2025 Year in Review

Posted on January 15, 2026 by admin

June

During a media conference on May 15, Government House Leader, MLA for Cardston-Siksika and Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration, Joseph Schow, provided a summary of the progress made by Alberta’s government during the spring session.

“This spring, our government passed 19 bills, fulfilled multiple platform commitments and delivered on strong mandate received from Albertans,” said MLA Schow. “Every piece of legislation our government brought forward this session was driven by one goal: to make life better for Albertans. I’m proud to be part of a team that meets the challenges Albertans are facing today and positions our province for long-term success.”

Hot, dry and windy conditions has elevated the wildfire risk in the region to extreme, resulting in Lethbridge County upgrading its fire advisory to a full fire ban, effective immediately. 

Under the fire ban, which was put in place on May 29, all burning is prohibited, including recreational campfires, burning barrels and incinerators, charcoal briquette barbecues, any other open flame (i.e. burn pits, yard waste burning) and fireworks. 

Construction has started this week at Raymond Health Centre to upgrade facilities and enhance patient flow and experience in the emergency department (ED), along with renovations to lab and diagnostic imaging (DI) departments that are already underway.

Staff and patients will continue to access services through the main entrance. Beginning 

June 11, a temporary ED opened in another wing of the health centre to maintain services and provide quality care.

The allocation for St. Mary River Irrigation District members is expected to remain at 12 inches for the summer, the board of the major southern Alberta district announced May 29.

That figure, equating to one acre-foot, was announced at the group’s annual general meeting in early April. That is 50 per cent higher than the 8-inch allotment estimate in early 2024 when reservoirs were still nearing historic lows, but below typical allotment of 14 inches, last provided in 2023.

The difference across the entire reservoir network from 12 months earlier is about 147,000 acre-feet more water in storage.

Two Magrath teams faced off in the final. Congrats to the Magrath Still team as they beat Magrath Olson team 10-2 in the District 1 Senior Little League Championship game on June 16 at Spitz Stadium.

It was the first time they beat the Olson team this year.

There were plenty of fans in the stands watching the classmates battle it out.

Winning pitcher was Nixon Barnett who threw a perfect game into the fourth inning. He struck out eight batters in 6 1/3 innings and only walked two hitters. Jackson Carrell got the final two outs on the mound.

The Breezy Bay Waterpark official grand opening event will be held on June 27 at Corner Lake in Raymond, Alta.

“Because there are so many visitors in Raymond during the Canada Day Weekend, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to do our grand opening event and invite those from out of town to come try out the park,” said Jeff Birch, director of the Breezy Bay Waterpark.

The park, Birch says, opens on June 14 and will run to mid-September weather permitting, and the hours will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week, also weather permitting.

Raymond Heritage Days 2025 will be full of excitement!

The weekend will start at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28 with the Harlan Taylor Road Race, and will be followed by the Chamber of Commerce’s free Pancake Breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Raymond Seniors Centre. The breakfast will be followed by two events at 10 a.m.: the 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament on the outdoor basketball court at Centennial Park next to the pool and Family Softball Tournament at Raymond Ball Diamonds located at Victoria Sports Park.

Monday, June 30 is when the next events will take place with the Stampede Rodeo taking place at 6 p.m. and the Smith Family Fireworks taking place at 10:30 p.m.

The Rotary Club of Raymond is delighted to announce that Drs. Monty Audenart and Drew Cahoon are being honoured as posthumous Honourary Parade Marshalls for the 2025 Raymond Rotary Canada Parade. Monty and Drew have been exemplary members of their Rotary Clubs, have represented their southern Alberta roots to the world as global ambassadors.

Their wives, Elizabeth (Gibb) Audenart and Joanne (Jensen) Cahoon will represent their husbands during the parade and activities of the 2025 Raymond Day celebration.

Dr. Monty Audenart spent his youth anxiously engaged in the youthful activities of all Raymond children in the 1950’s and 1960’s.  He graduated from the School of Dentistry at the University of Alberta in 1977 and began family practice in Vermillion, soon moving to Red Deer where he continued practicing, with multiple trips to Nunavut until his passing in January 2015.