Lisa Sygutek graduated with 55 girls in 1990. Now, eight of those women have been diagnosed with cancer and three have died. After losing two classmates in quick succession, she reflects on the fear, grief and unnerving intimacy of illness in a small community, where every number carries a familiar name.

After surviving Robbie Burns Day with Glenallachie single malt and haggis from Bon Ton Meat Market, then recalled the legendary winter of 1995 and 1996 in Fernie when a trip to the Elk River Inn produced a tongue in cheek “prediction” from three shaggy Shih Tzus whose shadows sealed the joke and sparked another round.

Chad Kennedy spoke to a packed room at the Coleman Seniors Centre on Jan. 22 about living with post traumatic stress disorder and the experiences that led him to launch the Sea to Sea for PTSD campaign, sharing a deeply personal account of trauma, recovery and the ongoing need for accessible mental health supports.

The Pass Herald is set to expand its civic reporting after being approved for a reporter position through Canada’s Local Journalism Initiative, a move expected to strengthen coverage in underserved communities such as Sparwood through 2026 and 2027.

When public officials try to limit who can attend press conferences or public meetings, it is more than a procedural decision. It is a test of democratic accountability rooted in Canada’s constitutional protection of press freedom and the legal presumption that public business is conducted in the open. 

The Crowsnest Pass Taxpayers Association used a public meeting to outline Alberta municipal candidate residency rules and a court application challenging whether Colleen MacDonald met the six consecutive months requirement before nomination. Association president Carmen Roman said the presentation was educational, while MacDonald said the matter is before the Court of King’s Bench and no decision has been rendered.

The Southwest Alberta Skateboard Society says a $475,000 provincial CFEP large grant notified on Jan. 9, 2026 has pushed the Flummerfelt Park skatepark project to its fundraising target, with construction now projected to begin around July 2026 and run 13 to 16 weeks.

Corb Lund’s coal petition is back at square one after Bill 14 changed Alberta’s citizen initiative process, forcing a restart before signature collection can begin. If Elections Alberta issues the petition, supporters will have four months to gather roughly 177,732 verified signatures, a bar that will test whether the campaign is broad public support or political theatre.

A long vacant commercial building near one of Blairmore’s primary entrances has been redeveloped into four two bedroom ground level rental apartments and a new Paws Claws Hooves pet food store, with Greenmore Corporation saying the suites will be ready for lease starting Feb. 1, 2026.

New Year’s Eve carries memories of childhood, family and tradition, from Father Frost and school concerts to Old New Year rituals rooted in the Julian calendar. Against the backdrop of war in Ukraine, the season has also become a measure of endurance and a renewed wish for peace.

Grant Hunter became Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas on January 2, 2026 after Rebecca Schulz resigned from cabinet, a change that arrives as coal related and watershed protection issues on the Eastern Slopes continue drawing intense public attention across the Highway 3 corridor.  

The Crowsnest Pass Herald is rolling out new subscription options and launching Local Ink, a Canadian made digital platform that mirrors the weekly print edition online and through an app, giving readers flexible ways to support local journalism.

The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta opened its spring grant intake Monday with $520,000 available across its Community Priorities and Henry S. Varley Fund and Rural Life Fund, with applications due by 4:00 p.m. on March 16, 2026.

On December 26, 1997, a loud, joyful family Boxing Day in Fernie ended with a midnight trip to the hospital and emergency surgery hours later. What looked like appendicitis turned out to be a sharp piece from a turkey leg that perforated the bowel, triggering a dangerous leak and a week on IV antibiotics. The experience left one clear lesson: even at Christmas, things can go wrong fast.

In the final editorial of 2025, the Pass Herald looked back on years of weekly storytelling, local business support, and the Shop Local momentum that helped make 2025 one of its strongest advertising years in a long time. The column also highlighted a major step ahead: a Documenters program launching in 2026, developed with Mount Royal University to strengthen transparency and expand coverage of public meetings.

Christmas in the Pass can feel timeless, but the holiday is a layered mix of ancient solstice rituals, church calendars, Victorian storytelling and modern retail. From Saturnalia and Yule to the rise of the tree and Santa, the season has kept changing while still chasing the same thing: hope in the dark.

Crowsnest Pass Fire Rescue recognized Captain Darryl Johnson as Firefighter of the Year during a December 6, 2025, presentation, with Fire Chief Jesse Fox crediting him for leadership, mentorship and a steady presence in demanding situations. Fox said Johnson’s impact extended beyond emergency calls through his work improving training and advocating for firefighter safety.

A motion to publicly release the Chief Administrative Officer’s contract and the deputy CAO’s contract arrived amid rising tension in Crowsnest Pass council chambers and a broader debate over transparency, respect and governance boundaries. In an interview with municipal governance expert George B. Cuff, the Pass Herald examined how similar conflicts across Alberta have driven CAO turnover and increased taxpayer costs, while highlighting the legal limits on what councils can disclose and direct.

Castle Mountain Resort has opened for its 60th ski season with daily operations, snowmaking on Huckleberry and a major expansion underway. The new Stagecoach Express high speed quad will add more than 21 runs and boost Castle’s terrain to nearly 3,600 acres.

Elk Valley Resources is committing $500,000 to Avalanche Canada to support the South Rockies field team, funding daily avalanche forecasts, outreach and digital tools that backcountry skiers and riders rely on every winter.