Author: Shelly W

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Alberta Ft Mac

The Wood Buffalo RCMP is Seeking Public Assistance to Solve 2007 Disappearance

The Wood Buffalo RCMP needs help from the public so they can solve a 2007 disappearance. The last time that Shelley Ann Waquan was seen she was in downtown Fort McMurray on July 1, 2007, but police stated that she did visit Edmonton at times. Waquan is reported as missing and no one has seen or talked to her in over 9 years. Police are hoping to find out whether Shelly is still alive, and if not then what happened to her. According to RCMP’s K Division spokesperson Sgt. Jack Poitras the family needs to know what happened. “They were thinking there’s no other way to help find closure to what happened. When it’s been this long and nothing has come up, it’s good to bring the case back to the public’s attention to see if anyone suddenly remembers something they overlooked before. After nine years, we are hoping this creates some new avenues into the investigation and bringing some closure to the family. Maybe a detail someone thought was not important will suddenly be seen as important. If that happens, we’re hoping they contact police.”

According to the Wood Buffalo RCMP before her disappearance Waquan was 198 pounds and 5’3” tall. Shelly is a Mikisew Cree First Nation member, and both her eyes and hair were brown when she was last seen. A tattoo which reads SHIRL is on Waquan’s right wrist, and she was missing a number of teeth at the time of her disappearance. Anyone who has information about Shelly Waquan can contact the Wood Buffalo RCMP by calling 780-788-4040, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or submit information at tipsubmit.com.

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Economic Ft Mac Politics

Protectionist Measures Rejected by Wood Buffalo Council

Two proposals for bylaw amendments were rejected as protectionist measures by the Wood Buffalo council. The proposed amendments would set steep fees for demolition permits and use of the landfill for any contractors who were not already established in the area before May 3 when the wildfire hit. Councillor Allen Vinni proposed a bylaw amendment which would set a $2,000 charge for demolition permits to non residents while local contractors would only pay $200, but this was voted down after a lengthy debate. All of the councillors but Vinni voted against this specific amendment. Another proposed amendment was approved and this does include charging non residents more to use the landfill but the difference between resident and nonresident costs was much smaller. Vinni explained his defeated amendment by saying “To me this bylaw is fundamentally about creating a level playing field for local contractors.”

The initial landfill amendment also had protectionist measures but these were minimized by the Wood Buffalo council as well. As originally proposed the amendment stated that non residents would pay five times what residents would pay to use the landfill. A resident discarding mobile home remains would be charged $970 but a non resident contractor would pay $4,870 for the same debris. Instead of adopting the original amendment in this case the council determined that doubling the fee was sufficient and the changed amendment passed. Some non resident contractors were upset at the initial fees proposed because they felt like they were helping Fort McMurray out and that they were treated unfairly. Contractors can separate any recyclable demolition debris and this can be taken to the landfill at no charge for residents and non residents both. This step could significantly decrease the landfill fee paid.

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Economic Ft Mac

Centennial Trailer Park Warns Tenants to Clear Trailer Debris After Wildfire

Tenants of Centennial Trailer Park has sent out an email to tenants warning them that they are responsible for clearing any trailer debris left behind after the wildfire destroyed the trailers in the park, and some former tenants are upset about it. Doug Fitzgerald, who has called a trailer in the park home for 11 years and who lived there with his girlfriend Velma, is left with nothing but charred rubble and ashes where his trailer once stood. The thought that he should have to shell out money from his own pocket to remove debris upsets the 57 year old Fitzgerald, who said “Are they crazy? It is their land and it is the owner’s responsibility to clean up their own land themselves. Shouldn’t the insurance cover this? Shouldn’t they have told us we would be responsible for cleanup when we moved in? I’m not cleaning it and I’m not paying for it.”

Many tenants of the Centennial Trailer Park did not have insurance which would cover the removal of the trailer debris, and park owners sent an email on June 30 to the former tenants warning that trailer owners must pay for debris cleanup. The email stated that if plots are nt cleared of debris by July 15, 2016 the park owners will take care of the clean up and then bill the former tenant for the costs. 51 year old Ted McAllister is another former tenant who believes that this is wrong. Ted explained “If you have a tenant in the basement, you don’t charge them for clearing out the debris that fell in the basement. They sent it just before the long weekend, too. So that means a lot of people lost four days of cleaning time.”

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Alberta Ft Mac

RMWB Sets Deadline of July 14 for Pet Owners to Claim Their Animals

The RMWB has set a deadline of July 14 for pet owners to come in and retrieve their animals. Many pets were rescued after the wildfire evacuations according to a press release issued by the municipality, and some are still in the care and custody of the RMWB’s Municipal Law Enforcement Animal Care and Control Branch. Anyone who is still missing a pet can go to the animal control in-care gallery on the municipality’s website and look through the animals who haven’t been claimed yet to see if their pet is in custody. To claim a pet the owner should use the ACU file number as a reference when they call 780-788-4200. This file number is displayed in the in care gallery beneath the photo of the animal.

Any pet owners who do not claim their animals from the RMWB by the July 14 deadline should consider them abandoned, and these animals will be transferred to various rescue group adoption programs after the deadline in an effort to find them a good home. Some residents may not have come back to Fort McMurray yet, others who have returned may not be aware that their pet is in custody at the municipality. If you are looking for your family pet and you have not already looked through the animals in the gallery on the municipal website then this should be your next step, otherwise you could end up losing the animal for good. Any abandoned animals will be cared for until a permanent home can be found for them.

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Ft Mac Politics

Councillor Allan Vinni Facing Unpaid Wages Lawsuit From Laid Off Employee at Law Firm

Wood Buffalo councillor Allan Vinni is facing an unpaid wages lawsuit from an employee who was laid off from his law firm. 33 year old Lianne Locke claims that she worked for the Allan Vinni Law Firm for the last 3 years, and that she was laid off from her position there in May 3 when the wildfire forced Fort McMurray to evacuate. Up until that point Locke says that she mostly handled family law cases for the firm. A statement of claim by Lianne was recently filed, claiming that she is owed $15,000 in unpaid wages by Vinni and that this amount was due on May 1. According to Locke “I have sent him emails and text messages and voicemails indicating he owed me money, and they haven’t been answered. Not getting paid during this time has only added to more financial stress. It’s not just that he owes me money; this was because of a complete lack of communication.”

In the unpaid wages lawsuit Locke also claims that the total she is owed by councillor Allan Vinni could end up far more than the $15,000, because she is owed 50% of any fees for work invoices sent out on April 30 which were less than $400,000, and that any fees over that amount belong solely to her. Lianna told a reporter “I don’t wish him anything bad. I just want him to speak to me and pay what we’re owed.” Councillor Vinni was unavailable for comment, and the charges against him have yet to be proven in court.

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Alberta Economic Entertainment Ft Mac

Fire Aid Event Wood Buffalo Rocks Raises Around $2 Million, Proceeds Go To United Way

The Fire Aid event Wood Buffalo Rocks was a smashing success, and the United Way can definitely use the proceeds to help out members of the community in need and those who have lost most if not all of their property and belongings because of the wildfire that swept through Wood Buffalo. Many who were evacuated came home to nothing, with everything destroyed or turned into ash. Fire Aid for Fort McMurray was a benefit concert held on June 30, 2106 in Edmonton at the Commonwealth Stadium. Wood Buffalo residents could watch the entire event for free though, right at MacDonald Island Park. The event sold over 30,000 tickets and the United Way is expected to receive around $2 million as a result.

After the Wood Buffalo Rocks Fire Aid event the local director for the United Way, Diane Shannon, expressed her patriotism and pride in her country, saying “The spirit of Canada has never been stronger and deeper. On Canada Day, I hope you sing O Canada as you’ve never sung it before.” Mayor Melissa Blake addressed the Edmonton crowd at the stadium and told them “I love the crowd. I love the energy. I love what’s happening. Absolutely outstanding. We love you right back.” There si no denying that the residents of Wood Buffalo could use a little entertainment after their forced evacuation and everything else that they have gone through recently. The event was a welcome break from the process of recovering and rebuilding, and the residents needed a little time off with some great distractions.