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County plays crucial role in growing region’s tourism industry

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsTourism Lethbridge is gearing up for the 2023 spring and summer tourism season, and doubling down on positioning the region as a premier destination for locally grown and produced food and beverages.“We promote ourselves as Canada’s Premier Food Corridor and Canada’s agriculture destination, so it just makes sense that we are active in that,” explained CEO of Tourism Lethbridge, Erin Crane.Crane said more than ever before food and beverage plays into a tourist’s visitor experience. “It’s huge.  Everybody eats and now when they’re looking at destinations, most travellers are looking for experiences and a lot of that ties into food and beverage.”In 2022, Tourism Lethbridge launched Canada’s Food tours featuring pre-prepared and custom itineraries for self-driven food tours. The eight-hour self-driven tour begins in Lethbridge and provides visitors with information on local experiences and products made locally and all over Lethbridge County. Part of Tou...

Province announces $10 million investment into rural tourism

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsRural tourism initiatives will receive $10 million in the next two years to develop experiences in the regions outside of Alberta’s most popular destinations.The funding will focus on environmentally-sustainable attractions and work to increase visibility for “lesser-known” tourism destinations which have been marked with high growth potential. Government of Alberta statistics report that only 30 per cent of tourism spending is taking place outside of the Canadian Rockies and the large urban centres of Calgary and Edmonton.The Province has identified the funding as an action step to, “grow the tourism industry to a $20-billion opportunity over the next 10 years and developing rural tourism is a key contributor to realizing that goal.”CEO of Travel Alberta, David Goldstein, said the investment in rural tourism will, “drive economic development, support cultural preservation and create year-round employment opportunities for young people.”Travel Alberta...

Lethbridge County hears construction update on Chin Reservoir expansion

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsTravis Geremia, of St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID), and Jeff Olitch of MPE Engineering, appeared as a delegation before Lethbridge County Council on April 6 to discuss the Chin Reservoir expansion project. Geremia is the structural engineer overseeing the project, and Olitch is the prime consultant of MPE overseeing project management.The speakers shared updated schedules and timelines for the $133 million project.The five stages of the complete project include relocation of the existing east dam, raising the reservoir, raising the west dam to accommodate raising of the full supply level (FSL), replacement of Chin conduits which were originally installed in 1951, and replacement of the Chin chute due to age and condition of infrastructure.Olitch explained current reservoir storage is 154,000 acre-feet but, “raising of the FSL and expansion will increase storage by 103,000 acre-feet,” adding that enlarging the reservoir will increase the wat...

Pertussis outbreak expands in South, Central Zones

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

An outbreak of pertussis (Whooping Cough) declared Jan. 26, 2023 in the South Zone of Alberta Health Services (AHS) has continued to grow. There are now 114 identified cases, including a small number in Central Zone.The majority of cases have been children under age 18 years, with 72 per cent being between one and nine years old. During the course of this outbreak five children have required hospitalization.There have been four cases in total in Willingdon and Red Deer in the Central Zone.The remainder of cases are in South Zone, impacting the communities of the County of Lethbridge, Coaldale, Taber, Vauxhall, Grassy Lake, Bow Island, County of Forty Mile, Seven Persons, and Fort Macleod.Many of these communities have significantly low childhood immunization rates and there is evidence of transmission within households, community events and gatherings and at some schools. AHS is issuing a reminder to all people of the importance of immunization, particularly in small children, to pr...

St. Joseph’s teacher nominated for Edwin Parr Award

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsThe Holy Spirit Catholic School Division has nominated Zara Johnson for the 2022-2023 Edwin Parr teaching award.Across the province, each school board may nominate one first year teacher in their division. Nominations are put forward by the school administrators/principal to recognize the efforts of a first-year teacher who has demonstrated an outstanding impact in the early stages of their teaching career.Zara Johnson is a grade one teacher at St. Joseph’s School in Coaldale. Originally from Golden B.C., she completed her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education at the University of Lethbridge before getting hired on with HSCSD.With a focus on fostering a supportive and creative classroom, Holy Spirit Catholic School Division made a statement following the announcement describing Johnson’s work as a teacher.Deputy Superintendent for HSCSD, Michelle MacKinnon, said Johnson has already shown an impressive commitment to St. Joseph’s and the community ...

STARS update at Coalhurst Council

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsThe following are selected briefs from the regular April 3 meeting of Coalhurst town council.CAO reportHighlights of the CAO report include:• Shawn Patience will be Coalhurst’s new CAO. He will be taking over from the interim CAO, Jeffrey Coffman.• A member of the Coaldale RCMP hosted a Community Safety Meeting presentation and answered questions from the public. A reminder that if you experience crime, to call the RCMP information line before turning to social media.• Feedback was received from a recent Public Open House around The Wetlands. Those who stopped in provided great information and feedback. An online survey on the topic closed on April 1, and the survey results will be presented to council at their regular April 18 meeting.• The Town has been approved for a Fire Services Training Grant, which will offset firefighter costs associated with NFPA 1001 Level 1, NFPA 1031 Fire Inspector Levels 1 & 2, and NFPA 1072 Hazmat training sessions....

Picture Butte Town Council meeting briefs March 27

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsWater, Sewage, and Garbage RatesCouncil approved administration’s recommendation to increase the monthly water rate by one percent from $48.50 to $49. The proposal was presented to council at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting and passed during the March 27 meeting of council.Council also passed a bylaw for all three readings of the 2023 Service Fees and rates Bylaw #933-23 which includes Arena and pool user fees.The bylaw was not required to be advertised prior to consideration of second or third readings. Council unanimously passed a motion for permission to go for a third reading, after which the bylaw passed third reading and was adopted.Rural Renewal StreamThe Town has received correspondence from the Province that they have been accepted for designation for the Rural Renewal Stream which will be administered by the Town of Taber, and will support the expansion of the foreign labour force in the region.Two representatives will be attending ...

Schow meets with Coalhurst town council

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsPolicing and the new school were topics of interest from Coalhurst council to their local MLA.During their regular April 4 meeting, Cardston-Siksika MLA Joseph Schow appeared before Coalhurst town council over Zoom to provide an update.Noting that the legislative session just ended and they didn’t have the “typical large volume of bills” however, three bills they did have – a budget limitation bill, a red tape omibus bill and the Alberta Firearms Act – were ones Schow said were important to pass before the UCP call an election in May.Once the election is called, the legislature will dissolve and Schow would no longer be the MLA for the electoral district.Wanting to discuss the Coalhurst School, Schow requested they go into closed session, a request which council granted. Once council returned to open session, Schow commented that he was excited about the school’s modernization, and shows the value of putting resources in southern Alberta.“I think tha...

JUUL to pay $462M for role in youth vaping epidemic

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Office of the New York State Attorney General, JUUL Labs Inc. (JUUL) will pay $462M to six states, including the District of Columbia, for its alleged role in the underage e-cigarette and vaping epidemic. It is the largest multistate agreement with JUUL and its former directors and executives. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! New York will receive $112.7M to support underage vaping abatement programs statewide. As part of the agreement, JUUL will be required to secure its products behind retail store counters and verify the age of customers that directly sell or promote their products online. Several stringent restrictions have been placed on JUUL's marketing, sales, and distribution practices as part of this agreement to prevent underage vaping. The other states involved in the agreement include California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, and New Mexico. Attorney General Letitia...

Tickets on sale for Amtrak's NYC-Berkshires seasonal train

Published Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:54:56 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- Tickets for the seasonal Berkshire Flyer train between New York City and Pittsfield are now on sale. The service will resume on May 26, and operate on weekends until Columbus Day weekend. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “Amtrak is pleased to offer the Berkshire Flyer between New York City and the Berkshires once again after last summer’s successful launch,” said Amtrak Vice President State Supported Services Ray Lang. “Thanks to our partners at MassDOT, NYSDOT, and CSX, customers can enjoy a sustainable and relaxing weekend trip with great weather and beautiful scenery all season long.”   The Berkshire Flyer departs from New York Penn Station at 3:16 p.m. on Fridays and arrives at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center, 1 Columbus Avenue, Pittsfield at 7:12 p.m. The Sunday return trip departs Pittsfield at 3 p.m. and arrives in New York at 7:10 p.m. NYS Dept. of Agriculture expands pr...