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We asked how you like to spend a fall weekend, and getting outside won out, with hiking and nature walks topping the list. A few of you are taking full advantage of the fall colours in creative ways, whether that's a scenic ride on two wheels or turning an easy walk into an impromptu hike. Others said mobility has shifted their fall traditions toward cozier pursuits like a good book or movie, but the love for the season clearly hasn't faded.

👀 In today's edition:

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Alberta and the federal government are teaming up to move forward on a long-discussed high-speed rail line connecting Calgary and Edmonton via Red Deer. The province plans to launch a formal Request for Proposal process this fall, inviting private companies to submit plans for a downtown-to-downtown line that would also serve Alberta's two largest airports and the City of Airdrie, with a proponent expected to be selected by April 2027.

Ottawa is referring the project to its Major Projects Office, treating it as a transformative national initiative similar to the Toronto-Quebec City high-speed rail effort already underway. The two governments plan to set up a joint governance structure to guide planning, share information, and explore early steps like gauging market interest before construction decisions are made.

"Connecting Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton with high-speed rail would be a generational investment in Alberta's future," said Premier Danielle Smith. "As our province continues to grow, we need to build the infrastructure that keeps people, businesses and our economy moving."

Alberta's Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, said the connection has consistently come up as a priority for Albertans throughout development of the province's Passenger Rail Master Plan. Federal Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon added that high-speed rail could reshape how people move across the country while supporting Alberta's economic growth and regional connectivity.

The Calgary-Red Deer-Edmonton corridor is home to roughly 80 per cent of Alberta's population and is considered one of the country's fastest-growing economic regions. A dedicated high-speed line, built on new tracks separate from existing freight and passenger routes, could carry trains at speeds up to 320 km/h and cut downtown-to-downtown travel time to about one hour and 45 minutes, while easing pressure on the heavily used QEII Highway.

As planning moves ahead, both governments say they'll consult with Indigenous communities, municipalities, industry groups, and the public.

Next month! The World’s Premier Pink Floyd Experience Brit Floyd comes to Grey Eagle Event Centre on Saturday Oct 24th! The Moon, The Wall and Beyond tour will feature a full performance of The Dark Side of the Moon including classics such as “Time,” “Money,” and highlights from The Wall, including “Comfortably Numb,” and “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” Audiences can expect a selection of fan favourites from across Pink Floyd’s discography from Wish You Were Here to The Division Bell and beyond.

Accompanied by a state-of-the-art light show, video projections, and theatrical staging, The Moon, The Wall and Beyond promises to be Brit Floyd’s most ambitious and immersive production to date, a must-see event for lifelong Floyd fans and new generations alike.

✈️ Fourteen people have died in aircraft crashes near the Bow Valley since 2003, with experts pointing to unpredictable mountain weather and the technical challenges of navigating between peaks as key factors behind the risk.

⚖️ A judge is expected to rule on whether a 72-year-old man is guilty of nine offences tied to three brutal sexual assaults committed in Calgary homes in the 1980s, after DNA evidence linked him to all three attacks decades later.

🐮 Alberta's cattle herd is expanding for the first time in five years thanks to improved pasture conditions, though ranchers say U.S. political and trade decisions are becoming a bigger source of uncertainty than the weather.

🗳️ Elections Alberta has received roughly 658,000 mail-in ballot requests ahead of next month's referendum, more than 11 times the number seen in the 2023 provincial election.

⚠️ A 17-year-old in Lethbridge faces terrorism, child sexual abuse material, and animal cruelty charges after allegedly being linked to the online extremist group 764 network through Discord.

🎓 The University of Calgary's Students' Union is pushing back against AI's growing role in post-secondary education, warning that overuse could erode students' critical thinking skills and job readiness.

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Melanie Loewen started collecting eggs by hand when she was eight. Today, her family's B.C. farms produce more than 150,000 eggs daily. From caring for young chicks to embracing modern technology, discover how one farming family combines generations of experience with a passion for providing fresh, locally produced eggs. Read her story.

Parks Foundation Calgary has opened the Martin Family Legacy Garden in southeast Calgary, marking Canada's first park specifically designed to support people living with dementia. The garden opened on World Alzheimer's Day, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that brought together government officials, donors, caregivers, and community members, along with a performance from the Good Vibes Memory Choir, a group that brings together people with memory loss, their caregivers, and volunteers through music.

"The Martin Family Legacy Garden was shaped by lived experience and brought to life through extraordinary philanthropy and partnership," said Cynthia Watson, CEO of Parks Foundation Calgary. "Canada's first dementia-inclusive park demonstrates that inclusive design can do more than transform a space: it can strengthen wellbeing, connection, and quality of life across an entire community."

The garden was shaped by input from researchers, health-care professionals, and caregivers, and it shows in the details: wide, looping paths with colour-coded railings, shaded spots to rest, plants chosen to engage the senses, and signage designed to make navigating the space easier. There's also a children's play structure, a nod to the reality that many caregivers are juggling both aging parents and young kids.

Alan Rae, an advocate who helped push the project forward, said the garden fills a real gap for caregivers like himself. "Calgary has many wonderful parks, but this park is special because the design supports those impacted by dementia while creating a welcoming space for the entire community," he said. "As a caregiver, a place like this makes me feel at ease to get outside and enjoy nature with my wife Joan, without stigma or judgment."

The garden sits near Bethany Riverview, the Greater Forest Lawn 55+ Society, and WINS' Dover location, and will support programming through those organizations. Ian Fleming, the City of Calgary's Director of Parks & Open Spaces, said the project reflects the city's commitment to making its green spaces accessible to all residents, regardless of age or ability.

🍴Carino: Tucked into Mission, this spot blends Italian and Japanese cooking into one approachable menu, whether you're after an elegant pasta dish before a night out or a quick bowl of noodles after work. Reservations are recommended.

🍴An Sang: A new all-day Vietnamese spot on 17th Ave, serving up pho, sizzling Bò Né plates, a poutine-inspired Pho-tine, and salted coffee from morning through evening.

Have a food or drink suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

🎟️ Werklund Centre's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Elders from Piikani and Stoney Nations lead an evening of ceremony at Jack Singer Concert Hall on September 30, including a Horse Dance Ceremony, a Naming Ceremony, and a Song Transfer Ceremony, alongside a free Indigenous Makers Market and Powwow Showcase. The night closes with a community Round Dance. Free to attend, starting at 11 a.m.

🎟️ Orange Shirt Day at The Confluence: The City of Calgary and community partners host a ceremony honouring residential school survivors and children who never returned home, running from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on September 30. Free and open to the public; attendees are encouraged to wear orange.

Have an event suggestion? Message us and we might share it!

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We’ll see you back here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, same time, same place!