Southern Alberta campgrounds preparing for summer camping season
Albertans are preparing to do some camping this summer, and campgrounds are getting ready for the expected rush.
LETHBRIDGE -
The days are getting longer and warmer, meaning plenty of Albertans will be preparing to do some camping this summer.
"As the weather starts to warm up here, there's lots of inquiries. People have been calling, driving in. Trying to book their plans for the next season coming up," said Trevor Sampson, general manager of the Owl's Nest Campground in Coaldale.
Staff at Owl's Nest believe this summer will be their busiest camping season yet, which is why they're pushing to prepare for it.
"We're bringing a lot of sewer and water to some of the sites and upgrading the power there, just try to keep up with anticipated demand for this season," Sampson said.
Owl's Nest opened in the fall of 2021 and sits on the site of the former Coaldale municipal campground, which closed in 2015.
Sampson and his family opened Owl's Nest after seeing an explosion of popularity in camping following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The campground has be getting steadily busier ever since.
"We kind of opened for the fall of 2021 and then last year, it dramatically increased from the year before and even this year, with the amount of anticipated demand we're going to have here," Sampson said.
Excitement is also building at the Bridgeview Campground and RV resort.
The site was purchased by Kampgrounds of America last fall and is about to have its first summer camping season under the new management.
Staff are hopeful being a part of the KOA group will help bring more visitors.
"We're getting really excited for the new season as a KOA. We're brand new here in Lethbridge that way and so we're excited about the possibility of a lot more traffic coming through the park," said Kathy Regehr, operational manager of KOA Lethbridge.
"Especially our American friends who will be coming through, and we're already starting to see a lot of that traffic at this point."
Regehr recommends anyone interested in booking a reservation at the campground do it right away.
"We are starting to fill up. We still have a fair bit of space available but once those provincial parks and the national parks open up their reservations, we're going to see a lot of activity."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Here's how some of Canada's wildfires compare in size to cities, lakes
Fires across the country are burning millions of hectares of land but what does that really look like? CTVNews.ca compared the blazes to some cities and lakes in the country showing just how big they have gotten.
Donald Trump described Pentagon plan of attack and shared classified map, indictment says
Former U.S. president Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents, according to an indictment unsealed Friday that alleges that he described a Pentagon 'plan of attack' and shared a classified map related to a military operation.
Air Canada walks back compensation denials after thousands delayed due to tech issues
Air Canada says it made a mistake in rejecting some compensation claims from the thousands of travellers affected by delayed flights due to computer malfunctions.
Corrections defends Bernardo's privacy, as it faces calls to detail transfer reason
The Correctional Service of Canada is defending Paul Bernardo's privacy rights after the public safety minister said they should be waived.
What is Temu? Shopping app that didn't exist 4 months ago now a source of privacy concerns
A shopping app that didn’t exist four months ago is making quite the splash for online shoppers. But experts warn of potential data dangers for Canadian customers.
Here's what you should know about wildfire home insurance policies
Amid raging wildfires in western and eastern provinces, vice-president of the Insurance Bureau of Canada, Craig Stewart, shares what residents need to know about wildfire policy coverage.
2-year-old girl dead after going missing near Canmore, Alta., campground
A two-year-old girl who went missing from Canmore's Bow River Campground on Thursday afternoon has died.
How to interpret Environment Canada's Air Quality Health Index ratings
Environment Canada has been advising people to check the Air Quality Health Index as wildfire smoke blanketed large swaths of Canada in recent days, but even without wildfires, the index can be a useful tool to monitor air pollution.
BREAKING
BREAKING | Sask. RCMP cancel Amber Alert after missing kids located
Saskatchewan RCMP cancelled an Amber Alert after two missing children were located.
Edmonton
-
Premier Smith appoints new Alberta cabinet with many familiar faces in different portfolios
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith named her new cabinet Friday, about two weeks after her United Conservative Party took the majority of seats in Alberta.
-
BREAKING NEWS
BREAKING NEWS | WestJet to wind down Swoop, integrate into main operation
WestJet says it will wind down operations at Swoop as it integrates the budget carrier's operations into its main banner.
-
2-year-old girl dead after going missing near Canmore, Alta., campground
A two-year-old girl who went missing from Canmore's Bow River Campground on Thursday afternoon has died.
Vancouver
-
These 20 B.C. communities saw their hottest June 8 on record Thursday
There were 20 high-temperature records broken across B.C. on Thursday, including one from 1903.
-
Thunderstorms, rain forecasted for northeastern B.C. as fierce wildfire rages
Showers on Saturday could sprinkle an aggressive wildfire that has forced more than two-thousand people from their homes in northeastern British Columbia, but forecasters say thunderstorms could sweep the parched region before any rain arrives.
-
Little dough needed for a career kneading dough: How to win a B.C. bakery
When B.C. couple Robyn and Shawn Haley decided to retire, they wanted to ensure their plan wasn’t just another half-baked scheme.
Atlantic
-
Halifax-area evacuation order rescinded for most residents
The majority of Halifax-area residents evacuated due to wildfires are now permitted to return home.
-
Shelburne wildfire evacuation rescinded, highway reopened
Nova Scotia has lifted its mandatory evacuation order for Shelburne County, in the area where the largest recorded wildfire in provincial history has been burning for about two weeks.
-
Striking Halifax-area school support workers return to bargaining table
Striking school support workers in the Halifax-area are heading back to the bargaining table after nearly a month on the picket line.
Vancouver Island
-
NEW
NEW | Additional fire crews assigned to Vancouver Island wildfire as blaze grows, highway remains closed
Wildfire officials are sending an additional 20 firefighters to help battle an out-of-control blaze that has burned more than two square kilometres of forest and cut off a major highway on Vancouver Island.
-
Vancouver Island wildfire detour to close after vehicle rolls into lake
A vehicle detour route that is serving as a lifeline between eastern and western Vancouver Island amid a raging wildfire will be closed for much of the day Friday.
-
BC Ferries sees record-breaking number of vehicle passengers
BC Ferries says it transported a record-setting number of vehicles in its 2023 fiscal year, which ended on March 31.
Toronto
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Toronto Blue Jays send Anthony Bass packing after anti-LGBTQ2S+ controversy
Blue Jays pitcher Anthony Bass was demoted from the team’s roster on Friday afternoon after sharing an anti-LGBTQ2S+ video.
-
Woman warns Ontario drivers after getting caught up in licence plate cloning scam
An Ontario woman was surprised to find out her licence plate was duplicated by another driver after multiple Highway 407 bills landed in her mailbox.
-
Corrections defends Bernardo's privacy, as it faces calls to detail transfer reason
The Correctional Service of Canada is defending Paul Bernardo's privacy rights after the public safety minister said they should be waived.
Montreal
-
Violent crimes rose in 2022, car thefts skyrocketed: Montreal police
Montreal police (SPVM) stats for 2022 show that crime went up dramatically in 2022 and, taking COVID-19 pandemic numbers into account, violent crimes have been on the rise overall since 2017. In addition, motor vehicle thefts skyrocketed, having more than doubled since pre pandemic years.
-
French firefighters arrive in Quebec to help fight wildfires; evacuees to receive $1,500 in compensation
The arrival of firefighters from France and New Brunswick is expected to bolster efforts to contain and control the large number of fires burning across Quebec in what's expected to be a marathon wildfire season, officials said Friday. Maite Blanchette Vezina, the province's minister of forests and natural resources, said the situation in the province remains critical but is improving.
-
Man dies from injuries after beating outside Orange Julep; police open homicide investigation
A 50-year-old man who was severely beaten in the parking lot of Montreal's famed Orange Julep restaurant last month has died of his injuries, police said Friday. The victim died of his injuries in hospital on Thursday following the May 31 altercation. The Montreal police service's major crime unit is now investigating the man's death as the city's 10th homicide of the year.
Ottawa
-
Trans-friendly counter-protesters stand up to activist outside Ottawa schools
Hundreds of counter-protesters gathered near two schools in Ottawa's west end on Friday to take a stand against a B.C. man who is protesting what he calls "gender ideology."
-
This is the proposed new name for Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway
The Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway in Ottawa's west end will be renamed Kichi Zībī Mīkan, if approved by the National Capital Commission's board of directors.
-
Business leaders call on governments to make downtown Ottawa a 'top priority'
The Ottawa Board of Trade has unveiled a "roadmap to transformation' for downtown Ottawa, and is calling on all three levels of government to declare the core "their top priority."
Kitchener
-
Fifth suspicious fire under investigation in Mount Forest
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating another suspicious fire in Mount Forest, bringing the total to five fires in five days.
-
Six Nations' Brandon Montour flew home for son's birth between playoff games
Scoring the opening goal of game three of the Stanley Cup finals wasn’t the only celebration Florida Panthers defenceman Brandon Montour was a part of this week.
-
Crash closes Hwy. 401 westbound outside Cambridge, Ont.
Police have shut down a section of Highway 401 westbound between Woodstock and Cambridge after a crash involving a transport truck and an Ontario Ministry of Transportation vehicle.
Saskatoon
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Sask. RCMP cancel Amber Alert after missing kids located
Saskatchewan RCMP cancelled an Amber Alert after two missing children were located.
-
'Men like to strike women': Judge slams culture of domestic violence in Sask. during murder sentencing
A man who killed his ex-wife’s cousin will spend life in prison with no chance of parole for 15 years, a judge decided on Thursday at Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench.
-
Saskatoon Ex parade cancelled because of downtown construction
The Saskatoon Ex typically kicks off with a downtown parade, but this year, it’s not happening.
Northern Ontario
-
Woman warns Ontario drivers after getting caught up in licence plate cloning scam
An Ontario woman was surprised to find out her licence plate was duplicated by another driver after multiple Highway 407 bills landed in her mailbox.
-
3 kids from Muskoka area found after OPP issued public appeal
Provincial police with the Bracebridge detachment say a 15-year-old boy, 12-year-old girl, and seven-year-old girl who were reported missing have been found safe.
-
Forest fires mean no Canada Day fireworks in Timmins
Canada Day celebrations in Timmins will not include a fireworks display this year, the city announced Friday.
Winnipeg
-
Remains found in western Manitoba identified as woman missing since 2020
Mounties say remains found in western Manitoba have been identified as a woman who has been missing for three years.
-
NEW
NEW | Woman stabbed in 'completely random' attack at Olive Garden: Winnipeg Police
Winnipeg police say a woman is in hospital with severe injuries after she was allegedly stabbed by a man in what police describe as a completely random and unprovoked attack.
-
Gillingham lays out plan to help lower bike thefts in Winnipeg
To combat theft, Mayor Scott Gillingham wants to make the city’s bike registry free and make use of technology.
Regina
-
BREAKING
BREAKING | Sask. RCMP cancel Amber Alert after missing kids located
Saskatchewan RCMP cancelled an Amber Alert after two missing children were located.
-
Bear spray incident shuts down new Wascana Pool on opening day
Following a reported bear spray incident, Regina’s Wascana Pool was shut down on the day of its much-anticipated reopening.
-
Job market shows sign of softening, but economists say more needed to stop rate hikes
Canada's unemployment rate ticked up in May for the first time in nine months, but forecasters say the Bank of Canada will have to see more softening in the economy before it takes it takes a step back from raising interest rates.