Weekly update: Inquiry investigates Fort Chip mental health crisis

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Happy long weekend, Fort McMurray!

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• Knights celebrate 50 years of rugby: The Fort McMurray Knights RFC celebrates its 50th anniversary. A planned day of rugby will be held at SMS Stadium with the club’s mini rugby program, followed by junior rugby and adult rugby. August 3 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Summer Makers Market: Arts Council Wood Buffalo hosts a market featuring local artists, artisans and crafters selling their unique and handmade creations. The market takes place in the front and backyard of ACWB’s new office at 9908 Manning Avenue. Entry is free although donations are appreciated. August 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information.
• 2024 Baseball Canada Cup: Fort McMuray hosts 10 provincial teams at Legacy Dodge Field and Ross Hennigar Ball Park. August 7-11. Tickets and information.
• Wood Buffalo Mural Fest: New murals will go up across Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo throughout August and into the fall. The event also hosts community gatherings. Local artist Ruth Perry hosts a morning of rock painting and artistic inspiration at Beacon Hill Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Aug. 9. A free family-friendly public art exhibition will be hosted at Kiyam Community Park on Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Schedule of events and murals.
• Afro Canadian Festival of Arts and Culture: Celebrating the Afro-Canadian community of Fort McMurray with food, arts, crafts and live music. Performances by DJ Dynce, Oiltown Records and Sangea Academy’s Drumming Workshop. August 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at J. Howard Pew Park. Information.
• Wicked Week of Wheels: Join us at Supertest Speedway at Area 63 for the Canada Cup! The Area 63 Mini Stock series and Clearwater Contender V8 series returns for another season. August 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Area 63 Motorsports Park. Tickets and information.
• Acden Show & Shine: Acden’s fourth annual car show returns to support the Centre of Hope. Aug. 11 at Acden from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information.
• Rubber Duck Race: The 24th annual rubber duck race returns to Syncrude Athletic Park to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wood Buffalo. Aug. 11 from noon to 3 p.m. Tickets and information.
• Take the Pledge: Want a chance to win a helicopter ride AND reduce wildfire risk? Pledge to reduce wildfires in the Fort McMurray Forest Area by August 16 and you’ll be entered to win a helicopter tour of the region! Take the pledge today online.
• Keyano Junior Huskies Volleyball Camp: Gain the competitive edge before fall high school tryouts with week-long instruction from Keyano Huskies Volleyball Coaches and student athletes. Athletes from out of town and surrounding areas are welcome. August 19-22 at Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre. Information on registration.
• Empty Bowls and Blueberry Festival: The annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Wood Buffalo Food Bank returns with the Blueberry Festival, which was held for decades every Labour Day weekend until 2008. August 30-September 2 at Snye Point Park. Information.
• Fort McMurray Fringe Festival: Local theatre company Theatre, Just Because is launching the first Fort McMurray Fringe Festival at Heritage Village on Aug. 31. 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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Suicide inquiry finds programs failing Fort Chipewyan

Fort Chipewyan has been failed by government programs and agencies meant to handle mental and emotional health, education, crime and public safety. The conclusions were made by a public inquiry after a teenage girl committed suicide in the community in 2015.

Justice J.B. Champion of the Alberta Court of Justice concluded “a lack of resources and support, particularly in mental health,” contributed to the girl’s death. The incident shows “critical gaps in care and communication among federal, provincial and municipal governments.”

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“That no health care providers, educators, counsellors, or other interested individuals were aware of the angst she was suffering is evidence of the dearth of resources in Fort Chipewyan,” wrote Champion in his report.

“Based on the evidence before me, there were very few avenues available to her to seek the kind of care that might have saved her life.”

Champion noted many witnesses at the inquiry talked about the youth and community-oriented programs available in Fort Chipewyan. He concluded these programs have had few impacts on improving the community.

Solutions to problems are delayed by “ample finger-pointing and evasion of responsibility and accountability” from federal, provincial and municipal governments.

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Champion heard Fort Chipewyan has a “tragically understaffed” RCMP detachment and struggles to recruit and retain health care workers. There are poor housing options for teachers and health care workers, and few gathering places for youth.

He added Fort Chipewyan is being hit by an “opioids tsunami” stretching the few existing health care, policing and community resources.

RMWB offers Jasper lessons from 2016 wildfire

Mayor Sandy Bowman says the RMWB can offer Jasper feedback and lessons on recovery, re-entry, rebuild plans, damage assessments, sifting through debris for personal items, security, communications and business continuity.

“During Fort McMurray’s wildfire recovery, some of the most helpful advice we received was from the Community of Slave Lake, sharing their expertise and experiences,” said Bowman, adding he spoke with Mayor Richard Ireland of Jasper last week. “Offering that same support to Jasper is the least we can do.”

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Of the 1,113 structures in the Town of Jasper, the wildfire destroyed 358 buildings. Ireland is one of many residents who lost his home.  Major infrastructure, such as schools and the wastewater treatment plant, also survived.

The Wood Buffalo Community Foundation is encouraging people to donate to the Northern Alberta Resiliency Fund. The fund will focus on rebuild efforts on areas not covered by governments. The Edmonton Community Foundation is matching all donations to the fund up to $100,000. The Alberta and federal governments will match donations to the Canadian Red Cross’ Alberta Wildfires Appeal.

The RMWB is also organizing a “Show your love for Jasper” campaign. People, organizations and businesses are being asked to create video messages and handmade drawings of hope and encouragement for Jasperites.

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Progress made against wildfires in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo area

Heavy rains, cool weather, hundreds of wildland firefighters and heavy equipment operators have made strong progress against all major wildfires complexes in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo region.

Many wildfires are now classified as held, under control or extinguished.

The wildfire that caused the evacuation of the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation and put Janvier on evacuation notice is now held and no longer spreading.

The First Nation ended their evacuation on July 26. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) ended their evacuation warning for Janvier on the same day.

An out of control wildfire continues burning 12 kilometres northeast of Conklin and 10 kilometres from Highway 881. The complex did not trigger an evacuation warning or order for Conklin.

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A containment line surrounds 60 per cent of the wildfire closest to Conklin. There are more than 275 firefighters and support staff fighting the wildfire. They are supported by seven helicopters and 31 pieces of heavy equipment.

North of Fort McMurray is the Cattail Lake Complex. All three wildfires in this complex are held and no longer spreading. These wildfires did not threaten Fort McKay or Fort McMurray, but they did cause Imperial Oil, MEG Energy and Suncor to remove all non-essential staff from sites in the area.

TC Energy signs deal to sell minority stake in pipeline to Indigenous groups

TC Energy Corp. is selling a minority stake in its Western Canadian natural gas transmission network to a consortium of Indigenous communities for $1 billion.

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The Calgary-based pipeline company said the deal, announced Tuesday, will enable 72 Indigenous communities to take a 5.34 per cent stake in its Nova Gas transmission system and Foothills pipeline assets, which together comprise a 25,000-kilometre network of natural gas infrastructure assets spanning Western Canada.

The deal is backed by the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corp. (AIOC) and negotiated by a consortium committee representing Indigenous communities across Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Indigenous communities across Canada are showing growing interest in acquiring equity positions in major projects and infrastructure as a way to generate revenue and economic opportunity for their people.

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In 2022, for example, Enbridge Inc. struck a $1.1-billion deal to sell an 11.57 per cent interest in seven northern Alberta pipelines to 23 First Nation and Metis communities.

Several Indigenous-led groups have also indicated interest in purchasing an equity stake in the Trans Mountain oil pipeline, which is currently owned by the federal government.

Cenovus reports second quarter earnings of $1 billion, debt target hit

The CEO of Cenovus Energy Inc. said the company’s recent debt repayment milestone will not mean changes to its near-term strategy.

Jon McKenzie said on a conference call Thursday that market-watchers should not expect the Calgary-based oil company to embark on a mergers and acquisitions spree or change its strategy in any other major way, even as it enjoys significantly higher free cash flow starting in the third quarter.

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In July, after several years of prioritizing debt repayment, Cenovus reached its debt reduction target — bringing its total net debt to $4 billion.

But McKenzie said the excess cash will be 100 per cent returned to shareholders, most likely in the form of share buybacks, and won’t be used to embark on any new growth strategies or M&A opportunities.

Cenovus reported second quarter earnings of $1 billion Thursday, up from $866 million in the same quarter last year. The company reported revenues of $14.9 billion for the second quarter, up from $12.2 billion for the same quarter last year.

In the second quarter, Cenovus loaded its first vessels at the Westridge Marine Terminal in Vancouver following the successful startup of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, on which it is a major contracted shipper.

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The company now expects total upstream production of between 785,000 and 810,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, up from a prior forecast of 770,000 to 810,000 boe/d.

Speed blamed for death of Fort McMurray motorcyclist in Red Deer County

Police are blaming speed after a Fort McMurray man was killed driving a motorcycle at 237 km/h in Red Deer County.

Innisfail RCMP say that on the afternoon of July 28, a peace officer with Red Deer County was patrolling Range Road 25 near Township Road 350 when the officer saw a motorcycle speeding southbound on Range Road 25. The speed limit was 80 km/h.

The peace officer clocked the man’s excessive speed and activated their emergency lights to stop the rider. Before the officer could make a U-turn, the rider lost control on a curve and crashed in a wooded area.

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Mounties arriving at the scene shortly after 4 p.m. said the man was found deceased. The man’s name was not released by police.

• Jurors will decide the fate of two men accused of conspiring to murder police officers at the Coutts border crossing during 2022 protests against COVID-19 restrictions. Two other men also faced the same charges. One of those men pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of possessing a weapon in an unauthorized place. The fourth man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms. Multiple others arrested during the protest have also pleaded guilty on lesser charges.
• David Parker of Take Back Alberta has been ordered by an Alberta court to hand over documents to Elections Alberta or face a $5,000 fine and possible arrest. Elections Alberta is investigating the group’s compliance with the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act. Parker, when asked to turn over two-dozen documents, provided some, but not all. His lawyer argues Parker is concerned about the identity of his donors.
• The investigation into what caused children at Calgary daycares to fall sick last year says there’s an illegal slaughter and meat-sale racket in Alberta. There’s no indication any of the 448 kids were sickened by illegal meat. This discovery was simply a byproduct of the investigation. Illegal abattoirs in rural areas are avoiding inspections and other regulations — and that meat could be ending up in the cities.
• 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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