Author: Shelly W

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Entertainment Ft Mac

Submission Deadline Extension for Bob Lamb Bandstand Announced

A submission deadline extension for the Bob Lamb Bandstand mural has been announced as the RMWB continues to look for a professional painter to handle the project. Interested professionals now have until August 10, 2016 instead of the initial deadline of May 27, 2016. According to Arts Council of Wood Buffalo executive director Constance Scarlett “Everybody in the city was in a bit of state of upheaval and they wanted to give artists as much time as possible to respond to the call, locally or otherwise.” Because of the wildfire evacuation the original deadline date came at a time when many area residents were still all over the province, and survival was the focus of their attention. The mural is one of the projects that RMWB’s Graffiti Abatement Mural Program launched in order to prevent illegal graffiti.

The Bob Lamb Bandstand mural is the 6th project for the program, and the submission deadline extension will allow more artists to apply. Artists who are interested in being part of this program do not have to be locals to the Wood Buffalo area, but they are expected to offer more than just artistic talent. Program project lead Alanna Bottrell explained that “A lot of [our previously chosen artists] have background with mentoring youth, so we’re hoping to attract some of those same artists that have applied for past years. They have experience with community engagement, working with youth and running their art as a business.” A local artist will also be assigned to the mural project as well, so that this local resident can work under the professional in a mentor mentee type of relationship.

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Ft Mac Health

Northern Lights Regional Health Centre Cancer Care Clinic Resumes Services

The Northern Lights Regional Health Centre Cancer Care Clinic has resumed services as of last week, and this means that the hospital is almost completely back to full operations. The only exception is some of the Allied Health programs which have not resumed yet. Returning residents can be assured that the medical services that they need will be offered in the area. The cancer care clinic was the last stage of the reopening of the hospital, and each unit in the facility has all beds open for patients. According to a recent news release by Alberta Health Services “there are no longer any health service-related concerns for residents returning to the city.” This was not the case when Fort McMurray first started allowing the area residents to return.

Northern Lights Regional Health Centre was reopened in specific stages as soon as the evacuation order was lifted for the area, but the cancer care clinic was not one of the first units to be opened. The first day that re-entry was allowed for residents the hospital had the emergency department open, as well as X-ray and CT diagnostic imaging. By June 13 residents could access the pediatric and inpatient psychiatric services, the operating rooms and ICU unit, the medical and surgical inpatient units, and obstetrical care. On June 22 dialysis was also available once more. All of the long term care patients at the facility have also already returned. Anyone interested in reopening updates can contact Allied Health by calling 780-788-1377, or they can find out more at ahs.ca/wildfire.

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Ft Mac Health

Safe Compound Levels for Human Health in Soil Samples From Burned Neighbourhoods

Soil samples from the burned neighbourhoods of Beacon Hill, Abasand, and Waterways showed safe compound levels for human health according to a recent provincial announcement. The province tested 62 soil samples taken by municipal workers from various locations in both burnt and unburnt areas around Fort McMurray, and these samples were taken between June 2, 2016 and June 19, 2016. None of the samples which were tested had contaminant levels which exceeded the human health guidelines of Alberta. According to Wildfire Recovery Task Force communications director Jessica Lucenko environmental testing is just one of the steps needed for the municipality to make a decision allowing residents to these affected neighbourhoods to return. Lucenko stated “And the finding that the soil testing showed no risk to human health is a positive step.”

The soil samples which were taken were tested for a number of compounds as well as general chemistry testing, including petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and furans. Previous testing caused Alberta to declare unsafe compound levels in ash which was taken from the 3 neighbourhoods because the compounds exceeded the human health guidelines. This is why the residents of these areas have not yet been allowed to return. The latest testing which shows safe compund levels indicates that once ash from the wildfire is removed the soil underneath is safe, although it may be poor to fair quality and this can affect how plants grow in the soil. Hopefully the latest soil sample testing means that residents will be able to come home sooner rather than later.

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Economic Ft Mac Politics

A Property Tax Cut approved by Wood Buffalo Council

The Wood Buffalo council has approved a property tax cut, with councillors voting to set the property tax rate for 2016 at 2% lower than the 2015 property tax rate levels. Residents and businesses both could use a little relief right bow after everything that has happened, and though 2% may seem small it is a step in the right direction to get Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo back on track for the future. Many lost their homes and most if not all of their possessions when the wildfire swept through Wood Buffalo, but some have homes and buildings that are damaged but that can be repaired. The costs may be high though, and a property tax bill that is smaller could be seen as a big plus for those who must come up with the money to pay these bills.

Some question whether a property tax cut is the right thing for the Wood Buffalo council to do at this time though. The municipality has a current cash flow problem, understandable after everything that happened, and a cut in property tax rates will not address that issue right now. Councillor Germain explained that the tax cut would not impact the core budget for 2016 and this was enough to sway enough councillors for the tax cut to pass. All five of the property tax classes which cover the municipality will see a small break on their 2016 property tax rates. Hopefully this small break will help residents and businesses in Wood Buffalo recover a little sooner while not taking too much of the revenue that the municipality needs to get things back to the way they used to be.

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Economic Ft Mac

$140,000 Samsung Donation to Fort McMurray Public School District for New Technology

A recent Samsung donation in the amount of $140,000 will go towards helping improve classroom technology at the Fort McMurray Public School District. In addition to the donation for local schools Samsung is also donating $100,000 in cash to the Canadian Red Cross to help in efforts to rebuild the community and get things back to normal once more after the wildfire and evacuation. A news release by Mark Childs, the Chief Brand Officer of Samsung Canada, stated “The teamwork, strength, and spirit demonstrated by Fort McMurray residents since the tragedy stuck in May continues to be an inspiration for our entire team.” Schools which had a close proximity to the fire lost much of their technology resources, and the budget is not enough to cover replacing all of the technology that was lost in time for the school year to start.

Fort McMurray Public School District director of technology Ali Syed was grateful for the Samsung donation. According to Syed “We sustained some heavy losses due to smoke damage. We’re really excited about this, it’s a fantastic opportunity,” he said. “[Teachers] can use it in language arts, math, science and geography. It’s just all about the kids.” The donated technology will be used in local schools which have technology trade academies and STEM camps first. These schools include Westview Elementary, Fort McMurray Islamic School, Dr. K.A. Clark, Fort McMurray Christian School, Greely Road, and the Timberlea and Christina Gordon combined schools. Syed explained that “We see the greatest impact of this donation in these particular schools. They were the most affected by the wildfire.”

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Insurance Costs for Fort McMurray Wildfire Claims Already $3.58 Billion

Insurance costs for wildfire claims in Fort McMurray are already estimated to be around $3.58 billion, making this wildfire the costliest so far in the history of Canada. 2,400 buildings were destroyed and thousands of people were displaced because of the wildfire, not to mention the evacuation of the entire area. A recent Insurance Bureau of Canada report gives this amount, and the report includes initial disaster estimates based on insurer surveys collected so far. Insurance Bureau of Canada vice-president Bill Adams explained “While this event is largely an insured one, the numbers fall well short of measuring the real tragedy of this wildfire – one that has taken an immense toll on thousands of individuals and families.” According to Adams the recent wildfire was one of the “most horrific and damaging natural disasters in Canadian history.”

The insurance costs for Fort McMurray wildfire claims are enormous, but what does this mean for policyholders and those who buy insurance in the near future? Will rates skyrocket because of the huge losses that insurance companies are facing because of the wildfire damage and claims? While the cost to insurance companies will be massive what happens to those who lost everything and had no insurance to cover these losses? Many in Fort McMurray are now facing this harsh reality. These costs are also probably in the millions or more, but individuals will have to cover these expenses on their own. There are programs and hotlines that can be used for those who have nothing left and who did not have insurance to cover their losses.