Calgary Daily Digest — Feb 10, 2026

A grim look back: Nine people were killed in the Tumbler Ridge shooting, the deadliest school attack in Canada in nearly 40 years, and this story lists earlier school shootings to give context. It notes key incidents like École Polytechnique (Dec. 6, 1989 — 14 women killed), La Loche (Jan. 22, 2016), Dawson College (Sept. 13, 2006), W.C. Jeffreys Collegiate (May 23, 2007) and others, helping readers see how rare — and tragic — these events are.

Bright streak over Alberta: A fireball lit up western Alberta early Tuesday and people reported seeing, hearing and even feeling it. Telus World of Science experts want eyewitness reports so the object can be located; reporter Sarah Komadina covered the sighting.

Big transit choice is still open: Calgary has opened public feedback until March 2 on an elevated Green Line LRT route through downtown, while officials say a final decision "has not yet" been made. The proposed elevated route would run from the Event Centre/Grand Central Station along 10 Ave S to 2 St SW and above 7 Ave SW; the Green Line is a $6.2-billion project (city 46%, feds 27%, province 26%) and the province says elevation could avoid billions in tunnelling and add five stations and a 60% ridership boost.

Fatal crash shuts 16 Ave. NE: Calgary police closed both directions of 16 Ave. NE after a single-vehicle crash around 2 p.m. Tuesday under the Stoney Trail overpass when a car hit a concrete abutment. Collision reconstruction officers were called in and police say speed was likely a factor.

Police want help IDing shooting suspects tied to extortion: On Jan. 24, 2026 at ~11:30 p.m., two masked men fired into an unoccupied home in Redstone (100 block Redstone Common N.E.), then fled in what may have been a 2003–2008 Toyota Corolla with black rims. No injuries were reported, but investigators link the attack to a series of extortion attempts targeting Calgary’s South Asian community — since 2025 police say there have been 21 extortion attempts including 11 shootings.

Canadians stuck in Cuba as fuel and aid dry up: 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 travellers; more than 7,000 Canadians were stranded. Aid groups say shipments of medical supplies (Together for Cuba ships ~600 duffle bags / ~14,000 kg a year) are now stuck in Canada, and political tension from U.S. actions and Venezuela’s halted oil exports has worsened the crisis.

Drone drop leads to big drugs seizure and charges: Early Sunday at 1:05 a.m., a drone dropped a package at Stony Mountain Institution (Man.), prompting RCMP to stop a vehicle nearby; officers seized about $1.3 million in contraband overall (including ~355 g meth, 63 g cocaine, 59 g cannabis concentrate) and arrested a 28-year-old Calgary man on two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Devastating Tumbler Ridge school shooting: At least nine people were killed Tuesday in the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School area (six found dead in the school, two at another location, one died en route) and the suspected shooter was also found dead of an apparent self-inflicted injury. Around 25 others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, schools are closed for the week, and B.C. officials are mobilizing trauma supports for the small community of about 2,400 (the secondary has ~175 students).

N.W.T. faces the need to diversify after diamond pause: Mountain Province and De Beers paused the Tuzo Phase 3 expansion at Gahcho Kué (about 300 km NE of Yellowknife) because of weak raw-diamond prices and market troubles. The diamond sector makes roughly one-fifth of the N.W.T. GDP, and territorial leaders say this — plus other pullbacks like Diavik’s upcoming closure — shows the need to grow other industries such as critical minerals.

Attempted child luring in Coventry Hills: Police say an 11-year-old boy was approached and forced to flee on Feb. 6 between 6 and 7 p.m. while biking near Coventry Hills School; the suspect is described as a white man in his early 20s, about 167 cm (5'6") wearing black sweatpants, a grey hoodie and white shoes. No other incidents have been reported, but police ask anyone with dashcam or CCTV to call 403-266-1234.

First Nations say separation needs consent: At an AFN conference in Calgary, national chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said Alberta separatists cannot take treaty land and that any separation would require First Nations’ collective consent. She called the separatist movement "illegitimate" and "unconstitutional," and several Indigenous leaders at the conference voiced similar concerns.

Premier warns of "significant" deficits, rules out big tax hikes: Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province faces "significant" deficits as oil royalties fall but she’s ruled out tax increases and deep service cuts. The government was forecasting a $6.4-billion deficit (Nov. update, based on WTI US$61.50), and Smith urged growing the Heritage Savings Trust Fund while promising to protect health, education and supports for vulnerable people.

Record low snow in the U.S. West raises alarm: Snow cover across the American West is only about one-third of normal (roughly 401,448 sq km vs. 1.2 million sq km expected), dozens of stations have seen record-warm Dec–Feb readings, and Oregon’s snowpack is ~30% below its previous low. Scientists warn this threatens water supplies (notably the Colorado basin), could boost wildfire risk, and is tied to extreme warmth linked to climate change.

CFL free agency: Broxton finally signs with Winnipeg: Offensive lineman Jarell Broxton (32, 6'5", 325 lb) signed a two-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on the first day of CFL free agency after five seasons with B.C. The story also lists many other moves around the league, like Tommy Nield to Winnipeg and Dejon Brissett to Calgary.

WestJet trims U.S. routes as travel to the U.S. falls: WestJet is suspending 16 transborder routes for summer 2026 (about a 10% cut to full-year U.S. flying and 15% in peak periods) after a "notable" decline in demand; Statistics Canada showed return trips to the U.S. fell ~23.6% in Nov. 2025 vs. Nov. 2024. The airline is redeploying capacity to domestic and sunny international routes, adding new Calgary–Campbell River and other services.

Alberta pauses health-coverage change for some temporary workers: The province put on hold a Jan. 7 policy change that would have cut health coverage for some International Experience Canada (Type 58) permit holders after public pushback and CBC reporting. Officials say the change was "premature," a review is underway, and communities that rely on seasonal workers (like Bow Valley and Jasper) are seeking quick clarity before busy hiring seasons.