EN - People
The Weeknd Broke Up With Selena Gomez For This Reason And We're Not Surprised
Shocking...
Discover Narcity
Get the latest and greatest stories every day in your inbox.
Province keeps free winter sand program after public pushback
Residents can collect sand at traditional DTI depots, while contractors must find other sources.
New Brunswick reverses decision to axe long‑standing practice
After a string of public complaints about the Holt government’s decision to cancel free public access to sand, the province has reversed course.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Chuck Chaisson confirmed that residents would still have access to free sand this winter.
“Sand will continue to be available for residential use at DTI depots that have traditionally offered it to their communities,” said Chaisson.
For two weeks, people took to social media to complain about the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure's plan to stop public access to sand.
Opposition MLAs, municipal leaders, and residents criticized the decision, warning it could increase slip‑and‑fall risks for seniors and rural homeowners.
Senior Director and Media Relations, Bruce MacFarlane, said safety remains the department’s top priority.
“Depots that have maintained offering public access to winter sand will continue to do so outside the depot gates for the upcoming winter season and going forward, where it is safe to do so,” said MacFarlane.
MacFarlane stressed that the sand is for residential use only, and contractors and municipalities must obtain material elsewhere. He also said that depots are active worksites with heavy equipment in operation and urged caution when accessing them.
Woodstock‑Hartland MLA Bill Hogan praised residents who pushed back against the proposed cancellation.
“To those of you who contacted the Minister or Premier on cutting the sand program, congratulations. This time they listened,” said Hogan.
With files from James Ness
Copyright 2026, River Valley Sun. All rights reserved.
Paige Morgan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, River Valley Sun.
Keep reading
Show less
Wainwright, Alta., residents grieving but resilient after tragic fire on army base
Army town remains stoic after military base fire
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Residents of a central Alberta town are grieving after a vicious fire killed four men and injured dozens more at a nearby military base, but living alongside soldiers preparing for battle has built up a deep stoicism and resilience in the community.
"It's heartbreaking. My heart goes out to the families but we'll bounce back," said Sharon Pashko, 79, whose uncle was once commander of CFB Wainwright.
Pashko said the community, about 200 kilometres southeast of Edmonton, takes care of its own and should be proud.
"We've gone above and beyond and I'm very proud of Wainwright residents," she added.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has been meeting with constituents in the town, which is in his Battle River-Crowfoot riding. He said while many unanswered questions remain, people are coping.
"I'm just amazed how resilient and strong the people are. Nobody's breaking. Everyone's just putting their head down and they're doing their jobs. It's the best of Canada," he said.
"They're obviously heartbroken. They see the loss of these brilliant young men in the springtimes of their lives but at the same time they bounce back and they keep working to support the living."
Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh said the base has always been a part of the community.
"It's a part of us and we're a part of it. It's a symbiotic relationship," he said.
Despite the temporary closure of the local polling station for Alberta's referendum, a steady stream of voters continued to cast ballots Monday.
"A couple of friends of mine from church are in the military and I've heard, last night, that they were actually both in Latvia right now,” Dustin Degenhardt said after voting.
“I'm grateful that they're safe, but at the same time I know hearts are here too.”
Degenhardt said the tragedy didn't affect how he voted and sees the two as separate issues. Other residents shared that view, while some said the shadow of the fire loomed over their decision.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
By David Baxter and Bill Graveland | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Keep reading
Show less
Advance voting in B.C. election is down compared to 2024
Advance voting in B.C. down compared to 2024
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
The number of ballots cast in the first three days of advance voting in the British Columbia election is down about 8 per cent compared to 2024.
Elections BC says there were about 440,000 votes cast from Friday to Sunday, compared to almost 480,000 for the first three days of advance voting last election, which set a record for total advance turnout.
Early voting continues at hundreds of places across the province today and tomorrow until 8 p.m. ahead of final voting day on Saturday.
There were more than one million advance ballots cast in 2024, a surge of 49 per cent compared to the previous election, and a report by the chief electoral officer says the process has been steadily increasing in popularity for two decades.
The report says almost half of all votes in 2024 were cast in advance, compared to about 20 per cent as recently as 2013.
The ballots cast in advance so far for the current election represent about 12 per cent of all registered voters.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 20, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Keep reading
Show less