Calgary Daily Digest — 2026-02-08

Tragic bus crash near Debolt: A charter bus carrying 37 people rolled after hitting the median about 10:30 p.m. Saturday roughly one kilometre west of Debolt, east of Grande Prairie — a 50-year-old woman from Grande Prairie died and six passengers were taken to hospital in serious condition, while 16 with minor injuries were checked and released. Road conditions are believed to be a factor and RCMP collision reconstructionists and victim services are involved.

New series to help with work changes: "Future of Work 2026: Calgary," sponsored by Bow Valley College, is an in-depth editorial collection of interviews and stories on Global News and QR Calgary designed to help viewers and listeners navigate new job-market opportunities.

Small town to host benefit hockey game tonight: The Southern Alberta Mustangs will play the Stavely Spurs Alumni in Stavely to raise funds after three junior players died last week — JJ Wright and Cameron Casorso (both 18, Kamloops, B.C.) and 17-year-old Caden Fine (Alabama) were killed after their car was struck by a gravel-hauling semi while crossing a highway on the way to practice. The game is one of several fundraisers that have already raised tens of thousands of dollars for the families.

Premier Smith defends funding threat over judges: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said on her Saturday radio show that withholding some court funding is a "negotiating position" after she wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney seeking more provincial say in appointments and proposing a four-person committee with equal representation; she also pushed to relax Supreme Court bilingualism rules. Critics including the Canadian Bar Association and federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser say the plan risks judicial independence and public trust.

Repeat arrests after Nanaimo tugboat standoff: Marcel Alvin Fontaine, 44, who barricaded himself on the tugboat Trend D Foam after an alleged theft at Port Place Mall on Feb. 1, has been arrested a third time after breaching release conditions; he was initially charged with break-and-enter, mischief and breaching an undertaking, released on $200 bail Feb. 2 and $250 bail Feb. 3 with a 100-metre condition, and has a long history of warrants from Oct. 1, 2025 to Jan. 20. The tugboat owner, Andrew Reynolds, described Fontaine's rough 30-hour stay and said Fontaine remains in custody as Crown seeks to revoke bail.