Mail-in Deadline, $11.5M Trust Transfer & $1.8B Weather Claims — Calgary Thursday

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Albertans have until midnight Friday to request mail-in referendum ballots. Elections Alberta moved the application deadline to Friday, Sept. 25 after more than 610,000 people requested special ballots as of Tuesday. Ballots must be returned by Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. to be counted, and voters must include a printed photocopy of government-issued ID showing Alberta residence with their mail-in package.

2. Receiver says RathPC moved $11.5 million from a Sturgeon Lake trust in January 2024. Court filings show two cheques totalling $11.5 million were issued from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Trust to RathPC on Jan. 23, 2024, and $8.5 million was paid into the Alberta Court of King’s Bench within a week. Chief Sheldon Sunshine is quoted about the repayment coming from trust funds held for beneficiaries including minors.

💼 Economy & Business

1. Insurers reported more than $1.8 billion in severe-weather claims across the Prairies. The Insurance Bureau of Canada tallied over $1.8 billion in claims tied to recent severe-weather events in the Prairie provinces, a regional total released by the industry group. The figure covers multiple weather events and is published by the Insurance Bureau of Canada in its recent reporting.

2. Global Business Forum opens in Banff with the theme ‘thriving in chaos’. The 27th annual conference runs at the Banff Springs Hotel and lists speakers including Artemis II astronaut Jeremy Hansen, former ambassador Kirsten Hillman and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. Corporate participants named include executives from Shell Canada, Canadian National Railway and Telus Corp., and sessions will cover AI, space travel and Canada–U.S. relations.

🎨 Community & Culture

1. A bug is causing larch trees in Banff to lose needles this season. Park reports identify insects affecting western larch stands in Banff National Park leading to noticeable needle drop on larch trees. The story cites local forestry observations about the timing and visible effect on needles in the park’s larch populations.

2. Calgary author shortlisted for the $70,000 Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. A Calgary writer is among the finalists named for the $70,000 fiction prize administered by the Writers' Trust of Canada, as announced in the prize shortlist release. The shortlist places the Calgary author in contention for Canada’s major annual fiction award.

📰 Also Today

• Edmonton man Roy Tucker sentenced to 3 years for 3D-printing firearms, tied to Project Reproduction.
• Opinion piece on provincial self-sufficiency published, author discusses Alberta independence themes.
• Column asks whether Alberta’s dual-practice model will cut surgery waits, debate over private-pay access.
• Calgary Zoo announces Dossi, a western lowland gorilla, is pregnant, zoo reports pregnancy news.
• Question posed to Albertans on making provincial laws prevail over federal ones, referendum context noted.
• RCMP seek suspect in Lloydminster deadly shooting, search ongoing per report.
• Edmonton mayor argues city councils should not run like provincial cabinets, mayor’s stance published.
• B.C. Lions sign Deontai Williams Sr. to two-year extension through 2028, team announcement.
• Lions face crucial game vs. Roughriders with playoff implications, preview cites standings and scenarios.