2025 at a glance for Cypress County

Posted on January 8, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

January

Cypress County has enough Class 2 soil to avoid the need to protect Class 3 land when regulators consider approving new wind and solar power facilities.

But neighbouring municipalities do fall under the new regulation requiring greater protection of mid-range land that triggers the need for agricultural productivity study.

Glen Motz, Conservative MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, says his focus remains on pushing forward for an election following news of the prime minister’s decision to step down as party leader.

However, Motz says, Trudeau’s resignation leaves the Liberals in crisis mode as they scramble to determine their next leader before an upcoming election that could happen as early as the spring should a successful non-confidence vote be pushed through.

The largest single federal investment in history of southeast Alberta could be underway in 2027 as the Department of National Defence plans a new $750-million laboratory facility at the Suffield defence research centre.

Southern Alberta Newspapers has learned the federal defence minister’s office approved moving to design phase of the project in September and then quietly advertised for bids in the fall.

The last of two iconic “Dominion Glass” smokestacks in Redcliff will soon be taken down.

Fibre-glass insulation maker Certainteed has received a permit to remove the 175-foot brick chimney and water tank at its facility in the west end of the town, according to a meeting agenda for the Redcliff municipal planning commission.

February

The RCMP says a recently-acquired Black Hawk helicopter is in service patrolling Alberta’s international boundary with Montana, and could be seen by southeast Alberta residents on patrols.

Another of two military-style helicopters, acquired earlier this month by the federal agency to ramp up border security as trade tensions mount between Ottawa and Washington, was unveiled in Montreal on Jan. 29.

That, along with the new western-based aircraft, brings the federal police force’s helicopter fleet in border service to 11 vehicles.

Cypress County is evaluating its rates and policies for a new dust control program, which came into effect for 2025.

In 2024, council chose to transition to calcium, or a similar product, for new private dust control patches. As part of this transition, administration was asked to develop a costing formula.

It was recommended by administration that the county adopt a cost-sharing policy, where the applicant covers 65 per cent, representing the cost of materials, and the county covers the remaining 35 per cent, representing labour and equipment expenses.

Peace officer Jason Schreiber is settling in for what he plans to be a long career helping to keep Cypress County running smoothly.

Born and raised in the Medicine Hat area, Schreiber says he’s stayed in the region his whole life. After 17 years as a journeyman auto-body technician however, he decided it was time for something new.

“One of my hobbies is to spend time with my family, we work on old classic cars together and restore vehicles,” said Schreiber. “So I didn’t want to do it all week and then do it on the weekend again. So I decided to do something different.”

Pam Cursons is in her second term as Trustee of Ward 3 for Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS). She is one of two representatives for the three schools in Redcliff, Prairie Mennonite Alternative School and Eagle Butte High School.

Having grown up in a small, rural community with a graduating class of 13, school was limited primarily to core subjects. Children of other family members who attended schools in larger centres were able to take options it was impossible to offer at Cursons’s small school. This formed the basis of wanting to become a trustee, to advocate for rural communities and students to have equal opportunity and access to some of the better options and newer programming.

March

The corporate head of Goodyear tires says he is watching potential effects of U.S. tariffs on imported goods, but overall, they could benefit the company that has a large U.S. manufacturing base.

Cancarb, another major manufacturer with facilities in Medicine Hat, says it will be forced to adjust prices if a trade dispute between the United States and Canada advances.

Meanwhile, CF Industries said it will continue with low-carbon investments in the U.S. despite the potential for the month-old Trump administration to rescind support for environmental regulation.

The province will spend $15 million to upgrade weigh stations near provincial boundaries, including the commercial inspection station at Dunmore, to house new “interdiction patrol” units of the Alberta Sheriffs.

Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis made the announcement on March 5 in Medicine Hat, stating upgrades at Dunmore, Coutts and in the Crowsnest Pass, will increase policing along the provincial boundaries.

As well, officials gave an operational overview of the current operational capacity of the unit formed in December and is now patrolling areas south of Highway 3.

Language has been softened and strengthened in parts in a newly edited version of a Tri-Area Development Plan agreement that several Medicine Hat clubs says perpetuates risk to their facilities.

The agreement, between Medicine Hat, Cypress County and Redcliff involves areas  of common boundaries of the three municipalities and lays out general zoning in the interests of reducing conflicting uses and spurring orderly development.

It’s been in place since 2009, but the last approved update in 2020 included a “joint planning” area north of Redcliff to accommodate the potential of new large industrial investment.

The March 10 Redcliff Town Council meeting brought several significant updates, including an overview of the RCMP’s quarterly policing activities, a public hearing for a proposed bylaw amendment, and the first reading of two new bylaws.

 The meeting began with a detailed policing report for the final quarter of 2024, presented by the Redcliff RCMP Detachment. Over the quarter, the detachment responded to 807 calls for service, including investigations into motor vehicle collisions, thefts, break-and-enters, and spousal abuse cases. Notably, one fatal motor vehicle collision occurred, with 97 crashes reported in total.

Seven Persons School has seen remarkable success this year with its Junior High girls’ volleyball and basketball teams.

 Coached by Mrs. Copeland, BJ Wisnowski, and Duane Ziegenhagel, the Junior High A girls’ volleyball team had a great season in the Medicine Hat Junior High A league. The team finished third in the league playoffs on October 21st. Their season ended in an outstanding performance at the 2J South Zones tournament held in Bow Island on November 1st and 2nd. Despite facing tough competition, the girls won the coveted banner.

April

The Region’s former Member of Parliament is part of a group hoping to open direct talks with U.S. President Donald Trump about Alberta’s future, and is also now calling for a provincial independence referendum this year.

LaVar Payne was listed among the attendees of a press conference on March 26 in Calgary to launch the “Delegation to Washington” project. It hopes to determine the level of support in Washington, D.C. toward an economic union or statehood for an independent Alberta, according to a release.

It states that a list of nine issues recently outlined by Premier Danielle Smith following a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney last month “has all but guaranteed an independence referendum to be held in Alberta this calendar year.”

Cypress County Council met on April 1 to discuss several significant matters, including the proposed removal of a Municipal Reserve Designation in Suffield and a sponsorship request for a major local business event.

One of the key topics on the agenda was a hearing regarding the removal of the Municipal Reserve (MR) designation from a vacant county-owned parcel in the Hamlet of Suffield. This property, located at 152 Ronald Avenue (Plan 881 1312 Block 30 Lot 1MR), has been earmarked as the proposed site for a new water treatment plant.

The end of the federal consumer carbon tax was reflected at the pumps on April 1, with the average price per litre expected to drop by as much as 18 cents.

The federal government put the tax in place in 2019 as a way to incentivize Canadians to transition to greener energy sources. Quarterly rebate cheques were issued as compensation, but the levy remained a contentious topic for many, and opposition politicians campaigning on its cancellation.

On his first day as prime minister, Liberal leader Mark Carney cancelled the tax that had been set at 17.6 cents per litre on gasoline, as well as 15.25 cents per cubic metre on natural gas, used to heat homes.

Although the price drop may not be immediate at all gas stations, GasBuddy.com is reporting most in southern Alberta reduced prices, saving drivers up to $9 when filling a standard 60-litre gas tank.

Two events to promote Alberta independence and a provincial pension plan have switched venues after organizers say bookings in Medicine Hat and Bow Island were cancelled earlier this month.

Chinook Village in the Hat and the Royal Canadian Legion in Bow Island were both set to host meetings of the “Alberta Prosperity Project” on April 9 and April 11, respectively.

Sources tell Southern Alberta Newspapers the cancellations were to avoid potential criticism or public connecting the facilities to the group, while local organizer Scott Payne said he wasn’t given a formal explanation, but felt there was concern that opponents to an Alberta pension or separation could cause a disruption.

Ballots for the April 28 federal election were set April 9 after an April 7 deadline to finalize nominations.

No new candidates other than those previously announced are registered in Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, where Conservative Glen Motz is seeking a fourth consecutive election win.

Grade 11 student Keegan Bartsch switched to Eagle Butte High School last year from out of district so he could enrol in the South Alberta Flight Academy (SAFA). “I really wanted to fly planes,” said Bartsch. “It was a dream of mine. I joined a little late, but I’ve caught up with everybody and I’m really enjoying it.”

Even though he didn’t know how it would all work out, Bartsch took a risk and is loving being in flight school. Advancing quickly to catch up with his peers, Bartsch completed his solo flight a few months ago and now has logged over 10 hours of flight time.

Seven Persons is the place to be on May 10 as the community gears up for a full day of fun, food, and festivities. To start with, Premium Sausage is ringing in its 35th anniversary with in-store deals and door prizes, including a chance for guests to win a new kid’s bike from Cyclepath.

Prairie Rose Public Schools is seeking support to expand its list of specialized academy offerings with the South Alberta School of Agriculture.

Expanding on work at the Irvine Agricultural Discovery Centre and similar agricultural programs, SASA would be aimed for students at the high school level with several different career pathways available within the academy.

May

Eastern Alberta is poised to take advantage of geopolitical trends – a new drive for food security and defence spending, as well as changing trade and logistics networks – if it acts together, delegates to a Local to Global trade forum in Medicine Hat were told April 24.

The conference at the Medicine Hat Lodge was sponsored by three larger regional economic development groups along the Saskatchewan border.

For more than a decade they have promoted transportation access and land availability as selling points on a potential route from the U.S. to Fort McMurray.

Two towers that were nixed in a wind farm approval south of Medicine Hat last summer can be built slightly north, out of the direct front-door view of a country church.

Construction on the remainder of the 38-turbine Wildrose Windfarm proceeded last fall while the developer, Capstone Infrastructure, reapplied to relocate two towers that were originally 550 and 750 metres from the Little Plume Evangelical Ministry Church.

There were a few students at Eagle Butte High School vying for the position of valedictorian, but in the end, Deacon Martin came out as the clear winner. “That was good because it pushed me to be better,” stated Martin. “A lot of the times, I get one wrong or 0.5 off and I think I should have got that. I feel good and proud of myself. There isn’t a whole lot else to say. The hard work paid off for sure.”

Martin joined the South Alberta Baseball Academy this year in lieu of taking any other options, which allows him to play baseball each day at school. “I’ve been playing since I was about nine or ten in house league and little league. I’m not the best, I play it for fun and just to get out there,” said Martin.

Cypress County residents will see their property taxes increase by 2.5 per cent after council approved the new rate on May 6. The higher rate takes into account inflation after administration was directed in mid-April to prepare a bylaw with rates adjusted according to changes in the Consumer Price Index.

It was explained during the council meeting that while the budget did report a surplus, that surplus was not yet allocated, and the municipality decided it was best to ensure a good financial position in years to come by keeping up with the cost of operations.

Redcliff RCMP is reaching out to the public seeking any information surrounding the death of 38-year-old Clayton Martens, who was originally reported missing Jan. 18.

On April 11 RCMP received a report of found human remains in a remote location in Cypress County. The remains were transported to the Calgary officer of the Chief Medical Examiner and have been positively identified as those of Martens.