Weekly update: Keyano bets big on esports, Trans Mountain is almost finished

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Good morning, Fort McMurray!

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• Keyano Huskies Basketball: The Keyano Huskies have a matchup on the basketball court against the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 for everyone 18 to 65, and includes admission for both games. Free entry for anyone under 18 or over 65.
• Fort McMurray Oil Barons: Upcoming home games at Centerfire Place: Drumheller Dragons on Jan. 26 and 27, Bonnyville Pontiacs on Jan. 30 and Feb. 27, Spruce Grove Saints on Feb. 9 and 10, Whitecourt Wolverines on Feb. 23 and 24. All games start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets and schedule.
• Fe Art Exhibition: Fe Art Gallery is exhibiting a tapestry of contemporary Indigenous African Art at the Grand Ballroom of Shell Place. Jan. 27 and 28. Tickets are free.
• Ad Astra: To the Stars by Jon Tupper: A photography exhibit of the cosmos from award-winning photographer Jon Tupper, the first of four artists having their photography showcased at the airport in 2024. This free event is on Feb. 1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the airport’s observation area on the third floor. More information.
• Roller derby try-it night: Anyone 7+ is invited to try roller derby with the Fort McMurray Roller Derby League. No experience needed. Feb. 1 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at MacDonald Island Park. Instructions on what to bring and what to expect.
• Multicultural EXPO: The Multicultural Association of Wood Buffalo’s annual Multicultural EXPO is Feb. 3 at MacDonald Island Park. Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo has many different cultures, languages and faiths. EXPO features some of their food, performances, history and arts. Information and opportunities to participate.
• DRIP feedback: The Downtown Revitalization Incentives Program is returning after bringing millions of dollars into Fort McMurray’s downtown. The RMWB wants to hear feedback until Feb. 5 from businesses, applicants and residents. More details in our story.
• Aaron Pritchett’s Liquored Up Tour w/ guests Cory Marks and Matt Lang: Feb. 7 at Earls. Doors open at 7 p.m., show is 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets.
• The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy: Feb. 16-17, 22-24 at Keyano Theatre. Tickets and schedule.
• WinterPLAY: Fort McMurray’s annual winter festival returns with classics like Shootout on the Snye hockey tournament, wagon rides, dog sledding and fireworks. This year introduces sled demonstrations from Feb. 23 to 24, human curling, foam ball sling shot, fat bike races and snow skate demonstrations. All events are free and from Feb. 23 to March 3 at Snye Point Park. The RMWB has information on events and volunteers, vendors and registration.
• Heart of Wood Buffalo Awards: The annual awards honour the achievements of leaders, philanthropists, volunteers and organizations in the community. Nominations are open until March 15 at 11:59 p.m. FuseSocial has information about the awards and categories.
• Wood Buffalo Regional Library hosts all-ages weekly events.
• MacDonald Island Park updates its website with upcoming events and programs.
• Wood Buffalo Volunteers has volunteer opportunities for different causes and non-profits across Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.
• Obituaries: Obituaries, memorial notices and sympathy announcements.

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Keyano cuts the ribbon on $900,000 esports arena

Keyano’s leadership is betting big on esports. It’s largest investment so far was unveiled Tuesday at a ribbon cutting ceremony for its $900,000 esports arena, the first of its kind in Alberta.

The esports arena has 26 computers and three console stations, each featuring a Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. There is enough room for the student athletes and the public during competitions. Student groups, corporations, community groups and the public can rent the space.

Keyano president and CEO Jay Notay knows people are skeptical. He also had his doubts, as did many members of Keyano’s leadership when the idea was proposed. But Keyano sees opportunity.

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Esports and video games are worth billions. Weekly tournaments in Alberta often bring more than 100 competitors and the Alberta Esports Association is promoting the province as an esports destination. Dozens of Canadian universities and colleges have teams.

“The complexity in this sector shows this is another industry that needs support,” said Notay. “If it helps youth stay in our region to live and work and learn here, Keyano’s done it’s job.”

Suncor makes changes to support for non-profits

Suncor Energy is cutting how much support the company gives non-profits and narrowing its focus on which groups get funding.

Suncor did not name the organizations it will no longer fund. Suncor spokesperson Leithan Slade said the changes impact only a few groups that were already told earlier this month.

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Funds that were already promised by Suncor will not be affected. Groups that will not receive future support will get an exit donation.

The company plans to support its charitable foundation with more than $20 million for 2024, matching commitments from recent years. The foundation gave nearly 100 non-profits and charities across Canada roughly $17.8 million in 2022.

The frugal approach comes after Suncor cut 1,500 positions last year, saving $450 million annually. Rich Kruger, who became CEO and president of the company last April, said Suncor will continue finding ways to trim, simplify or cut operations in the name of efficiency.

‘A long time coming’: Trans Mountain pipeline expansion aims to be finished in the coming weeks

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It’s gone through more peaks and valleys than the terrain it is traversing, but the Trans Mountain expansion project is now 98 per cent complete and targeting to begin operating in the coming weeks.

The 1,150-kilometre project will almost triple the existing capacity of the pipeline, with TMX moving 890,000 barrels per day to the Pacific coast for export.

Experts say the federally owned project will help reduce the discount on western Canadian oil, opening up new export markets for producers — potentially to customers in Asia — and allowing the sector to continue growing output.

The project has faced opposition from environmental critics and the B.C. government of former premier John Horgan.

Critics have assailed its rising costs for a taxpayer-owned entity. The price tag has jumped to $30.9 billion from $5.4 billion. In 2018, the federal government bought the pipeline from Kinder Morgan Canada for $4.4 billion.

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Council wants medical clinic timelines, deal done by end of March: The builders behind a planned medical clinic planned for downtown Fort McMurray will get more time to finalize the sale of the land and to complete a timeline for construction.

The construction company, Sultan Management Group (SMG) Builders, will work with the municipality on completing sale of the land by the end of March and on a reasonable timeline for construction of the facility.

Construction of a seven-storey clinic was to begin at the end of April 2024, but the project has doubled in size. Planning, design work and permitting for this larger building means SMG cannot start construction until June 2025.

A contract is still being negotiated between SMG and the RMWB, and no agreement has been signed. The RMWB still owns the land.

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Dissenting councillors were frustrated with delays. Some wondered if the project should be cancelled and the land return to the open market.

Council forgives tax debt on closed oilsands site: A tax debt of more than $4 million has been forgiven on an oilsands facility that stopped operations in 2015.

Greenfire Resources Operating Corp. said they wanted to buy the McKay facility that was owned by Southern Pacific and then Everest. Greenfire said they would not buy the site if they had to cover the outstanding bill.

Council approved the relief since letting the site. If no one bought the site, it would have gone to the Alberta government’s orphan well program.

ACFN chief consulting with Ottawa on First Nations Clean Water Act

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Water and last year’s tailings fluid leaks from Imperial Oil’s Kearl oilsands mine were top of mind when Indigenous leaders and technicians from around Alberta met with the federal minister of Indigenous services in Edmonton.

Chief Allan Adam of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (ACFN) attended the consultation, billed as “an act respecting water, source water, drinking water, wastewater and related infrastructure on First Nation lands.”

In the wake of seepage and spills in 2022 and 2023 at Imperial Oil’s Kearl Lake site, ACFN is growing concerned about inauspicious indicators in their drinking water. Water is not their only worry in times where mental health and addiction are concerns across the board in all parts of Canadian society.

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“We struggle like all other First Nations, with mental health issues, the opioid crisis,” he said. “We’re struggling like everyone else.”

Bus catches fire on ‘Bridge to Nowhere,’ north of Fort McMurray

No one was injured after a bus caught fire while travelling on the ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ south of Fort McKay on Wednesday.

Wood Buffalo RCMP received a call around 5:40 a.m. about a bus that had caught fire on the Peter Lougheed Bridge, otherwise known as the Bridge to Nowhere, on Highway 63 near Fort McKay, police said in a Wednesday news release.

Upon arrival, officers found the bus fully engulfed in flames. Police did not say how the bus caught fire but all passengers were able to escape the burning bus without any injuries.

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Court hears closing arguments at trial: Andrew Wall and Marlena Bennett are accused of sexually assaulting an infant, bestiality, and possessing and distributing child pornography.

The Crown and defence lawyers made their final remarks in a trial at the Court of King’s Bench in Fort McMurray. A judge will issue a verdict on Feb. 13.

This story mentions allegations of children and a dog being harmed. This story could disturb some readers.

Man faces 25 charges after ALERT seizes drugs, firearms and cash: A 38-year-old man is facing a total of 25 drugs and firearms offences after an ALERT investigation in Fort McMurray.

Police seized cocaine, illicit prescription pills, three firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. One handgun was reported stolen.

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• Edmonton shooting: Bezhani Sarvar, 28, made his first court appearance Thursday after he was accused of firing a rifle and lobbing firebombs into Edmonton city hall on Tuesday. No one was injured. He appears to be the man in a video posted before the attack and addresses a disjointed series of topics. They include everything from inflation, immigration, housing costs and corruption to “the wokeism disease” and “the genocide that’s going on in Gaza and throughout the world.”
• Game of drones: Fifteen defence contractors will show off new drone and counter-drone technology this spring at CFB Suffield near Medicine Hat. Canadian, American, British, Australian and Israeli firms hope to win development agreements with the Canadian Armed Forces.
• Hockey fight: The B.C. Hockey League has found company in its discontent with Hockey Canada as the AJHL loses its teams in Brooks, Okotoks, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and Blackfalds. The BCHL is a 17-team league that cut ties with Hockey Canada in 2023 to run as an independent league.  The AJHL has revamped its schedule for the remaining season.
• Doctor feedback: The Alberta Medical Association says millions in promised funds to support rural and family practices and a new funding model are nowhere in sight. Many are considering leaving Alberta or retiring early. Most family doctors worry about the viability of their practices.
• Pharmacist expansion: Alberta’s government is celebrating a four-year $77-million investment by Shoppers Drug Mart to expand its pharmacy clinics across Alberta, saying it will ease pressure on a strained public health care system. The goal is to have 103 total pharmacy care clinics under the corporate banner across the province by the end of this year — an increase of 44 locations.
• Election fears: The Canadian Security Intelligence Service says Alberta’s resources, economy, and sizable ethnic communities make Alberta a “very attractive” target to foreign powers to exert their influence. The notes, acquired by the Edmonton Journal through freedom of information requests, warn foreign interference attempts are not limited to the federal level.
• Read up on the politics and culture of Alberta  with Postmedia’s subscriber-exclusive newsletter, What’s up with Alberta? Curated by the National Post’s Tyler Dawson every Tuesday and Thursday.

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