Alberta community's ostrich escape sparks new food bank campaign
The ostrich round-up is still ongoing in Taber, Alta., but the community is using a bit of humour over the situation to rustle up a bit of scratch for the local food bank.
The Town of Taber is paying it forward to the Taber Food Bank with a generous donation of 20 turkeys that will form part of the holiday hampers for those in need this season.
Officials say the campaign, which it named #FlightlessBirdsforFoodBanks, hopes to share feeling of generosity it enjoyed during the community-wide effort to recapture a herd of ostriches.
On Thursday, a group of the large flightless birds broke out of an enclosure at a nearby farm and made their way into the community.
A video of a desperate attempt by a police officer, with the ostrich owner riding shotgun, has already gone viral.
"As demonstrated by the massive rescue efforts yesterday, our Taber community is generous (and sometimes funny), and we want everyone to know it," the town said on Facebook.
"If you saw the story and it made you laugh, we challenge you to donate to your local food bank so everyone has reasons to smile."
Meanwhile, the police constable who came up with the idea of using his vehicle to chase down the bird was also recognized.
"(For) his valiant efforts that are definitely NOT taught in regular police academy curriculums, Constable Weersink with the Taber Police Service is also receiving our thanks and a turkey," the post said.
"We hope he enjoys this type of flightless bird a whole lot more than the ones from yesterday."
The town says it is taking the suggestions of "annual ostrich races" and naming the ostrich as Taber's official bird under consideration.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.