Fort McMurray Minute: Robotics Competition, Community Champions, and New Crime Statistics

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

This Week In Fort McMurray:

• The Community Standards Appeal Committee will meet Thursday at 6:30 pm. The agenda includes an appeal against the approval of a hen license application.
  
  
• In a case that continues to grow more bizarre, a homeless man claims he was coerced into robbing an Ace Liquor store against his will. Allegedly, four employees of the store were involved in a series of robberies at the store on Real Martin Drive. Police have charged the four employees with multiple counts of robbery and extortion in connection with five robberies that occurred this spring. The homeless man, who was also charged with robbery, asserts that he was forced by the other suspects to commit the crime under threats, including being shown photos of people with cut throats, and was promised housing in return.
  
  
• The Municipality is inviting residents to nominate community champions for the Council Excellence Awards. This year, awards will be given in four categories: Citizen of the Year, Everyday Hero, Indigenous Advocate, and Youth Achievement. The public can recognize individuals making significant contributions to the community. Nominations, which are reviewed by the Mayor and Council, must be submitted by October 14th. Applications can be completed online.

Last Week In Fort McMurray:

• It's been announced that the Fort McMurray’s public and Catholic school divisions will be hosting the provincial robotics championships early next year. Alberta’s top middle and high school robotics teams will vie for spots in the VEX Robotics World Championships. Scheduled for February 21st and 22nd, 2025, at the Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre, the event aims to showcase the city's educational and engineering prowess. The event also emphasizes robotics' role in preparing students for evolving career opportunities while fostering skills in teamwork and problem-solving. Local schools like Father Mercredi and Westwood have previously competed at the world championships.
  
  
• Congratulations are in order for Nishka Rai, a Grade 12 student at Westwood Community High School who has been chosen to join the Minister of Education's Youth Council. Nishka will represent Fort McMurray as part of an exclusive group of around 40 students from across Alberta. The Council brings together diverse youth voices to discuss educational issues, with members attending three meetings throughout the school year to offer their perspectives.
  
  
• New data from Statistics Canada and the Wood Buffalo RCMP showed that crime rates in Fort McMurray increased in 2023 compared to 2022, with both violent and non-violent crimes on the rise. The city scored higher than the rest of Alberta on the crime severity index, and saw increases in assaults, thefts, and property crimes, although impaired driving incidents decreased. The RCMP attributed these trends to lingering social and economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, oilsands layoffs, and past natural disasters.