Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
@vmccracken.bsky.social
Enthusiastically engaged in cultivating community, sustainability, local food, and wherever my curiosity takes me | Big Hill country - Treaty 7
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Around 150,187 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered for free so far this year. The vaccine is free to people with certain conditions and experts are urging Albertans to double-check if they qualify.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Think you’re not eligible for a free COVID shot in Alberta? Double check, experts urge | CBC News
Health experts are urging Albertans to double check if they qualify for a free COVID-19 shot, warning the province’s controversial fall immunization campaign is sparking ongoing confusion.
www.cbc.ca
November 25, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Around 150,187 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered for free so far this year. The vaccine is free to people with certain conditions and experts are urging Albertans to double-check if they qualify.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Here I am at the iPolitics awards with my Alberta Senate colleague Patti LaBoucane-Benson. I won for best Senate speaker - but Patti won for Senator of the Year! Alberta girls getting things done! #SenateofCanada #Alberta #cdnpoli #abpoli @senindepend.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Here I am at the iPolitics awards with my Alberta Senate colleague Patti LaBoucane-Benson. I won for best Senate speaker - but Patti won for Senator of the Year! Alberta girls getting things done! #SenateofCanada #Alberta #cdnpoli #abpoli @senindepend.bsky.social
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
“Cheers & applause erupted from the audience in the Rocky View County council chamber on Tuesday after councillors voted 6-1 to reject a plan for an AI data centre complex, citing concerns about its proposed location & potential impacts”
#abpoli #ableg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
#abpoli #ableg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Alberta wants to become an AI data centre hub, but this rural county just rejected a big proposal | CBC News
A proposed data centre complex just northeast of Calgary in Rocky View County was rejected by council 6-1 after residents voiced concerns about its location on farmland and uncertainty around its futu...
www.cbc.ca
September 13, 2025 at 5:37 PM
“Cheers & applause erupted from the audience in the Rocky View County council chamber on Tuesday after councillors voted 6-1 to reject a plan for an AI data centre complex, citing concerns about its proposed location & potential impacts”
#abpoli #ableg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
#abpoli #ableg
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Your wellness routine should include taking precautions to avoid multiple covid infections that damage your immune system, hope that helps. 🌟💕
November 20, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Your wellness routine should include taking precautions to avoid multiple covid infections that damage your immune system, hope that helps. 🌟💕
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
November 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance, I hope Albertans will remember that trans kids and teens are living breathing humans who just want to be themselves, without fear of hate and discrimination. Demonizing kids merely to score political points in some weird culture war is craven and cruel.
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Here are my top 10 Labrador Retrievers of all time!
November 19, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Here are my top 10 Labrador Retrievers of all time!
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Autocorrect has become our worst enema.
November 19, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Autocorrect has become our worst enema.
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Tomorrow, the Auditor General will release his report into the UCP's Dynalife fiasco.
They're hoping to flood the zone this week with citizenship markers and anti-trans legislation.
Keep your focus on the targets.
And the broader pattern.
The UCP is shifting Alberta away from liberal democracy.
They're hoping to flood the zone this week with citizenship markers and anti-trans legislation.
Keep your focus on the targets.
And the broader pattern.
The UCP is shifting Alberta away from liberal democracy.
Keeping up with the UCP government's democratic transgressions can be difficult.
But not impossible.
Here’s a running list since Danielle Smith became premier. 🧵👇
But not impossible.
Here’s a running list since Danielle Smith became premier. 🧵👇
November 19, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Tomorrow, the Auditor General will release his report into the UCP's Dynalife fiasco.
They're hoping to flood the zone this week with citizenship markers and anti-trans legislation.
Keep your focus on the targets.
And the broader pattern.
The UCP is shifting Alberta away from liberal democracy.
They're hoping to flood the zone this week with citizenship markers and anti-trans legislation.
Keep your focus on the targets.
And the broader pattern.
The UCP is shifting Alberta away from liberal democracy.
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Take a read of this excellent investigative journalism 👇
People are dying in our hosps w life threatening conditions, while the hosp ORs sit empty, and yet govt forces more low risk surgeries in private facilities.
People are dying in our hosps w life threatening conditions, while the hosp ORs sit empty, and yet govt forces more low risk surgeries in private facilities.
My latest investigation for @thetyee.ca details what the UCP government doesn't want the public to know about their private surgery push.
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta's For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta's For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...
Insiders Detail Ways Alberta’s For-Profit Surgery Push Is Failing | The Tyee
The shift strong-arms doctors but hasn’t saved money or shortened waits for critical operations, sources say. A Tyee investigation.
thetyee.ca
November 17, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Take a read of this excellent investigative journalism 👇
People are dying in our hosps w life threatening conditions, while the hosp ORs sit empty, and yet govt forces more low risk surgeries in private facilities.
People are dying in our hosps w life threatening conditions, while the hosp ORs sit empty, and yet govt forces more low risk surgeries in private facilities.
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
GREEN MAGIC IN WINNIPEG
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have won their 5th Grey Cup in franchise history.
I’m so thrilled for my home province. It’s more than a football game in Saskatchewan. And we’ll be celebrating this one for a long time.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have won their 5th Grey Cup in franchise history.
I’m so thrilled for my home province. It’s more than a football game in Saskatchewan. And we’ll be celebrating this one for a long time.
November 17, 2025 at 3:09 AM
GREEN MAGIC IN WINNIPEG
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have won their 5th Grey Cup in franchise history.
I’m so thrilled for my home province. It’s more than a football game in Saskatchewan. And we’ll be celebrating this one for a long time.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have won their 5th Grey Cup in franchise history.
I’m so thrilled for my home province. It’s more than a football game in Saskatchewan. And we’ll be celebrating this one for a long time.
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Plains Bison are long gone from most of the 🇨🇦 grasslands - but their past-presence remains. Glacial erratic scratching rocks and grown-over wallows of sign of their past supremacy. #mammals
November 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Plains Bison are long gone from most of the 🇨🇦 grasslands - but their past-presence remains. Glacial erratic scratching rocks and grown-over wallows of sign of their past supremacy. #mammals
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
andrews blackberries, painted by mary daisy arnold, 1913
November 15, 2025 at 2:18 AM
andrews blackberries, painted by mary daisy arnold, 1913
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Nice write up of our paper here, thanks! 🧫🦠
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
How Gut Microbes Transmit Behavior Across Generations - Daily Neuron
A new study reveals how gut microbes transmit behavior, showing microbes alone can pass traits like activity levels between generations.
dailyneuron.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Nice write up of our paper here, thanks! 🧫🦠
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
dailyneuron.com/how-gut-micr...
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
The best part of doing the Autumn Lights Festival Art Market last weekend was the kids' reactions to my UV macro floral photos.
Shout out to the little boy who asked, "Are these all different diseases?" I will always enjoy that.
#flower #photography #macro
Shout out to the little boy who asked, "Are these all different diseases?" I will always enjoy that.
#flower #photography #macro
October 23, 2025 at 5:21 PM
The best part of doing the Autumn Lights Festival Art Market last weekend was the kids' reactions to my UV macro floral photos.
Shout out to the little boy who asked, "Are these all different diseases?" I will always enjoy that.
#flower #photography #macro
Shout out to the little boy who asked, "Are these all different diseases?" I will always enjoy that.
#flower #photography #macro
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
I really need to get to bed, but I just poked my head out the back door again. This is the view from my deck. All of this is looking south. When the geomagnetic storms are like this, the oval overshoots me and stretches into the US, which is why so many are seeing it tonight. #aurora
November 12, 2025 at 5:16 AM
I really need to get to bed, but I just poked my head out the back door again. This is the view from my deck. All of this is looking south. When the geomagnetic storms are like this, the oval overshoots me and stretches into the US, which is why so many are seeing it tonight. #aurora
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
The Canadian Poppy Blanket.
This was initiated by Winnipegger Sheilah Lee Restall.
It’s over 60 feet in length and has more than 8,000 handmade poppies and 2,000 ribbons.
It’s on display at the Manitoba Legislative Building.
Lest We Forget.
#winnipeg #lestweforget #remembranceday
This was initiated by Winnipegger Sheilah Lee Restall.
It’s over 60 feet in length and has more than 8,000 handmade poppies and 2,000 ribbons.
It’s on display at the Manitoba Legislative Building.
Lest We Forget.
#winnipeg #lestweforget #remembranceday
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The Canadian Poppy Blanket.
This was initiated by Winnipegger Sheilah Lee Restall.
It’s over 60 feet in length and has more than 8,000 handmade poppies and 2,000 ribbons.
It’s on display at the Manitoba Legislative Building.
Lest We Forget.
#winnipeg #lestweforget #remembranceday
This was initiated by Winnipegger Sheilah Lee Restall.
It’s over 60 feet in length and has more than 8,000 handmade poppies and 2,000 ribbons.
It’s on display at the Manitoba Legislative Building.
Lest We Forget.
#winnipeg #lestweforget #remembranceday
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Many city halls are deep in budget-time. Some are pushing austerity ideologies, and are ignoring the difference between costs and cost-savers/value creators. Citizens, PAY ATTENTION, and never forget that the TRUTH about a city’s REAL aspirations isn’t found in its visions. It’s found in its budget.
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Many city halls are deep in budget-time. Some are pushing austerity ideologies, and are ignoring the difference between costs and cost-savers/value creators. Citizens, PAY ATTENTION, and never forget that the TRUTH about a city’s REAL aspirations isn’t found in its visions. It’s found in its budget.
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
RURAL ED CLOSURES - REAL AB Case #4
A male in his 20s with severe asthma, very short of breath and having trouble breathing.
Presents in distress to his local ED - but it is closed, and he didn't know.
He calls 911 for help, and there are no ambulances available to respond...
1/5
A male in his 20s with severe asthma, very short of breath and having trouble breathing.
Presents in distress to his local ED - but it is closed, and he didn't know.
He calls 911 for help, and there are no ambulances available to respond...
1/5
November 8, 2025 at 6:28 PM
RURAL ED CLOSURES - REAL AB Case #4
A male in his 20s with severe asthma, very short of breath and having trouble breathing.
Presents in distress to his local ED - but it is closed, and he didn't know.
He calls 911 for help, and there are no ambulances available to respond...
1/5
A male in his 20s with severe asthma, very short of breath and having trouble breathing.
Presents in distress to his local ED - but it is closed, and he didn't know.
He calls 911 for help, and there are no ambulances available to respond...
1/5
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
November 7, 2025 at 6:35 AM
1. This is a thread on freedom, and how easy it is to lose.
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Over the past 2,000 years in Europe, there have been few periods and places of freedom. For much of the time we lived under highly oppressive tyrannies of various kinds, whether small or grand, local or imperial, secular or religious.🧵
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Friendship and pride grow through #ForeverCanadian movement.
From downtown Cochrane to Springbank and beyond, canvassers came together to share a meal, trade stories and celebrate a campaign that turned strangers into friends.
Amazing movement!
#ableg
cochranenow.com/articles/fri...
From downtown Cochrane to Springbank and beyond, canvassers came together to share a meal, trade stories and celebrate a campaign that turned strangers into friends.
Amazing movement!
#ableg
cochranenow.com/articles/fri...
Friendship and pride grow through Forever Canadian petition drive
From downtown Cochrane to Springbank and beyond, 34 local canvassers spent months listening, sharing and collecting signatures—finding in the process that Canadian pride runs deep. Many of those local...
cochranenow.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Friendship and pride grow through #ForeverCanadian movement.
From downtown Cochrane to Springbank and beyond, canvassers came together to share a meal, trade stories and celebrate a campaign that turned strangers into friends.
Amazing movement!
#ableg
cochranenow.com/articles/fri...
From downtown Cochrane to Springbank and beyond, canvassers came together to share a meal, trade stories and celebrate a campaign that turned strangers into friends.
Amazing movement!
#ableg
cochranenow.com/articles/fri...
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Thursday, 4:01pm
"Still there."
"Yep."
"Looks blue."
"It certainly does."
"Wet too."
"Totally."
"See you next week?"
“Count on it."
"Still there."
"Yep."
"Looks blue."
"It certainly does."
"Wet too."
"Totally."
"See you next week?"
“Count on it."
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Thursday, 4:01pm
"Still there."
"Yep."
"Looks blue."
"It certainly does."
"Wet too."
"Totally."
"See you next week?"
“Count on it."
"Still there."
"Yep."
"Looks blue."
"It certainly does."
"Wet too."
"Totally."
"See you next week?"
“Count on it."
Reposted by Valerie McCracken 🇨🇦
Little orbs of dew on tiny tufts of moss growing on a stone retaining wall for #WaterWednesday #Dewdrops #Moss #ISeeMoss #Macro #Nature #Photography #PNW #GoOutside #Breathe #Notice #YouMatter
November 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Little orbs of dew on tiny tufts of moss growing on a stone retaining wall for #WaterWednesday #Dewdrops #Moss #ISeeMoss #Macro #Nature #Photography #PNW #GoOutside #Breathe #Notice #YouMatter