Tag: Wood Buffalo

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Alberta Ft Mac Health

Potential Wood Buffalo Ice Breakups Lead to Municipality Warnings

Municipal warnings have been given now that ice breakups are an issue, and residents need to be cautious and prepare for possible flooding. Spring is river breakup time, and as the ice breaks up there is the possibility that large chunks could cause jams in the river, flooding, and river banks which can become dangerous very quickly. Those who live in the lower townsite have the greatest risk of flooding but the ice breakups can be very unpredictable and no area is completely safe from flooding and other issues caused by the ice on the rivers breaking up. When the ice causes a jam or blockage in the river this can lead to upstream swelling and the river can overflow and spill over the banks.

In addition to issuing warnings about the ice breakups Wood Buffalo has also issued warnings about slippery riverbanks and very strong currents which can pose safety hazards. According to Wood Buffalo municipality Assistant Deputy Chief of Emergency Management Chris Graham the place where an ice jam is most likely to occur is where the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers meet. Flooding is also very possible in this area if an ice jam occurs, even a jam that occurs some distance away at Fort McKay. Graham also cautioned “When breakup is actually occurring, don’t stop on the [Athabasca] bridge.” Standing on the bank of the river to watch the ice breakups is also dangerous because the water is flowing quickly and huge ice chunks can be pushed to shore in very little time as a result.

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Alberta Economic Ft Mac

2015 Housing Slump in Wood Buffalo Continues in 2016

The 2015 Wood Buffalo housing slump is continuing in 2016 according to the recent data release by Fort McMurray Realtors. Housing prices and new home construction continues to be low just like it was a year ago, and prices now are lower than they were in 2015 at the same time. In February 2016 there were 29 single family homes sold, in February 2915 there were 32. The average price for these home in 2015 was 9.5% higher than the average 2016 price of $675,424. There were significantly more condo sales in 2016 at 11 than the 2015 monthly sales total of 4. The average condo sales price for 2016 was around 40% less than it was for 2015 though. Last year during this period there were 21 housing projects started, but in 2016 only 4 housing projects were started in the Wood Buffalo area.

What does the continued housing slump mean for Wood Buffalo homeowners? Right now is not an ideal time to sell, although the lower home values and prices could make it a good time to buy if you intend to keep the property long term. Selling a home now could mean losing out on a higher price for the residence, and some homeowners may find themselves underwater because of the lower values for property right now. A homeowner in Wood Buffalo who purchased their home right before the housing slump started, when prices were still very high, could find that they now owe more than the residence is currently worth. As the economy picks back up again in the future this should change though because housing values will increase again as well.

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Ft Mac Politics

Tax Arrears Causing Problems for Wood Buffalo Council Member Colleen Tatum

Colleen Tatum has not served a full year yet as a councillor in Wood Buffalo but her tax arrears are causing problems and have some calling for her to resign from her position in accordance with Section 22(1)of the Local Authorities Election Act and Section 174(1)b of the Municipal Government Act. A person in tax arrears of more than $50 to the municipality cannot be nominated as councillor according to the Local Authorities Election Act Section 22(1). A councillor is disqualified from council if, according to the Municipal Government Act Section 174(1)b “the councillor ceases to be eligible for nomination as a candidate under the Local Authorities Election Act.” Since Tatum owed $6,700 in tax arrears to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo for 2015 municipal taxes she should resign as she is no longer eligible to hold her seat on the council according to some. Tatum has refused to resign and the tax arrears have been paid.

The Wood Buffalo tax arrears caused controversy over Colleen Tatum, and she says that the arrears were simply a staff oversight so resigning is not necessary. Tatum told the media that she only recently learned that her taxes for 2015 were not paid, saying during a Today interview that “I was pretty upset. It’s certainly not a position that anyone would want to be in.” Tatum also talked about her thoughts on the matter with members of the media, stating “I don’t feel like an unintentional error warrants me resigning. I don’t feel like that’s in the best interests of the public. For us to go into a byelection, and spend all that money, on something that was an unintentional error. Council is free to do whatever they want with it. They could do nothing, they could do a resolution to send it to court, and you know I have to respect whatever decision they make. I’ve let the public know, I’ve let council know. And the chips will fall where they may.”

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Alberta Ft Mac Health

Is a Lack of Fluoridation in Wood Buffalo Leading to Tooth Decay?

In 2007 Wood Buffalo stopped the fluoridation of the water supply and some believe that this has caused an increase in tooth decay in area residents. Dentist Tod Beaulne sees the consequences that removing the fluoride from the water supply has caused when he sees patients at Graystone Dental. Beaulne told a journalist that “I notice young people growing up in Fort McMurray have a high decay rate. But the older patients who lived here for decades, back when fluoride was in the water when their teeth were forming, don’t.” A recent study performed at the University of Calgary which was released earlier this year showed that Calgary children tended to have worse teeth than Edmonton children. Calgary stopped fluoridating the water in 2013 while Edmonton still continues the practice.

Even though the study shows that fluoridation can help minimize tooth decay Wood Buffalo does not have any plans to start adding fluoride to the water again according to municipality manager of sustainable operations Travis Kendall. This does not mean that municipality managers doubt the science or the health impacts that stopping fluoridation can have. Kendall explained “Suppliers have not been able to guarantee long-term supplies of fluoride for us. That leads to a hurdle of consistency. When it comes to water treatment, frequently adding or removing chemicals based on how available they are may compromise consistency and quality.” Another issue is allowing people to make their own decisions about their health. Kendall also stated “We want to respect the public opinion and expectation and, in that 2012 survey, the public told us we shouldn’t be forcing fluoride on anybody. It’s impossible to opt out of fluoride unless you stop drinking tap water. For that reason, and the logistical side, we haven’t added fluoride back.”

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Entertainment Ft Mac

Experience the Fabulous Athabasca Sand Dunes in Any Season

Athabasca Sand Dunes, Wood Buffalo

Many Wood Buffalo residents live their lives in the area yet they never experience the fabulous Athabasca Sand Dunes right in their own area. These dunes are incredible to see and experience in any season, with wind and sand that combine to create a moving desert in Alberta. The Maybelle River Wildland Park surrounds the Athabasca Sand Dunes, providing plenty of space for forests, lots of natural fauna and flora, and protection for the largest of the active sand fields that make up the dunes. The landscape around the sand dunes is made up of lakes, forests, marshes, and bogs that provide natural habitats for many types of plants and wildlife native to the area. Anyone who enjoys being outdoors and likes natural adventures will love the Athabasca Sand Dunes and all that the entire park area offers.

Getting to the Athabasca Sand Dunes and Maybelle River Wildland Park from anywhere in Wood Buffalo is not difficult. Visitors will find sand dunes that can reach heights of 12 metres, sometimes even more. There are also kames that can reach up to 60 metres. The Athabasca Dunes Ecological Reserve is a great place to enjoy nature and soak in all of the beauty that this remote part of Canada has. Even in the winter months exploring the sand dunes and the nature preserve can be an exciting adventure as long as you are well prepared and dressed properly for the conditions. If you are in the Wood Buffalo area and you haven’t explored the Athabasca Sand Dunes don’t you think it is time you found out why these dunes are so popular with visitors?

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Entertainment Ft Mac

Wood Buffalo Outdoor Activities can Include Snowshoeing

snowshoeing, outdoor activities, Wood Buffalo

There are many different outdoor activities that can be enjoyed in the Wood Buffalo area, and one of these is snowshoeing. In the winter the area gets plenty of snow and cold weather, and there are plenty of places where you can relax, enjoy the scenery, and get plenty of exercise on your snowshoes. In the past snowshoes were a practical matter, with snow that can be a metre deep or even thicker. Traveling across snow this deep can be almost impossible, unless you are wearing snowshoes. This equipment allows you to walk on top of the snow no matter how deep the flakes pile up, making it much easier to walk through the outdoor wonderland that winter in Wood Buffalo can become.

If snowshoeing is one of the Wood Buffalo outdoor activities that you enjoy, or that you want to try, you have plenty of options. You can purchase your own snowshoes and then use them wherever you want to go. Another possibility is to take a snowshoe tour of the Wood Buffalo area. There are tour providers who can provide all of the equipment, knowledge, and experience for this winter sport that you need to have a blast. If you have never used snowshoes to experience the winter climate and the icy scenery in all of it’s pristine beauty then you do not know what you have been missing. Snowshoe tours in Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo are easy to arrange and very affordable. Why not try one today and see what you think.