Everett Cooke News Today

Officials say high-tech tool helps save time, energy in missing persons searches, fire assessment; several Alberta communities in Edmonton area use drones

The new contract involves a $600,000 per year funding increase from the Alberta government for the next 2.5 years, but the city was looking for a longer-term agreement.

Sturgeon County's fire department has tackled 14 grass and brush fires -- and St. Albert's fire department has already put out two grass fires near St. Albert Trail

A troublesome fire truck was sent to auction in 2022, despite St. Albert city council passing a unanimous motion in 2016 directing staff to keep it.

“We have all these motions to increase it... and I'm just feeling very, very stuck,” said Coun. Sheena Hughes.

In an effort to help manage an ongoing staffing shortage issue with the local RCMP detachment, St. Albert city council voted to increase the number of RCMP officers the city asks the federal government to assign to the community.

Just two items are on St. Albert city council's meeting agenda this week

Hope to reopen in few days, says city

Nearly four years have passed since local firefighters and paramedics have had an active collective bargaining agreement with the City of St. Albert, and the two sides are now heading to arbitration.

St. Albert Fire Services is currently dealing with two long-term vacancies for deputy chief roles, an issue that the city says is worth managing in order to find the right people for the jobs.