Tag: Fort McMurray

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Alberta Ft Mac

Crime Statistics Show Increase in Fort McMurray Crimes

According to the crime statistics there has been an increase in Fort McMurray crime, but the current numbers are still lower than the high seen in 2008. Fort McMurray saw a rating of 94.54 incidents per 100,000 people, and the community saw a rise in the Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index of over 2.5%. This increase erased the steady gains that were achieved over the last 7 years. The report also shows that the number of actual incidents that were recorded has dropped. Starting in 2009 and continuing until 2015 the trend in Wood Buffalo was one of lowering crime, but some do not think the recent increase is too much to be concerned about. Both Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake and Wood Buffalo RCMP superintendent Rob McCloy agree that the area has seen worse days in the past.

The rise in crime statistics in Fort McMurray does not indicate a need for alarm though. According to Mayor Blake “I hate to accuse everyone leaving town of being a criminal, but that element is a lot rarer these days. I think the actual trends in recent years show the true reality of Fort McMurray.” Superintendent McCloy explained “I wouldn’t address any of it to oil prices at all. Any community has issues. A few less people in town doesn’t mean crime has changed. We were already going down. The changes are due to a shifting attitude in policing. Intelligence-based policing is what we’re getting good at. We’re cooperating with ALERT and bylaw, the sheriffs and other agencies. If you can shift from being reactive to crime to proactive, it changes things a lot. Are there still challenges we’re facing? I’d be lying if I said no. I’d be lying if I said there weren’t drugs coming into the community. The StatsCan numbers and the municipal census shows the difference in population, so the stats are a bit skewed. But on the ground, we’re seeing less and less crime, and we’re getting better and better at fighting it.”

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Economic Ft Mac

Housing Sales in Fort McMurray Go Up in July

In July the housing sales in Fort McMurray went up close to 50% over July of 2015 according to the recently released statistics from Fort McMurray Realtors. Last month there were 133 housing units sold on the market, and this included mobile homes, townhouses, and condominiums. In July of 2015 there were only 90 housing units sold. The fire did delay some sales, but it was also a motivating factor behind sales as well. Lynn Edwards, the president of Fort McMurray Realtors, said “We’re having people that are selling their home and moving to another home, larger or smaller. And then you have a buyer that has been affected by their [fire] loss. We’ve seen an increase in the average price for the last two, three, four months but that’s just because people are buying.”

One reason for the July increase in housing sales in Fort McMurray is that some buyers have been ready to make a purchase but were waiting for the best time. Another reason is that some of the listings for homes on the market expired during the evacuation period, and these homes have now been relisted. Edwards explained “So they were up for sale pre-fire, and then you’re going to see them come back on in July, some of them.” The housing market and economy are both stable in Fort McMurray right now, and housing unit prices are still low when compared to the average price last year for the same time period which makes purchasing a home right now a smart move to some.

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Economic Ft Mac Politics

Wildrose Leader Brian Jean Pushes for Rebuilding Fort McMurray ASAP After Weekend Visit

After a recent weekend visit and tour of Fort McMurray Wildrose leader Brian Jean has urged rebuilding as soon as possible, and stated that there was still a lot of frustration and anger in the local community. Jean explained that people were angry at the rebuilding pace and concerned about the uncertainty, as well as fears that local businesses in the community wil be left behind as Fort McMurray moves forward. Jean said “We have a tremendous opportunity, notwithstanding the cloud of darkness surrounding Fort McMurray, and that opportunity is a $3.6-billion reconstruction and stimulus to our economy, We should be taking full advantage of that. Look at social media and my phone is ringing off the hook these days. People are absolutely frustrated with the pace of rebuilding. I urge all who have the ability to award contracts here in Fort McMurray to use their due diligence, and understand this boost to our economy can help their families and families’ friends.”

The pace of rebuilding in Fort McMurray has started off slow, and it was just very recently that the first rebuilding permits were issued by the municipality. There was also some anger at letters sent out by the municipality with demolition orders because of how the letters were worded. Many in the community are extremely frustrated but feel there is little they can do. The damage that the wildfire caused was extensive and rebuilding will take time but many residents feel that the pace could be a little quicker. There have also been logistical issues due to the amount of debris and rubble that needs to be cleared and taken to the landfill because contractors needed to be found who could handle a project of this size and scope. Hopefully the pace will start to pick up now and the rebuilding process will go smoothly.

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Economic Ft Mac Health

Fort McMurray Victim Services Unit Celebrates 25 Years of Service to Community

The Fort McMurray Victim Services Unit is celebrating 25 years of providing services to the community. The unit was first formed in the 1980s as a non profit group dedicated to helping local people who were victims of crime, tragedy, or other types of trauma. Today the unit includes 6 full time staff plus a number of volunteers, and it is part of the law enforcement department of the municipality. According to 6 year unit veteran Kim Timmons the transition was needed because of the vital service provided by the unit to the community.

Timmons explained that the Fort McMurray Victim Services Unit addressed a specific community need, saying “It spoke volumes to the necessity of the service and how critical it is to the well being of everyone here. When you go home at the end of the day and you lighten the burden for someone else [who is] probably in their worst hours of life, than that’s the good feeling you take home. That’s what makes you come to work the next day.” Kim stated that the hardest part of her job is notifying loved ones about a fatality, saying “That’s something I’ve never gotten accustomed to.” The unit operates out of the Timberlea RCMP detachment, and they are called in for assistance by the RCMP officers whenever a traumatic incident is reported or investigated. RCMP supt. Rob McCloy supports the Fort McMurray Victim Services Unit , saying “They are our compassionate helping hands.” Many people in the community have had contact with the unit, and members do what they can to help lessen the trauma that the crime victims and their families go through.

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Alberta Ft Mac Health

Laval University Researchers Examining Mental Health in Fort McMurray

Two Laval University researchers are examining mental health in Fort McMurray after the recent wildfire and evacuation, trying to determine how well people are really coping and whether PTSD and other mental health issues have increased because of the recent events. Everyone in the community tries to put on a strong face and stay positive, but School of Psychology at Laval University graduate student researchers Camille Pepin and Laura-Emilie Savage are noticing a different pattern that is emerging. The duo is trying to study the mental health consequences that the worst natural disaster in Canada has had on the local community. According to Pepin “If everyone is talking about how they’re strong but they cry every morning, it’s hard to face a community and pretend to be strong. I am sure the positive messages have been truly uplifting and encouraging, and helping a lot of people. But for others, it might be overwhelming or even embarrassing.”

Fort McMurray was overwhelmed by the wildfire and evacuated on May 3, and the wildfire caused over 90,000 people to flee. Close to 2,000 structures were completely destroyed, and almost 2,575 individual residences were lost as a result. The Laval University researchers are hoping to study just how much of an impact the wildfire had on the mental health of community residents. Adults from every socioeconomic background are being interviewed as part of the study. Savage stated in an interview that “There is this very high expectation some people feel they face, that they should return and be strong,” said Savage during a Monday morning interview. “It is not that the resources are inappropriate, but that what is expected of a lot of people is very high. It is not uncommon for someone to suddenly decide they don’t want to share their story because they are overwhelmed talking about it. It’s hard to have screening when there are this many resources and this many people suffering.”

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Alberta Ft Mac Health

Will Recent Wildfire Cause an Increase in Fort McMurray’s Domestic Violence Rate?

In 2011 the Slave Lake wildfire destroyed hundreds of homes, and caused a sharp increase in domestic violence as well. Now Fort McMurray could be facing the same trend but the community is better prepared if this happens. Northern Haven Support Society executive director explained that in the Slave Lake case Shelly May Ferguson “We went from 12 calls a month to 24 calls.” Stress, both for financial reasons and caused by events such as the wildfire and forced evacuation, can increase the risk of domestic violence because people may snap under too much pressure. Waypoints is not taking any chances now that people have come back to Fort McMurray, and executive director Michele Taylor told the media that “We’re trying to prevent the increase in first-time domestic violence in homes or intensifying domestic violence in homes.” Unity House is taking proactive steps to ensure that domestic violence does not leave people at risk.

Studies show that after a natural disaster, like the wildfire in Fort McMurray, the rate of domestic violence tends to go up by around 30%. According to Taylor “Alberta has one of the worst track records in terms of domestic violence per capita. People have a hard time processing what 80,000 people just went through. And for some people it leads to domestic violence. It expresses itself emotionally and sometimes it’s six to 12 months after the trauma.” In order to prevent more domestic violence Waypoints is offering counseling at no charge for people who have relationship tension, and the organization has provided Wood Buffalo and Fort McMurray human resource departments with program and services outlines as well.