📍 Calgary · Thu, Aug 20, 2026 · 19 articles · 326

Tech Jobs Boom, Bearspaw Shutdown & Ballhawks — Calgary Thursday

🏛️ Government & Politics

  1. Bearspaw feeder main to close for under a week in September. Mayor Jeromy Farkas says the shutdown will finish electrical work on a new pumping station and could trigger limited outdoor-watering restrictions; the feeder main supplies 60% of treated water for 1.6 million residents of Calgary, nearby municipalities and the Tsuut’ina Nation. ↗
  2. Alberta minister to hold second AI data-centre town hall in Sturgeon County. Technology Minister Nate Glubish will attend a Redwater town hall about a planned $13-billion Meta data-centre project, after he faced jeers at a Lacombe meeting; Premier Danielle Smith will join a virtual town hall Aug. 27. ↗
  3. Calgary tech sector recorded 56% growth, adding 28,900 jobs. CBRE’s report says Calgary’s tech employment rose by 28,900 positions over three years; Platform Calgary CEO Jen Lussier credited cross‑sector tech in energy, clean tech and agriculture and cited the city’s innovation strategy as the policy backbone. ↗
  4. Edmonton Pride organizers defend police presence after advocacy backlash. Edmonton PrideFest says police will provide security following recent attacks in Vancouver and Berlin; groups including RaricaNow said they would cut ties, citing historical mistreatment of LGBTQ+ and racialized communities. ↗

🏈 Sports

  1. Tyrell Ford leads CFL interception race; Calgary’s Ben Labrosse tied for lead. Edmonton’s Tyrell Ford is tied with Calgary’s Ben Labrosse at five interceptions heading into Friday’s Elks vs. Blue Bombers game; Ford was a second‑round pick in the 2022 CFL draft and became the Elks’ highest‑paid defensive back in April 2025. ↗
  2. Miyu Yamashita shoots 62 to lead CPKC Women’s Open after round one. Yamashita opened with a season‑low 62 at par‑70 Royal Mayfair in Edmonton; Canadian teenagers Anna Huang (17) and Michelle Xing (18) are within striking distance at 5 under. ↗
  3. Ottawa Redblacks drop to 0‑10 after 46‑16 loss to Montreal. The Redblacks fell 46‑16 to the Alouettes at Molson Stadium, extending a losing streak to 16 games since Sept. 5, 2025; Montreal’s Davis Alexander threw for 260 yards and two TDs in front of 22,482 fans. ↗

📰 Also Today

  • WestJet ordered to scrap weight cap on power wheelchairs. Court or regulator decision forces carrier change. ↗
  • Alberta tech minister met with jeers at first AI town hall in Lacombe. Public opposition disrupted the Aug. 19 meeting. ↗
  • With 60 days left, Alberta referendum stay/leave sides plan strategy. Campaigning intensifies ahead of referendum. ↗
  • Operator fined over fracking pond drowning death in northern Alberta. Company received a monetary fine. ↗
  • Some 2SLGBTQ+ groups cut ties with Edmonton Pride Festival over policing. Multiple organizations announced disaffiliation. ↗
  • Scientist warns proposed endangered‑species law changes would 'stab it to death.' Expert criticizes legislative amendments. ↗
  • Invasive plants available across Canada; federal regulation debated. National availability prompts regulation questions. ↗
  • Central Alberta RCMP officer faces four charges in alleged intimate‑partner violence. Police officer charged in the case. ↗
  • Column examines Keystone XL’s place in Canada‑U.S. trade debate. Opinion piece on pipeline focus. ↗
  • Defendants in ex‑Medicine Hat police chief lawsuit blame officer accused of witness tampering. Legal filings shift responsibility. ↗
  • Southern Alberta school launches program to train next generation of farmers. School initiative targets agricultural skills. ↗
  • Edmonton police charge a 16‑year‑old boy in teen girl's shooting death. Teen charged in homicide investigation. ↗

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