Tag: Fort MacMurray

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Fort MacMurray Coalition Addresses Highway Safety

Fort MacMurray, highway safety
Fort MacMurray, highway safety

 

Fort MacMurray residents experienced the real consequences of vehicle accidents with the help of a new campaign to promote highway safety. The Coalition for a Safer 63 ad 881 started a new campaign to help make residents aware of collisions and to remind them to drive safely on the local highways. The coalition placed wrecked cars at various locations around Fort MacMurray so that people could see what happens during collisions. The vehicles were placed outside of Father Patrick Mercredi High School, Tim Hortons, and even Canadian Tire. The goal was to raise awareness for The Pledge campaign started by the coalition. According to the executive director of the coalition Debbie Hammond “We placed a vehicle from a Highway 63 fatality at three busy sites around the city in a symbolic effort once again to raise awareness of the pledge and our goal to get more people thinking about their driving habits and whether they make safe choices behind the wheel.”

The highway safety campaign is a grassroots campaign targeted to the Fort MacMurray community. Hammond continued by saying “When you look at it, (we want people) to start to think about what happens when we’re on the highway driving high speeds and come to a sudden stop because we hit something. That vehicle is not going to save us. It’s not a safety net. That’s what happens in the real world when there are serious collisions.” Debbie continued “With this campaign, because it’s a community, grassroots campaign, we are targeting the community at large. Folks in Fort McMurray at any given time have to get on Highway 63 because they’ve got to get to the larger cities. We can all make a difference on the highway. At the end of the day, if we all take that pledge and we all pledge to be safer drivers, we could all work together towards that.”

 

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Traffic on Highway 63 May be Slowed by Bridge Repair

Fort MacMurray, Highway 63
Fort MacMurray, Highway 63

 

Fort MacMurray residents may find that traffic on Highway 63 is at a slower pace while bridge repairs are underway. For a period of a few days only one lane will be available for traffic to use, and that could mean longer travel times for some. The bridge repair will occur near the La Biche River. Alberta Transportation said that a temporary fix was being performed to the expansion joints of the bridge, because a recent inspection indicated that this joint needed to be replaced. According to Alberta Transportation spokesperson Nancy Beasley-Hosker “It’s part of routine maintenance and it’s why we… keep an eye on things that we think may require further attention in the future. Until we can do the repair, we had to restrict the traffic down to one lane with alternating travel that was controlled by temporary traffic signals.”

Fort MacMurray residents may find that the bridge repairs on Highway 63 are an aggravation if traffic slows too much, but there was nothing else that could be done according to the experts. Nancy Beasley-Hosker continued by saying “Until… (it) is ready for us to re-open the bridge, the traffic will be kept at one lane with alternating traffic. So even though drivers might not see any construction workers on site, we can’t actually reopen the lane until the concrete is cured.” Fort MacMurray resident scan expect slowdowns or even complete stops at times, and this could lead to traffic congestion when traffic is heavier and the single lane is crowded.

 

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The Northern Lights in Fort MacMurray

Fort MacMurray, northern lights
Fort MacMurray, northern lights

 

The northern lights in Fort MacMurray are a fascinating sight, and people come from all over to view this natural phenomenon. The colors that can be seen in the northern lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, range from deep reds to blues to greens. Fort MacMurray is situated on the 56th parallel it can be the perfect spot to see the northern lights when the nights are cold and clear. This display is often visible between the month of October and the month of March, and it is caused by a solar wind. Electrons and protons that are produced when the sun hits upper atmosphere gases, and the visual display can be spectacular. The Aurora Borealis may also be seen from Fort MacMurray during other times of the year, but the longer daylight hours may make it hard to see at times.

People travel from all around the globe in order to see the northern lights, and many come to Fort MacMurray just for this exquisite show. Residents in the area may not be as excited over the northern lights as visitors who have never experienced this display, but it still causes a sense of wonder and awe. In the past early cultures thought that the northern lights were spirits, or that they were magical. As the Aurora Borealis begins it is faint but the intensity and the colors slowly intensify as the night wears on, and the visual effects can be stunning to watch. The range of colors and varying hues cause the sky to become extremely memorable, and few who experience this sight ever forget it.

 

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Winter Weather Terms Every Fort MacMurray Resident Should Know

winter weather, Fort MacMurray
winter weather, Fort MacMurray

 

There are a number of winter weather terms that Fort MacMurray residents, and even visitors during the colder months, should know and understand. These terms will help you understand what type of weather to expect and how severe conditions may become. These include:

  • Wind Chill- Wind chill means what it feels like outdoors in Fort MacMurray, not what the actual temperature actually is. When there is a brisk wind it can feel much colder than the actual temperature reading, and you could become cold or even suffer from hypothermia faster if your skin is exposed to the wind. This is helpful in determining the time until frostbite can occur.
  • Sleet- This is rain that freezes high up in the sky, and it comes down as frozen droplets.
  • Freezing Rain- This is the term for rain that will freeze when striking the ground. This creates an ice coating which can make conditions extremely slippery.
  • Winter Weather Advisory- A winter weather advisory for Fort MacMurray or Alberta means that the weather may become hazardous, and that anyone who goes out may have considerable inconveniences caused by the winter weather.
  • Winter Storm Watch- This means that a winter storm has a high probability of hitting the area, and this includes severe winter weather. Heavy snow, ice, sleet may hit within the next 36 hours although the timing of the storm arrival is not yet certain, and the storm may still miss the area.
  • Winter Storm Warning- A winter storm warning means that the storm will hit or has already arrived, and it is expected.
  • Blizzard Warning- Blizzard conditions are expected or have already arrived. Heavy snow, high winds, and ice are part of a blizzard so residents should expect these.
  • Frost or Freeze Warning- Temperatures will fall below freezing, and the ground and road conditions may frost over or freeze completely.

 

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Fort MacMurray Residents Start Preparing for Winter

Fort MacMurray, preparing for winter
Fort MacMurray, preparing for winter

 

In the remote location of Fort MacMurray winter can be rough, and residents are already preparing for winter in many ways. The bitter cold, excessive snow, and other weather conditions in the colder months can be brutal, and if you are not fully prepared you could find yourself in a life threatening situation without the tools and supplies that you need. Part of preparing for winter means putting an emergency kit in your vehicle. This kit should include sand, rock salt, blankets, water, food, and a first aid kit. If you end up stranded in your vehicle in the Fort MacMurray area these may help you survive until help arrives. Adding extra layers of clothing to the kit is also a good idea, you never know when you may need to bundle up more.

Preparing for winter in Fort MacMurray does not just involve your vehicles. Experts recommend that additional fuel sources are stored for home use. A severe winter storm or blizzard could cause a loss of electricity, and this may mean that your furnace or other heating system can not kick on when the temperature drops. Keeping some seasoned firewood on hand can make a big difference in this situation and prevent you and your family from freezing to death. Keep your freezer and pantry stocked with staples, just in case you can not get to the store for a few days. Replace items as they are used so you always have a good supply of food and water on hand.

 

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Taxi Strike in Fort MacMurray Averted For Now

taxi strike, Fort MacMurray
taxi strike, Fort MacMurray

 

A Fort MacMurray taxi strike that was scheduled to occur over the weekend has been averted for now, but it is too soon to tell is all sides will reach an agreement in order to prevent further strike efforts or not. The taxi strike was averted only after the council put the concerns of the taxi drivers in the agenda for a meeting scheduled for today. The Fort MacMurray taxi drivers are angry that a representative had been removed from the Taxi Advisory Council. According to one of the protest leaders, Abdihanan Hussein, “We have decided to stop the strike. We have been placed on council’s agenda. That is what we wanted. Now we want to be heard.”

Hussein went on to say “Many are paid less than temporary foreign workers and have no benefits, but they are Canadian. I want justice for these drivers and I want the public to know. I was campaigning on behalf of the drivers and always looking out for their benefits. The drivers are so mad. This group can’t be trusted by the drivers. They will do more harm to us if we cannot trust they will guarantee our freedom of speech.” Taxi drivers in Fort MacMurray are angry over increased fees and costs, an dthe fact that EI benefits and workers compensation are not available. Another source of anger is over the fact that Abdihanan Hussein was removed from the Taxi Advisory Council, yet the council will not discuss the reason for his removal.