Weekly update: Province halts school strike, building downtown flood mitigation resumes

Article content

Happy Friday, Fort McMurray!

Article content

• Hospital Bed Races: Teams of four people in costumes or corporate gear and one 150-pound sandbag will race each other in 50-metre sprints as they raise money for the Northern Lights Health Foundation. All teams are guaranteed two races with the fastest teams advancing. Prior to race day, teams must fundraise a minimum of $2,000. Sept. 21. Information.
• Fort McMurray Marathon: Watch for traffic disruptions during the morning of Sept. 22.
• Fall Trade Show: Hundreds of vendors gather at MacDonald Island Park from Sept. 27 to 29. This includes small and local businesses, artisans, breweries, distilleries, artists, clothing, food, furniture and more. Information.
• Ukrainian Culture Day: The Fort McMurray Ukrainian Cultural Society hosts an afternoon of Ukrainian food, dance, music and crafts. All are welcome to this free event. Noon to 4 p.m., with free beginner dance workshop at 1 p.m. and a performance from the Avrora Dancers at 3 p.m. Sept. 28 at St. Paul Catholic Church.
• Fort McMurray Aurora Handbell Ringers: Fort McMurray’s only handbell choir is recruiting adults. The choir meets once a week starting in October. Whether you are a beginner or have played before, there is a spot for everyone in a club promising a great atmosphere to meet people and work together to create beautiful music. Contact the music director at 780-715-8570 for more information.
• Oktoberfest: Celebrate with music, pretzels and beers at the Fort McMurray Heritage Society. Family-friendly event from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Adult event 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Oct. 5. Information.
• Royal Tusk live at Il.ove Tattoo Music Hall: 7 p.m. on Oct. 12. Tickets.
• Council’s Excellence Awards: Nominations for outstanding people, community champions, young achievers and real-life heroes are open until Oct. 14.
• Kenny vs. Spenny Live: In a rare instance of Fort McMurray importing a crude product, the “best friends” who became famous for torturing each other on national television bring their 20th anniversary tour to Fort McMurray. Oct. 19 at Quality Hotel Ballroom from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets.
• The Trews live at Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre: For anyone “tired of waiting,” The Trews return to Fort McMurray after concerns about lightning cancelled their outdoor show last year at Snye Point Park. Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. Tickets.
• Halloween Thriller: Fort McMurray’s biggest Halloween dance party returns to the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre on Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets.
• April Wine headlines Back to the 80s: April Wine featuring Queen tribute band Queen Flash and Guns & Roses tribute band Nightrain. Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. at Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre. Tickets.
• Brett Kissel live at Rivers Casino and Entertainment Centre: Alberta country music star Brett Kissel returns to Fort McMurray for two nights. Tickets go online at the casino on Monday at 10 a.m. Shows are Nov. 15 and 16
• 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 can be uploaded and read online.

Article content

Get the news and events of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo in your inbox every Friday morning by signing up for our newsletter.

Province delays strike as Fort McMurray school support staff vow fight

The Alberta government has forced educational assistants and support staff in Fort McMurray back to work on the eve of a strike planned for Tuesday morning.

The rest of Alberta’s labour movement says the move is a war against their rights to protest as thousands of public sector workers across the province undergo bargaining talks.

“We scared the government. That’s why they did this yesterday. If they can do it to us. It can do it to any other unions in the province,” said Danielle Danis, president of CUPE Local 2559, which represents staff in the Catholic system, at a Tuesday morning protest.

Article content

“All the members of our Locals are strapped to the nines because of overgrown class sizes and no funding.”

The strike would have impacted 1,065 educational assistants, librarians, administrative and maintenance staff, and custodians. The leaders of both CUPE locals say 98.6 per cent of 866 members that voted last week favoured striking.

The province has appointed two disputes inquiry boards in the hopes of making the CUPE locals and school divisions reach a settlement. Both parties now have at least 30 days to reach settlements. If a deal cannot be reached, workers can again declare a strike 72-hour notice.

“Alberta’s government is providing another mediator to the parties in these disputes so that there is a full opportunity for the parties to reach a negotiated settlement before a work disruption occurs,” said Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade Minister Matt Jones in a Tuesday morning statement.

Article content

Local 2559 members have not received a raise since 2015 and are paid less than their public system counterparts. Local 2545, which represents public system staff, say their last wage increase was a 1.25 per cent boost in 2020.

Both CUPE Locals say their members are exhausted from working in schools that are swelling with students and badly funded by the province. They argue wages have failed to match rising costs of food, utilities, fuel and other services in Fort McMurray.

Many members work two to three jobs, and others rely on services like the Wood Buffalo Food Bank, said Lynn Fleet, president of CUPE Local 2545.

Danis and Fleet say many members are paid hourly, but earn below minimum wage annually when days off for Christmas and spring break, teachers’ conventions and other breaks are subtracted.

Article content

Council approves flood mitigation plans for last section of downtown

Building a flood protection system along 2.5 kilometres of the Clearwater River will continue next year after concerns about crime and public safety halted construction in July.

At their Tuesday meeting, council unanimously approved building a network of berms and retaining walls between Clearwater Drive and the Clearwater River. This section is called Reach 6. The plan, which was pitched last July, will cost $55.8 million.

The original plan to raise Clearwater Drive cost $94 million. The RMWB has spent $119 million on flood mitigation, which will have a final cost of $270 million.

A problem with raising Clearwater Drive is Imperial Oil and Suncor own contaminated lots along that stretch of road.  Buying either lot puts the RMWB on the hook for environmental monitoring and cleanup.

Article content

Raising Clearwater Drive also means traffic could see into apartments, and people living nearby would endure more noise and light pollution.

Last July, council deferred choosing between the retaining wall and berm plan or raising Clearwater Drive after Councillors Ken Ball and Stu Wigle worried the wall and berm plan would create blindspots.

Wigle wanted input from Wood Buffalo RCMP. Ball argued his point about safety by holding a piece of paper in front of his hand and asked “how many fingers do I have up?”

After meeting with police during the summer, a report to council suggested building trails on the berm, removing the trail directly adjacent to the Clearwater River, and installing lights and cameras. Even with those measures, the report warned “crime opportunities will exist.”

Article content

The RMWB will work with the Fort McMurray Heritage Society to address impacts on the Heritage Shipyard. The shipyard will be moved to a location that has yet to be picked, but will remain along the river and be protected from flooding.

Smith favours incentives for oilsands commuters to settle in Fort McMurray

Premier Danielle Smith says there are “active discussions” on encouraging transient workers to live in communities like Fort McMurray instead of commuting from elsewhere.

Smith told media at the Oil Sands Trade Show at MacDonald Island Park she is leaning towards developing incentives rather than forceful measures, such as work camp restrictions.

Her Sept. 12 comments come after Brian Jean, Alberta’s energy minister and the MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche, called oilsands commuter camps harmful to Fort McMurray.

Article content

“There’s two ways to approach it, give incentives or give penalties, and I like to be on the incentive side,” she said.

“That’s why, as we’re brainstorming, is there something the company can do to make that work-life balance a little bit more of a value proposition for families to be able to locate here and work?”

Nothing has been decided and Smith stressed talks are in their early stages. But Smith said some ideas she has heard include a northern living allowance for people moving north, short-haul flights between remote sites and Fort McMurray, and rebates for companies hiring locally.

When asked if she would go after a 2016 provincial directive to lower municipal property taxes that the RMWB charges oilsands operations, Smith said she was unsure and that levers the province usually pulls involve personal income tax.

Article content

“We’re still in our early stages of figuring out what kind of proposal that would be,” said Smith.

“I think it could potentially save the companies money, but also it builds community and that’s really important for us to be able to do.”

RCMP praise Drug Treatment Court program in Fort McMurray

Police leadership in Fort McMurray are declaring the region’s Drug Treatment Court (DTC) as a success. The program is designed to offer a restorative approach to fighting crime and addictions in the community.

Since Fort McMurray’s DTC opened in December 2022, 12 people have applied for the program and eight people have been accepted.

People who participate in drug treatment court have usually committed a crime driven by drug addiction. The program is designed to break that cycle by offering treatment and courses on overcoming addictions.

Article content

Each participant has a customized case plan. DTC participants are supervised, take part in frequent drug testing, and must follow certain incentives and sanctions. They also have access to social and health support services through Alberta Health Services, including courses on parenting, trauma and finances. Participants must also complete a minimum of 100 volunteer hours.

Fort McMurray’s first DTC participant was arrested in January 2023. Police did not identify the individual or why he was arrested, but said the man faced a jail sentence. The participant was also homeless and struggling with addictions.

“Starting the program, they expressed an interest in turning their life around and showed a strong commitment to recovery,” said a police statement.

Article content

The individual entered the Bonnyville Indian-Metis Rehabilitation Centre in April 2023. The applicant spent 17 months in the program, attended 176 meetings, had 154 negative drug tests and performed 102 hours of community service. They became the program’s first graduate last July.

“The experience gained in the program has helped them inspire and support others, and has influenced those who want to make positive changes,” said a police statement.

RCMP search for man impersonating police officer near Fort McMurray:

Wood Buffalo RCMP are warning the public about a man impersonating a police officer on Sunday night.

The phony stop took place on Draper Road around 7:30 p.m. when the driver of a black Suburban turned on red and blue lights to stop another driver.

Article content

When the car eventually pulled over, police said an unknown man exited the Suburban wearing all black clothing and identified himself as “officer Tom.”

Police said the impersonator asked to perform a random search, but the driver refused.

The man then demanded the driver exit the vehicle and take a “breathalyzer” test. The driver again refused to exit the vehicle, prompting the man to present a roadside screening device, similar to one used by RCMP, and gave instructions to use it.

The driver complied and blew into the machine, and the man left the traffic stop before results were confirmed.

The suspect was last seen driving on Draper Road away from Fort McMurray.

The vehicle is an all-black GMC-Chevrolet Suburban with tinted windows and windshield. Blue and red lights were located at the top of the windshield.

Article content

The suspect was described as bald, wearing black track pants, black sunglasses and a black external vest.

• Premier Danielle Smith announced $8.6 billion to build and modernize dozens of schools, creating 200,000 new student spaces. Critics agree Alberta needs new and modernized schools, but the plan doesn’t address immediate problems with crowded classrooms and teacher burnout. Similar announcements by premiers Ed Stelmach, Alison Redford and Jim Prentice were delayed, while an NDP plan to cut classroom sizes failed. An expanded K-12 École Boréale is opening in 2027, but Fort McMurray’s Catholic and public school leaders say they urgently need new and modernized schools. Alberta currently has 47 schools being planned, designed or built.
• Employees at a Calgary Real Canadian Superstore and its adjacent Shoppers Drug Mart are wearing body cameras to reduce rising violent incidents. Police say violent incidents at the store are eight times higher than anticipated. Last December, the Retail Council of Canada said theft incidents involving violence is up by 300 per cent over the past four years.
• An Edmonton man will be released soon after threatening in an email to gun down NDP MLA Marlin Schmidt and his pregnant wife. Donald Alexander Laird was given a four-month sentence on Thursday, but has five days left after getting credit for pretrial sentencing. Laird was found guilty in February but went on the lam ahead of sentencing. He was arrested on July 4 and held in custody.
• Fort Saskatchewan’s mayor apologized after musing about the “old days” of drowning feral cats or gassing them with an exhaust pipe. Mayor Gale Katchur made the comments at a Tuesday council meeting discussing the city’s feral cats.
• Two months later, Jasper residents who lost their homes to a wildfire are still waiting for interim housing. Jasper faced a housing shortage before the July wildfire, and the town’s mayor and council have been told finding temporary housing won’t be possible for everyone. Roughly 2,000 of Jasper’s 5,000 residents have nowhere to live. Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver says essential workers will get interim housing priority. He added the province, town and Parks Canada are developing housing options “in or near Jasper” during the rebuild. The province has also approved up to $149 million for Jasper through the Disaster Recovery Program.
• If passed, federal legislation could give Jasper more authority over local land planning and development. Like other municipalities, Jasper oversees services. Unlike the rest of us, development permits go through Parks Canada.
• 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.

Article content