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Alberta Morning Roundup: First Snow Hits Alberta; Elks Clinch Home Playoff (Oct 10, 2026)

Oct 10
5 min read
Alberta Morning Roundup: First Snow Hits Alberta; Elks Clinch Home Playoff (Oct 10, 2026) - Alberta Radio by Jason LaFace

Winter showed up early for Thanksgiving, the Elks are bringing playoff football back to Commonwealth, and the Stamps can punch their own ticket tonight. Here's your Saturday morning book.

By Jason LaFace | Alberta Radio

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Good morning, and happy Thanksgiving weekend. Nine days to the ballot. Crime first, then politics, the regions, sports and your weather.

Crime Across Alberta

Mundare — 18 charges after gunfire between pickups. Vegreville RCMP got multiple reports of a firearms complaint at 7:19 p.m. on Sept. 29 after gunfire between two pickup trucks in Mundare; a Lloydminster RCMP K9 team was sent in. In an Oct. 9 release, police said Kobi Rosichuk, 30, of Bonnyville faces 18 offences, including three counts of flight from a peace officer, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assaulting a peace officer, discharging a firearm with intent and break and enter. He was remanded into custody. The charges have not been tested in court.

Calgary — man charged after two attempted carjackings in Martindale. Calgary police say they responded at about 12:31 p.m. Thursday to an assault and attempted carjacking in the 200 block of Martinvalley Crescent N.E., one of two attempts that left one victim seriously injured. Amine Ayman Abdelli, 21, is charged with two counts of robbery, aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon and several other offences, and is due in court Oct. 15.

Edmonton — youth charged after two teens shot near Saddleback Road. Edmonton police say a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were struck by gunfire fired from a vehicle outside a shopping centre near Saddleback Road and 27 Avenue on Thursday afternoon. Both were taken to hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, and Sweet Grass School was briefly locked down. A male youth known to both teens has been charged; the investigation continues.

Medicine Hat — 650 pounds of copper wire seized. Medicine Hat police, backed by the Tactical Team, searched a home on Redwood Place S.E. on Oct. 8 in an investigation into copper wire allegedly being stolen and sold to recyclers. Police say they seized about 650 pounds of copper wire, drugs and prohibited weapons. Brian Aske, 43, and Chelsea Grisbrook, 34, each face charges including possession of stolen property over $5,000; both are due in court Nov. 5.

Alberta Politics & the Oct. 19 Vote

Thanksgiving tables, separation tension. A Canadian Press feature out this morning finds the referendum fight has turned personal in workplaces and families. Sylvan Lake's Kathy Bradshaw, who has already voted to remain, calls it "a little tense." Edmonton's Sheree Zielke, 71, who wants an independent Alberta, says she and her longtime neighbours "don't talk as much." Albertans vote in person on 10 questions in nine days; the tenth asks whether to stay in Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on leaving.

The other nine questions get their moment. With the ballot in sight, both camps are turning attention to the nine non-separation questions on immigration, voter ID and constitutional powers. The Globe reports the government has put $4 million into advertising for them, and Premier Danielle Smith, who says she will vote to remain, put it plainly Thursday: "Well, I want people to vote for our nine questions." The same report pegs separation support at 20 to 25 per cent through the campaign.

Jason's take: A government spending nearly seven times what third parties are allowed, to sell its own questions, is the kind of thing that makes people want a message sent to somebody. Yes votes on the nine are leverage. Whatever you mark on number ten, mark it yourself, and don't let the turkey get cold arguing about it.

Around the Regions

Red Deer — mayor wants talks, not a power fight, on infill. Red Deer Mayor Cindy Jefferies says the province's infill move came "out of the blue," noting Red Deer already rejected four-units-as-of-right blanket zoning after consultation. "Let's not get into the position where we're fighting for power," she said. Alberta Municipalities went further, calling the framework overreach and asking the government to rescind the order.

Red Deer — electric utility corporation goes to council Tuesday. Council will consider on Oct. 13 the documents to create a municipally controlled corporation for the city's nearly 100-year-old electric utility, including a shareholders agreement, articles of incorporation and interim directors. The utility stays a city department until regulatory approvals; the city expects the transition to be fully set up by 2028.

Sports

Elks 27, Tiger-Cats 12 — playoff football returns to Commonwealth. Cody Fajardo, Zach Mathis (a 48-yard pick-six) and ShunDerrick Powell scored fourth-quarter touchdowns Friday in Hamilton. The Elks are 12-4 and clinched a home playoff game, their first since 2015. B.C. (10-6) beat Ottawa 41-20, so first place waits: one Elks win in their final two (Winnipeg next Friday, Saskatchewan Oct. 24) clinches the West.

Stampeders at Blue Bombers, 5 p.m. MT tonight. Confirmed: Calgary (8-8) is in Winnipeg (7-8) tonight on TSN and QR Calgary 770. A win, which would be a fourth straight, clinches a playoff spot and the season series. Zach Collaros returns for Winnipeg after a head injury; Vernon Adams Jr. threw four TDs in last week's 37-31 win in Regina.

Oilers at Sharks, 2 p.m. MT; Flames host Ducks, 8 p.m. MT. Edmonton (3-0-1) visits San Jose this afternoon after a 5-2 win in Anaheim on Wednesday, when Leon Draisaitl had four assists and Connor McDavid a goal and two helpers. Calgary is back at the Saddledome tonight against Anaheim coming off a loss to Colorado.

Weather

First snow of the season. Environment Canada has a special weather statement over much of the province: snow began in western Alberta and will spread south and east through central Alberta today, and may affect holiday travel. Confidence is low for accumulation in Calgary and areas east, but more is possible against the southern foothills and along the U.S. border, including the Cypress Hills.

Snowfall warnings in West-Central Alberta. Grande Prairie, Valleyview, Jasper, Hinton, Edson, Whitecourt, Fox Creek and Swan Hills areas: 7 to 25 cm, with the high end on Highway 40 between Grande Prairie and Hinton. Snow ends north to south into this evening. Allow extra travel time.

Edmonton: wet snow to snow, 2 cm, near +1; low −1 · Calgary: showers turning to flurries near noon, near +2, N gusts 60; low −2 · Red Deer: 30% flurries, near +1; low −1 · Lethbridge: 60% showers, high +4; rain to wet snow overnight, low 0 · Medicine Hat: 30% showers, near +6, gusts 50; low +2 · Grande Prairie: snow ending near noon, 2 cm, high 0; low −7 · Fort McMurray: wet snow to snow ending near noon, 2 cm, near +1; low −7.

Drive safe, mind the roads out west, and enjoy the bird. Back at 12:15 with the midday book. — Jason

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