2025 Year-End Headlines – Local

January

• The Peace Country Beef and Forage Association Research Farm was broken into near Fairview.
• Grace Lebreque of Falher became the youngest competitor at the National Championships of Powerlifting in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.
• Fairview RCMP arrest two, one of which had 17 warrants out on him.
• Police arrest a man from Slave Lake in connection to a fatal motorcycle accident near Sucker Creek.
• Two people were killed.
• Falher Town Council writes a letter to BMO Executives, concerning the closure of the town branch.
• The Peace River School Division’s Board of Trustees initiated a School and Program Viability Review, for Dixonville School.
• The town of High Level began their 60^th anniversary celebrations with the unveiling of a new logo.
• A woman from High Prairie was killed on Hwy 55 in Lac La Biche County.
• A student at the University of British Columbia collects weather data in Peace River for her PHD thesis.
• River Country is nominated for a Country Music Alberta Award for Radio station of the year in a small or medium market.

February

• Ice Advisories were issued for the Peace River around town.
• The High Prairie School Division launched the new Extended Stop Arm program on a few of their school busses.
• The case of Kyra Renee Backs and the death of a seven-month old, was pushed to 2026, just to set trial dates.
• Spartan Controls, a leader in industrial automation solutions, announced a 15-year partnership with Northwestern Polytechnic as the naming partner for the institution’s new full-service training and education space.
• Four people were killed in an impaired Driving crash on Hwy 986, near Marten Lake.

March

• CSNO opens the French-language daycare “Les Petits Bourdons” in Falher.
• Energy Albert holds a series of Open Houses with regards to the proposed Peace River Nuclear Powerplant project.
• The town of Valleyview discusses the future of the library, after criticism was brought forward regarding its possible closure.
• Casey Szmata of the Resource Center for Suicide Prevention, is awarded The King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work in mental health advocacy and suicide prevention in the Peace River region.

April

• A driver was given a mandatory court appearance for going 206 km/h in a 100-zone in Big Lakes County.
• A 68 year-old died in a single-vehicle rollover near Teepee Creek.
• Energy Alberta submits an Initial Project Description to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada for the proposed Peace River Nuclear Power Project.
• Northwestern Polytechnic and the Fort Vermilion School Division team up and sign an agreement for NWP’s newly launched, four-year Bachelor of Elementary Education degree.
• No one was hurt, but damage was present after a fire at the Zavisha Sawmill in Hines Creek.
• A cyclist died after being hit by a semi on Hwy 43 near Sturgeon Lake, west of Valleyview.
• The Peace River School Division Board of Trustees announce the closure of Dixonville School, effective the end of the school year.

May

• RCMP help dismantle a meth lab in the woods near Trout Lake.
• Initial meetings are underway for the proposed construction of a bridge on Hwy 697, east of Paddle Prairie, which would replace the ferry on that stretch of the Peace River.
• Fairview police arrest 38 year-old Luke Anderson on 18 charges, including firearms and uttering threats.
• Tim Horton’s restaurant raises over $95,000 for various charities in the Northwest, during the annual Smile Cookie campaign.
• One person was charged after a fire significantly damages the Ground Level Youth Center in Peace River.
• Peace River Adventures purchase the old Lion’s Campground on Peace River’s West Side.
• Extensive damage was caused after fire crews responded to a fire at the Old Shell gas station in downtown Peace River.
• The Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation enact key provisions of its child and family services law to formally assert jurisdiction over provincial child protection court proceedings involving its members off-reserve.
• The Holy Family Catholic Regional Division announce that Victoria Cornick will assume the role of Superintendent, taking over from the retiring Betty Turpin.
• Valleyview RCMP arrest 49 year-old Shawn Atkinson and is charged with Assault and obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration by a person under 18.
• Lightning cause the igniting of the Red Earth Complex wildfire, that cause hundreds to flee their homes for an extended period of time.

June

• Hwy 35 was closed for a few hours after the igniting of the Hawk Hills Wildfire, north of Manning.
• The Peace River and District Chamber of Commerce was honored with the 2024 Chamber of the Year award for its size category, at the Alberta Chambers of Commerce’s 87th Annual General Meeting in Medicine Hat.
• The town of Valleyview asked residents to conserve water, as they were affected by a Level 1 drought.
• 28 year-old Cody St. Arnault is arrested and charged with manslaughter in the stabbing death of his brother, 33-year-old Keifer St. Arnault in John D’Or Prairie.
• High Level celebrates 60 years, highlighted by a concert with Gord Bamford.
• Elianna Eagles of St. Stephen’s School in Valleyview, wins a bronze medal at the 2025 Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
• The Hamlet of La Crete asked residents to conserve water, as they were affected by a Level 2 drought.
• Spirit River’s Dayle Ross is drafted in the 4^th round, 25^th overall to the New York Sirens of the PWHL.
• Dixonville School permanently closes after 94 years of service.

July

• The cops in Fox Lake issue three tickets to a driver of a vehicle that lacked proper insurance and registration, a valid driver’s license, the license plate belonged to a deceased individual.
• Officers also discovered two duffle bags full of 124 unopened bottles of Red Tassel Vodka, with an estimated street value of nearly $10,000.
• Mackenzie County amalgamates Wards 9 & 10 to become one Ward on the Municipal Election ballot.
• RCMP arrest 35-year-old Branden Munro in British Columbia for the second-degree murder of 28-year-old Isiah Cordell Cardinal, which occurred in June on the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation.
• The Mile Zero Multiplex in Grimshaw replaces 7,000 square feet of flooring, because of a Water Main break at the facility last November.
• A handful of jurisdictions in the Northwest, starting with the MD of Greenview, issue states of local Agriculture Disaster.
• The Transportation Safety Board investigates a chopper crash, while battling the Slim’s Creek fire north of Manning. The pilot was injured in the event.
• 42-year-old Anthony Knott of Edmonton, is arrested and charged with second-degree murder of 34-year-old Randy Courteoreille of the Swan River First Nation.
• Construction officially got underway on a new $10.95 million clinic in High Level, set to open in 2027.
• Rachel Greidanus, Aubrey LePage and Kambriea Burns of the Peace Region Dance Society, each placed in the top 11 in the world for their solo and team dance routines, at the Dance World Cup Finals in Spain.
• 44-year-old Rodney Nahachick and a 15-year-old male, both from Atikameg, are arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the death of 26-year-old Christian Mitchell.
• Energy Alberta crews started environmental field studies in areas north of Peace River, to support planning for the proposed Peace River Nuclear Power Project.

August

• Strike Group, the N’deh Limited Partnership and the Dene Tha First Nation formed an agreement supporting energy sector projects in the North.
• The MD of Smoky River issued a formal notice to the Town of Falher, indicating potential withdrawal from several regional shared service agreements.
• High Prairie RCMP clocked a vehicle traveling at 207 km/h in a 100-zone east of town, in which the driver from Fairview, received two court summons.
• The RCMP Musical Ride will make four tour stops in the Northwest in the latter half of August, which included a homecoming for Corps Sergeant Major Elaine Maisonneuve, who resides and serves in Ottawa, but is originally from Donnelly.
• RCMP arrested 25-year-old Peace River resident Kelleo Alook, charging him with manslaughter, in the death of 35-year-old Anton Vincent Carifelle of McLennan at Riverfront Park in Peace River.
• 32-year-old Blake Francis Giroux of Edmonton was arrested and charged with manslaughter, in the death of 29-year-old Brandon Lee Campiou of the Driftpile Cree nation.
• Misery Mountain Ski Resort in Peace River opens a new Disc Golf Course for enjoyment of the last few weeks of summer.
• The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada suspended the 180-day time limit for the Planning Phase of the Peace River Nuclear Power Project, proposed by Energy Alberta.

September

• Mackenzie County lifted Stage 2 water rationing measures for the community of La Crete, following the return of regular operations at the La Crete Water Treatment Plant.

October

• The Peace River Fire Department responded to a structure fire at the old Belle Petroleum Centre building.
• A Massachusetts man was sentenced to four years in prison for hacking into education software provider PowerSchool and stealing sensitive data from the Peace River School Division, the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division, the Northland School Division and the Fort Vermilion School Division.
• Favorable hot, dry weather in late summer and fall accelerated the harvest, to be done weeks ahead of schedule and averages.
• Municipal Elections were held in the Northwest, with change being a common theme.
• New Mayors were elected in Peace River, High Level, High Prairie, Grimshaw, and Valleyview.
• After an almost two-month shutdown, the Peace Regional Pool opened despite the Hot Tub project still under renovations until the Spring.

November

• Fairview residents are taking up the cry and rallying to Save the Fairview Campus.
• PowerWood Canada, headquartered in Calgary, has announced plans to construct a facility near La Crete to convert forest fire-damaged timber into bio pellets, serving a low-carbon alternative to coal in Japanese power plants.
• Valleyview RCMP arrest two people after 300 animals were found in medical distress at the two In the Woods Animal Shelters.
• The Dene Tha First Nation declared a state of local emergency due to an escalating mental health and addictions crisis.
• Peace River Council declines support letter for Sagitawa Shelter.

December

• The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team launched an investigation into an arrest carried out by Faust RCMP in Atikameg, back in September.
• The Town of Spirit River issued a Boil Water Advisory after a major break on the main water line, forcing officials to shut off water supply.
• West Fraser announced plans to indefinitely curtail operations at its OSB mill in High Level, by spring 2026, following the consumption of existing log supplies.
• Two people were killed in a head-on crash on Hwy 2, near Spirit River. The victims were from Wembley and Woking.

Keith Hopper, Trending 55