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Trouble at Ann Mitchell's new job?
Trouble at Ann Mitchell's new job?

Lac Ste. Anne County calls special closed-door meeting. Notice went out Sunday afternoon for a meeting Monday afternoon. Less than six months after being hired on a five year contract as Lac Ste. Anne County's top administrator, Ann Mitchell is presumably the subject of a special closed-door council meeting scheduled for Monday.

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The Seconder Rule: What Councillors Say vs. What the Law Requires
The Seconder Rule: What Councillors Say vs. What the Law Requires

Two Medicine Hat city councillors have said that councillors should get a seconder for a motion before bringing it to a council meeting. But the Municipal Government Act and the official handbook for councillors say something different. This difference matters because Medicine Hat residents already have a low tolerance for decisions made behind closed doors.

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What Medicine Hat can learn from other cities about water safety Communication
What Medicine Hat can learn from other cities about water safety Communication

Lenea Grace, executive director of the Lifesaving Society's BC and Yukon branch, puts it this way: "You'd never get into your car without doing up your seat belts, so please make sure that you're zipping and clipping your life jacket on when you set foot on a boat"

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Members News

Members NEWS
The Adventures of Gonzo #3 -The Cake Pan Days
The Adventures of Gonzo #3 -The Cake Pan Days

The timeline was messy - feathers and legs and heat all happened at once. That week took me from a blind, sprawled, featherless creature resembling a Shrieker to a standing, preening, heat-regulating young bird.

Betting on Breakup: Inside the Polymarket Surge on Canadian Secession
Betting on Breakup: Inside the Polymarket Surge on Canadian Secession

There’s always been a market for chaos, but now it’s liquid and tradable in real time. On Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market where users wager on real-world outcomes, a provocative question has been steadily transforming from fringe speculation into a six-figure signal.

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Featured
Trouble at Ann Mitchell's new job?
Kelly Allard
Trouble at Ann Mitchell's new job?
Kelly Allard

Lac Ste. Anne County calls special closed-door meeting. Notice went out Sunday afternoon for a meeting Monday afternoon. Less than six months after being hired on a five year contract as Lac Ste. Anne County's top administrator, Ann Mitchell is presumably the subject of a special closed-door council meeting scheduled for Monday.

Read more →
Kelly Allard
The Seconder Rule: What Councillors Say vs. What the Law Requires
Kelly Allard
The Seconder Rule: What Councillors Say vs. What the Law Requires
Kelly Allard

Two Medicine Hat city councillors have said that councillors should get a seconder for a motion before bringing it to a council meeting. But the Municipal Government Act and the official handbook for councillors say something different. This difference matters because Medicine Hat residents already have a low tolerance for decisions made behind closed doors.

Read more →
Kelly Allard
What Medicine Hat can learn from other cities about water safety Communication
Kelly Allard
What Medicine Hat can learn from other cities about water safety Communication
Kelly Allard

Lenea Grace, executive director of the Lifesaving Society's BC and Yukon branch, puts it this way: "You'd never get into your car without doing up your seat belts, so please make sure that you're zipping and clipping your life jacket on when you set foot on a boat"

Read more →
Kelly Allard
It Was Never About The Water 
Editorial Content
It Was Never About The Water 
Editorial Content

We have seen a number of times when councillors have seconded a motion they did not agree with just to get it on the table and discuss. Sometimes councillors who held one opinion before the debate changed their minds after the debate. This council refused to debate it.

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Editorial Content
📽️ Council Honeymoon is over
Editorial Content
📽️ Council Honeymoon is over
Editorial Content

COWARDS!

That word was uttered by an angry observer just before they walked out of council chambers.

The honeymoon is definitely over as not one council member seconded Councillor Cocks motion.

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Editorial Content
ARCH  Worked -The Alberta Government Let It Die Anyway
Kelly Allard
ARCH  Worked -The Alberta Government Let It Die Anyway
Kelly Allard

The ARCH program in Medicine Hat was a pilot project that tested whether giving people with serious mental health and addiction issues their own home with the right support would work…It proved that housing with support works for people who are the hardest to help.

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Kelly Allard
South Sask. River Peaks
Alex McCuaig
South Sask. River Peaks
Alex McCuaig

The South Saskatchewan River peaked Thursday afternoon with levels expected to remain elevated through the weekend.

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Alex McCuaig
Op-Ed - Smith Can’t be Trusted
Alex McCuaig
Op-Ed - Smith Can’t be Trusted
Alex McCuaig

Whether Albertans are sovereigntists or federalists, they shouldn’t trust Premier Danielle Smith.

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Alex McCuaig
River Update - High Waters Return To Southern Alberta
Alex McCuaig
River Update - High Waters Return To Southern Alberta
Alex McCuaig

A return of high streamflows for the South Saskatchewan River is anticipated as upstream dams increase releases following a soggy weekend along the Eastern Slopes.

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Alex McCuaig

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Code Orange: Medicare Editorial

Code Orange: Alberta
The warning was written in British blood. Alberta read it and said "hold my beer."
Kelly Allard
The warning was written in British blood. Alberta read it and said "hold my beer."
Kelly Allard

In England, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine felt compelled to publish a study showing 1,300 excess deaths a month from long A&E waits. In Scotland and Wales…No royal college there has felt the need to count bodies and sound the alarm like that. And here in Alberta? …we have Dr. Paul Parks. A past president of our own medical association, touring the province, telling stories, begging for change.

Kelly Allard

ALBERTA SEPARATISM

“My Bad!” Mitchell Card - First Edition
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“My Bad!” Mitchell Card - First Edition
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Text graphic reading 'MCRIDE'S BAKERY' with 'MCRIDE'S' in red on a dark purple background and 'BAKERY' in gray with some green, yellow, and purple accents.

McBride’s Fully Baked Hot Takes:

Featured
Apology and choice
Apology and choice

Omitting the dull introduction was also a mistake. I thought about a trigger warning. I tried a few intro lines out, but I was in love with the impact of jumping right in with “Sandy was out front planting flowers when the ICE trucks rolled up…”. I deliberately constructed the final post to maximize emotional impact. I was too proud of the story - I wanted it to be a hit, and that decision caused a lot of pain, and I’m sorry for that.

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No one wants this, but she’s doing it anyway.
No one wants this, but she’s doing it anyway.

Except for Separatism. Danielle’s one success has been to hand over her party, the UCP, to Separatists. Do you wonder why we aren’t having a provincial election in which there’s a big-tent conservative party and a big-tent progressive party and a handful of fringe parties (greens, separatists, communists, etc.)?

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ICE trucks roll up in front of Crestwood School
ICE trucks roll up in front of Crestwood School

Sandy is out front planting flowers when four ICE trucks roll up in front of Crestwood School and a dozen agents spill out into the courtyard. She stares in shock for a moment before dropping the spade and running for her front door. She grabs the whistle off its hook, spins around, and begins blowing with all her might.

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The Election You Thought You Were Voting In
The Election You Thought You Were Voting In

In next year’s election, you’ll have a choice. You’ll be able to vote RIGHT. When the Election comes in 2026, vote Progressive Conservative*, and show the UCP the door.

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Last Week in Alberta
Last Week in Alberta

Last week in Alberta - an editorial cartoon about the Alberta Prosperity Project.

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​​Update on the Recall of Danielle Smith
​​Update on the Recall of Danielle Smith

This opinion piece is written by McBride’s Bakery. While The Owl does not contribute to this column, The Owl did adjust the formatting. This was originally published on social media.

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