Category: Alberta

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Alberta Canada Ft Mac

Generous Syncrude Donation Promotes Trades in Alberta High Schools

Syncrude, Alberta high schools
Syncrude, Alberta high schools

A generous donation by Syncrude will be used to promote trades in Alberta high schools, with the goal of creating interest in the trades in high school students. The donation totaled $300,000, and it was provided to Skills Canada Alberta to support the organization initiative Skills in the Classroom. According to a statement from Syncrude Skills Canada Alberta was chosen for the donation because the organization changes the way students, teachers, and parents think about the trades as a career path. The generous donation will be used for the next 3 years to finance competitions and help to promote interest in the trades in Alberta high schools. According to the vice president of maintenance for Syncrude, Jim Richards, “We had supported Skills Canada on a year-by-year basis for the past two years and have been very impressed with their work. They have been hugely successful in engaging high school students. They hosted more than 28,000 students at their various events in 2014.”

Skills Canada has held many competitions for Alberta high school students in 45 different areas of the trades and technology, and these competitions help students connect with industry leaders and post secondary individuals who can be influential for trade students. According to the executive director of Skills Canada Alberta, Chris Browton, “Youth can benefit from careers in Alberta’s robust economy when they are provided with the right combination of inspiration, information, and opportunity. The partnership with Syncrude allows us to support students as they turn their interests into in-demand and valued careers.”

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Alberta

Fatal Crash on Highway 63 Claims Two Lives

highway 63, fatal crash
highway 63, fatal crash

The RCMP are still investigating a fatal crash on highway 63 that has claimed two lives so far. A third person in the accident has been listed as being in critical condition. The fatal accident occurred on Tuesday evening, on a section of highway 63 that is not divided. According to Boyle RCMP the collision involved two vehicles, one with two passengers and a passenger bus with 8 people that were headed to a work camp in the area. The accident happened at around 8:15 Tuesday evening, close to Mariana Lake. This section of highway 63 was closed from the time of the fatal crash until 4 am Wednesday morning. From what RCMP have uncovered so far the small vehicle with two male passengers were going south on the highway when they collided with the passenger bus which was northbound.

Both male occupants of the smaller vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene after emergency personnel arrived. Some of the passengers on the bus had minor injuries, and one had to be transported to the hospital where the passenger is listed in critical condition and has life threatening injuries from the fatal crash. Those with minor problems were treated by emergency personnel on the scene and then released. The RCMP are still investigating the accident on highway 63, and they have asked that anyone who witnessed the collision contact law enforcement so that they can give a report of what they witnessed. No cause for the crash has been determined yet. As winter moves in the risks of a fatal crash on highway 63 may go up, and it is important for people to drive safely.

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Alberta Health

Alberta Needs More Tissue and Organ Donors, New Law Helps

Alberta, tissue and organ donors
Alberta, tissue and organ donors

Alberta is looking for more people to become tissue and organ donors, and the province is also revamping the program for tissue and organ donations. Len Webber, the Calgary-Foothills MLA , introduced Bill 207 in March of 2013, and it passed in November of the same year. The goal of the act was to establish a single agency which would coordinate and facilitate tissue and organ donors an donations in the Alberta area. The passage of Bill 207, also known as the Human Issue and Organ Donation Amendment Act, made it much easier for Alberta residents to become tissue and organ donors. In the past registration clerks were not required to ask if a visitor to the counter wanted to become tissue and organ donors, but now these clerks are legally required by law to ask.

Association of Alberta Registries CEO Pamela Wilson explained “The legislation in Alberta requires that when you go to a registry office … the registry clerk will ask if you’re interested in registering your consent to be an organ donor. Those types of transactions are about eight million per year in the province of Alberta.” Tissue and organ donors are sorely needed in Alberta, and the registries do not have enough donors in the Alberta area to fill the need for donations each year. According to Wilson “44,000 doesn’t seem like a very big number, so we want to boost those numbers and get the total numbers of consent on file to be much higher. We know that the ask at the counter is having really good results — 60 to 70% of that 44,000 that have registered since July have registered because they were asked at the counter to register. They can donate their entire body to science if they want to, or they can donate any parts that are on the list. They can choose all of them or any combination there of.”

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Alberta Ft Mac

Founder of Kids Forever, An Organization Helping Fort MacMurray Residents, is Honored

Kids Forever, Fort MacMurray
Kids Forever, Fort MacMurray

Jon Foy, the founder of the Kids Forever Foundation, was recently honored by the province for all of his hard work and efforts to help children in the Fort MacMurray community, and in other areas of Canada as well. When asked about being honored Foy responded “I just like helping kids and sick kids. I saw there was an opportunity for that in Canada when I came here.” Mike Allen and Don Scott were the MLAs who were honoring the Kids Forever Foundation founder at the Clearwater Hotel. The organization was started by Foy in 1998, in order to help families in Fort MacMurray who needed assistance caring for ill or disabled children. While Kids Forever started out in Fort MacMurray Jon Foy has not limited his generosity to this local area, his foundation has started to become focused on children in the entire Alberta area of Canada.

As Kids Forever has branched out from the Fort MacMurray the organization has worked with many other children charity based organizations. These charities include Northern Lights Regional Health Centre in Fort MacMurray, Ronald McDonald House, Stollery Children’s Hospital, Camp Health, Hope and Happiness, and Glenrose Hospital. Since the founding of Kids Forever it is estimated that the organization has helped more than 300 families in the Alberta area who suffer from financial hardship. The organization has helped to cover the costs for medical equipment, medical expenses, and even travel related costs so that kids can receive treatment. Jon Foy deserves to be honored, because his organization has made a big difference in the lives of many children.

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Alberta Ft Mac

Fort McMurray Safety Tips for Visitors

  • Fort McMurray safety tips include the warning to always be aware of your surroundings and stay vigilant. Pay attention to what is going on around you and use common sense. If you are in an area or situation that makes you uneasy or uncomfortable then remove yourself.
  • Be prepared for slow driving on Highway 63. This is the road that the trucks use to haul equipment for the oil companies, and this can frequently take up both lanes of the highway. Drive cautiously and keep an eye on the traffic in front of you. Never try to pass on this highway unless you are in one of the few places where this is allowed.
  • If you visit during the colder months than there are many Fort McMurray safety tips you may be able to use. The winters in Alberta and the Fort MacMurray area can be bitter and brutal, so make sure you are dressed appropriately and your vehicle has been winterized. Breaking down in a remote area during the winter months could be fatal in some cases.
  • Be on the lookout for crime and for unsavory individuals. Fort McMurray is a relatively safe place but it is also a boom town that attracts all types. The growth of the town has provided an opportunity for some criminals and scam artists. Be wary of anyone who is trying to sell you anything, and anyone who seems to be suspicious. This will help you avoid being the victim of a crime while you are in Fort McMurray.
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Alberta Ft Mac

Fort McMurray Lodging to Fit Any Budget

Fort McMurray lodging can be found that can fit into any budget, whether you are trying to go on the cheap or you want to splurge and enjoy some luxury and added amenities. Whether you are in the area for business, pleasure, or both you will find lodging options that are a perfect fit.

Budget Choices in Fort McMurray

If you are trying to keep costs as low as possible then you will want budget Fort McMurray lodging, and you have numerous places to choose from. The McMurray Inn is known for comfortable accommodations and reasonable prices to fit even smaller budgets. The Twin Pine Motor Inn is also popular with those who have a smaller budget and fewer needs. You can also check out the Ridgewood Inn and the Oil Sands Hotel if you need a cheap place to lay your head.

Hotels With Mid Range Prices

For mid range Fort McMurray lodging you can choose from the Merit Hotel, the Radisson Hotel, the Vantage Hotel, or Podollan Inns to name a few of your choices. These are lodgings that will cost more but you will get additional amenities and luxuries as a result.

Upscale Lodgings in Fort McMurray

Fort McMurray lodging that is upscale and luxurious is also available if you are willing to pay for it. Bridgeport Inn is a great pick if you want comfort and the ultimate in luxury. The Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre is a nice play to stay for business travel and it offers a full range of services. If a bed and breakfast is what you want then Chez Dube B&B may be the right place for you to stay.