Tag: Fort MacMurray

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Canada Ft Mac

Fort MacMurray Mayor Rules Nothing Out With Falling Oil Prices

falling oil prices, Fort MacMurray
falling oil prices, Fort MacMurray

According to Fort MacMurray Mayor Melissa Blake nothing can be ruled out and all options are on the table as falling oil prices create the possibility of economic damage to Wood Buffalo. Blake spoke up and said that the local council will have to reexamine the current priorities if falling oil prices continue. According to Mayor Blake “Because of the current economic circumstances, we will have to take a harder look at our financial future,” she said. “I know we will have to make some very hard decisions if the economic downturn continues.” Any solution that has been examined already could have negative consequences for the Wood Buffalo area, and this is something that local government officials want to avoid if at all possible.

The falling oil prices mean that Fort MacMurray could see less income than expected in the coming year, but the infrastructure of the area needs work and capital projects planned are much needed. According to Councillor Phil Meagher “During the Klein government, nothing was done and we ended up extremely behind on things at the worst possible moment. As we are talking about this, Highway 63 is being twinned. That highway shouldn’t have been twinned 10 years ago, it should have been twinned in the 1990s after careful planning.” On the other hand if projects are scaled back or put on hold and falling oil prices reverse quickly the results could be disastrous. Fort MacMurray Mayor Melissa Blake explained “At this point, all options are on the table if things continue to get worse. It’s unfortunate we are facing these economic circumstances and we have to do what is necessary to get by. At the same time, we cannot be caught by surprise again and be unprepared for a rebound.”

 

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Alberta Canada Ft Mac

Has La Familia Expanded to Fort MacMurray?

La Familia, Fort MacMurray
La Familia, Fort MacMurray

Law enforcement believes that the notorious gang with ties to the Mexican cartels La Familia has expanded into Alberta, and even into Fort MacMurray. The gang has been active in Edmonton, and their president was recently arrested and law enforcement teams seized cash, drugs, and weapons in large amounts. According to Mike Tucker, the spokesperson for ALERT “Our information suggests that La Familia was very active and aggressive in trying to establish drug distribution channels in Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Lloydminster, Drayton Valley and Red Deer. When you have them trying to enter new markets, there’s going to be an inherent conflict with groups that are already operating. They’re based in Edmonton and they were supplying markets in Fort McMurray,” he said. “The follow-up to our investigation will be working with our teams across the province and our policing partners to investigate those active drug lines that they worked to establish.”

The expansion of the La Familia gang is no surprise. Tucker stated “There’s a very strong demand and market for drugs throughout the province, and obviously, Fort McMurray’s no exception, with the oil jobs up there and people having a lot of disposable income. What we’ve seen is a variety of groups competing for those profits, for those dollars. Will this eliminate cocaine supply in Fort McMurray? No, not at all. But what it might do is it might help stem and control some of that drug violence as groups battle over the rights to that. There’s only a couple things you’d use a weapon for like that, and our belief is that they were prepared for what would be percieved to be … conflicts over turf. fFve kilos of cocaine … that’s nothing to the cartels, but getting those guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals, that’s huge for us.”

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Ft Mac Health

Bundle Up Fort MacMurray Residents, Winter Weather Has Arrived

Fort MacMurray, winter weather
Fort MacMurray, winter weather

Fort MacMurray residents will need to bundle up because winter weather has arrived. With temperatures for the next 5-7 days to be quite cold it is time for residents in the area to start wearing warmer clothing and preparing before they head out into the elements. The winter weather in Fort MacMurray can get quite severe, with frigid temperatures that can be bitterly cold. On top of this is the high winds that can whip through the region, the ice and snow that makes travel difficult and dangerous, and winter storms that can become severe very quickly. It is important to remember hats, gloves, scarves, and other outer clothing designed to protect you from the cold and wet environment. In some cases failing to dress properly for the weather can have disastrous results.

A common mistake that some Fort MacMurray residents make is underestimating the power of winter weather in this area. Individuals may forget basic items like gloves or hats, but if you get into an accident on slick roads or you develop car problems and you must walk because you end up stranded then your choice of clothing and warm winter gear can be critical. With temperatures that will stay around -15 to -20 for the near future dressing appropriately is more important than ever. Staying safe and warm is a top priority, and failing to take the winter weather into consideration can be devastating at times. Make sure you are dressed warmly before you leave home each day.

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Breaking News Ft Mac

Bomb Threat in Downtown Fort MacMurray Causes Evacuation

bomb threat, Fort MacMurray
bomb threat, Fort MacMurray

A bomb threat was made Thursday, and this led to a Safeway in downtown Fort MacMurray being evacuated. This type of threat is not common in the remote area, however local police it seriously until the matter can be fully investigated and the possibility of a bomb is eliminated. A phone call to the RCMP at around noon on Thursday detailed a bomb threat at the downtown Safeway location, and the RCMP quickly responded. He call caused officers to be on high alert while they were investigating, and the grocery store was completely evacuated. Local officers were also used to direct traffic in the area away from the plaza that surrounds the grocery store. The police were finished investigating by 1:45 pm. And they gave the order to stand down as no explosives were found on the property.

According to the RCMP in Fort MacMurray the entire store and surrounding property was carefully searched and no explosive residue or bomb devices were found. Eventually the Safeway was reopened to the public, and the investigation will continue. The RCMP is asking the public to come forward and provide information about the bomb threat, and the public can also contact Crime Stoppers if they know something that should be passed along to law enforcement. The RCMP have thanked the public for cooperating during the evacuation, and someone knows who called in the bomb threat in Fort MacMurray and why. The call resulted in wasted manpower and resources, and the person responsible for making the bomb threat could face criminal charges and financial penalties for their actions.

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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.”

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac

Is Fort MacMurray a Family Oriented Community?

Fort MacMurray, family oriented communities
Fort MacMurray, family oriented communities

Is Fort MacMurray one of the family oriented communities in Alberta? For many residents the answer is yes. This region has seen an incredible boom in the last few years, with people arriving on a continuous basis. This has led to higher crime rates, more drugs and weapons, and an atmosphere in some parts of town that can be rowdy on certain nights. The large number of roughnecks and oil workers who come into Fort MacMurray on payday from the work camps, in order to get supplies or relax and let off some steam, has some questioning whether this is one of the most family oriented communities to choose from. When all of the factors and elements are reviewed it is clear to see that Fort MacMurray is very family friendly, although there are some problems that any other communities face in this part of Alberta.

There are many reasons why people choose to come to Fort MacMurray, and one of these is the fact that this is viewed as one of the most family oriented communities in spite of a few drawbacks. The school system in Wood Buffalo is exceptional, with plenty of resources and an expanding base that can cover new arrivals as well as established students. There is a variety of shopping options as well. The cost of housing and rental units is quite high, but that is due to the high demand and the booming economy. There are always jobs available for qualified professionals, and the community offers many opportunities for families to enjoy time together and several venues to pick from. That makes Fort MacMurray one of the top family oriented communities in Alberta for many people.