These are the news stories that dominated Edmontonians’ interest this week. Albertans vote to stay a part of Canada Albertans rejected separation by voting three to one to keep their province a part of Canada in Monday’s referendum. Voting began at 9 a.m. and the last poll didn’t close until 10:59 p.m., one of about 100 that faced delays. Some polling stations opened to queues. Some faced long lines, despite more than one million votes being cast via special ballot or during the advance voting period. Although Elections Alberta workers were still counting the unofficial results as of Friday morning, the agency expected voter turnout to far surpass anything it had seen before. As of Friday morning, the majority of Albertans had appeared to vote in support of Alberta making changes to immigration protocols, and against seeking constitutional change. 4 soldiers killed at CFB Wainwright A fire at CFB Wainwright in eastern Alberta on Saturday during training killed four soldiers and injured 39 others, prompting hospitals across the province to prepare for a mass casualty event. The four soldiers who were killed were from Edmonton, Prince Albert, Sask., Vancouver, and Langley, B.C. On Thursday, officials revealed the fire at the base originally began on an automatic grenade launcher range during routine exercises earlier in the day and was being monitored until heavy winds drove it toward the training soldiers. Three separate investigations into the incident are underway. Of the 27 soldiers who remain in hospital, 13 are still in critical condition. Ontario is sending 19 burn nurses and five operating room nurses to help Alberta hospitals caring for the injured. Smith promises no second separation referendum Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has promised to respect the results of the referendum separation question and not call a second referendum on the matter. Edmonton’s Rathole CTV News Edmonton spoke with a city heritage planner about the importance of remembering Edmonton’s former 109 Street Subway, commonly known as the Rathole. “The Rathole was a distinctive landmark in Edmonton, just something that people loved and sort of hated to love,” Erik Backstrom told CTV News Edmonton. Political referendum fallout Pundits are watching Smith’s next moves following the referendum. Some say she will have to deal with the separatists in her own party, while at least one says he still supports her for now. Smith is calling on the separatists in the United Conservative Party to respect the referendum results or join another party.
