Calgary Daily Digest — April 2, 2026

Heartbreaking trick left a senior out of pocket — Ruth Patterson says she was tricked in February outside the Walmart at Marlborough Mall when a man in a white SUV offered a ring and a gold chain made from her and her late husband’s melted wedding bands; the necklace was stolen during the distraction. Sgt. Nick Wilsher of Calgary Police warns these travelling distraction thefts happen often and recovery is unlikely, but Patterson says she’ll still help people — just keep more distance.

Gas prices bite as oil spikes — After a U.S. address about the Iran war pushed West Texas Intermediate toward about US$114 a barrel, pump prices hit roughly $1.74/L in Edmonton and $1.75/L in Calgary on Thursday, prompting renewed calls to cut fuel taxes. Finance Minister Nate Horner said Alberta will wait for the official monitoring window (May 18–June 15, with a possible July 1 trigger) under the province’s relief rules; experts like GasBuddy’s Patrick De Haan warn tax cuts could raise demand and push prices even higher.

New law aims to keep explicit images out of kids’ reach — On Thursday the Alberta government introduced a bill led by Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams to make sexually graphic images in public libraries inaccessible to those 15 and under (options include staff-controlled or separate sections); Williams says it’s not a book ban and cites parental authority. The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries says the change affects 324 library points serving 99% of Albertans and says it wasn’t consulted; Opposition NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called the move overreach.

Spring snowstorm snarls morning commute — Calgary woke to heavy wet snow on Thursday with Environment Canada warning up to about 20 cm in places and a yellow warning for the city; between midnight and noon police reported at least 163 crashes, 22 with injuries. Forecasters say temperatures should climb to about 8°C Friday and 5°C Saturday to melt most snow, though flurries are possible Sunday before warming again Monday.

Water rules lifted after major feeder main repaired — The city lifted emergency water restrictions Thursday after repairing nine damaged sections of the Bearspaw South Feeder Main, which normally supplies about 60% of Calgary’s water; the restrictions had been in place since the shutdown on March 9 following a Dec. 30 failure of the 50-year-old pipe. Mayor Jeromy Farkas and infrastructure staff say the fixes are temporary while a $381-million replacement — fast-tracked to finish by December — continues, and residents should still be ready for possible emergency limits this summer.

Police preparing big four-year budget ask — Chief Katie McLellan says the Calgary Police Service will make a “significant” resource request in the next four-year budget as CPS is funded for 830 positions but only has 653 filled, and hopes to hire about 660 more officers over four years; specific gaps include six homicide detectives, six sexual-assault detectives and ten domestic-violence officers. The service also seeks capital funds to modernize aging assets; Mayor Jeromy Farkas pointed to a $28-million provincial photo-radar funding cut that he says worsened the shortfall.