Calgary Daily Digest — Feb. 19, 2026

Big move from Premier Danielle Smith: She announced a provincial referendum for Oct. 19 — nine months away — with nine questions about tighter control of immigration and possible changes to Canada’s Constitution. Smith said rising population and pressure on health, education and social services (Alberta added 202,324 people in 2023) force action; critics warn the plan (and social media posts from staffers Rob Anderson and Bruce McAllister) risks blaming newcomers and stoking division.

Police probe after shooting in Okotoks: The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team is investigating an RCMP use-of-force event from Feb. 11 after officers found a man on a roof armed with a shovel, baseball bat and a knife. Officers say a conducted energy weapon was fired multiple times, striking him once on the side; he later surrendered three knives and was taken into custody.

Accusations flying over immigration rhetoric: Controversial social media comments by Bruce McAllister about “unsustainable mass immigration” prompted experts like Anna Triandafyllidou to warn Alberta may be "weaponizing" immigration for politics. Premier Danielle Smith defended her team and tied the issue to budget worries (the province faces at least a $6.4-billion shortfall), while economists urge focusing on economic selection rather than cultural tests.

Tragic avalanche near Fernie: Emergency equipment activated on Feb. 17 in the Morrissey area; search teams recovered a man’s body on Feb. 18 and confirmed he died in the avalanche. Police said he wore appropriate gear and avalanche safety equipment; his identity has not been released.

A piece of hockey history on the block: RR Auction has 340 Olympic lots up for bid, including William “Billy” Gibson’s 1952 Olympic gold medal from the Edmonton Mercurys. The family once hoped the medal might fetch about $40,000, but the top bid stood at $7,150 as of 1 p.m. MST Thursday; the auction closes at 5:30 p.m. MST with possible extensions.

Early-morning fire in Edmonton’s abandoned hotel: Fire crews responded around 5 a.m. Thursday to a blaze at the old Jasper Place Hotel (15326 Stony Plain Rd); cold temperatures (low −20s C) and aging wood made the fight tough. The building — previously damaged in a 2019 fire that left it unfit to live in and with disturbed asbestos — is so badly damaged it will need to be torn down.

Charges laid after extortion probe in Calgary: A 37-year-old man faces six counts of extortion tied to incidents between August and October 2024 and is due in court April 10; a 28-year-old woman also faces unrelated fraud and vehicle-theft charges with a court date of April 6. Police say the incidents targeted a member of the South Asian community but appear isolated; Calgary police and ALERT are still investigating (tip line 403-266-1234, or Crime Stoppers anonymously).

Alberta startup offers an AI “lawyer”: Painworth (founded in 2020) now uses an AI assistant called DAVID to help personal-injury claimants, operating under Law Society conditions that keep a human lawyer in charge. DAVID intake is free, retained cases are charged a flat 28% contingency fee, and founders say safeguards prevent hallucinations — but tech experts warn about privacy and accuracy risks and note no case has yet gone to trial.