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The latest developments on the Alberta referendum
The latest on the Alberta referendum
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Albertans have voted in a historic referendum.
There are 10 questions on the ballot, with the key one asking whether the province should remain in Canada or hold a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
The other nine questions focus on immigration and the Constitution.
Here are the latest developments (all times Mountain):
10:10 p.m.
All polls are now closed in Alberta's separation referendum.
Most polling stations closed two hours earlier at 8 p.m.
About 100 out of the 1,400 stayed open late because they didn't open on time in the morning due to various issues.
Elections Alberta says voting results can start being reported.
About 1.3 million voters cast ballots by mail or at advance polls.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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B.C. victim of Wainwright fire was everybody's best friend, says rugby coach
Wainwright victim everybody's best friend: coach
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Facebook, Nadine Dunford (Mandatory Credit)
The former rugby coach for Pte. Hayden Lykkemark, one of four soldiers who died in a fire at CFB Wainwright on Saturday, says all of the teenager's team and his schoolmates thought of him as their best friend.
Trevor Plater, who coached Lykkemark in his senior year at Langley Secondary School in Langley, B.C., says Lykkemark was "always looking out for everybody."
Canada's military says officials were aware of a wildfire in the area but didn't consider it a threat before a violent windstorm blew in, killing four and sending scores of soldiers to hospital with bad burns.
Pte. Aidan Goulding of North Vancouver, Sgt. Morgan Wong of Edmonton and Pte. Shaun Farrell of Prince Albert, Sask. also died in the fire.
Plater says Lykkemark, who was 19, was particularly close to former teammate Kane Lewis who has set up an online fundraiser for his friend’s family.
Lewis says in a statement on the donation page, which has raised more than $20,000, that he and Lykkemark joined the army at the same time, and were in the same platoon for basic training.
“That’s where he became more than just a friend; he became a brother. He was always looking out for everyone and always kept himself in check,” Lewis' statement says.
The Langley Rugby Club says in an online statement that Lykkemark was a dedicated student, athlete and friend who made a positive impact on people around him.
“Hayden’s legacy of service, friendship, and compassion will not be forgotten,” it says.
The victims of the fire served in the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry based at Edmonton
Plater says in an interview on Monday that Lykkemark "wasn't afraid to make tackles or get in or do his part."
"He wasn't necessarily somebody who talked a lot but he had a big impact when he did and he was always listening and paying attention,” he says.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
By Nono Shen | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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BC Ferries vessel collides with humpback whale in Howe Sound near Metro Vancouver
BC Ferries vessel collides with humpback whale
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
A humpback whale has been struck by a BC Ferries vessel in waters near Metro Vancouver.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada says in an email that they were alerted to the collision on Sunday, when the Queen of Surrey reportedly struck the whale near Keats and Grace islands in Howe Sound.
The 139-metre-long Queen of Surrey provides regular service between Vancouver-Horseshoe Bay terminal and the Sunshine Coast.
The DFO says witnesses reported two humpback whales near the ferry at the time of the collision, and one was struck after it surfaced in front of the vessel.
The federal agency says the whale was seen behind the vessel after the collision, and investigators are working to identify it and assess its condition.
BC Ferries has also confirmed the collision and is co-operating with the DFO, adding that initial reports showed crew had "very little time to react."
"We recognize how upsetting this is, particularly for those who witnessed the collision, including our crews," BC Ferries spokeswoman Lilian Kim says in a statement. "They work on these waters every day and care deeply about protecting the marine life around them."
Kim says BC Ferries crew receive special training on whale awareness, and vessels operate under specific protocols to reduce collision risks.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada would not comment on whether the whale has been found, only stating that the agency is "currently reviewing the situation."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 19, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
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