Weekly update: Bitumount stays closed, school support staff vote and lots of court stuff

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Happy Friday, Fort McMurray!

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• Fort McMurray Oil Barons: Upcoming MOB home games at Centerfire Place are, Lloydminster Bobcats on Nov. 2, and Whitecourt Wolverines on Nov. 22 and 23. Tickets and schedule.
• Drum Brewing turns 1: Fort McMurray’s craft brewery has a full day of celebrations planned for its first birthday. This includes an exclusive beer release, limited-edition merch drop, brewery tours from noon to 4 p.m., a meet the owners hour from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and a performance from Dan Tulk at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2.
• Extra Life Game Day: A family-friendly, 24-hour gaming marathon raising money for the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Tons of video games, gaming PCs, board games and more events are planned. Event starts Nov. 2 at 9 a.m. at Keyano’s e-sports arena. Information and how to donate.
• Keyano College Gala: The Keyano College Gala returns for its 43rd anniversary of raising money for academics, athletics, theatre, trades programs and capital improvements at the college. This year’s gala includes performances from Canadian rock supergroup The TransCanada Highwaymen and the award-winning Alberta Celtic rock group the Derina Harvey Band. Nov. 2 at Keyano College. Tickets.
• Brett Kissel live at Rivers Casino and Entertainment Centre: Alberta country music star Brett Kissel returns to Fort McMurray for two nights. Shows are Nov. 15 and 16. Tickets.
• Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Dust off your most outrageous, tacky and festive sweaters for a night of laughter, cheer, and unforgettable fashion statements. Funds go towards the Northern Lights Health Foundation. Nov. 15 at MacDonald Island Park. Tickets and information.
• Festival of Trees: An evening gala with dining, entertainment and beautifully decorated Christmas trees up for auction. Funds go towards the Northern Lights Health Foundation. Nov. 16 at MacDonald Island Park. Tickets and information.
• Wood Buffalo Regional Library hosts all-ages weekly events.
• MacDonald Island Park updates its website with upcoming events and programs.
• Wood Buffalo Volunteers has volunteer opportunities for different causes and non-profits across Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.
• Obituaries: Obituaries, memorial notices and sympathy announcements can be uploaded and read online.

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Get the news and events of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo in your inbox every Friday morning by signing up for our newsletter.

Fort McMurray school support staff start voting on offers, strike likely if rejected

Educational assistants and support workers at Fort McMurray’s public and Catholic schools are voting on offers there bargaining committees rejected last month. A 72-hour strike notice will likely be issued if workers also vote against the offers. Polls opened Friday and run until Monday at 4 p.m.

A strike was expected to begin on Sept. 17 and involve 1,065 educational assistants, librarians, administrative and maintenance staff, and custodians with the two CUPE locals representing public and Catholic school workers.

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On the eve of the strike, the province delayed the move by appointing a Dispute Inquiry Board (DIB), which added another 30 days of negotiations. On Oct. 17, CUPE’s leadership called the DIB’s recommendations a “slap in the face” to workers and urged its members to reject the offers.

“We’re hearing loud and clear from our membership that they won’t accept a deal that doesn’t address the inflated cost of living, and we strongly support every member’s decision to vote ‘no’,” said CUPE Local 2559 president Danielle Danis, which represents Catholic school staff, in a statement.

The workers argue their wages have failed to match rising costs of food, utilities, fuel and other services in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. The union also says many members annually earn below minimum wage when days off for Christmas, spring break, teachers’ conventions and other breaks are subtracted.

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CUPE says its members are exhausted from working in schools they say are crowded and badly funded by the province. The Catholic and public superintendents have also said in separate, unrelated interviews their schools are crowded, understaffed and poorly funded by the Alberta government.

McGrath denies making defamatory comments against ex-RMWB HR director

Councillor Keith McGrath denies comments he made to Fort McMurray Today last June were defamatory towards Kari Donnelly, the former human resources director for the RMWB.

Donnelly is being sued by the RMWB after she was accused of secretly approving more than $1 million in “illegitimate” bonuses to senior RMWB staff. Donnelly is countersuing the RMWB and claims her actions followed existing procedures and were known at all times to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).

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She is also countersuing McGrath and CUPE Local 1505 president Craig Milley for comments they both made to Fort McMurray Today after the RMWB lawsuit was made public.

McGrath’s defence argues Donnelly’s claims are “nothing more than a desperate attempt to distract” from the RMWB’s lawsuit and were raised “solely due to longstanding animus against him.”

The allegations made by the RMWB, Donnelly, McGrath or Milley have not been proven in court.

McGrath told Fort McMurray Today a group of senior staff, including Donnelly, complained to the RMWB’s integrity commissioner because he was concerned about the payments. The ethics complaint against McGrath was later dismissed.

Donnelly’s lawsuit says she complained to the integrity commissioner in August 2023 because she allegedly witnessed McGrath’s “appalling behaviour” on multiple occasions. The complaint said McGrath is sometimes drunk or high at meetings, and has threatened staff and councillors. She alleges McGrath made “belligerent, rude and/or racist” comments at a June 20 in-camera meeting.

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Her claim argues McGrath’s comments to Fort McMurray Today were “made maliciously and in revenge for McGrath’s hurt feelings.” McGrath denies all of Donnelly’s claims.

Fears Fort McMurray woman could reoffend at sentencing for sexual abuse, child porn offences

Marlena Bennett received a 10-year sentence for sexually abusing an infant and creating and sending child pornography with her boyfriend, Andrew Wall.

Yet there are concerns she could reoffend once released. For the rest of her life, Bennett will never be trusted around children and has a lifetime ban from parks, pools, daycares, community centres, playgrounds, and working or speaking with anyone under 16 without supervision.

Bennett, 37, said nothing as Justice Shaina Leonard delivered her sentence in the Fort McMurray Court of King’s Bench on Wednesday.

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“I acknowledge that the offender, at times, tried to resist Mr. Wall and tried to dissuade him from these activities. In the end, however, she gave in to his needs,” said Leonard.

A psychiatric report completed in May warned Bennett is at a “moderate risk” of reoffending if she maintains a relationship with Wall or enters another relationship just as abusive and coercive. It found Bennett “extremely vulnerable” to male coercion and “extremely protective” of Wall to the point she cannot “advocate for herself.” Court heard the two spoke weekly through letters.

The report argued Bennett must seek counselling during her sentence and end contact with Wall. Leonard agreed and banned Bennett from speaking with Wall directly or through a third-party during her sentence.

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“It’s concerning that after everything that she’s faced, she does not seem to appreciate that he was manipulative and coercive, And that’s why my concern for her risk to reoffend is high,” said Crown prosecutor Bonnie Parker.

Wall was supposed to be sentenced with Bennett, but this changed when he had to replace his lawyer. A sentencing date for Wall is being scheduled and Parker anticipates it will be harsher than Bennett’s sentence.

Chief Raymond Powder accused of sexual abuse in lawsuit

Chief Raymond Powder of the Fort McKay First Nation is being accused by two people of sexually abusing them in the 1970s and 1980s. Powder denies the accusations, which have not been proven in court.

The two plaintiffs filed their lawsuit against Powder in the Fort McMurray Court of King’s Bench last March, and allege Powder sexually abused at least one other person not named in the lawsuit.

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The first plaintiff alleges the incidents contributed to his struggles with chronic alcoholism, which began around 1984. He also says the incidents have caused emotional, mental health and physical health issues.

The second plaintiff says that in the late 1970s or early 1980s, Powder invited him to drink alcohol in a home. The plaintiff says he passed out and he awoke to Powder undressing and sexually abusing him. He blames the alleged incident on a loss of interest in daily activities, unhappiness, social isolation, anxiety, no longer finding pleasure in sex, depression, trauma, sexual flashbacks and sleeping problems.

In a statement of defence, Powder denies all the accusations and says the incidents with the first plaintiff never happened. He alleges the second plaintiff initiated the sexual abuse when they were drinking together in the early 1980s. Powder says he has not pursued his own claim against the second plaintiff because he forgave the individual and the alleged incident happened about 40 years ago.

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Powder also alleges the accusations are politically motivated. He says the allegations were raised by the second plaintiff’s family during the 2023 election for the First Nation’s chief and council, and alleges they tried to stop him from running for chief.

The plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial. The first plaintiff is seeking $1.4 million and $400,000 for the second plaintiff. Both are also seeking coverage of their legal expenses.

Province has no current plans to open historic Bitumount site to the public

The historic plant that first commercially developed the oilsands is falling apart and will remain closed to the public for now.

After lengthy surveys and remediation work, the Alberta government has concerns about contamination and the structural integrity of the buildings at the historic Bitumount site north of Fort McMurray.

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“There are no current plans to open the site to the public at this time,” said Garrett Koehler, a spokesperson for Arts, Culture and Status of Women Minister Tanya Fir, in an email. “Many of the buildings on site were not intended to be permanent structures and have deteriorated significantly.”

Between 2011 and 2021, the Alberta government launched various maintenance projects at the site. Some buildings were saved, but others had to be torn down.

For now, future conservation plans will be governed by an evaluation of hazardous materials at the site and their safe removal. Annual sampling of sediment, surface water and groundwater continues. Bitumount has not been damaged by recent wildfires, but the site is protected by fire-protection measures.

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It’s not ideal news for lovers of Fort McMurray or oilsands history, but concerns about contamination, the buildings and trespassing have always been hurdles for the site’s future.

An RMWB survey identified 450 locations deemed important to local history. As a sample, the researchers examined 194 of those sites and found only 62 still existed.

Contractor charged after worker killed in 2023 incident north of Fort McMurray

A company has been charged with workplace safety offences following the death of a worker at the Chemtrade facility at Syncrude’s Mildred Lake site on June 8, 2023.

Court documents allege the worker, Milo Sagmoen, was removing roofing material from the building when he fell through the roof and landed about three metres onto the floor below. Sagmoen died from his injuries.

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Pacific Rim Industrial Insulations Ltd., Sagmoen’s employer, was charged on Oct. 10 with four offences under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act. Chemtrade, which works independently of Syncrude and Suncor Energy, has not been charged.

The charges include failing to make sure a worker is protected from falling more than three distances from a work area. It is also alleged the company did not have a restraint system, a fall protection plan or proper procedures for the job.

None of the charges have been proven in court.

Wood Buffalo RCMP seek vandals after school teepee damaged

Wood Buffalo RCMP are looking for two suspects involved in vandalizing a teepee outside a Fort McMurray school earlier this month.

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The teepee was damaged at 9:42 p.m. on Oct. 11 in front of Elsie Yanik Catholic School, at 331 Callen Dr. in the Parsons Creek neighbourhood.

Police said in a news release that video surveillance from the night showed two suspects wearing masks approaching the school on scooters. The suspects cut holes into the teepee’s canvas, and removed and broke poles and pegs.

Anyone with information about any missing people or criminal activity is asked to contact Wood Buffalo RCMP at 780-788-4040 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS). Tips to Crime Stoppers are always anonymous and can be sent to p3tips.com.

• The Alberta government introduced three pieces of legislation that will govern children’s pronoun use in school, restrict medical transitioning for transgender minors and preserve strict gender separation in youth sport. The policy will likely be one of the most controversial items in the fall legislative setting, as it was in Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Legal challenges are also likely. 2SLGBTQI+ groups across Alberta and Canada, including Pride YMM, have condemned the policies announced by Premier Danielle Smith earlier this year.
• Edmonton police uncovered an elaborate encampment complete with solar panels, generators, running water from makeshift dams, custom-designed stone floors, a wood fireplace, a laundry machine, coffeemaker and a working refrigerator. The  encampment was camouflaged and fenced in the Fulton Creek area. Police also found 15 weapons (including three firearms) and $8,000 in stolen goods. “So far, I haven’t seen anything this extensive, this elaborate. To say I’m not impressed, that would be a lie,” said Const. Brett Earley.
• Alberta’s auto insurers are fed up with what they claim are exorbitant bills from tow truck operators. Several redacted invoices obtained by Postmedia showed towing companies charging thousands of dollars for a single tow. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says the high charges are a recent trend and the province should bring stronger rules for the sector.
• Ex-Justice Minister Kaycee Madu “undermined respect for the administration of justice” when a 2021 distracted driving ticket prompted a call to Edmonton’s police chief, ruled the Law Society of Alberta. Madu says he was concerned the ticket was motivated by either racial profiling or his high-profile dispute with the Lethbridge Police Service for their surveillance of ex-NDP cabinet minister Shannon Phillips. Madu, who is also a lawyer, and EPS Chief Dale McFee never asked for the ticket to be cancelled. Madu faces a sanction hearing, which could see him suspended or disbarred.
• The Alberta Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Calgary pastor Artur Pawlowski for inciting mischief during the 2022 Coutts border protests. Pawlowski’s defence argued the court didn’t need to find Pawlowski was “on the right side of history” in order to find he did not incite blockaders to commit mischief. The court disagreed and noted Pawlowski travelled to the protest site. While his objections to government policy were Charter-protected free speech, the court ruled he was not protected in counselling the commission of crimes.
• Read up on the politics and culture of Alberta  with Postmedia’s subscriber-exclusive newsletter, What’s up with Alberta? Curated by the National Post’s Tyler Dawson every Tuesday and Thursday.

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