Edmonton Daily Digest — Feb 10, 2026

Big diesel spill on N.W.T. highway: A military fuel tanker supporting a convoy between Edmonton and Yellowknife overturned near Kakisa (between Fort Providence and Enterprise) on Monday, causing a slow leak of about 2,900 litres from a 15,000-litre load. The truck was recovered, nobody was hurt (driver and passenger checked in hospital as a precaution), and the spill has been contained while remaining fuel was transferred; RCMP say road conditions and weather were likely factors.

Putting Tumbler Ridge in context: Tuesday’s shooting in Tumbler Ridge — which left nine people dead — is the deadliest linked to a Canadian school in decades, and the story walks readers through earlier Canadian school attacks, including École Polytechnique (Dec. 6, 1989), La Loche (Jan. 22, 2016), Dawson College (Sept. 13, 2006) and others, giving dates and places so you can see the pattern over time. In other words: it’s a grim reminder of past tragedies and the rare but serious risk to schools.

Fireball lights up Alberta sky: A bright fireball streaked across western Alberta early Tuesday — people saw, heard and even felt it — and experts at the Telus World of Science are asking witnesses to report sightings so searchers might locate any fragments. If you saw it, reporting helps scientists pin down where it came from.

Calgary police seek suspects in northeast shooting: Police want help identifying two masked men who fired shots at an unoccupied home in Redstone on Jan. 24, 2026 at about 11:30 p.m.; they fled on foot and were picked up in a dark 2003–2008 Toyota Corolla with black rims. No one was hurt, detectives say the incident is linked to an extortion series targeting the South Asian community (since 2025 there have been 21 extortion attempts, including 11 shootings); anyone with tips should call Calgary police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers.

Canadians stranded in Cuba as fuel, aid get squeezed: Cuba warned on Feb. 9 that aviation fuel would be unavailable from Feb. 10, prompting Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat to suspend service while they repatriate more than 7,000 stranded Canadians. Charities say the fuel cutoff is also blocking vital aid — one group’s 600 medical duffles (about 14,000 kg) are stuck in Ontario — and NDP MP Don Davies urged Ottawa to step in as the situation worsens amid a U.S. campaign to choke Cuba’s fuel supply.

Deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.: At least nine people were killed Tuesday at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School (Grades 7–12; about 175 students) and the suspected shooter was also found dead; RCMP found six victims at the school, two elsewhere and one who died en route to hospital. Two people were airlifted with serious injuries, about 25 others were treated for non-life-threatening wounds, an active-shooter alert was lifted at 5:46 p.m. PT, and the community and provincial leaders are mobilizing trauma supports.

Diamond mine expansion paused in N.W.T.: Mountain Province Diamonds and De Beers have paused the Tuzo Phase 3 expansion at the Gahcho Kué mine (about 300 km NE of Yellowknife) after assessing weak market economics — the mine is 49% Mountain Province/51% De Beers. Officials say tumbling raw-diamond prices (and U.S. tariffs on India) underline the N.W.T.’s heavy reliance on diamonds (about one-fifth of territorial GDP) and reinforce calls to diversify into other resources like critical minerals.

First Nations’ consent needed for Alberta separation, AFN chief says: AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told a Calgary conference that Alberta separatists can’t claim treaty land and that any move to separate would need collective First Nations consent; she called separatist talk "illegitimate" and "unconstitutional." Several Indigenous leaders echoed concerns, and some First Nations are legally challenging Alberta’s citizen-led petition law tied to a separation referendum.

Alberta premier warns of "significant" deficits, rules out tax hikes: Premier Danielle Smith says the coming budget (due later this month) will face "significant" deficits as oil revenues fall, but she’s ruled out tax increases or deep service cuts, prioritizing health, education and supports for vulnerable people. As of November the province forecast a $6.4-billion deficit using US$61.50 WTI (every US$1 drop = ~$750 million in lost revenue); Smith wants to grow the Heritage Savings Trust Fund to $250 billion to soften future shocks.

Record snow drought threatens U.S. West water and wildfire risks: A historic snow drought and unusual heat have left Western U.S. snow cover at about 401,448 sq km versus a normal ~1.2 million sq km, with 67 stations having their warmest Dec–Feb on record and some states seeing record-low snowpack (Oregon’s snowpack is ~30% below the previous record). Scientists warn this cuts late-season water for rivers like the Colorado, hurts winter tourism, and could trigger an earlier, more intense wildfire season.

Blue Bombers sign Jarell Broxton to two-year deal: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers signed 32-year-old offensive lineman Jarell Broxton (6'5", 325 lb) to two years on the first day of CFL free agency; Broxton spent five seasons with the B.C. Lions and last year helped protect a line that allowed a CFL-low 20 sacks. The report also lists a string of other CFL moves (Tommy Nield, Dejon Brissett, Dustin Crum, Jerreth Sterns and many more) as teams reshuffle for 2026.

WestJet cuts 16 transborder routes for summer 2026: WestJet will suspend 16 routes to U.S. cities for summer 2026, reducing full-year transborder flying by about 10% and peak-period service by 15% after a "notable" drop in Canada–U.S. travel demand in 2025. Five of the suspended routes involved Edmonton, Statistics Canada showed Canadian trips to the U.S. fell about 23.6% in November 2025, and WestJet says it’s redeploying capacity to domestic and sun destinations.

Alberta pauses health-coverage cut for some temporary workers: Alberta has paused a Jan. 7 policy change that would have removed health coverage for people on certain International Experience Canada (Type 58) work permits after public outcry and media reporting. The government called the move "premature" and is reviewing it; Bow Valley and Jasper employers warn uncertainty could hurt hiring for the busy spring/summer season.