaging tests without first obtaining a physician's referral. The new policy is set to take effect on July 31. Under the initiative, Albertans will be able to purchase preventive diagnostic tests, including MRI scans, CT scans, X-rays and ultrasounds, through participating private health-care providers. The government says the move is aimed at improving early detection of diseases, particularly cancer, while giving residents greater flexibility in managing their health. Officials clarified that the new option…

28 Jul

Canada, Alberta Announce $52 Million Upgrade for Calgary’s Olympic Oval

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsAlberta, CanadaAlberta, Canada

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): The Governments of Canada and Alberta have announced a joint investment of $52 million to modernize Calgary's iconic Olympic Oval, ensuring the world-renowned facility continues to serve elite athletes and the wider community for decades to come. Under the funding arrangement, both governments will contribute $26 million each toward a major infrastructure renewal project. The upgrades will include replacing the original refrigerated concrete slab beneath the 400-metre speed skating track and two ice rinks, installing a new ice plant, and modernizing critical mechanical, electrical, structural and life-safety systems. Opened in 1987 ahead of the 1988 Winter Olympics,…

26 Jul

ALBERTA PGWP CRISIS: OVER 1,500 GRADUATES FACE MASS REFUSALS AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND LEGAL EXPERTS UNITE FOR JUSTICE

nishuthapar10 CommentsAlberta, Canada, TrendingAlberta

Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): A major immigration crisis has erupted across Alberta, pushing over 1,500 international student graduates into financial devastation and legal limbo. After investing up to $32,000 each in tuition fees and completing two-year diploma programs, hundreds of former students are receiving sudden Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) refusals from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The controversy has sparked continuous 24/7 demonstrations in Northeast Calgary, busloads of protesting students traveling to Portage College's Lac La Biche campus, and a round-the-clock hunger strike launched by desperate graduates demanding administrative fairness.As public outcry grows, prominent community figures are stepping up to…