Action News — Trusted Local Journalism Since 2007
Delivering original, independent news coverage to Calgary, Alberta, and Western Canada
WestNet-HD, A Division of WN Continental Broadcasting
A Professional Broadcasting Operation Built for News
WN Continental Broadcasting established the WestNet-HD division to deliver high-definition news broadcasting to Western Canada. Action News is the flagship news program of WestNet-HD, and WestNet News is our digital news publication — together forming one of Alberta's most dedicated independent news operations.
We began covering Calgary news digitally in 2007, and have grown to become a recognized voice in Alberta journalism. Our coverage spans municipal affairs, provincial politics, federal Parliament, courts, health, sports, Indigenous affairs, business, and community development.
This is not a blog, a content farm, or an aggregation site. WestNet News is a professional news operation backed by broadcast infrastructure, Electronic News Gathering (ENG) equipment, a registered trademark, and a team of working journalists. Every story we publish is original journalism produced in the public interest.
Like many of Canada's most recognized news outlets — CTV News (Bell Media), Global News (Corus Entertainment), and the Toronto Star (NordStar Capital) — our newsroom operates as a dedicated news division within a larger media company. The critical distinction: WestNet News exists exclusively to produce journalism. Our entire staff, budget, and operational mandate are dedicated to newsgathering, reporting, and publishing original news content.
WestNet-HD Action News — Professional news broadcasting serving Western Canada
Action News™ — A Recognized News Brand
Action News is a registered trademark across North America, with trademark protection in both the United States and Canada. This legal recognition affirms Action News as a legitimate, established news brand — not a hobby project or amateur outlet.
Our brand reach extends across digital, broadcast, and social platforms. The Action News Facebook page (Facebook.com/ActionNews) has cultivated a community of over 13,000 engaged followers who rely on Action News as a trusted source for local news and information.
This trademark protects our identity as a recognized news source and represents nearly two decades of continuous operation in the Canadian and North American news marketplace. The Action News brand is the editorial identity under which WestNet-HD delivers its journalism to the public.
Official trademark registration documentation — Action News is a protected brand in the United States and Canada
Broadcasting & Field Operations
WestNet-HD is not just a digital publisher — we operate professional broadcast infrastructure that enables us to cover breaking news in the field with the same capabilities as major market television stations.
WestNet-HD Electronic News Gathering (ENG) vehicles — professional broadcast units deployed for field coverage
Electronic News Gathering (ENG) Vehicle
Our professional broadcast truck is equipped with the technology required for live field reporting and breaking news coverage:
- HD broadcast cameras for professional-grade video capture
- Microwave uplink system for live signal transmission
- 50-foot telescoping mast for elevated signal relay and camera positioning
- On-board generators for independent power in field conditions
- Mobile editing suite for on-location production
- Wireless connectivity equipment for real-time digital publishing
Network Infrastructure
WestNet-HD operates broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure that supports our journalism operations, including:
- Cell tower installations for wireless coverage
- Fiber optic network connections for high-bandwidth content delivery
- Dedicated VPN infrastructure for secure editorial communications
- Wireless internet services through WestNet Wireless
Our field teams deploy to breaking news events using professional broadcast equipment, ensuring WestNet News can provide timely, on-the-ground coverage that meets broadcast journalism standards.
Documenting the Stories That Matter
From natural disasters to civic celebrations, WestNet News has been on the ground covering the stories that define our communities. Here are some of the defining moments in our coverage history.
Digital News Launch
WN Continental Broadcasting begins digital news operations in Calgary, establishing the foundation for what would become WestNet News and the Action News brand. Early coverage focuses on Calgary municipal affairs, Alberta politics, and community news.
Emergency Coverage & Humanitarian Response
When catastrophic flooding struck Calgary and southern Alberta, WestNet-HD deployed its ENG vehicle to provide on-the-ground coverage of the disaster. Beyond journalism, our team provided free Wi-Fi connectivity to displaced residents who had lost communication access, and our staff volunteered in flood cleanup and recovery efforts. This moment exemplified our dual commitment to journalism and community service.
Live Event Coverage
Comprehensive coverage of the Calgary Stampede, including live reporting from Stampede Park, event coverage, and community stories from the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth — a significant milestone as the Stampede returned strong following the devastating floods just weeks earlier.
Ongoing Beat Coverage
Continuous daily news coverage across our core reporting beats:
- Calgary City Council — municipal governance, council votes, city policy, urban development
- Alberta Legislature — provincial politics, legislation, government accountability
- Federal Parliament — national policy, federal-provincial relations, democratic institutions
- Courts & Justice — legal proceedings, justice system, public safety
- Health — Alberta Health Services, public health policy, healthcare access
- Business & Economy — energy sector, real estate, labour, economic development
- Sports — local and regional sports, Flames, Stampeders, community athletics
- Indigenous Affairs — First Nations, Métis, Treaty rights, reconciliation
- Community — neighbourhood news, human-interest, arts, culture, development
Company Organization
WestNet News operates within a structured corporate organization that provides the resources, infrastructure, and institutional support necessary for sustainable, independent journalism.
- Action News — Flagship news program (TM)
- WestNet News — Digital news publication
- Broadcasting Infrastructure — Cell towers, fiber, wireless
- Internet services
- Network infrastructure
- Calgary operations
- Minnesota operations
- Disaster response
- Calgary business listings
- Community resources
- Vehicle information
- VIN lookup services
Our Commitment to Journalism
WestNet News operates in full alignment with the standards and requirements of Canada's Online News Act, producing original journalism that serves the Canadian public interest.
Exclusively a News Operation
WestNet News is operated exclusively for the purpose of producing original news content. Our entire editorial staff, operational budget, and organizational mandate are dedicated to newsgathering, reporting, and publishing journalism in the public interest. We are not a content marketing operation, a corporate blog, or a promotional vehicle — we are a newsroom.
CAJ Ethics Guidelines
We adhere to the professional standards set out by the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) Ethics Guidelines, including fairness, accuracy, independence, and rigour in reporting news and handling sources. These recognized professional standards govern every aspect of our editorial process.
National NewsMedia Council
WestNet News participates in the National NewsMedia Council (NNC) complaints process, providing our readers and the public with an independent avenue for concerns about fairness and accuracy in our reporting. This voluntary participation demonstrates our commitment to accountability.
General Interest News Content
Our news content is primarily focused on matters of general interest, including the democratic institutions and processes of all orders of government in Canada, as contemplated under Section 27(1)(b) of the Online News Act. Our coverage directly informs citizens about the governance decisions that affect their lives.
Editorial Independence
Our editorial operations are fully independent from parent company activities, advertisers, and outside interests. Our reporters and editors make all editorial decisions — including story selection, coverage priorities, and publication timing — free from commercial or political influence. Journalism integrity is non-negotiable.
Professional Newsroom Staffing
WestNet News employs at least two full-time equivalent journalists dedicated to producing original news content. Our newsroom staff includes reporters covering municipal affairs, provincial politics, federal affairs, business, health, sports, Indigenous affairs, and community news across multiple beats.
Canadian Marketplace Focus
Our news content is produced in Canada, about Canada, and for Canadian audiences. WestNet News makes its content available in the Canadian digital news marketplace, serving readers across Calgary, Alberta, Western Canada, and nationally through our website, social media platforms, RSS syndication, and Google News indexing.
Transparency & Accountability
We maintain published editorial policies covering ethics, corrections, conflicts of interest, source protection, and ownership transparency. When we cover topics related to our parent company or its subsidiaries, we fully disclose the relationship to our readers.
The WestNet News Newsroom
Our journalists bring experience across beats including municipal government, provincial politics, courts, health, business, sports, Indigenous affairs, and community development.
Sarah Mitchell
Digital Presence
Our Reach & Distribution
WestNet News delivers journalism across multiple platforms, ensuring our original news content reaches Canadian audiences wherever they are.
Facebook.com/ActionNews
13,000+ engaged followers on our flagship social platform. Our Action News Facebook page is one of the most established independent news pages in Western Canada, driving significant traffic and community engagement.
Google News Indexed
WestNet News is indexed by Google News, making our original journalism discoverable to millions of news readers across Canada and internationally through Google's news aggregation platform.
RSS Syndication
Full RSS feed syndication allows readers, aggregators, and partner platforms to subscribe to our content. Our RSS feed delivers every published article in real-time.
Coverage Areas
Primary: Calgary and surrounding communities
Provincial: Alberta-wide political and policy coverage
National: Federal Parliament, national affairs, coast-to-coast stories
Contact the Newsroom
We welcome news tips, story ideas, corrections, and feedback from our readers and the public.
General Inquiries
Editorial questions, partnership inquiries, and general correspondence
News Tips
Confidential tip line available. Source protection is guaranteed per our editorial policies.
WestNet-HD, A Division of WN Continental Broadcasting · Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Adheres to CAJ Ethics Guidelines · National NewsMedia Council participant · Qualified Canadian Journalism Organization