Fort McMurray Minute: Local Artist, Promotion Discussion, and Canada Day Festivities

Fort McMurray Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Fort McMurray politics

This Week In Fort McMurray:

• Happy Canada Day! There are a number of activities taking place around town! Beginning at 10:00 am, there will be a parade starting at Main St, proceeding down Franklin Ave and ending up at Reidel Street. There will also be family activities at the SMS Equipment Stadium at Shell Place including face painting, bouncy castles, a craft carnival, an obstacle course, and food trucks and concessions. There is a full schedule available online.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Wood Buffalo Development Advisory Committee. The Committee will hear a presentation by the Chief Administrative Officer of Wheatland County about economic successes and challenges in the region. In addition the Committee will consider their summer schedule. The Wood Buffalo Downtown Revitalization Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet on Wednesday at 5:30 pm, but that meeting was cancelled.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 6:00 pm, there is a special Council Meeting. Councillor Funky Banjoko will make a motion to reverse the controversial and abrupt decision by Council to promote themselves from part-time to full-time. Some Councillors, including Banjoko, have expressed regret in their decision to vote for the promotion without a public consultation. The Community Standards Appeal Committee will meet on Thursday at 6:30 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.

Last Week In Fort McMurray:

• Council unanimously approved a zoning amendment for the proposed River’s Edge Events Centre and Resort in Draper, allowing the business to operate in an existing building along the Clearwater River. The amendment combines different lots into a single zone to support a small family resort managed by an onsite property manager. The decision followed a meeting with extensive public input, where 36 speakers registered, with opinions split between support and opposition. Supporters highlighted the need for more event spaces and economic benefits, while opponents raised concerns about traffic and community disruption.
  
  
• The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has forecast a more than 17% increase in Alberta's oilsands production by 2033, projecting raw bitumen production to reach 4 million barrels per day, up from 3.4 million barrels per day in 2023. Despite efforts to diversify into hydrogen, geothermal, helium, and lithium, conventional energy sources like oil, gas, and bitumen are expected to remain crucial during an energy transition, according to the AER’s Chief Economist.
  
  
• Local artist Amy Keller-Rempp will be featured at the Calgary Stampede. Her signature work is the SkyDance series, which features the aurora borealis over Fort McMurray. She was part of the Stampede’s Western Showcase in 2009 and 2010, but this time she will have her own booth. Her artwork will also be featured at the Fort McMurray International Airport as part of the YMM Digital Art Exhibit. Congratulations Amy!