Fort McMurray Minute: Wildfire Evacuations, Fringe Festival, and Access Concerns Raised

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

This Week In Fort McMurray:

• Evacuation orders for residents of Abasand, Beacon Hill, Grayling Terrace, and Prairie Creek are no longer in place thanks to recent rainfall and containment efforts that reduced the wildfire threat. Mayor Sandy Bowman welcomed residents back home, although caution is still advised as the wildfire continues to burn. It could take weeks or months to fully control the fire.
  
  
• The Province is discussing ways to increase air service at regional airports. Premier Danielle Smith highlighted that driving from Fort McMurray to Grande Prairie has proven quicker than flying, something she says is “crazy”. Smith floated the idea of a "reverse auction", wherein minimum passenger thresholds are set for a route to be financially viable. The proposal suggests that the Province would cover the shortfall until the route becomes profitable. The Province has also provided the Fort McMurray Airport Authority with almost $120,000 to help with development of a strategic business case to attract more passengers by evaluating new routes out of the city.
  
  
• Applications are open to join the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. Made up of 26 students from across the region, Youth Advisory Council members will work closely with community leaders, participate in volunteer work, and support community events throughout the year. Those entering grades 9 to 12 in the next school year are eligible to apply. The application can be found online, and the deadline is August 11th.

Last Week In Fort McMurray:

• Questions were once again raised about access in and out of Fort McMurray, following the evacuation of several neighbourhoods due to the wildfire. In a strange turn of events, Council was scheduled to debate a motion proposed by Councillor Funky Banjoko regarding lobbying the Province to fully twin Highway 63 down to Edmonton, but that meeting was deferred due to the evacuation. After the evacuation led to an extremely congested highway, Premier Danielle Smith was asked about access at a press conference. She said that the Province's current focus is on Highway 686, a route still in the design phase, which would link Fort McMurray to the Peace region. Regarding the complete twinning of Highway 63 to Edmonton, Smith stated that no decision has been reached yet.
  
  
• School was suspended at Fort McMurray Catholic Schools, Fort McMurray Public Schools, and Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord due to the State of Local Emergency. Classes are expected to resume on May 21st, but re-opening is dependent on wildfire activity. The Part A Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) originally scheduled for last week, were also cancelled, though the remaining PATs are likely to proceed as planned in June.
  
  
• It was announced that the Fort McMurray Fringe Festival will take place on Saturday, August 31st, at Heritage Village. The event aims to highlight various local talents, offering artists of all skill levels an opportunity to showcase their work in front of local crowds. The Festival follows the guidelines of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals, with open submissions and slots available on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications for both general audiences and Theatre for Young Audiences are being accepted online until midnight on June 14th, 2024.