🏛️ Government & Politics
- More than 3,000 Alberta mail-in referendum ballots returned invalid. Elections Alberta says over 3,000 ballot packages were returned with missing declaration forms, errors or ID issues from the more than 652,000 packages mailed; about one-third of packages have been verified and more than two-thirds of 60,000 required staff have been hired to process ballots before the Oct. 19 referendum.
💼 Economy & Business
- Emera to merge with Canadian Utilities in a $72-billion all-stock deal. The combined company will be valued at about $72 billion, keep Emera’s Halifax headquarters while retaining Canadian Utilities’ operational centres in Calgary and Edmonton, plan a $32-billion capital program and serve roughly six million customers across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean and Australia under CEO Scott Balfour.
🏥 Health
- Alberta doctors ratify proposed three-year pay deal. The Alberta Medical Association reports 22 per cent voter turnout among eligible members and 76 per cent of those voted to ratify the three-year master agreement reached after mediation; Hospitals Minister Adriana LaGrange called the deal fair and said it aims to keep the system sustainable.
🎨 Community & Culture
- World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington closed until further notice. Museum director Laural Kurta said the two century-old buildings need replacement to control heat and humidity for taxidermy; the attraction, opened in 1996 and located about 120 kilometres north of Calgary, closed last Tuesday while owners seek a new facility to preserve the diorama collection.
🏈 Sports
- Calgary kicker Rene Paredes to retire after 2026 season. The 41-year-old veteran, a two-time Grey Cup champion and five-time CFL all-star, ranks second in franchise history with 2,535 points and 253 games played and will play his final regular-season game Oct. 17 at McMahon Stadium against the B.C. Lions.
🚨 Crime & Public Safety
- An 18-year-old Saskatchewan teen charged with terrorism-related offences. RCMP’s INSET in Alberta arrested and remanded the Yorkton teen on charges including participation in a terrorist group and facilitating terrorist activity tied to the 764 Network, which was designated a terrorist entity in Canada in December 2025; the accused is scheduled to appear in Yorkton provincial court on Tuesday.
📰 Also Today
- Retrial begins for former EPS civilian accused of child luring and sexual assault.
- Alberta separatist meetings in U.S. ruled outside foreign influence registry, watchdog says.
- Emera to acquire Canadian Utilities in a $14.3-billion deal (report).
- New public art installed at Edmonton-area bridge marking 150 years since Treaty 6 signing.
- Arbitrator awards City of Edmonton $5 million over engine coolant dispute.
- Edmonton public school trustees to consider improving access for migrant students.
- Overview: What to expect from Parti Québécois projected minority government in Quebec.
- Community groups mobilize to inform voters ahead of Alberta referendum.
- Fact check examines whether an Alberta separatist is real or AI-generated.
- Calgary mayor accuses separatists of 'selling out Alberta' to U.S. interests.
- Almost half of Albertans report turning to side hustles, MNP survey finds.
- Edmontonians use fewer disposable bags but struggle with garbage sorting, study finds.
- Alberta Catholic bishops urge voters to consider referendum impact on vulnerable people.
- Pro-separation advertiser calls for more action against Forever Canadian.
- Judge orders AHS and government to hand over records in Mentzelopoulos case.
- Alberta separatist lawyer denied access to more frozen funds in dispute with First Nation.
- Alberta separatists hail Quebec premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon as an ally.
