Calgary Daily Digest — Feb 23, 2026

A father remembers: Dale Lang, whose son Jason Lang was killed in the April 1999 W.R. Myers school shooting in Taber, says the Tumbler Ridge tragedy brings back a "very helpless feeling" 27 years on; he points to a scholarship in Jason’s name and community healing as part of his path forward. This is a reminder that families and towns live with a new, painful normal after school shootings and that faith, forgiveness and community support helped Lang move forward.

City hall wants answers on shoplifting: Councillors Andre Chabot and Jennifer Wyness filed a motion to study new ways to curb thefts under $100 after about 23,063 calls for service since 2023 (only 17% led to charges). The revised motion asks administration to return this summer with analysis — originally it proposed a $250 fine and other penalties — and business owners like Zain Khalid say repeated thefts are hurting small stores.

Two shootings tied to extortion probe: Calgary police and ALERT are investigating shots fired into homes on Feb. 22 (Saddleridge Dr. N.E.) and Feb. 23 (Savanna Park N.E.) that had no injuries but are linked to an extortion series targeting the South Asian community. Investigators say there have been 28 extortion incidents, including 13 shootings, since early 2025 and urge anyone with info to call CPS at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Local distillery told to pull products: Bridgeland Distillery in Calgary was told by the CFIA to remove some popular spirits after a complaint first flagged on June 27, 2025; the products include a corn-based spirit called Berbon that makes up about 50% of sales. Owners Daniel Plenzik and Jacques Tremblay say there are no health concerns and dispute CFIA’s interpretation over labelling and the use of the name, while CFIA says it is reviewing inspection findings.

Measles alert raises communication concerns: Alberta’s Adriana LaGrange said a standing measles advisory for Parkland County was issued on Feb. 19 because health officials could not pinpoint exposures after 17 people tested positive; local officials, including Spruce Grove and Mayor Rod Shaigec, say they weren’t briefed. Alberta has 77 lab-confirmed measles cases so far in 2026, the disease is highly contagious (R number 12–18), and officials urge people born in or after 1970 with fewer than two doses to check immunization records and get vaccinated.

Brother of Tumbler Ridge shooter arrested: Jacob VanRoostelaar was arrested in Sylvan Lake on a Canada-wide warrant for attempted murder and now faces two weapons charges and five breach charges after being found with brass knuckles. He is the older brother of Jesse VanRootselaar, who killed eight people on Feb. 10 in Tumbler Ridge and later died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Big boost for doctors but a tight budget: Premier Danielle Smith says Alberta will raise physician spending by about 22% to $7.7 billion this fiscal year — a $1.4-billion increase with $450 million earmarked for recruitment — while warning of a multibillion-dollar deficit tied to lower oil prices. Health minister Adriana LaGrange noted a record 13,000 registered physicians, but opposition critics question whether the money will reduce wait times or shore up front-line care.

Recall drives falling short: Two more recall petitions failed — the campaign against Indigenous Relations Minister Rajan Sawhney collected roughly 3,400 signatures versus nearly 15,000 needed, and the drive targeting Advanced Education Minister Myles McDougall gathered about 25% of its required total. More than 20 petitions were launched late last year and 10 petitions were due to Elections Alberta on Monday, but none have succeeded so far.

OpenAI called to Ottawa after chat concerns: AI Minister Evan Solomon summoned OpenAI reps to explain why ChatGPT suspended an account linked to Tumbler Ridge shooter Jesse VanRootelsar (flagged in June 2025) without alerting law enforcement earlier. OpenAI says it contacted RCMP after the Feb. 10 attack and the minister wants the company to explain escalation protocols at a Tuesday meeting.

Supreme Court to weigh big climate case: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from ExxonMobil and Suncor over a 2018 Boulder, Colorado suit that asks oil companies to pay for climate-related costs; the Trump administration backed the appeal. The decision could affect nearly 60 similar lawsuits filed by cities and states seeking damages tied to fossil fuel emissions.

Experts warn on immigration plan fallout: Critics say Premier Danielle Smith’s proposed immigration rules (a referendum this fall) — including fees or a one-year wait for some non-permanent residents to access services — risk driving workers away from Alberta. Experts like Daniel Bernhard and Mount Royal’s Lori Williams argue the province needs newcomers for health care and business, and data cited show migration spikes in 2023–24 (220,000 net new residents) versus much smaller gains more recently.