Author: Shelly W

Categories
Canada U.S.

Will Canadians Embrace New Doritos Flavor Mountain Dew?

Canadians, Doritos flavor Mountain Dew
Canadians, Doritos flavor Mountain Dew

Doritos flavor Mountain Dew does not sound very appealing to many people, but that may be the new beverage flavor for this soda brand. Will Canadians embrace the Dewitos flavor or dismiss the concept without even trying it out? You can not run out to the nearest store and grab a bottle yet, although the company has confirmed that this concept is real and not just another internet hoax out there. A statement that has been attributes to a spokesman for Pepsi has confirmed that this unusual pairing has appeared on many reputable websites reads “We are always testing out new flavors of Mountain Dew, and giving our fans a voice in helping decide on the next new product has always been important to us. We opened up the DEW flavor vault and gave students a chance to try this Doritos-inspired flavor as part of a small program at colleges and universities.”

The Doritos Flavor Mountain Dew has received mixed reviews from those who have tried it in testings, and it is unknown whether Canadians will embrace the combination or give it a big thumbs down. . When Kansas State University student Bridgette Parkins had a chance to give the new flavor a taste she tweeted “Mtn Dew was on campus & we got to try the new dew flavored and there was a DEWritos (sic) and it tasted like Doritos and I’m freaked out.” Many who tried out the newest offering from Mountain Dew said that the beverage tasted like liquid cheese. This is not something that some people may find appetizing, and Canadians may be turned off if the new Doritos flavor Mountain Dew actually passes the testing stage and makes it to store shelves.

Categories
Alberta Ft Mac

Bird Deaths on Tailings Ponds North of Fort MacMurray Up

tailings ponds, bird deaths
tailings ponds, bird deaths

According to the Alberta Energy Regulator the number of bird deaths on tailings pond north of Fort MacMurray is up to 122, with 3 major companies reporting bird deaths in their tailngs ponds. This is in spite of the fact that scarecrows guard many of these ponds in order to keep the birds away. Suncor, Syncrude, and CNRL all operated tailings pond where the bird deaths occurred. On the Horizon Site operated by CNRL60 birds died. The ponds operated by Syncrude had 30 bird deaths, and Suncor reported just 6 birds dead. The oil companies involved try to prevent the death of any wildlife caused by their operations, and there are a number of methods that are used. In addition to scarecrows companies may employ radar units, propane cannons, and long range acoustic devices.

A representative for CNRL blamed the tailings ponds bird deaths on the weather in the area. There was heavy fog and the visibility was poor according to the source. The spokesperson for CNRL Julie Woo confirmed that the waterfowl deterrence system was in place and working properly when the birds died, and both Suncor and Syncrude also confirmed that their deterrence systems were also up and working fine when the bird deaths occurred. Investigators from the Alberta Energy Regulator have been sent to the area to ensure that the wildlife deterrents are actually working properly and that the companies are in compliance, although the agency also believes that weather played a role in the tailings ponds bird deaths as well.

Categories
Entertainment Ft Mac

A Jubilee Plaza Winter Launch is Expected

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Jubilee Plaza
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Jubilee Plaza

The Jubilee Plaza is in the final construction stages, and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo can not wait until spring to launch the project. The first visitors may not see all of the features right away as some will be added even after the launch. Arndis Bildfell, a community services staffer with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, said “It’s a natural gathering place in the heart of downtown, so I’ve been meeting with a lot of our community organizations … to see the space for what it can be and what it is, and to bring their programming down to the space. We will program such events like a lunchtime activity or something to get the local office people out of their office down in the plaza for 20 minutes or whatever … to give them a little fresh air and sunshine, which we all need.”

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo had hoped to open the Jubilee Plaza in October, but the delay was not that long and the project is on track to come in at the budget amount of $16.9 million that was set. According to Arndis Bildfell “We had anticipated October. Obviously, when you get into construction projects and stuff, you always encounter certain things such as construction schedules, dealing with sub-consultants and those kind of things. And the reality is we’ve come pretty close to target.” Bildfell continued by saying “With the winter opening, as Marc had mentioned, two of the major elements won’t be in place until the spring. So it leaves us a unique opportunity to test out the space over the winter, to offer it to community groups and organizations into the space to test it out for their own programming.”

Categories
Breaking News Canada

Training Death Takes Private Steven Allen

training death, Private Steven Allen
training death, Private Steven Allen

The recent training death of Private Steve Allen has many wondering how this could happen. The 20 year old soldier was conducting a training exercise in Wainwright when the tactical structure that he was inside collapsed, killing Private Allen and wounding another soldier who was also in the structure at the time. The accident occurred at the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre. Immediately following the accident the gravely injured soldier was air transported to the University Hospital in Edmonton but he passed away from the injuries that he had received. Exactly what happened is still being investigated by the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service and all of the facts are not fully known at this time. 3rd Canadian Division and Joint Task Force West Commander Brigadier-General Wayne Eyre said “The loss of any soldier is devastating to the military community and our condolences go out to his family and friends.”

When told of the news of the training death of Private Steven Allen condolences were offered by Prime Minister Stephen Harper “An investigation will be conducted into the circumstances surrounding this incident to ensure that every precaution is taken to protect the safety and security of our soldier. I learned with deep sadness today that Private Steven Allen passed away.” Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson stated “I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Pte. Allen and those affected by this tragedy, including all base personnel. I also offer my prayers for a speedy recovery to the second soldier injured in the same accident.”

Categories
Entertainment Ft Mac

Gold Medal Received by 11 Year Old Fort MacMurray Resident from the Royal Conservatory

Royal Conservatory gold medal, Fort MacMurray
Royal Conservatory gold medal, Fort MacMurray

Angela Li, an 11 year old from Fort MacMurray, was recently awarded a Royal Conservatory gold medal for her piano skills. Li is the top in her entire province, and her Grade 2 piano score won her the gold. According to the senior director of the conservatory academic programs Janet Lopinski “It’s an extraordinary accomplishment. This is an awarding for the highest mark in the exam for the entire province of Alberta. She obtained a mark of 97%, and to (get that) it means in all areas of the exam, she scored really, really high.” The senior director continued by saying “Our tests aren’t really meant to be competitive. Each student is assessed for their own accomplishments. (But) when somebody comes up with a really high mark like that, it shows that first of all, she’s done very well in her own progress, but also, she’s in the top percentile (overall).”

The Royal Conservatory gold medal that was awarded to Fort MacMurray’s Angela Li is quite an accomplishment at any age. Fort McMurray Young Composers Program instructor Susan Maxwell, who is the piano instructor for Angela, has had 4 students including Li win a Royal Conservatory gold medal in the past 5 years, and this is also an accomplishment and a testament to her teaching skills as well as the skills of her pupils. Lopinski explains “The role of the teacher is really important in this. The students are the ones who practice, who have the talent and the ability, but the guidance of the teacher is often what gets them up to that very highest level. So the teacher is really working with them to bring out their full potential. It does seem some teachers have the gift to do that — that special ability to motive and inspire and encourage — so I’d say this result shows the ability of her teacher to motivate her to do that really dedicated work that’s required to achieve this.”

Categories
Alberta Sports

Cancer Takes Cole Hamblin, a Former WHLer, at 21

cole hamblinCole Hamblin, who was a Western Hockey League player in the past, has passed away from cancer at the very young age of 21 years old. In the past Hamblin had played for both the Regina Pats and the Spokane Chiefs, but the young man has hung up his skates and moved on from this world. Cole Hamblin succumbed to cancer on Wednesday after a very short but very intense battle, and the courageous man never gave up the fight. Cole was just as tenacious fighting the disease as he had been on the ice. First diagnosed a mere two months before cancer took him, Cole Hamblin already had plans for this season when he found out that he had cancer.. The first signs that something was wrong was when the player started experiencing severe back pain and he lost 30 pounds within a short time.

The hockey world is saddened by the loss of Cole Hamblin, and the rare form of cancer that he was diagnosed with was a very rapid type with little to no chance for a cure. On September 22 Cole was admitted to the Victoria Hospital, located in Winnipeg, where he was first diagnosed with cancer. The official diagnosis was stage four mucoepidermoid carcinoma, a type of cancer that spreaqds quickly. By the time the disease was found the cancer had already spread to several areas of Hamblin’s body, including his spine, lymph nodes, and other areas of his skeletal system. A number of fundraisers was held by various hockey teams and organizations in order to support Cole Hamblin and his family during his cancer fight.