Today in High Prairie! See what’s happening today in town, celebrity birthdays, local history, world history and your daily horoscope. Please send your birthdays and community events to southpeacenews@hotmail.com and/or spneditor@outlook.com.

What’s Happening Today – August 26, 2026

National Dog Day!

10 – 11 a.m. – Storytime at HP Municipal Library. (Ages 2-5 Years with Parent)

10 a.m. – Noon – HP CRC Baby & Me program for children 0-12 months.

1 p.m. – Big Lakes County meets in High Prairie in council chambers.

5:30 p.m. – Play bingo at Kinuso Ag Hall. Pre-call 6:30 p.m., regular games at 6:45 p.m.

7 p.m. – Drop-In Beanbag/Cornhole at Joussard Community Association Hall. $2 fee.

7 p.m. – AA meetings at Grouard in Brown Building behind Kapawe’no Hall #55.

7 p.m. – Faust Silver & Gold meeting. Potluck Supper Night at Faust Hall.

7 p.m. – Work bee at Pioneer Threshermans Association grounds at Triangle.

7:30 p.m. – Play cribbage at Joussard Homesteaders Hall.

Today’s Celebrity Birthdays – August 26, 2026

1676 – Robert Walpole, First British Prime Minister

1743 – Antoine Lavoisier, “Father of Modern Chemistry”

1845 – Mary Ann Nichols, Victim of Jack the Ripper

1873 – Lee De Forest, Radio Vacuum Tubes Inventor

1884 – Earl Biggers, Charlie Chan Detective Author

1910 – Mother Teresa, Indian Nun, Nobel Peace Prize

1917 – Jan Clayton, Lassie TV Series Actress

1919 – Brandt Parker, Wizard of Id Cartoonist

1941 – Chris Curtis, Deep Purple Drummer

1946 – Chantal Renaud, Quebec Singer/Actress

1957 – Rick Hansen, Canadian Paraplegic Athlete

1959 – Jim Rutledge, Canadian Pro Golfer

1970 – Melissa McCarthy, Mike and Molly Actress

1980 – Macaulay Culkin, Home Alone Actor

1980 – Chris Pine, Star Trek Actor

1985 – Brian Kelley, American Country Musician

This Day in Local History – August 26, 2026

Aug. 26, 1970: South Peace News reports that construction on the McLennan H.W. Fish Arena nears completion. The previous arena was destroyed by fire in 1969.

Aug. 26, 1973: The Enilda Combines win a men’s fastball tournament in Joussard after defeating the Kinuso Royals 6-0 in the final. Strong Creek defeats High Prairie 9-6 to win the women’s title.

Aug. 26, 1976: MLA Larry Shaben and Dave Russell, Minister of the Environment, discuss problems of the water supply and flooding in the Lesser Slave Lake district.

Aug. 26, 1979: The Peavine Rangers win the Canadian Men’s Fastball Championships in Saskatoon. During the course of the tournament the Rangers outscore their opposition 50-6.

Aug. 26, 1981: South Peace News reports a severance package is reached with former HPSD Supt. Rene Anctil but no details are made public.

Aug. 26, 1983: Bowling comes to Enilda as the maple and Georgia pine alleys open just in time for fall leagues to begin. The six-lane five-pin alley is built by the Enilda Sports and Recreation Association.

Aug. 26, 1984: Andrew Howard wins a gold medal at the Alberta Swim Championships in the 100-metre breaststroke. Ian Griffiths sets a provincial record but at the wrong time. Instead of recording the time in an individual 25-metre race, he sets it during the relay race; therefore, the record is not recognized. Griffiths did win a bronze medal in the 25-metre freestyle race.

Aug. 26, 1984: The Driftpile Swingers win the Faust Cruisers Mixed Slo-Pitch Tournament after defeating the host team in back-to-back games 4-0 and 12-7.

Aug. 26, 1986: Game seven of the High Prairie and District Men’s Fastball League final is suspended after nine innings because of darkness. The game between the Peavine Rangers and High Prairie Playboys ends 4-4.

Aug. 26, 1987: South Peace News reports local singer Rick Perry’s latest song “It’s Over in my Mind” will be released across Canada.

Aug. 26, 1989: Bill Coates and Frank Izsak win the first Golden Walleye Classic. A High Prairie team comprised of Darryl Boisson and Robert Olansky take second.

Aug. 26, 1989: Three High Prairie Dolphins swimmers win two medals each at the Alberta Swim Meet in Edmonton. Ryan MacDonald swims a provincial record in the boy’s 17 and over 100-metre breaststroke in 1:12.02 seconds. He also wins silver in the 200-metre medley. Robin McCallum wins a gold in the girl’s 11-12 50-metre freestyle and a bronze in the 100-metre freestyle. Byron McDonald wins a bronze in both the boy’s 17 and over 100-metre breaststroke and 200-metre medley.

Aug. 26, 1992: South Peace News reports Bissell Brothers Lumber of Enilda sells to Zeidler Forest Industries for an undisclosed sum. Fifty people are put out of work when the mill closes in December.

Aug. 26, 1998: South Peace News reports at least 50,000 waterfowl die during an avian botulism outbreak at Utikuma Lake.

Aug. 26, 1998: A town landmark disappears as the Park Theatre is torn down.

Aug. 26, 1990: Penny Bellerose places first in cow riding at the Timberland Rodeo Association finals in Fort Nelson, B.C.

This Day in World History – August 26, 2026

1346 – Battle of Crécy: cannons used for first time in battle.

1498 – Michelangelo is commissioned to carve the Pieta.

1778 – First recorded ascent of Triglav; highest mountain in Slovenia.

1791 – John Fitch granted US patent for his working steamboat.

1843 – Charles Thurber patents a typewriter.

1858 – First news dispatch by telegraph.

1895 – Electric generator at Niagara Falls produces first power.

1907 – Harry Houdini escapes from chains underwater in 57 seconds.

1937 – Pumping to build Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay is finished.

1939 – First Major League Baseball telecast.

1945 – Japanese diplomats board USS Missouri get instructions to surrender.

1951 – Jongbloed in Paris demonstrates artificial heart.

1951 – “An American in Paris” starring Gene Kelly premieres.

1967 – Dutch 2nd Chamber demands US stop bombing North Vietnam.

1968 – “Hey Jude” single released by the Beatles.

1971 – Bobby Orr signs first million dollar contract in NHL history.

1973 – U of Texas [Arlington] is first accredited school to offer belly dancing.

1981 – Voyager 2 takes photos of Saturn’s moon Titan.

1985 – French government denies knowledge of attack on Rainbow Warrior.

1990 – Bo Jackson hits fourth of 4 consecutive HRs.

2012 – 17 villagers in Afghanistan beheaded by an unknown organization.

2012 – A Legionella outbreak in Quebec City kills 8, infects 104.

2013 – All 25,000 applicants to the University of Liberia fail exams.

2014 – Burger King agrees to buy Tim Hortons for $11.4 billion.

2017 – 500,000 take part in a peace march in Barcelona.

Today’s Horoscopes – August 26, 2026

Aries [March 21 – April 20] – You are likely aware of your writing abilities, but you may not realize the extent of your talent! It would be worthwhile to devote more time to your craft! You can not improve much if writing time is interrupted by other obligations! Take some time to produce something of value! Why not give it a try, even if just for a week or so, to see what you can do?

Taurus [April 21 – May 21] – Tact is not necessarily your strong suit! No one would accuse you of being overly sensitive to other people’s emotions, but today you turn over a new leaf! This “new and improved” you tunes in to the thoughts and feelings of others and responds in thoughtful, caring ways! You may be surprised at how effective this gentler touch can be!

Gemini [May 22 – June 21] – Even though you probably are not getting on a plane today, you would love to at some point in the future! Your wanderlust is back and you are bound for the wild blue yonder yet again, most likely to someplace exotic! Enjoy the time away, but do come back! It seems that sometimes your spirit of adventure dampens your enjoyment of the more mundane but more real daily life!

Cancer [June 22 – July 22] – Positive change rarely happens without effort! Keep this in mind as transformation occurs quickly! You may feel as though you are in the middle of a whirlpool and getting sucked deeper and deeper, unsure of where you will ultimately end up! This is merely the “nose to the grindstone” phase! Trust your efforts will ultimately be rewarded!

Leo [July 23 – Aug. 23] – You have natural leadership abilities, and today would be an ideal day to make use of this talent! In the past you may have hesitated to step forward and implement your ideas! But recent successes have given you the necessary confidence to pursue your objectives! You will likely find the higher-ups support your efforts! Make the most of today’s auspicious circumstances!

Virgo [Aug. 24 – Sept. 22] – Today you feel in control and on top of the world! You can do anything! This would be an auspicious time to begin a new project or creative endeavour! You can not help but succeed but take care not to get in your own way! Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy! Believe in yourself and move confidently in the direction of your dreams in order to make them come true!

Libra [Sept. 23 – Oct. 23] – Friendship could turn into romance if you are not careful! A platonic relationship could turn passionate, and no one would be more surprised than you! Think carefully about where you would like this to go! While it can not go back to the way it was, you can stop it from progressing further if you are uncomfortable with the new dynamic! You can only make this decision once!

Scorpio [Oct. 24 – Nov. 22] – Today you wake up feeling reinvigorated and renewed! You feel as though you can accomplish anything! And very likely, today you can! Anything you set your mind and attention to works out beautifully! Take care you do not gloat too much! Just because you feel invincible does not necessarily mean you are!

Sagittarius [Nov. 23 – Dec. 21] – People often see you as shy and reserved, but of course you know you are really very friendly once you relax! Today you find it unusually easy to interact with others! In fact, you feel downright gregarious as you chat and joke along with the best of them! This new, sociable you does wonders for your image! You have needed to loosen up for some time!

Capricorn [Dec. 22 – Jan. 20] – All things domestic are highlighted! It could be you have finally called the plumber or set out to do those household repairs yourself! New people are likely to come into your life! In fact, they may try to finagle an invitation for dinner, if possible! All you can expect today is the unexpected! Have some extra food on hand and see what happens!

Aquarius [Jan. 21 – Feb. 18] – Keep your mind open to any and all possibilities today! It is likely you will encounter someone who imparts valuable information! You may not realize right away just how important this information is, but it could have a dramatic impact on your life! Be prepared for anything! This is likely to be a most interesting day!

Pisces [Feb. 19 – March 20] – Your ship could come in today! It will happen unexpectedly, and it may take you some time to adjust to this sudden financial windfall! This is a day of big changes, because you may also decide to use this money to completely alter your way of life! It could be you make a move to another part of the country or decide to change professions! Trust your instincts!