Weekly update: Leaders spar over Tawâw and museum celebrates military heritage

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Happy weekend, Fort McMurray!

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• Fort McMurray Oil Barons: Upcoming MOB home games at Centerfire Place are against Whitecourt Wolverines on Nov. 22 and 23, Drumheller Dragons on Dec. 12 and 13, Grande Prairie Storm on Jan. 4-5 and 22, Drayton Valley Thunder on Jan. 10, Bonnyville Pontiacs on Jan. 12, and Oldz Grizzlys on Jan. 25 and 26. Tickets and schedule.
• Keyano Huskies Volleyball: Upcoming home games at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre are against Briercrest College Clippers on Nov. 28 and Medicine Hat College Rattlers on Nov. 30. At all games, women’s team starts at 6 p.m. and men’s team starts at 8 p.m.
• Keyano Huskies Basketball: Upcoming home games at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre are against Lethbridge Polytechnic Kodiaks on Nov. 22 and SAIT Trojans on Nov. 23. At all games, women’s team starts at 6 p.m. and men’s team starts at 8 p.m.
• YMM Santa and Friends: Photos with Santa, Buddy the Elf and friends from the Pet and Wellness Society Wood Buffalo (PAWS). Piano performances from local students led by Fort McMurray music teacher Jessica McIntosh. Tim Hortons and a colouring and face painting station also available. Tickets for a 5×7 photo and digital file are $10 plus tax, or paid by a brand-new toy donation. All funds go towards Santas Anonymous. Sensory-friendly timeslots available from 2:45 to 3 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Fort McMurray International Airport from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets.
• Christmas Trade show and Artisan Market: Vendors return to MacDonald Island Park from Nov. 22 to 24. Information and times.
• Networking Luncheon presented by Athabasca Tribal Council: Hosted by the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce at the Fort McMurray Golf Club on Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tickets and information.
• Wood Buffalo Food Bank food drive: The Wood Buffalo Food Bank will be outside all Fort McMurray grocery stores collecting food and donations. Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. Information on volunteering and donating.
• Santas Anonymous Christmas Market: More than 100 local vendors will support Santas Anonymous Fort McMurray with their annual Christmas market. Since 1984, students and staff at Father Mercredi High School have shared the Christmas spirit through the Santas Anonymous. The purpose is to provide children an opportunity to celebrate Christmas if their families cannot afford to do so. Market will be at Father Mercredi High School on Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. Information.
• Ugly Sweater after 5 mixer: Hosted by the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce at Uptown Alley on Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets and information.
• Santa Claus Parade: The RMWB’s Starry Night holiday party and Santa Claus Parade return Dec. 7. The party begins at Kiyam Community Park at 5 p.m., parade starts at 6 p.m. Information.
• Ugly Christmas Sweater Party: Drum Brewing taps the keg of its Christmas-themed beer with a party that includes prizes for ugly Christmas sweaters. Keg is tapped at 6 p.m., DJ Smibble performs from 9 p.m. to midnight. Dec. 13 at 6 p.m. Information.
• Simon King live at Drum Brewing: B.C.-based stand-up comedian Simon King performs at Drum Brewing on Dec. 12. Tickets.
• 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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Yao raises drug use concerns about Tawâw denied by RMWB, Indigenous leaders

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“Without this program, these individuals face a high likelihood of returning to homelessness, never being housed from existing encampments, increasing their reliance on emergency systems, and placing them at greater risk of death,” said Bowman.

Tawâw prioritizes people who are chronically homeless. Nearly all clients arrive suffering from addictions, psychosis, and mental and emotional health issues.

Many have been kicked out of other shelters and treatment programs in Fort McMurray, and have been frequently arrested or hospitalized. Some clients lived in an encampment cleared by the RMWB last summer.

Jo-Anne Packham of the Wood Buffalo Wellness Society, which oversees Tawâw, said rooms are searched multiple times daily. Drugs, paraphernalia and weapons are banned.

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When drugs are found, staff and residents meet to discuss next steps. Residents have been kicked out when they regularly break the rules. Suspected drug dealers in the area are reported to Wood Buffalo RCMP.

When told Packham’s responses, Yao said “if that’s the case than that’s fantastic and there shouldn’t be any issues or concerns.” However, he insists there are residents and RMWB officials sharing his concerns.

Conklin celebrates arrival of new homes from program launched by Cenovus

Leaders with Cenovus Energy and Conklin held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for 15 new homes in the hamlet, located more than 150 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray. Eight more homes will arrive by the end of the year.

The homes are part of a $50-million program announced by Cenovus in early 2020 to build 200 new homes in Conklin, Janvier, Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, Cold Lake First Nation, Beaver Lake Cree Nation and Heart Lake First Nation. Cenovus has so far funded 161 homes in the communities.

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“Living conditions are always going to be a challenge in some remote communities, but I feel we’ve really reduced the challenges around living conditions and accommodations,” said Cenovus executive chair Alex Pourbaix in an interview. “When you can put families in stable housing that are warm, dry, safe, I think you’ve gone a long way to tackling a lot of the other challenges that these communities have.”

Pourbaix first visited Conklin in 2018 as Cenovus’ CEO to meet Indigenous leaders. As he toured the area, he was shocked to see so many people living in poorly-built shacks, old campers and crowded homes close to lucrative oilsands operations. He left convinced Cenovus needed to help.

Scott Duguid, CEO of the Conklin Resource Development Advisory Council, estimates more than 75 per cent of people in Conklin lived in unstable housing when he took the job in 2023. Most homes report serious problems with mould, plumbing, heating and structural integrity.

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Housing is not Conklin’s only problem. The community also has problems treating addictions, fighting crime, improving food security, encouraging economic development and accessing health care.

A lack of suitable housing options in the isolated hamlet has made treating these problems increasingly difficult, said Duguid. The 2021 municipal census puts the hamlet’s population at 178 people, a 22 per cent drop from 2018. Most residents are Métis.

“I was flabbergasted when I saw all this data when I took the job,” said Duguid. “A lot of people are in rough shape or in trailers or sharing housing, so there’s going to be a need.”

Fort McMurray teen dies in crash west of Athabasca

A Fort McMurray boy has died in a fatal collision west of Athabasca earlier this week.

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Athabasca RCMP says they received reports of a crash on Nov. 18 at around 6:30 p.m. on Highway 2 near Range Road 232. Investigators say a westbound pick-up truck collided with a commercial truck that had broken down.

A 14-year-old boy in the pick-up truck was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency workers. Both drivers were also injured. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved.

The Fort McMurray Ravens identified the victim as Kyle Murgatroyd, one of the football club’s graduating bantam players.

“Kyle was not only a remarkable athlete, but also a cherished member of our Ravens family. His dedication, passion, and sportsmanship left an indelible mark on our team and community,” wrote Andrew Munro, president of the club, in a Wednesday evening post on the club’s Facebook page.

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“At this time we are asking for anyone to reach out to us with any questions and respect Kyle’s family during this incredibly difficult time.”

Wood Buffalo Military Museum expands as demand for local history grows

Fort McMurray’s military history is crowding storage rooms, but the region’s military museum is committed to find ways to showcase all of their growing collection.

The Wood Buffalo Military Museum Centre, which is found at the Fort McMurray Legion, has a growing collection of different weapons, uniforms, flags, photos, documents and other military paraphernalia.

A Chieftain tank used in the British Army is parked outside near a LAV that stands as a monument for Canadians who died in Afghanistan. More vehicles are being restored by Keyano College students.

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Kevin Rodgers, the museum’s curator and a history professor at Keyano College, says the collection appears random until Fort McMurray’s own history is considered.

“We’ve got hundreds of veterans in Fort McMurray. Most of them weren’t born here, but they choose to reside here. They bring with them their collections and stories from places like Yugoslavia and Afghanistan,” said Rodgers.

“And it’s not just Canadian soldiers. We’ve talked to people who were Ukrainian soldiers and part of other sides. That’s still part of our history as a community. We’re not just a Canadian or local museum, even though we push that local idea. We also deal with global events.”

Alberta Energy Regulator orders Sunshine Oilsands to suspend wells, pipelines

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The Alberta Energy Regulator has issued an order requiring Sunshine Oilsands to suspend its wells, facilities and pipelines, saying the company hasn’t met its regulatory obligations.

The AER says the order, issued Nov. 14, is meant to ensure that sites licensed to the Calgary-based company will not pose a risk to public safety or the environment.

Sunshine must also post a security deposit of about $6.1 million _ representing its total estimated inactive liability — and provide reasonable care and measures for its sites.

The AER says the company must report any hazards that present a risk to public safety or the environment.

The regulator says Sunshine has “repeatedly failed to comply with regulatory requirements and address compliance issues in a timely manner.”

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It warns that failure to comply with the order could result in further enforcement such as an abandonment order, which requires a company to permanently dismantle its energy infrastructure.

Police investigating assault at haunted house event

Wood Buffalo RCMP are investigating reports of an assault that took place at a haunted house fundraiser event hosted by the Wood Buffalo Food Bank.

Police say the alleged assault took place on Oct. 26 at 9:48 p.m. One of the actors at the event reported they were hit in the face by an unknown man wearing a deer costume. The man was with a group of other people. Wood Buffalo RCMP says the man was kicked out of the event before officers arrived.

The complainant, Sherri DeGagne, wrote in an email to Fort McMurray Today she suffered a concussion and whiplash after she was hit on the left side of her face, ear and neck.

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“All I could see was white! I couldn’t see the people anymore but could hear them say… you just hit a real person,” wrote DeGagne, who is 57.

The Wood Buffalo Food Bank says they are cooperating with Wood Buffalo RCMP and have provided all information they have about the incident, including surveillance footage.

Police arrest man with history of harassing, following women

Police in Fort McMurray have arrested a man with a history of following and harassing women after he missed an appointment with his probation officer.

Faton Miftari, 40, of Fort McMurray was supposed to meet with his probation officer on Thursday and a warrant for his arrest was issued when he missed the meeting. When police could not locate Miftari, Alberta RCMP released a warning to the public on Friday that he may be in Edmonton or Fort McMurray.

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Police confirmed on Saturday Miftari had been arrested without incident and charged with breaching a probation order.

Edmonton police say Miftari has been banned from any University of Alberta campuses or properties after receiving multiple reports last January of a man following or harassing women on campus. He has also been convicted of criminal harassment and breaking and entering in Ontario.

Miftari was arrested in September 2023 and charged with criminal harassment after a woman in southeast Edmonton told police a man was repeatedly watching her home, coming onto her property, banging her door and looking inside her home through a window.

In December 2023, Miftari was charged with trespassing by night after police were told of a man peering into a window of another home.

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• The Canadian Space Agency is asking people to name the country’s first lunar rover, which is expected to launch no earlier than 2026. One of the four options up for a vote is Athabasca, named after the Athabasca River. OK, the Alberta connection on this one is slim. But Pol-R is idiotic, so please vote.

• 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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