Smith launches panel to explore Alberta autonomy measures

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It’s Stampede season, and on Tuesday we asked if you’d be attending this year. Nearly 42% of you said no, citing reasons like tight budgets, feeling that the event has become repetitive and overcrowded, or simply not enjoying large crowds and the strong smells of fair food.

👀 In today's edition:

• Tough recovery ahead for Alberta child with measles

• Calgary bans public possession of bear spray

• Stampede officials face animal cruelty questions

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Smith launches panel to explore Alberta autonomy measures

Premier Danielle Smith has launched the Alberta Next panel to gather input from Albertans on how the province can "better protect its interests, defend its economy, and assert its place in Confederation," according to a government press release issued Tuesday. The panel, which Smith will chair, includes 13 additional members ranging from elected officials to business leaders and academics, including Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz, University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe, and Business Council of Alberta president Adam Legge. The group will conduct town halls across Alberta over the summer and early fall, with exact locations to be announced in coming weeks.

The panel will explore several contentious issues that could eventually appear on a 2026 referendum ballot, including establishing an Alberta Pension Plan, creating a provincial police service to replace the RCMP, and pursuing constitutional changes, the press release states.

According to the CBC, Smith emphasized at Tuesday's news conference that the initiative would give Albertans "the rightful opportunity to decide how Alberta can become stronger and more sovereign within a united Canada." The panel's recommendations are due to the government by December 31, 2025, with additional members expected to be added in the coming weeks, according to the provincial announcement.

Need to know

👶 An Alberta infant who caught measles is facing a difficult recovery process, highlighting how serious the illness can be for unvaccinated children.

🛢️ Alberta's oilsands sector is headed for a record-high output in early 2025. The sector has also seen rising greenhouse gas emissions.

🧑‍🏫 School boards across Alberta were forced to cut hundreds of educational assistant jobs after changes to federal funding under Jordan's Principle reduced support for students with complex needs.

🚋 Calgary Transit began rolling out new mobile ticket scanners on CTrain platforms, requiring riders to validate their digital fares before boarding in an effort to modernize enforcement.

🚫 Calgary city officials updated a bylaw to ban the public possession of bear spray and other specific weapons unless someone has a legal reason to carry them, aiming to curb violence.

🚣‍♀️ After weeks of elevated river levels, Calgary lifted its boating advisory on the Bow River as conditions returned to a safer flow rate.

🐎 Three horses and one steer had to be euthanized due to injuries sustained during events at last year’s Stampede, prompting officials to highlight ongoing veterinary research and improved safety measures.

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🤠 Yeehaw! Stampede season is nearly here and the CORE is getting you into the spirit with the CORE Midway! Until July 13, enjoy a jam-packed schedule filled with activations, entertainment, giveaways, games, and more!*

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Revitalized Eau Claire Plaza set to reopen July 2

Calgary's Eau Claire Plaza will reopen to the public on July 2 following an extensive revitalization project designed to create a year-round destination for both everyday activities and large-scale events. Located at the intersection of downtown Calgary and the Bow River, the redesigned public space features six distinct areas designed to accommodate Calgarians of all ages and interests.

The centrepiece Podium Plaza has been restructured to accommodate festivals, performances, and casual use, while a custom misting water feature will generate theatrical fog for interactive entertainment and cooling. Additional amenities include a purpose-built Play Plaza, an integrated Market Street, and a new urban beach area designed to serve commuters, families, and riverside visitors.

The revitalization preserves the site's Olympic monument and rings while incorporating Indigenous engagement throughout the design process. The City of Calgary contracted Dialog to lead the landscape architecture for the project, coordinating with civil, structural, lighting, and cultural advisors to create what planners describe as a space "rooted in place, memory, and public experience."

Where to eat and drink

🍴 Charbar: This Argentine wood-fired grill celebrates locally-sourced ingredients through globally-inspired dishes and an extensive raw bar in Calgary's historic Simmons Building.

🍴 Sukiyaki House: This authentic Japanese restaurant has been serving Calgarians since 1976 with traditional cuisine prepared by outstanding Japanese chefs in a contemporary chic setting, offering exquisite wine and sake selections for families, friends and business gatherings.

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

Things to do

🎟️ Quantum Sandbox: Check out this immersive digital experience in the Spark’s Digital Immersion Gallery where visitors explore quantum physics principles through interactive visuals, colours, and sounds in ever-changing landscapes that blend science with art.

🎟️ Family Fun Hour: Art in the Garden: Head to a one-hour outdoor gardening art workshop on Sunday afternoon where families with children ages toddler to 11 create garden-themed art projects to take home, with admission to the cultural centre included.

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

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