Latest news with #Taber
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Canadian Handgun Nationals in Taber this week
The Canadian Handgun Nationals are being held in the MD of Taber this week. It's the first time the event has taken place in Alberta since 2017.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
Canadian Handgun Nationals kick off in southern Alberta
The 2025 Canadian Handgun Nationals are underway in Taber, Alta., and more than 400 competitors from across Canada and the United States are setting their sights on winning. All of the competitor take part in 18 fast-paced and unique stages. 'Everything's just come together beautifully,' said match director Rob Mckenzie. 'Chinook Country Shooters is really, really proud and really fortunate to bring Canadian competitors together.' The nationals are hosted by the Chinook Country Shooters Club, and several of its members are involved in the week-long competition. It's taken over a year of planning, but members say its worth it. 'It's an honour just to be involved. said Chinook Country Shooters Club president Marc Henderson. 'There's a ton of work to do, nut we've had really, really good help – and from other shooting clubs throughout Alberta as well, they've brought down equipment and some of them come down to help build.' The event is also a major economic boost for the area. It is projected to add up to $1 million to the provincial economy. 'We know they're visiting our hotels, our restaurants, our shops, and taking in all that is great in our region,' said Tamara Miyanga, reeve for the MD of Taber. Safety is top of mind for any shooting event like this. Plenty of precautions are taken to make sure no one is in harms way. 'The most important thing in this sport is safety,' Henderson said. 'That's. It's the first rule of safety. Nothing comes ahead of safety.' This year marks the first time since 2017 that the event has taken place in Alberta. The 2025 Canadian Handgun Nationals wrap up on Saturday.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Climate
- USA Today
Smoke descends on Northeastern US. Map shows air quality impacts.
State officials from Maine to New York issued alerts for fine particulate matter, a toxic byproduct of wildfires that is small enough to be inhaled. NEW YORK − Wildfire smoke wafted from Canada to create unhealthy air quality levels across the Northeast on July 26. State officials from Maine to New York issued alerts for fine particulate matter, a toxic byproduct of wildfires that is small enough to be inhaled. Smoky conditions impacted cities including Boston and New York. Canada's fires could produce more smoke blowing into the Northeast through the afternoon, said Brooke Taber, a National Weather Service meteorologist stationed in Burlington, Vermont. Smoke is also causing limited visibility in some areas. Wind changes could provide a respite by the night, Taber said. Montreal had some of the worst air quality in the world due to fires in the Canadian Prairies, the Canadian Press reported, citing IQAir, a Swiss-based monitoring company. Several wildfires burning in Saskatchewan and Manitoba are sending large smoke plumes eastward, according to Quebec's fire provincial agency. Meanwhile, New York City climbed on IQAir's list of cities with unhealthy air levels. Hazy skies and the faint smell of smoke blanketed Manhattan on Saturday. Map shows US air quality Why air quality matters Officials urged people to stay indoors to reduce exposure, and to limit strenuous activity. Exposure can cause short-term effects such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, along with coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. It can be particularly dangerous for people in sensitive groups, such as children, older people and those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma or heart disease. Canada is experiencing another harsh wildfire season in a warming climate. Dozens of wildfires are blazing uncontrolled, according to Canada's natural resources department. In early July, Manitoba's government declared a state of emergency for its historic fires. July 17: Brace for more smoky skies as Canadian wildfires rage Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@ or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Alberta surpasses 1,400 measles cases with 31 new infections
There's a mix of opinions on Alberta's measles outbreak in the town of Taber, with some residents being concerned about vaccination while others thinking the illness is not a problem. Alberta added 31 new measles cases on Friday to reach a total of 1,407 infections since March. The majority of the cases, 18, were detected in the north zone. Six cases were found in Calgary, five in the south zone, one in central Alberta, and one in Edmonton. Earlier this week, Alberta surpassed the United States in confirmed measles cases.
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Measles hotspot: Taber among southern Alberta towns facing crisis
There's a mix of opinions on Alberta's measles outbreak in the town of Taber, with some residents being concerned about vaccination while others thinking the illness is not a problem. The small town of Taber is widely known for its agricultural roots – particularly its corn – but recent talk around town has been focused on an outbreak of measles, with southern Alberta emerging as a hotspot for cases. It comes as the number of measles cases in the province now surpasses the total number of cases across the United States. Alberta Health Services (AHS) said the province's South Zone accounts for 817 of the total 1,376 cases in Alberta as of Wednesday, with the risk of widespread exposure so high there is a standing advisory for all communities in the region, which covers the area south of Calgary and includes larger centres like Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. 'When it was first showing up, it was shocking and new at that point and now it's well established,' said Cameron Hazel, a pharmacist at Taber's Johnson's Drugs. 'It's not surprising when someone phones or asking about it or showing up asking about it and how to help their children. 'I've had people, seen walk in or around town, their child has a rash and people are still going about their business.' Hazel said he and other staff try to educate people on the effectiveness of the measles vaccine when they come into the pharmacy, but said it's difficult to change people's views. 'It's been polarizing in general,' he said. 'I think everyone knows where the lines have been drawn and realizes sometimes you can push but people aren't going to change their mind, so there's only so much you can say or do.' Although, he has seen some people express regret for not getting vaccinated after falling ill with the highly contagious virus. 'It's been a little eye-opening. You made a choice when your child was young not to vaccinate them and I spoke to one person who said that's probably the worst choice they ever made, but that's just one.' Measles hotspot: Taber among southern Alberta towns facing crisis 'Sends a negative light' Experts say 95 per cent of the population needs to be fully vaccinated to achieve herd immunity but according to provincial data, the municipal district of Taber has amongst the lowest vaccination rate for youth children in the province. According to the latest provincial immunization data, only 28.7 per cent of children in the region has received the recommended two doses of the measles vaccine by the age of two in 2024. Many in town tell CTV News they believe it's a combination of religious beliefs in addition to anti-vaccine sentiments that have led to the slow uptick in immunizations. 'It's unfortunate for our community because people might avoid coming here and that affects businesses and it's also just negative, sends a negative light on our area,' said Maria Hughes, a parent in Taber. Christina Joertzen is a part of the Mexican Mennonite community in the region and said she got measles along with her 15-year-old, 12-year-old and seven-year-old in May. 'They had spots but didn't feel bad, so it was very good. I had four days of fever, but I didn't have the spots, so it was kind of like a cold. It wasn't bad for our family. I have two other boys, and my husband didn't even get it, so it's nothing to be scared of.' Measles 'manageable', residents say Agane Friesen and Tina Inis are part of the Mennonite communities and were visiting Taber from Ontario and Mexico. They said it's a misconception their faith prevents them from getting vaccinated. 'Some believe it's good, some believe you better not,' said Friesen who had measles as a child and was never vaccinated. 'My grandkids had measles; they were sick but not that sick.' Susie Neufeld is a part of the Christian community in town and said she's not worried about the spread of the virus. 'I feel like it's just another flu-like symptom that happens and Alberta is making too big of a deal out of it. We've had it and it's manageable,' said Susie Neufeld who chose not to vaccinate herself or her children. 'I do believe in God so He is my healer, and I look to Him for my health.' However, health experts warn that measles poses serious health risks and can be dangerous and in more serious cases can lead to deafness, brain damage and even death. It is highly contagious and can spread easily through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It was once eradicated in Canada, but Alberta is now the second province after Ontario, to surpass the United States cases of measles. As of Wednesday, there are 1,309 confirmed measles cases in the U.S., 31 less than in Alberta. 'We're talking about a nation that is 70 to 75 per cent bigger than Alberta and in a matter of a few short months Alberta has caught up to those confirmed cases, I think that's a stark reminder how quickly and broadly a virus that up to recently had largely been eliminated in Canada has now established a foothold here in Alberta,' said University of Calgary's Dr. Craig Jenne. Anti-vaccine sentiment Darry Gilbert lives in Taber but said he isn't overly concerned about catching measles because he was vaccinated as a child but is surprised to see how quickly it has spread. 'People don't get their shots; you get what you get right?' John O'Brien is from Medicine Hat, which is also included in the standing measles advisory, and believes there's been an increase in vaccine hesitancy following the COVID-19 pandemic. 'There's a lot of people who don't like vaccinations. All our kids were vaccinated, we were vaccinated, we're of that generation.' Patti Jones is from Lethbridge, also part of the standing measles advisory. 'I'm old school. All my kids got vaccinated, not that I have that many – I have two – and so did we when we were younger. It's sad seeing all these kids are sick, it's sad.' The ministry of primary and preventative health services declined an interview with CTV News but said in a statement that Alberta's government is taking the situation seriously and continues to manage it effectively using existing public health tools such as expanded vaccination clinics and targeted outreach. 'Comparisons to the United States can be misleading, as most U.S. cases this year are concentrated in a single state—Texas. Alberta is the second province to report more measles cases this year than the U.S., where the majority of cases are linked to the outbreak in Texas,' read the statement. 'Measles is rising at different times in various regions, often introduced by travellers, as seen in both Texas and Ontario.' According to official data, the population of Texas is 31.29 million people while Alberta's population is approximately 4.2 million. Measles-containing vaccines are provided free of charge through AHS public health centres.
