🚨 Crime & Public Safety
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Calgary man charged in alleged $164-million Ponzi scheme that targeted more than 1,000 investors. RCMP say a 49-year-old was arrested July 31 and charged with two counts of fraud and money laundering after allegedly receiving about $163 million between March 2020 and April 2024 and sending fabricated account updates; the Alberta Securities Commission had previously sanctioned the accused and two companies in August 2025.
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Former Edmonton transit peace officer pleads guilty to impersonating an EPS officer and gets two years' house arrest. Court heard 35-year-old Kyle Edmund Boozan used his then-fiancée’s badge and uniform, met a woman online in May 2025 and falsely represented police employment; original housebreaking and sexual-assault charges were amended and dropped, and Boozan pleaded guilty to all four remaining charges.
🏛️ Government & Politics
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Premier Danielle Smith says Indigenous reference removed from Alberta Day statement was a public-service 'glitch' and reverted. Two different Alberta Day statements were posted within an hour on the province’s 121st birthday: an initial 10 a.m. message mentioning Indigenous Peoples and inclusion, and a later version that removed that recognition; Smith told reporters she intervened and asked officials to restore the original wording.
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Premier to visit Nashville this week for personal trip that includes meetings with tourism and chamber officials. Smith’s office says she will meet Tennessee tourism officials and Nashville’s chamber while pursuing Calgary “Nashville North” ideas, and will be joined by Alberta’s senior U.S. representative Nathan Cooper; Smith defended the timing amid an ongoing trade dispute with the United States.
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Elections Alberta begins sending special mail-in ballots for October’s 10-question referendum today. Elections Alberta says registered special-ballot applicants will receive packages or can pick them up, applications are open until Oct. 9, and completed ballots must be received by Elections Alberta no later than Oct. 16 for the Oct. 19 vote.
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Calgary home sales down 16.4% in August and benchmark prices slipped 1.1% year-over-year. The Calgary Real Estate Board reports 1,660 homes sold in August, benchmark residential price at $569,800, 3,141 new listings (down 9.7% year-over-year) and total inventory of 6,509 homes for sale (down 2.3%).
🏥 Health
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Health-care groups urge Ottawa to end Alberta’s dual medical practice model. National health organizations have called on the federal government to intervene over Alberta’s system that allows physicians to bill patients privately while also practising in public systems; the article frames this as a coordinated appeal by health groups to federal authorities.
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Edmonton advocates mark Overdose Awareness Day and highlight deaths occurring in private homes. Local advocates used Overdose Awareness Day to draw attention to the proportion of fatal overdoses occurring in private residences, stressing the issue at events held in Edmonton on the day dedicated to remembrance and prevention.
🎨 Community & Culture
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Alberta Motor Association student patrollers return to crosswalks after 85-year program history with zero serious injuries when patrollers are present. AMA trains Grade 5 students province-wide; Allison Purcell, AMA school safety coordinator, noted the program’s record and Lethbridge Grade 5 students Charlotte Loewen and Briar Maret described leadership and confidence gained from patrolling.
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Used bookstores are reporting suspicious bulk orders amid fears of AI-driven book destruction. Independent bookstores flagged unusual large-volume purchases and shredding concerns tied to AI processes, prompting owners to watch order patterns and question motives behind bulk removals.
📰 Also Today
- Liberals sweep three federal byelections in Ontario, Quebec and B.C., CBC projects.
- Pentagon defends Pete Hegseth's post about a B.C. cadet program (U.S. federal response).
- RCMP charge Calgary man over $164M Ponzi scheme (duplicate coverage of 15413).
- Elections Alberta begins mail-out for fall referendum special ballots (duplicate summary of 15349).
- Transitional housing program in Whitecourt to close, displacing 24 residents.
- Schools in Edmonton and across Canada cancel international field trips.
- Edmonton man sentenced to 9½ years for 2022 manslaughter.
- Calgary home with pro-Trump flags vandalized; police received Aug. 23 report.
- Elections Alberta to start distributing mail-in ballots for October referendum (primary source duplicated in main).
- New Alberta licence plate announced to support conservation.
- 'Lake America' rename story spotlights Canada’s reliance on U.S. tech.
- (duplicate) Transitional housing in Whitecourt closing, 24 displaced.
- Canadian man recounts nine months in ICE detention.
- (duplicate) Used bookstores navigate suspicious bulk orders.
- (duplicate) Edmonton Overdose Awareness Day coverage.
