Red Deer Polytechnic and Olds College have been recognized as two of the top research institutions in Canada.This week, Red Deer Polytechnic was ranked 31st overall, and Olds College was ranked 20th among the top 50 research colleges and polytechnics nationwide, as published by Research Infosource Inc."We are hono...

The 2025 Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Holiday Train will return to central Alberta next week.The train will make stops in central Alberta on Dec. 8 and 9 and will continue through Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan until it wraps up on Dec. 21.The Holiday Train began in Quebec in November and continued through Ontar...

The Wetaskiwin RCMP are investigating after a fatal collision on Highway 814 at Township Road 480 this morning.At 7:54 a.m., police responded to a serious head-on motor vehicle collision near Millet and, on arrival, found a 70-year-old man deceased.The man, who's from Sherwood Park, was the sole occupant of the SUV tha...

Red Deer RCMP announced they've launched their holiday season impaired driving campaign.That means throughout the month of December, they'll hold several check stops and traffic initiatives in an effort to keep the roads safe and ensure everyone gets home safely.The joint check stops will be conducted by the Red Deer R...

It's almost time to gear up for the annual Red Deer tradition that is the Newcomer Learn to Skate event.Organizers with Care for Newcomers note the 14th annual event is slated for Jan. 2, from 1-4 p.m., at Bower Ponds."There are few things more Canadian than skating on a frozen sheet of water, laughing with friend...

The Lacombe Police Service are asking for the public's help in an investigation of a vehicle theft from a local business.Police say at approximately 4 a.m. on Dec. 4, two suspects entered a secure impound and storage area located in the 4800 block of 46 Street in Lacombe.They had cut through the perimeter fence of the ...

For a 15th year, the Lacombe and District chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is once again putting on the Festival of Wreaths this holiday season.The Festival of Wreaths features an online auction by which people can bid on beautifully handcrafted holiday wreaths, in support of BBBS. Each of the 53 wreaths are ...

The Alberta RCMP in central Alberta are alerting the public to poor road conditions in the Red Deer and Edmonton areas. Police say snow and freezing rain are the contributing factors and that they've responded to multiple collisions and vehicles in ditches. They are asking the public to avoid travel, but if travel is n...

Maskwacis RCMP kicked off the season with a holiday check stop today.Members were out within the Samson, Ermineskin, Montana, Louis Bull, and Pigeon Lake areas.Drivers were greeted with a smile and a candy cane, RCMP say, all for impaired driving awareness.The RCMP will be conducting several similar check stops through...

The Red Deer RCMP reported that Nicole Severight has been located and is safe. They'd like to thank the public and the media for their assistance.

A number of local organizations stand to benefit from some Lacombe County funding allocations approved by council this week.Among the 2026 applications for operating support of historical, cultural, tourism and visitor information facilities and services, council approved $140,666 in funding under Policy RC(10):$63,036...

Two Lacombe students' efforts on the environment are quickly finding themselves among leaders in climate action on the world stage.Libby Ladouceur and Broc Johnson of École Secondaire Lacombe Composite High School (ÉSLCHS) recently returned from the United Nations COP30 Climate Conference in Belém,...

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is recognized around the globe on Dec. 3 each year.Although there are no local events set in Red Deer to recognize the day, central Albertans are encouraged to join people around the world in acknowledging and promoting the rights and well-being of people with disabilities...

Red Deer County Council has tabled the 2026-2028 Operating budget and the 2026-2030 Capital Plan in search for public input. The decision was made during council's regular meeting on Dec. 2, 2025.According to county officials, the budget strives to continue to maintain service levels. They note tax rates will be set in...

The Town of Ponoka is inviting organizations and individuals to sponsor a Christmas tree at the town's annual Christmas light display at Lions Centennial Park.They're asking those interested to sponsor $1,500, which will earn you or your organization a sign of recognition in front of a decorated Christmas tree througho...

Author's note: This story contains details which may be disturbing or triggering to some readers.A Red Deer man has pleaded guilty to several sex-related charges in a Florida court.According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, 30-year-old James Hjelmeland pleaded guilty in late November to one co...

Oh, right, the Tuesday. The Tuesday for giving, the Tuesday chosen especially to give. Giving Tuesday -- yes, that Tuesday is Dec. 2.The yearly tradition, according to GivingTuesday.org, aims to reimagine a world built upon shared humanity and generosity."Every day, charitable organizations in our region do the wo...

The Town of Blackfalds says the provincial government is calling on businesses and individuals to establish and operate a registry office in the community under a long-term service contract after issuing a request for proposal (RFP).It was back in 2017 when Service Alberta first announced a registry office could open i...

Olds RCMP arrested a 27-year-old Calgary man following a traffic stop last week, where they seized a firearm, drugs, and other items.The traffic stop occurred on Nov. 27 at approximately 3:12 a.m. after the police received a report of a potential impaired driver swerving on Highway 2, north of Highway 582.Olds RCMP res...

The Sylvan Lake RCMP say an investigation is ongoing into a fatal motor vehicle collision on Highway 20 on Saturday.Mounties say a preliminary investigation suggested a commercial boom truck was driving southbound on the highway that afternoon when it changed direction off the road and into the ditch.As a result, the 4...

The Red Deer Arts Council has announced it will officially assume the lease and operational management of The Scott Block Theatre, effective Dec. 1, 2025. Officials say this transition represents a significant and forward-looking step for the organization, taking place at a time when municipal funding reductions pose s...

The Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery (MAG) is inviting the community to take part in what they say is an important research survey. As a permanent, public, arts, culture, and heritage institution that exists in service to society, officials at the MAG say they deeply value community input, thoughts, and ideas, especially ...

The Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer kicked off the holiday season with their annual Light the House event.On Friday evening, families who've utilized the Ronald McDonald House both currently and in the past were invited to join staff and volunteers as they turned on their Christmas lights at the facility.Ronald McDon...

Officers have been cleared of wrongdoing in connection to a July 24, 2022 incident in Stettler where a man was shot.According to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), RCMP were responding that night to a roadside report that there was a male in the area brandishing an axe and threatening people.It was jus...

Lacombe's new mayor says she and the new council are settling in nicely, but it's been a busy first month on the job with training and a number of big decisions.Thalia Hibbs, who was a council member already, defeated incumbent mayoral candidate Grant Creasey for the mayor's seat with 1,155 votes to his 1,000. A third ...

Friends of Medicare and Dr. Paul Parks will hold a health care town hall this weekend in Ponoka.The event will take place on Sunday at the Hudson's Green Nature and Activity Centre and will feature Friends of Medicare Executive Director Chris Gallaway and Dr. Parks, who is an emergency physician in Medicine Hat. Parks ...

Festival of Trees organizers are looking for volunteers to join them this Sunday for event teardown.Shifts are available from 4-10 p.m. at Westerner Park.Volunteer Contact InformationEmail: volunteer@rdrhfoundation.com Call or Text: 587-679-4752 Sign up online:

Registration for winter recreation programming in Ponoka opens Monday, Dec. 1.Town officials say registrations will open starting at 8 a.m. online on the Town of Ponoka's website at Ponoka.ca/p/recreation-programming or in person at the Ponoka Aquaplex (5315 46 Avenue). Officials say the line up of winter recreation pr...