If you’ve been living under a rock (or, to be fair, out at a work-camp) then you may not have seen all the signs and know that today is Election Day here in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. And that’s ok, because there’s still time for you to get out and rock the vote. (voting info here)

Today is the day when residents of our region can make their voices heard and elect a mayor and council that they think will be the best representatives for our region. I’ve got my fingers crossed that this will be the best council elected in recent memory.

Last time around voter turnout was pretty dismal (can you say less than 10%?), a major reason why I decided to help get the word out about the election and provide candidates an opportunity to inform voters through Better Know A Candidate.

I’m pretty happy with the results and feedback the candidates have been receiving, and I can only hope that myoilsands has played a small part in the record turnout that the advance polls have been seeing. (Hey, a guy can dream right?)

But enough banter, let’s look at some of the candidates.

Up For Mayor?

Watch Blake, Nebesny & Vyboh answer questions at the Mayoral Debate

There are four brave souls running for the title of RMWB Mayor (along with applicable Better Know A Candidate profiles), they are:

• Melissa Blake (profile)
• George Albert Mercredi
• Joe Nebesny
• John Vyboh

While I think the race here is solely between Blake and Vyboh, I’d like to shout out to Nebesny for bringing some “everyman” qualities to the race. Joe, I do not think you’re ready for the office of mayor, however why not try running for council next time?

Melissa Blake & John Vyboh

So it’s really just down to Blake, who is running for her third term as mayor, and Vyboh, who is trying to make the jump from councillor to mayor. But who to choose, who to choose?

Sith Lord - courtesy of johngreenportfolio.com

Someone (who shall remain anonymous) told me last year that if John Vyboh ran and became Mayor, that it would be the same as if we elected a Sith Lord to office (from Star Wars fame dontchaknow).

Being from a certain generation, this image made an rather lasting impression on me. And while I do think that the comparison is a wee bit of an massive exaggeration, I don’t think having Vyboh as mayor is a healthy option. In fact, I believe it would be a major mistake for our community.

Vyboh, simply put, seems to be out of touch with reality. I was stunned by some of Vyboh’s speeches, accusations and rhetoric used throughout the campaign. Vyboh’s campaign seemed to be trying to place blame where blame was not due – it just did not resonate with my thoughts of reality.

Granted, Vyboh has been the target of some hostility (there’s a fake twitter account, which in my book is dirty pool – no question) and yes, he has had to put up with quite a bit of flack from certain individuals (I’m looking at you @AlbertaLad). But that open hostility is there for a reason: Vyboh has made some enemies through his actions on the council and on the campaign trail. A political career does not come cheap.

On the positive side though, I do love the fact that Vyboh uses Twitter – he was tweeting long before hitting the campaign trail, and for that I’ll give him two big internet thumbs up. I love the idea of a mayor who tweets. There’s something very transparent and democratic about that – a mayor that uses social media to inform the public, on what seems like a very personal, one-on-one relationship – one can only hope.

(You can find more information about John Vyboh at http://www.johnvyboh.com/)

Blake, on the other hand, seems to be fully qualified, fully in touch and fully prepared to successfully take our community into the future. She has dealt with some off-base accusations with dignity, and the hallmark feature of her campaign, “are you better off now than you were six years ago?”, is a question to which I would have to unequivocally answer with a big “YES”.

Blake has acted like an adult and a professional throughout the campaign, unlike a certain someone else, and is in my opinion the right choice to lead the next council. If you haven’t already voted, and you’re still unsure as to the option, I urge you to go check out http://melissaformayor.ca/ and inform yourself of her awesomeness.

And speaking about leading the next council…

Ward 1 – Candidates to Look For

Since I live in Fort McMurray, which is covered under Ward 1, I’ll only be focusing on my home ward. If you’d have preferred I also include other Wards, here is a “how to” video from an Australian child showing you the signup for a WordPress blog. It’d be great to have more RMWB bloggers telling their stories, so jump on in!

The brave souls running for Councilor, Ward 1 (along with applicable Better Know A Candidate profiles) are:

• Mike Allen (profile)
• Byron Bailey
• Christine Burton
• Mila Byron
• Travis Dawson
• Mohammad Shafiq Dogar
• Sheldon Germain (profile)
• Rick Haney
• Ross Jacobs (profile)
• Dave Kirschner (profile)
• Gregory Lucas
• Phil Meagher (profile)
• Gareth Norris
• Don (Donald K.) Scott (profile)
• Russel Thomas (profile)

My first reaction to seeing this list was this: what a strong candidate pool to choose from! There are easily more than six people I would like to see become a Ward 1 Councilor for the next term – and unfortunately I was not able to vote again and again (I’m looking at you Mix103.7 web poll), so six I did choose.

Six For Your Picks

Like I said, picking only six means making some tough decisions, and that means some folks who I think would be strong voices for our community were left out… but for what it’s worth I think these six candidates will do well representing me (and hopefully you as well).

• Mike Allen
• Sheldon Germain
• Ross Jacobs
• Dave Kirschner
• Don (Donald K.) Scott
• Russel Thomas

For those of you playing along at home, if elected, four of the above candidates would be new to the council for 2010. I think the last council was sometimes suffering from a poisoned atmosphere, a situation I hope can be avoided this time around with some fresh faces and cold eyes.

Mike Allen. Of the two incumbents, I know Mike Allen the best. A local business man, community advocate and respected former President of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, Mike is someone I’ve been able to have relaxed and casual conversations with. I like him, plus he’s an advocate for social media – follow him on Twitter as @Mike_Allen47. If you have questions about the RMWB and the council, he’ll usually get back to you asap.

You can find out more info about Mike Allen at http://www.pickmike.ca/

Sheldon Germain. Germain, the second incumbent on my list has the distinction of being the youngest ever regional councilor, and has in the past served as Deputy Mayor. Family is important to Sheldon, and he is putting a “Family Friendly Fort McMurray” high on his list of priorities. From some of the external press about our region, you’d never know we have dedicated, supportive and loving families here in Fort McMurray. Sheldon is here to prove all of those 24-hour journalists wrong.

You can find out more info about Sheldon Germain at http://www.sheldongermain.com

Ross Jacobs. Ross Jacobs would be the first of my Fresh Four to make it on the council. For a relatively young candidate, Ross has been a tour-de-force on the campaign front. He’s been smart with how he’s handled the campaign and I think he’s an equally smart choice to be on the council. Plus, and here I think you’re starting to see a trend, he’s embraced digital communications to get his message across. Ross is a family man (just check out his current Twitter avatar) and is the current General Manager of Community Futures Wood Buffalo. He’s actively involved in the community and is a great new choice for a new voice on the council.

You can find out more info about Ross Jacobs at http://www.rossjacobs.ca/

Dave Kirschner. Second on my Fresh Four list is Dave Kirschner. A 32-year resident and businessman of Fort McMurray, Dave has chosen to once again run for office and is “ready to be your full time councilor.” He will bring a wealth of experience to the position and will be an invaluable asset to the team. I’m looking forward to seeing Dave work with the rest of the council on the challenges and opportunities that face our home.

You can find out more info about Dave Kirschner at http://www.davekirschner.ca/

Don Scott. When you go to the campaign site of the third member of the Four, the following jumps out of the page: “Local lawyer, small business owner, and community volunteer to run for municipal council“.

I, for one, relish the fact that another candidate trained in law is running for council. Don will be able to provide direct and meaningful feedback on practically every aspect of council business. And as a small business owner, he fully understands the needs and issues facing small business in Fort McMurray. Thanks for running this year Don!

You can find out more info about Don Scott at http://www.donscott.ca/

Russell Thomas. Russell Thomas, a well-known face about town, is the last member of the Fresh Four. Aside from the tireless community effort he provides on a yearly basis (interPLAY ring a bell anyone?), one of Russell’s key strengths is communication. Wether it’s his role as the Director of Marketing & Communications at Keyano College, through Twitter as @rvthomas67 or just his own personal blog (Middle Age Bulge), Russell will be able to provide proven communication skills to the council and to the entire RMWB. Russell is also a graduate of the inaugural class of Leadership Wood Buffalo, an organization he has been a Director of since 2006.

You can find out more information about Russel Thomas at http://www.russellthomas.ca/

————–

And there we have it. Some guy’s thoughts from behind his laptop, about an election that (hopefully) you care about, on the day of said election.

Scanning Twitter (this post was written the night before), I’m seeing well-wishes and thank you’s between all of the active candidates and their campaign supporters. It’s a pretty good feeling seeing all of the positivity and encouragement between the candidates. Hopefully that continues into the council chambers and eventually rewards us with the best council we have seen in years.

And speaking of Twitter, Colleen Tatum (@colleentatum) just tweeted this:

I have a feeling it’s anyones win tomorrow for council & we all maybe surprised -it’s a new game #ymm

And you know what? Despite my hopes for the seven above, she may very well be right. Want to follow the election via Twitter? Don’t forget to follow these hashtags: #ymmvotes, #ymm & #rmwb.

copyright NorthernClassic.ca

I’m truly excited for the Northern Classic to be held on November 26th – I cannot wait to be out there, cheering on the MOB, surrounded by 4,999 other fans, in the largest ever Alberta Junior Hockey League game. Did I mention it’s outdoors?

But unfortunately, I, like a lot of other folks, did not react quickly enough and missed out on the last ticket sold – 54 minutes after sales started. Much has been made of the sale, as you can see by these three online posts: Russel Thomas, Vancouver Sun & the Fort McMurray Today.

So unless I volunteer (which I will gladly do) or win some tickets on the radio, I’m out of luck.

Sour Grapes?

Grapes - courtesy of totalsportspro.com

I’m trying to figure out if this is just a case of sour grapes because I was unable to get tickets to an awesome community event, or if I have a legitimate case. I think it’s probably both, but I do lean towards the latter.

It looks as though large blocks of tickets were made available to groups in town. And by large blocks, I mean 10% of total ticket sales. To each group.

Now don’t get me wrong – these tickets are going to go to some great causes (although I argue about the Fort McMurray Airport Authority purchase being a “great cause”) – Russell Thomas points out these block sales in his post:

The highlight of the morning was the community block ticket purchase by SEKO Contruction and Permasteel  Group that guaranteed the access of 500 minor hockey participants, and 500 students from the Fort McMurrary Catholic Board of Education and the Fort McMurray Public Board of Eduction.  The Fort McMurray Airport Authority purchased 500 tickets that  were provided to media partners to be used in the next 42 days as public give-aways in advance of the event.  Given the sold out event, the 500 media tickets will be highly sought after in the weeks ahead.

So that’s 1,500 tickets gone to three groups. That’s 30% of total ticket sales. To three groups. Why even bother advertising 5,000 tickets when only 3,500 were up for grabs in the first place?

I’d like to see if any other large blocks were bought, and if there were limits on the number of tickets per person. If I was actually on the ball this past Friday morning, could I have purchased 50 tickets to hand out as I wished?

And as to the media purchase by the Fort McMurray Airport Authority… aren’t a lot of the media in town for-profit companies, operated by large national companies? I have a hard time thinking a radio station owned by Rogers would not have gotten tickets to give away as prizes. It’s what they do. In my opinion it would have been better to give the tickets to community non-profits, such as the Hub, as an alternate source for fundraising.

I’m not saying block purchases by community groups is a bad thing. I’m just saying that the percentages are too high, and that if 5,000 tickets were never meant for the general public, then 5,000 tickets should never have been promoted.

So the sales, in my opinion, were not perfect. I didn’t get a ticket, I can deal with that. If I didn’t get a ticket and the block sales never happened, would I have posted this? Probably not. Could the Fort McMurray Airport Authority still redirect some of those tickets to better causes? Not sure, but you never know.

But having said all of that – I’m looking forward to this event coming to our neck of the boreal. It’s going to be an amazing time, an amazing community moment and an amazing game (based on the MOB’s record so far).

Let’s go MOB!

—–

How do you ensure the citizens the best value for their tax dollars?

What is the question you expected this evening, but wasn’t asked?

The Three Debaters: Nebesny, Vyboh and Blake

Here are a few things I take away from tonight’s mayoral debate.

1. While the theatre had a lot of bums in seats, a large majority of those folks were heavily invested in either the candidates on stage, or were involved in council campaigns themselves. Thanks to @colleentatum for putting that bug in my ear.
2. Joe Nebesny, while not the most qualified candidate to run North America’s largest municipality (by square kilometers), was a character and received a lot of laughs + goodwill tonight from the audience. He is passionate about the community and sees a lot of good here (he also sees a lot that needs to be prioritized and tackled speedily).
3. John Vyboh is not a big fan of the oil sands industry – or at least he thinks they need to be more involved in the community. If I were able to question him about that, I would ask him to take a look at who raised the majority of last year’s United Way funds (hint: it rhymes with “employees of the oil sands industry”). He also mentioned how proud he was of the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre and the Suncor Community Leisure Centre. At odds?
4. Melissa Blake not only kept her calm, dignified presence, but she also stole the show ending with a standing ovation from a large portion of the crowd.
5. If push comes to shove, I am not entirely convinced that Nebesny would in fact not vote for himself come election day – based on how often he seemed to vocally support Blake’s comments… it was quite funny, and telling.
6. I will shortly be posting two videos of the very last two questions asked of all three candidates – enjoy!

Audience milling during halftime break

Melissa Blake being interviewed after the debate

From the press release:

Ross Jacobs has announced this afternoon that his campaign team will be offering free transportation to the advance polls and on election day to voters in ward 1. When asked why he launched this initative Ross said, “it’s a chance for me to live up to my promise of making this election the most quantifiable in wood buffalo history”

So there you have it. Now there’s just one more excuse that won’t work for you when you try to tell folks why you can’t vote on election day.

For those interested in taking Ross up on the offer, go over to http://www.rossjacobs.ca/ and fill out the registration form.

Please all, get out and vote! Make an impact, make a change, make a future.

(late submission)

ABOUT Phil

My name is Phil Meagher, I am a 27 year resident of Fort McMurray, my wife, Sherri and I have raised five children here.  I am a five term councilor having been first elected in 1995 during the amalgamation.  I am the Chief Deputy Superintendent of the Fort McMurray Public School District.  In my spare time I am very active in our church, Fellowship Baptist, I referee Hockey, 21 years in the AJHL, I enjoy running, I’m an inductee in the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame for running, I sit on many boards and committees the united Way being one of them.  I very much enjoy the outdoors and you can find me most weekends hiking our many trails around town.  I call Fort McMurray my home, but I grew up in rural New Brunswick, I attended UNB for my Bed degree and then moved here in 1983 to teach.  Went on to complete my maters at the University of Victoria and have enjoyed a great administrative career.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

The past 15 and a half years have really taught me a lot about municipal politics and how a city should be run, I believe I bring experience to the table and lots of energy.  I believe we still must be vigilant in our pursuit for quality of life for all residents and embrace change as it comes.  I also believe I am a team player with a genuine concerns for other’s needs and wants.  Even after all these years I still believe I’m able to do more from the inside of the council chambers than from the outside and I still have the energy to do it.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

I want voters to know that I always strive to do the right thing, even though it my not be the most popular thing to do, I always stick to my principles.  I am a long way from perfect, but I want voters to know I always do what I feel is best for them.  I would also hope that voters have come to know they can count on me being there for them no matter what the issue, I show up for the discussion.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TRIBE

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blog and twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Phil’s answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

PM: Land release by the province and a strategic plan to follow.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

PM: I have always been in favor of this program and I feel this needs to be one of our top priorities.  I rented in Victoria while going to University in the summer, they did it there and that was over ten years ago.  So I think we can do it as well and like all things we do it will be state-of-the-art.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via@KyleHarrietha

PM: We need to have a strong working relationship with the province, I believe our present Mayor has set some great ground work in this area.  We will have two MLA’s in the next election and I think we need to make that a campaign issue for both of these candidates.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup

PM: The oilsands is our bread and butter, we need to constantly be telling the world of the good things that are happening in the field, like reclamation and oilsands community involvement.  Like any other industry we must accentuate the positives and work to eliminate the negatives, this will take all stakeholders and citizens talking positively about our region.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

PM: It was a mistake, hindsight is 20-20, we need to be doing something about this and I wish I knew what that was.  Sometimes when one sees a need they go ahead too fast, we do need office space, but this was not the venue.  I would like to see a greater legal analysis of the situation and bring a close to this issue.  The bottom line is, we must do something, we have asked admin to come back with recommendations, there have been some, however, they were rejected by the council of the day in a close vote.  This situation must be dealt with early in the new council mandate, enough is enough.

—–

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001056703181&v=wall&ref=ts

About Ross

I’m a twenty-nine year old father of two boys, and husband to my beautiful wife. I’m employed as the General Manager of the non-profit organization Community Futures Wood Buffalo, which helps small and medium sized business in a variety of areas from lending to planning. I’m an active community member and work with a number of non-profit organizations like Kids Forever, Keyano College Foundation, Royal Canadian Legion Branch #165, and The Northern Lights Health Foundation. I’m also the current Chairman of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

In my spare time I enjoy playing with my kids, volunteering, geocaching, and playing hockey when time allows.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

I’m running because I want to give back to the community that has rewarded me so well in past. I have an interest in the issues that affect us on a daily basis. Further, I want to offer my skills so council can create solutions to those issues.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

Vote. Tell your kids, family, friends, co-workers, cab drivers, and hair dressers. Our region is a global economic powerhouse, he have a lot to be proud of. However, we must show leadership from within and the best way to do that is to get out and vote. Don’t let the minority make the decisions for the majority. Take some time and learn where the candidates sit on the issues you are passionate about, and vote for the team you want to do the job.

Questions from the Tribe

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blog and twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Ross’ answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

RJ: I believe we need to address three main strategies. Firstly, we need a solid intergovernmental communication and planning strategy. It is vital to work with our MLA, MP, and key departments in other levels of government. The more we know about how they are addressing the development, the better we can develop our own plan.

Two, we need to be inclusive of our regional stakeholders and assure that all the key people are at the table when it comes to land release and other developments. The front-line experience our local citizens bring is the most valuable tool to our development.

Three, we need to assure that all future planning is flexible and easily adaptable to changing regional conditions. We will never know what the future will bring, but we can try our best to predict it and plan accordingly. The flexibility aspect will allow us to change plans as needed without huge growing pains.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

RJ: Aside from the composting aspect, the program is already in place. Our previous councils have put the infrastructure in place. The facility is being built as we speak. I believe it will open for operation next year and begin to process the recycled materials we have been stockpiling. I think 2012 is the target for curbside, but I believe that is dependent on a few construction and process factors.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via @KyleHarrietha

RJ: I think the land in the RMWB’s current possession is a good jump off point. The recent approvals of land will greatly help us be sustainable in the future. Involving stakeholders in the release of that land is vital to making sure we don’t forget anyone. The key to any land plan is to assure the land we have doesn’t run out before we get other parcels. We do that by developing a land release strategy with the province now, so that we are better positioned five years from now.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup

RJ: I am pro-oil sands, because the old sands are pro-Wood Buffalo. I think we often believe that ‘big oil’ is a faceless entity that should be left to fend off negative press and misinformation on its own. That attitude is wrong; I’ve seen firsthand how the oilsands have our backs in times of trouble. They help provide our community with many resources we would otherwise not have access too.  The worldwide message about this place we call home needs to come from champions who live here, who work here, who play here, and those who rely on our resource. It is at times a monumental task, but together in partnership we can get the message out.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

RJ: I won’t comment on how we got into the situation with that building, because I don’t know all the facts only the generalities. What I will say is this: every problem has a solution. What is the solution? That’s for a new council, who engages its community for solutions to find out. It will take some hard work, but that building could benefit small business, or non-profits, or child care, or even the office-space deficit. The lesson is to learn from this mistake and never repeat it.

—–

Website: http://www.rossjacobs.ca

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ross_jacobs

Campaign Email: electrossjacobs@gmail.com

(late submission)

ABOUT Sheldon

I am a lifetime resident of Fort McMurray and am proud to be now raising my 3 children in this great region with my wife, Gerarda.  I work as a Vice-Principal for the Fort McMurray Catholic School District at Sister Mary Phillips K-8 School.  I was first elected in 1998 as the youngest ever Municipal Councilor at the age of 26 and for the next 3 terms have had the honor of receiving the most amount of votes for the office of councilor.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

I am running with ambitions of leading this region toward continuous improvements in Quality of Life.  It is all about getting results for the community and working towards a region that we are proud to call home.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

I have a track record of working and standing up for the needs of this region’s citizens.

QUESTIONS FROM THE TRIBE

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blogand twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Sheldon’s answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

SG: There are 3 core areas that need to be ready for another wave of development:

1. Ensure land release and underground servicing is in place and ready for expansion and development of commercial and residential properties.
2. Outcome based strategic plan that uses performance measures and timelines to ensure infrastructure and quality public services (i.e. fire halls, recycling, recreation centers) are in place.
3. The corporate RMWB needs to improve business processes and practices to meet the speed and workload demands for future growth.  A critical area in the Planning & Development Dept. is to improve and streamline approval processes.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

SG: I’m on record for supporting and putting in place curbside pickup; it is scheduled to be in place late 2011.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via@KyleHarrietha

SG: Currently we have land available to be developed in North Parsons that can accommodate 40,000 people.  However, we need to create and find an agreed process with the province that uses population growth projection numbers and OSDG expansion plans to create clear timelines so that the release of land happens in a more systematic fashion.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup

SG: I have always promoted this community as a great place to raise a family.  Our community includes the oil sands industry and in promoting our region I therefore promote the oil sands.  I understand the interdependent relationship between our city and the oil sands industry.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

SG: From the 1^st time this issue came to council, I voted against it.  The original plan was to put 300 municipal employees in this building with 2 washrooms and 8 parking stalls.  Former councilors Slade and Chadi and myself argued adamantly against the proposed lease agreement from the beginning.  Unfortunately for taxpayers, we lost the vote to the rest of council who didn’t see the value of their opposed colleagues’ opinions that evening.

—–

Website: http://www.sheldongermain.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ReElectGermain

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-Elect-Sheldon-Germain/142398052446354

I moved my young family to Fort McMurray in 1993 for the opportunity of owning and operating a small business, Campbell’s Music. As the community began its rapid growth, I became more involved in community initiatives, serving as the President of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce for 2 terms, Treasurer of Wood Buffalo Housing. My children have since grown up and are off to University, allowing me more time to give back to the community that has benefitted my family greatly.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

I believe there isn’t a more dynamic region in the world to live than Wood Buffalo – every challenge we face provides even greater opportunity. The past term has been a time of significant personal growth for me and I wish to continue the momentum created and have a positive impact in the community as it continues to grow. Significant work has been achieved in developing a plan for growth in the region and I would like be a part of seeing it become a reality.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

The municipal government is the level of governance that most closely impacts all residents, yet tends to receive the least amount of attention when selecting its leadership. I encourage all residents to get involved, participate in finding out who the candidates are, what they stand for and exercise your democratic privilege to vote. Thank you for making this initiative possible. This, combined with the Chamber’s “My Community, My Voice”, are valuable vehicles in ensuring we have a well informed electorate.

Questions from the Tribe

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blog and twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Mike’s answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

MA: Securing adequate land in a timely fashion has always been a struggle in the RMWB, largely due to the political nature in which crown and surplus lands are released. Fortunately, the province has released 2 significant parcels of land in Parsons Creek and Saline Creek Plateau plus industrial parcels know as “South Lands”. Recognizing the overwhelming demand and the upcoming projects beginning in the region, we have been working very closely with the province in efforts to fast track the development of these lands. Our role as a municipality is to define how these lands will be developed in a holistic way that will encompass building communities, not just houses. The appropriate mix of residential, commercial, industrial, educational, health, seniors and recreational facilities that will, in consultation with residents, make this a community desirable to live in because of the great quality of life that exists, not just because an opportunity to make a good living exists. We have learned a great many lessons over the past 10 years on how to effectively manage growth and a great deal of work has been accomplished in a short period of time to prepare us for the next phase. I hope to be a part of the team that steers these plans to implementation.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

MA: In 2008, council approved the municipality’s Solid Waste Master Plan which included a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) and curbside pick up beginning in 2011. In the fall of 2009, I toured a similar MRF in the City of Calgary and am excited that the RMWB will be home to the newest in technology for single stream recycling. The plan is already in place and I will continue to advocate for its earliest implementation. Further, it is important for everybody to participate in not only obtaining our goal of a 50% diversion from the landfill but also to explore additional means for reducing both our solid waste and recycled product such as packaging.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via @KyleHarrietha

MA: In 2007, I sat as a member of the Premier’s Task Force on Affordable Housing. One of the recommendations we made was for the GOA to develop a singular policy that governed the release of all crown and surplus lands in the province, held by various departments, as each department had different mandates on how these lands would be treated. I believe that once the province completes it’s land use policy, an opportunity exists for a “Land Bank” of developable lands surrounding the Urban Service Area, including the Western Growth Area, North of the Hangingstone and Forest Heights. This Land Bank should be governed by the municipality in a way that it is released, sold and developed on an as-needed basis that will benefit all residents and stakeholders alike. These lands are sufficient to see us grow over the next 25 years.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup

MA: I honestly don’t know how one can live in Wood Buffalo and not be pro-oil sands. This industry is not only the primary economic driver of the region and the province but is also the main industry contributing to the country’s recovery from the recession. Additionally, it is likely the most heavily regulated industry globally with significant investment by both government and industry on environmental initiatives that can only benefit other climate change discussions. Until a viable alternative is made available, heavy synthetic crude is still a very reliable option for the world’s energy requirements. It has always astounded me that one can garner attention as a critic without having any basis of fact behind them or without offering alternative solutions.  I have been and will continue to advocate for the responsible, sustainable development of the oil sands in a way that benefits all residents, stakeholders and the environment.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

MA: The lease for this building was entered into in early 2007 based on a growing need for the municipality’s staffing requirements. While I was not part of the decision at that time, I think the decision to lease this space was made in haste as the demand for office space was reaching a critical point and supply of commercial space was essentially non-existent. While it would not have been my first choice, the lease is in force and we now have to deal with it. Many options have been explored including purchase of the land and building, early payout of lease and sub-leasing the space, all meeting with no success. A plan was presented on several occasions for renovations that would bring the building up to code and make it usable. As a commercial landlord myself, I found the plans to be the most economically viable option given the alternatives of leasing and renovating new office space and supported it to proceed. While the renovations would be expensive, the lease rate is considerably lower than market – the amortized cost per sq’ is still the lowest of all options. Unfortunately, this building has become a political victim where those on council opposed to its use continue to delay any effective means to utilize the space, therefore we are legally obligated to continue making the lease payments. Options to date have been exhausted, so the building is currently being used for storage. It is my opinion that opportunities to sub-lease the building still exist and that is currently being explored.

—–

Website: http://www.pickmike.ca

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Mike_Allen47

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Allen/655347293

I’m Melissa Blake, two-term Mayor with two additional terms on Council before that. I have served the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo as an elected official continuously since 1998. I am 40 years old, happily married to Peter Jurak and we have two sons, Jackson (6 yrs) and Jason (15 months). Peter was born in Fort McMurray and I came as a child in 1982, and this is the only home for each of us. I graduated from Composite High, attended Keyano College and completed my Bachelor of Administration degree there through Athabasca University. I have worked in many positions, from service to professional, but the bulk of my career was at Syncrude in such areas as Public Affairs, Materials & Services, and, finally, Recruiting.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

Having had the past six years to turn things around for Wood Buffalo, I am running again so that I can finish important work related to recent land releases and meeting community needs, including housing, municipal infrastructure, social supports, commercial and industrial land requirements. We must be vigilant about keeping pace with whatever growth is to come and land is essential. I also believe there is an imminent need to have a strong, respected and realistic spokesperson for our region in the face of heavy environmental criticism – we need to encourage a more reasonable debate about the future of our oil sands.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

In the face of extreme growth and financially impossible times, I was able to present a case to the Energy and Utilities board in 2006 that resulted in the Radke Report (Responding to Rapid Growth in the Oil Sands) and the formation of the Oil Sands Secretariat. There were significant announcements of support from the Government of Alberta, and I earned the trust and respect of the Ministers along the way. This is not the time to forfeit those hard-earned relations and the results they bring for our residents.

Questions from the Tribe

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blog and twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Melissa’s answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

MB: We need land that is ready for development. We must accelerate planning and servicing so that we can be ready to go as land is required. We are still just catching up. Municipal staffing must also keep pace, but we are compromised by a lack of space to accommodate new employees. We must get to work on a new Civic Center loaded with both employee office/work space as well as community access space. We also need better social amenities like space for non-profit, faith and cultural groups, schools and health centers, including a continuing care facility as soon as possible. We need additional recreational assets that will also ensure reasonable access for citizens. We need to have both the financial and human resources to carry out the required work. And we need to be certain that we will have vital support from other orders of government to ensure we are able to adequately handle the inevitable growth.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

MB: A curbside garden waste pickup program was implemented in 2009 and has been successful at diverting organics in biodegradable bags that can be composted. In 2011, the RMWB will commence a pilot curbside recycling program and anticipates full-service in Fort McMurray as soon as the pilot is successful. There is already a Materials Enhanced Recycling Facility (MERF) that is located at the new landfill in anticipation of this new service. We have a target of 50% diversion, and I would be pleased to support any initiatives that can meet or exceed that target.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via @KyleHarrietha

MB: In the near term, the development of North Parson (1,000 acres) will be likely to have lots available to developers in 2011 with first housing by 2012. There is a limit of 800 homes that can be built in the first phase until the overpass is completed for greater access, which is essential for the 1,000,000 sq ft of commercial space expected. Saline Creek, another 1,000 acres, has an approved Area Structure Plan and is in the hands of the Government of Alberta to release. It has access to a new water and sewage line and could be easily commenced. Just a few months ago, the Government of Alberta also announced some 1,200 acres of industrial property on what are called “the Southlands.” The first 625 acres are expected to be marketed by MLS very soon.

I also note a very real risk to people who have bought at the top of the market finding a surplus of units depreciating market values over all. Readily available, developable land is essential, but we must also manage it so that we do not bring great harm to any of our residents while we welcome new citizens to our region.

The Municipality is also in early discussions with the Government of Alberta to identify what would be a 20-year supply of land in Wood Buffalo, so that the release process could take as little as three months rather than three years.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup

MB: I’m a 100% proud supporter of the oil sands. I have personally worked in the business for nine years and my husband is still employed by the oil sands. The oil sands have afforded my family a great living. All of our citizens are here because of the oil sands. This city, this region is well off directly as a result of the oil sands. All of our small and large local businesses are here for the opportunity the oil sand provided. And we continue to grow into a larger city/region as the oil sands expands.

However, I would be remiss if I did not state that oil sands expansion is followed by Fort McMurray/regional growth. Therefore, it is imperative the Provincial and Federal Governments join with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to achieve managed growth for the good of the oil sand industry and its surrounding areas. Anything less is chaos as we have experienced short years ago.

On the personal side I have defended the oil sands and this region locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally. My experience has taught me that we need to do a better job in the field of publicity. In response I have developed a platform on my website titled: Meeting the Regional Publicity Challenge.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

MB: In this situation, the unfortunate balking of Council has truly wasted taxpayer money and given nothing in return. Council should have thought more carefully about their expectations when the lease was first considered. The indecisiveness has cost money and lost opportunity, which is a double whammy.

This property has been a problem ever since we acquired it. The purpose was to accommodate increasing municipal staff and once we received the estimate to upgrade and create the space, Council asked publicly to buy out of the lease. That public declaration, along with the identified expense to bring the building up to code caused the Lessor to invalidate that opportunity. Council was again asked to consider a budget to accommodate staff, but that motion failed with a divided Council vote. While costs had come down during the recession, some Councillors were concerned about parking. It was later proved that 92 offices could be accommodated and our parking requirements met. Some Councillors have advocated providing the space for non-profit groups, which I might support under the right circumstances, but

Council would still have to authorize the leasehold improvements, which it rejected in the spring. The monthly lease rate is very reasonable but, regrettably, the cost of bringing the building to code has been an impediment for some of my colleagues and so, instead, the building remains empty.

I do anticipate that with the new Council, a solid understanding of staff requirements and future accommodation availability, and any indicated interests by others in subleasing the property, a final decision can be rationally made.

—–

Website: http://www.melissaformayor.ca

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MelissaForMayor

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/melissaformayor

About Dave

We moved here 32 years ago to start a business and have 4 generations presently living here. I’m extensively involved in both community and business to make this a great place to live.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

For over 30 years I’ve worked with family, business, industry, faith
communities, governments, and social agencies to enhance the quality of life in our region. I have the vision and experience to strengthen council and deliver on key issues. I have a proven track record of working with multi-stakeholder groups to achieve results for priorities shared throughout our region, including land development. I bring a broad range of experience and skills in business, planning, contracts and facilitation, to council
chambers. Now that I’m semi-retired, I will devote my prime time to being a full time councilor.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

The municipal election is your opportunity to get involved in our
community. Our region’s issues aren’t new issues, but a council with
new perspectives and proven insight can make real progress on what’s important to the people who live here. When council debates issues, makes decisions, and sets direction, they are doing it on your behalf. Elect people who will listen and deliver results for you. We need proven competent individuals with demonstrated business skills to lead the fastest growing region in the country efficiently.

Questions from the Tribe

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blog and twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Dave’s answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

DK: The Municipal Government Act states that the purpose of municipal government is to provide services, facilities and other things to develop safe and viable communities. Proactive planning based on strategic planning, balanced budgeting, evaluation and measurement, can bring about that stability. Running the municipality like a corporation would position the municipality to anticipate significant shifts in growth, development, investment and to respond to those shifts according to plan and avoiding the need to be reactive.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

DK: Curb-side pick up is scheduled to start this fall with a pilot in Saprae Creek. To achieve measureable results, initiatives like curb-side pick should be part of a larger waste management plan. By integrating a number of important pieces into a larger plan would avoid one-off projects, save time and money, and make it easier for people to change their regular routines.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via @KyleHarrietha

DK: I’ve been fortunate to have been part of a number of land development initiatives over the years. I was just on the successful Abram’s Land committee (working with 3 faith communities, AHS and the RWMB so have experienced how collaboration can work). Land releases and land development are just part of the sustainable development of our community. Securing land for current and future need should be an integrated part of the short, medium, and long term planning of our community’s development plan. I am currently working with NADC, and the Oil Sands Secretariat on land issues and would bring solid insight to our council. It is what I am presently involved in and there will be south lands released shortly. The next challenge will be to expedite development.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup
 
DK: The oil sands is often referred to as an economic engine in our region, province, and country. We are all part of a machine that keeps our region operating. Together, we can celebrate our successes (whether that’s in true economic output, new environmental technology or in community sponsorship and investment). Together, we can also identify areas for improvement and find solutions we can all play a part in. Our region’s image should not be positively or negatively associated with one thing.
We need to show the rest of the world that our region is leading in every faction of responsible development and is as diverse as the people who call it home. We need to be part of marketing our region and resources and encourage all residents to share their positive stories as we know and experience the enhanced quality of life here.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

DK: We need to find sustainable uses for all municipal holdings – land and buildings. A small working group dedicated to marketing the potential of the building is needed. Innovation will find a way. My knowledge of retail and general space shortage in the city, tells me that the building could be utilized. I have discussed opportunities with the municipality but time and circumstance did not allow them time to follow through.

—–

Website: http://www.davekirschner.ca

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DaveKirschner

Facebook: http://facebook.com/

About Don

I am Don Scott and I am a husband, father, business owner, and volunteer. I’ve called Fort McMurray home for 10 years. I studied at Cambridge University in England and that’s where I met my wife, Janey. We have 2 young children – Jeya who is 5 years old and 1 year old baby Jenna. I was a board member and former president of the United Way, and I’m currently serving as a board member for Children’s First, Legal Aid Fort McMurray and the Allocations Committee for the United Way. I’m a lawyer and own McMurray Law Office in the downtown area. Like most people who call Fort McMurray home, I care about this community.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

I believe in this community. I’m proud to say that Fort McMurray is home for my family, and I want to do my part to strengthen our community. I’m a family man, a business owner, and community volunteer. These roles give me a broad perspective on the strengths, challenges, and opportunities facing our region. I take a common sense approach to strategic planning and problem solving, and I believe a common sense approach is what’s needed to move our community forward. Common sense means working together, short and long term planning, putting policies and systems in place, and moving forward.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

The most important thing is to get out and vote. Take some time to learn about the candidates. Find out what candidates think about the issues. Fort McMurray is an exciting place. We should get excited about this election. Our region has challenges, but we also have opportunities. We need a council that will work together to move forward with strategies to tackle challenges and embrace opportunities. Together, we can shape the future of our region. To do that, we need a united council committed to working together. To get that council, we all need to get out and vote.

Questions from the Tribe

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blog and twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Don’s answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

DS: Our health care, education and airport facilities need support to accommodate the demand that future growth will create. The airport will be a gateway to the resources of Canada’s North and it should be a point of entry with customs facilities. Our water and sewer lines need to be improved to meet current and future demands. Upgrading infrastructure is the community investment that we need. Our roads need to be improved but we need more than cosmetic repairs. Infrastructure needs to keep pace with growth and we need to move beyond gridlock and congestion. Council needs to plan for an appropriate allocation of resources to meet growth. We are one of the fastest growing communities in North America. Land needs to be released in a timely manner and we need to improve our relationship with the province.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

DS: I believe that adopting a Curbside recycling program makes sense. Our community already has a recycling program which can be viewed at http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/residents/services+utilities/recycling.asp. Curbside pickup will make recycling more accessible and I believe it will expand environmental awareness. We are on the international radar and having programs that demonstrate our commitment to a sustainable environment enhance our regions image. More fundamentally programs like this unite our community for a purpose and I believe that will strengthen our sense of community.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via @KyleHarrietha

DS: The Municipality needs a strategic plan and an engaged council that will aggressively advocate the community’s needs but in a respectful manner. Council needs to carry the message of the municipality effectively to the Province and the Federal Government. The majority of land in our municipality is owned by the province and consequently the province has a significant influence on the growth and development of our region. The decisions of other municipalities affect us and we need to continue to be engaged with our neighboring municipalities. Council has a responsibility to effectively lobby for the needs of our region.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup

DS: Our region produces oil and we should be proud of it. We are a stable democracy and the best source for meeting the words energy demands. Our community is under collateral attack when our industry is publicly criticized. We need to fight back against negative Public Relations. I believe that our role is to advocate the many positives in our community and local industry. We need to demonstrate that reclaimed land is not only restored to the original state, but based on what I have seen, the restored land is actually making it better than it initially was. That fact is not widely known and needs to be presented. Industry provides approximately 90% of the tax base for our community and they voluntarily provide support to agencies and projects that improve the quality of life for all of our residents. I believe in policies that support the effective growth of Industry. I am pro-oil sands.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

DS: There is a summary of the options at the followingURL.

That analysis leads me to believe that cancelling the lease would be the best decision. If a tenant can be found that is preferable but it seems unlikely given the anticipated renovation costs of between 5,000,000 and 10,000,000 dollars.

—–

Website: http://www.donscott.ca

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DonaldKScott

But trust me on this, it’s a pretty amazing process.

Last year, for the fourth year in a row, Fort McMurray was classified as “Canada’s Most Giving Community”. The goal of last year’s campaign? $5 million.

How much was raised? $5.4 million. How awesome is that?

This year, hundreds of volunteers and thousands of people will be working together to meet, and hopefully exceed, 2010′s goal of $5.678 million. A goal I am confident we can meet.

Not sure how the United Way helps to support our community? Check out the 2010 Campaign Brochure. Want to help out but don’t know where to start? Try here.

This is just one of the reasons why I love this town.

About Russell

I am a dedicated husband and father and a fierce advocate of Wood Buffalo and the BIG SPIRIT that sets us apart from any other place on earth. For the past 15 years I have been a strong proponent of arts, culture and festivity and the role that celebration and expression play in building quality of life. A graduate of the inaugural class of Leadership Wood Buffalo, I credit lessons learned and relationships built through that program as the seeds that blossomed into the creation of Events Wood Buffalo, an organization that grew out of the Fort McMurray interPLAY Society and is substantially enhancing special events and festivity in our region. A passionate leader at Keyano College, I believe that we can do so much more when we do things together. I love Wood Buffalo. It is our home and our future.

Why are you running in Election 2010?

This is the next step in my community leadership journey. I have a proven track record of working successfully in team environments to achieve great things. I’m eager to listen, inspired to learn and ready to become part of a Regional Council that will be creative, collaborative and most importantly, effective.

What do you want the voters to know going into the 2010 municipal elections?

I think it is critical to gather the right group of people to take us into the next three years. We have the good fortune of having some outstanding leaders putting their names forward in this election. Make sure to ask them questions, visit their websites and pick the ones that you feel will create a team that will be strong and inspire a shared vision for our future.

Questions from the Tribe

On Aug the 25th, I asked the folks who are engaged around the my oil sands blog and twitter feed for their questions – what would they like to ask municipal candidates. Here are five of the questions and Russell’s answers.

Q: What does the municipality need to be ready for another wave of development? via @OilsandsEditor

RT: So many good things have happened with respect to our infrastructure. We need to keep moving in this direction now, while labour and materials are in good supply and at a reasonable price. We have to continually work with the province to ensure timely and appropriate land release. We have to keep looking to the future and doing things today that will make things much more manageable in the future.

Q: What are the candidates views on the possibility of implementing a state-of-the-art waste management program that includes curb-side pick up of both recycling and compost? via Anonymous

RT: There are tremendous plans in place for increased recycling capacity in Wood Buffalo. In a media world that has so vigorously attacked us for the supposed environmental impacts of oil sands development, we need to work toward being a leader in recycling, composting and environmental stewardship. Curbside recycling is just the beginning. Whether it is in the home or in the workplace, environmental stewardship needs to become part of how we live our lives and how we run our businesses. Saying we can’t afford it is just not an option anymore.

Q: How will the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) secure enough provincial land at once to manage development sustainably? via @KyleHarrietha

RT: Predictable and appropriate land release is a constant challenge. If you release too much, the value of our investments goes down. If you release too little, frustration builds and prices climb even higher than they are today. A constant and constructive dialogue between all levels of government is essential to solving this lingering challenge. There isn’t a magic bullet that is going to make the land release issue go away. It will only be through diligent effort that a sustainable and equitable solution will be found.

Q: Is the candidate pro-oil sands, and if so, how would they be proactive in oil sands public relations management? via @TOMCOGroup

RT: I am 100% pro oil sands. I’ve had the good fortune of working closely with visionary and committed oil sands workers and leaders over the past 15 years of living in Wood Buffalo. Unfortunately, the media, and by osmosis, the world, mistakenly views the oil sands through the lens of years rather than decades. Twenty years from now, that big hole in the ground is going to be a young forest. Twenty years from now, the suburbs of Calgary will still be the suburbs of Calgary. The world’s need for a sustainable and secure supply of oil is only going to grow. Wood Buffalo has the good fortune of sitting on the largest supply in the world. We have an obligation to develop this resource with integrity, ingenuity and intelligence.

Q: Whenever I drive up Franklin and pass the old Brick building, I can’t help but think about the cost to the taxpayer – it’s over $360k per year. What are your thoughts on this issue? via @MyOilSands

RT: A solution is out there. I recently met with a group of investors who may look at this site as a potential childcare facility. They didn’t blink an eye about the required upgrades that would be needed to bring the building up to code. Whether that comes to fruition or not, a solution needs to be found, because that is a whole lot of money going down the tubes, or into the coffers of the property owner.

—–

Website: http://www.russellthomas.ca

Twitter: http://ww.twitter.com/rvthomas67

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rvthomas67

So what is this mistake? I forgot to include a deadline for the Better Know A Candidate submissions.

You see Sept 20th will be the day that folks announce their candidacy for the 2010 elections – it is after all Nomination Day, a pretty important step in the process.

So next Tuesday will be the day we, the residents of the RMWB, get an official list of our potential local politicians. We get to see who wants the job, who wants to help steer this big ol’ ship called Wood Buffalo.

So I’m rectifying this mistake – I’m asking folks to worry about their nominations and platform launches first, then to get involved here on MOS by Friday, Sept 24th, 11:59 pm.

You see, folks in the community (and of the oil sands tribe) have asked the candidates some pretty decent questions. And I, as well as the readers of MOS, would like to know the candidates answers to said questions.

I hope the candidates for 2010 will take this opportunity to connect with potential voters as this is, I believe, another valuable avenue to communicate key messages to the public.

The questions are available in a variety of formats (doc | pdf | pages) so candidates can choose their poison. If there are any questions, I would be more than happy to help clarify.

Good luck to all candidates, I wish you all the very best, and look forward to your participation in this community-driven exercise.

1. @Jon_Tupper has a Twitter list of candidates that are tweeting. You can find it at http://twitter.com/Jon_Tupper/fort-mcmurray-candidates
2. I have done a cursory search for a list of candidates running in the election and cannot find one (RMWB, My McMurray or Fort McMurray Today all with no luck). Does one, in fact, exist? Or should one be created?
3. I’ve been told to always have odd numbers, so hence this third bullet. While not strictly related to the municipal elections, there is a local #YMM “Tweetup” on Monday the 13th, 7 p.m. at the Anzac Burger Bar. Seeing some of the folks attending, I’m sure local politics will be a topic of discussion. (search for #YMMTweetup on twitter for more info)

With Labour Day upon us, there are 35 days until Election 2010 – October 18th will be the day that the municipal elections for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo will be taking place.

As noted in late August, I thought it would be a good idea to host a Better Know Your Candidate – RMWB-style here on my oil sands.

Well, candidates can now start submitting their info – as the form is ready and waiting to be filled out.

All candidates will have their Better Know A Candidate profile viewable on the Election 2010 tab, and they will of course have their profile communicated to the tribe via Twitter and the power that is the all mighty Google Search.

I’m really looking forward to this feature, the more information the community has on who is running for office, the better choices can be made by all.

Good luck to all candidates! (again, here’s the form with all the instructions for submission)

On December 8, 2009, after eighteen months and five Council meetings, the Single-Use Shopping Bag Bylaw was adopted by the Council of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB).  Over two years ago, subsequent to being shown a documentary on shopping bags in social class, I concluded that the idea of living in a single-use shopping bag free community was not only environmentally friendly, but entirely feasible as well.  I decided to present the idea to the Municipal Council, and to advocate for a ban on single-use shopping bags.  My peers and I agreed that it would be extremely advantageous to have a petition that supported the cause, and thus, spent a class period gathering signatures a few days later.  I continued gathering signatures over the summer, during which time I acquired 1,868 signatures from local residents (for a total of 2,268 signatures) and the support of 9 local businesses.  On August 26, 2008, I presented the petition and the information that I had obtained about the issue to Council; the result of which was a referral of this information to the city administration for review.

Without the petition, Council would have received my presentation in one of two ways: either they would have wholeheartedly embraced the idea, or they would have disagreed and determined it to be an unpopular brainchild of one individual out of tens of thousands.  In other words, I would have been leaving the outcome of my presentation almost entirely to chance.  Conducting the petition removed a substantial amount of the probabilistic quality of the situation, which was the most significant benefit it provided, as if the outcome of my presentation would have been left completely to chance, Council would have most definitely received my presentation in the negative.

As a result of the review, a report was written that suggested not to pursue legislation in an effort to resolve the problem.  The report appeared before Council on March 10, 2009.  During that meeting, I presented my opinion, along with more information on the issue, and, after a lengthy debate, the report was turned down.  In its place, Council adopted a motion that read, “That Administration proceed with drafting legislation and establishing a budget to ban plastic shopping bags to be implemented by Council within 2010.”  Almost eight months later, on October 27, 2009, the first draft of a bylaw to ban plastic shopping bags was presented to Council for its first reading.  In the RMWB, debating is not permitted when a bylaw is read for the first time, thus, both the public and council must wait until the second and third readings are scheduled to occur before they can enter such dialogue.  The second and third readings were scheduled to occur on November 24, 2009; however, on the evening of November 24, the debate that transpired caused a deferral of the bylaw to the meeting of December 8, 2009.  The reason for the deferral was a “change” that I strongly suggested be made to the bylaw.

During my initial presentation to Council, I stated that reverting to paper bags would cause the opposite of the desired effect to occur. (When compared to plastic bags, paper bags require 40% more energy to manufacture, and create 70% more air pollution and 50 times more water pollution during their production.)  Unfortunately though, Council did not address this fact when they gave their administration direction to draft a bylaw, resulting in a paper bag friendly piece of legislation.  Therefore, before the second reading was to take place, I restated my opinion on the paper bag issue, and as a result, an amendment to the bylaw that would rectify the problem was proposed.  The discussion that followed this event, however, led to the approval of a deferral of the bylaw to December 8, 2009.  The majority of Council felt that it would have been unfair to adopt the bylaw with the amendments that evening, as the amendments were not known to the public early enough for citizens to be able to respond.

I presented to Council yet again on December 8, 2009, and despite all of the delays and elaborate discussion, the bylaw and all of the above amendments were approved by the council of the RMWB.  At the moment, the RMWB is the largest community within Canada to establish such legislation, and to the best of my knowledge, is the only community in the world to ban all single-use shopping bags.  According to the bylaw’s definition, a single-use shopping bag is a bag that is primarily used to transport goods from an establishment to the home of a consumer, and that is made of less than 2.25 millimetres thick plastic (including biodegradable plastic) or any thickness of paper.  Once implemented, the bylaw will prohibit all establishments (except liquor stores, pharmacies, and restaurants) from providing their customers with a single-use shopping bag.  This will divert between 10 and 40 million shopping bags (which is approximately 64,000 to 257,000 kilograms of plastic) from the landfill annually, therefore reducing the negative effects sustained by the environment due to the creation, use and disposal of shopping bags.  The bylaw takes effect September 1, 2010, and can be viewed at the following link: http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/residents/bylaw_services/pdf/bylaw_09-033_shoppingbag.pdf

interPLAY by Events Wood Buffalo

Well tonight is the big kick-off for arguably the summer’s best activity in Fort McMurray – interPLAY! This will be my third interPLAY, and let me tell you, it seems to be getting better and better every year.

For those of you who have been following Russell Thomas through his Twitter feed, you know that the interPLAY team has been working madly behind the scenes to get the event ready for the community.

But you’re still not sure what all the fuss is about? Here’s a quick blurb from Events Wood Buffalo:

interPLAY is back for it’s 20th year!!!! Come out on August 6 – 8, 2010 and join us for this highly anticipated annual festival. This year we are back on Franklin Avenue to razzle and dazzle you with a slew of music, vendors, food, street performers and various cool shows! This year boasts the return of the Amazing Art Race at the Peter Pond Shopping Centre, and the Suncor Home Grown Talent Search!!! Check out the info and registration forms below or simply give us a call and we can have a chat about how great the 20th year of interPlay is going to be!!!

I’ll be checking it out over the weekend, in fact, if you haven’t yet seen Spirit of the West (who are the headline musical act), then do yourself a favour and rest up for Saturday, because I guarantee you’ll need to charge up for their energetic, live show.

Events Wood Buffalo / Greg Halinda Photography

Franklin is going to be blocked off, so come on down for a great couple of days out and maybe you can buy me some of those little doughnuts!

Granted, we have had our own issues regarding the all mighty census – in fact, as of this post, the latest Regional Profile available to residents is the 2002-2004 profile. (Hopefully these issues are behind us and an updated profile will be released to us residents shortly…)

But putting the municipal census aside, Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) seem to have caught the attention of a lot of folks. A lot.

Not only have we become a household name (ok, “oil sands”, “tar sands”, and “dirty oil” are becoming household words…) but apparently a healthy amount of researchers have been coming up here to gather data – data to better understand who we are and what makes the region tick. And gather they have.

property of the CRSC

Coming up this fall, we will have the opportunity to find out what these researchers have discovered.

A division of the University of Alberta, the City-Region Studies Centre (CRSC) is presenting Unwrap the Research: What now for Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo.

The  conference will be hosted at multiple venues (Downtown, the Sawridge, and the Suncor Community Leisure Centre) from October 22 to 24, 2010. It seems to be a great opportunity to take a look at what has been found, ask questions and provide feedback on the findings.

(A draft of the the three-day program is available, though it is obviously subject to change.)

From the conference page:

The first of its kind, this conference is structured to facilitate dialogue and learning opportunities
a) among researchers from multiple disciplines; and
b) between researchers and local residents.

Unwrap the Research offers a unique opportunity for social researchers and local residents to share and learn from research conducted in Fort McMurray and the oil sands region of Alberta. These and other topics will be covered:

• Education in a Resource Economy
• Childhood Well-being
• Work and Gender
• Mobile Workers
• Francophone Newcomers
• Immigrants/TFWs in the Service Sector
• Comprehensive Bibliography of the Region
• Demographics and Census
• Urban Planning and Space
• Recreational Land Use
• Health and Substance Use
• Social Meanings of Environment
• Aboriginal – Industry Relations
• Visual Images of Community

Looks to be a pretty interesting conference if you ask me – seems to be a great event to truly find out about what makes this place tick. I plan to attend… will you?

courtesy of Gord McKenna

Thanks to those on Twitter for their suggestions as to “Who Should be Tweeting About #YMM and #OilSands“. 13 people or organizations have been identified, including Mayor Melissa Blake, Suncor CEO Rick George and the RCMP, though I’m sure there are a few more floating out there.

This post has been broken down into three areas: Regional, Industry & Could Be Better – find the full list after the jump.

Regional

• Melissa Blake – Mayor of the RMWB: Having Melissa Blake on Twitter would make for a pretty interesting feed. Having an inside look into the life of the mayor of the RMWB would, I’m sure, be an eye-opener for all.
• Kelly Kloss - Interim CAO of RMWB: It would be nice if someone from the RMWB organization were “officially” on Twitter, and Kelly Kloss would definitely fit the bill. Or maybe a feed from the Communications department? Either way, more info from the RMWB would be beneficial.
• The United Way: The United Way drives in the fall months are a pretty big deal in this town – and a lot of money gets raised for some pretty important charities. Twitter could help spread the message and inform the community on how the fundraising is going, as well as the impact the raised funds are having on local lives.
• Centre of Hope: A lot of us pass the Centre of Hope while we make our way up and down Franklin. We’ve all seen the lineups that form before the doors open… yet I’m not sure how many of us know what the Centre really offers. An inside feed could help to showcase the work that goes on there.
• Camp Staff: A suggestion came in for a local camp cook to be tweeting – why not open it up to all camp support staff? What’s it like to live and work in a camp? What are the challenges? What are some of the benefits?
• McMcMurray.com: A local community portal that should have a feed (ahh, they recently saw the light and started Tweeting on May 10th – excellent! You should follow @MyMcMurray – good source of local news and information)
• RCMP: An official feed from the RCMP would be  most welcome. Lots of talk has been circulating recently about ALERT coming north. More information from ALERT to the community could be a pretty effective way to help show their efforts and progress.
• Glen Semenchuk – Executive Director of CEMA: Seeing as how CEMA recently came under the spotlight last week due to their announced restructuring, having Glen on Twitter would be another welcome voice to the oil sands discussion.

Industry

On Twitter, But Could Be Doing Better

Just a few feeds I believe could be improved and have a greater impact on the online discussions:

Without further adieu, here are the “Group of Seven” – Tweeters Out of Fort McMurray You Should Be Following (and Why).

“Group of Seven”

No. One – @Country933 (especially with @kennyjones77 at the helm in the mornings) – Why you should follow: A great source of popular culture news (what happened on American Idol last night) and also local news/traffic (collision at bottom of Confed, don’t bother to go round to Thickwood, it’s just as bad etc.).

Never be caught unawares about traffic snarls again. But remember, tweet before you drive, not while you drive.

No. Two – @FortMacToday – Why you should follow: Our local newspaper, the Fort McMurray Today, is not only a great source for local news, but also industry happenings as well.

No. Three – @rvthomas67 – Why you should follow: Aside from Russell being the Director of Marketing & Communications at our local college (Keyano College), he’s also the President of interPLAY Festival – a yearly summer celebration that never fails to entertain and amuse. Russell’s feed is also a great source for local news, events, and organizational info.

No. Four - @Jon_Tupper – Why you should follow: Not only did Jon recently become President of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, but his feed is a great combination of local news/events, industry happenings and the odd post about deep-fried pickles.

No. Five – @Mix1037FMNews – Why you should follow: The second radio feed to make the group, this particular Mix 107.3 feed (they have more than one) is always chalked to the brim with local, late-breaking news.

No. Six – @Mike_Allen47 - Why you should follow: Mike’s a Councillor for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB), a past president of the Chamber of Commerce, and owner of Campbell’s Music (where the manager, Scott, is pretty much awesome btw). His feed is a good combo of local stuff and besides, it’s always good to have an ear in on local politics.

No. Seven – @VolunteerWB – Why you should follow: Anyone who lives in this town knows how strong the volunteer community is… and Wood Buffalo Volunteer Centre’s mission is to “promote, develop and support volunteerism in the Wood Buffalo Region.” Following this feed will let you know where you’re needed most, so check them out and make a difference!

This is just a few of the folks tweeting out of Fort McMurray – there’s a few more out there though…

Feedback

Think someone else should have made the “Group of Seven”? Leave a comment with your argument as to why! Upset this post wasn’t about Canadian landscape painters? Why not leave a comment as well?

courtesy of KRISnFred

What This Means

Basically, it means folks will have to remember to pack their linen (or plastic) heavy duty, multi-use shopping bags before they head out the door to their preferred supermarket (mine are either the Save-On-Foods downtown or the Safeway in Thickwood). Of course, they could always bring their groceries back home in paper bags… old-school style.

RMWB Councillor Mike Allen (@Mike_Allen47 on twitter),was quoted in a National Post article on the subject:

“As a community we’re very strongly environmentally conscious. Frankly, we get a bad rap. Fort McMurray is associated almost singularly with oil sands and the external media tends to focus on the negative rather than what is being done and what is positive. Right from industry right down to the mother who’s doing the shopping, we’re always looking at ways at improving our environmental footprint.”

I Have Some Questions Though…

courtesy of Zen

A few things I’ve been thinking about revolve around points like:

1) When you look at the complete product cycle of plastic vs paper bags, which one is more environmentally friendly? (taking into account emissions, recycling, forestry, product life-cycle etc..). My gut tells me that paper is still the way to go, and like Colbert, I trust my gut.

Opponents of a “plastic bag free” future point to some facts around plastic bags, facts like they “use 40% less energy to produce and generate 80% less solid. waste than paper” etc. When I went to follow the references in the “Top 10 Myths About Plastic Grocery Bags“, the first link shows this message from the EPA:

“EPA’s New England regional office removed the “Paper vs. Plastic bag” Web content several years ago after conducting a periodic evaluation of that content for its accuracy.”

So until someone shows me some cold, hard facts, I’ll take the paper/reusable bags over the one-time use bags. (And yes, I know a lot of people use them more than once)

2) Is it true, as the National Post article says, that bags “from fast-food restaurants, pharmacies, liquor stores and bags used to purchase bulk items like produce are exempt from the ban“?

The Bylaw states under the “Exemption” section that:

“9. There are no organizations exempt from this bylaw“

So why did the National Post point out that some folks will be exempt if the bylaw states no-one is exempt? I’m not clear on this. Anyone know what this is all about?

There We Have It

The bags, starting September 1st, will be gone. So why not start getting into the habit of keeping a couple reusable bags in the trunk now?

Some Web Resources on the Topic

Timberlea - courtesy of Gord McKenna

As promised, here are 10 great things about my home, Fort McMurray…

1. Diversity

This city is teeming with diversity. I reckon you will hear more languages and see more cultures in the Timmy’s lineup on Hardin St. than you would at the Timothy’s lineup on Young and Queen. (Hopefully the municipality will soon update their Regional Profile to reflect this.)

2. Giving

Though not news to those of us who live here, Fort McMurray residents have time and time again shown how important they hold community wellness. In fact, Fort McMurray has been called “the most giving community in Canada”.

Last year, the Fort McMurray United Way raised over $5,000,000, and the recently held Spring Fling with Chef Michael Smith raised over $245,000 for the Northern Lights Health Foundation that will go towards new anesthesia machines for the region.

3. The MOB

courtesy of wikipedia.org

Tonight, the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (known affectionally as the MOB) begin a best of seven series against the Spuce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League finals for the Enerflex Cup. The puck drops tonight at 7 p.m. at the Grant Fuhr Arena in Spruce Grove. The MOB will be coming home for games 3 and 4 on the 5th and 7th. “AJHL Wait Is Over” /via Edmonton Sun. You can listen to the game via Country 93.3.

4. Outdoor Gym / Birchwood Trails

Boreal Backyard - courtesy of Gord McKenna

Bet you didn’t know that Fort McMurray is home to Canada’s largest outdoor gym… did you? Well, the Birchwood trail system is the home to the gym that “features 53 units of exercise equipment including the latest in wheelchair-accessible equipment.” (source) Not bad eh? Granted, I haven’t yet pumped iron while it was minus 37, but just the fact that it’s right in the middle of over 20 km of boreal forest trails… which is quite literally located in our backyards…

5. Outdoor Activities

And speaking of the outdoor trails, how about some of the clubs that embrace the outdoor majesty that is the boreal forest? While there are many, two that spring to mind are the Wood Buffalo Adventure Club and the Ptarmigan Ski Club. If you enjoy hiking, canoeing and wilderness survival, the WBAC is your club. If you’re a cross country skier, then check out the PSC.

6. A “Pretty” Good Place To Live

Last year, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) was a National Finalist and won 5 Blooms from Communities in Bloom. The RMWB was proud to be in the company of other such finalist communities like Kamloops, Chatham-Kent, Lethbridge, Sarnia and Kawartha Lakes.

Communities in Bloom is a “Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the promotion and value of green spaces in urban settings.” (RMWB bloom profile)

7. Oil Sands Discovery Centre

The OSDC is a fantastic place to learn about what is bringing the world to our doorstep. Here, you can find out about the Athabasca Oil Sands – how it was formed, how it was discovered and how it is being developed. The friendly staff might even give you an up close and personal demonstration of the bitumen extraction process…

8. World-Class Community Facilities

With the RMWB finishing construction of the MacDonald Island Recreation centre, Fort McMurray will be home to two pretty fantastic recreational facilities. In September of 2007, Keyano College officially opened the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre to the public. And soon, with the completed redevelopment of MacDonald Island Park, the community will have access to:

9. Career Opportunities & Experience

The opportunity for professional growth and challenge in the region cannot be understated. We’re home to some of the most dynamic and technology-driven employers in the world, and qualified workers are in high demand. Even if you’re not directly involved in the oil sands trade, this recent CBC article shows that there are many positions needed in order to support this growing, northern community.

10. We’ve Got Big Spirit

Canada Day Parade 2005 - courtesy of Michael Hallca

Let’s be honest – the region has had some pretty bad press over the past couple of years. For instance, I would be curious to see what the local subscription rate to Chatelaine magazine is. You see, back in 2006, the magazine printed a pretty scathing article about the town – I won’t link to the article in question, but you can read a reaction here.

So in response to both one-sided articles and some of the misinformation floating around the world, the RMWB launched Big Spirit, which in the words of Kelly Kloss, RMWB Acting Chief Administrative Officer, “is one example of the many new and improved services that the municipality is proud to provide residents and community stakeholder.”

You can visit the Big Spirit website and you can also download the Big Spirit Magazine for more information.

And There You Have It

And there you have – 10 of the many great things about our region. I’d love to see some comments posted about other great things that didn’t make this particular list.

(Want more information about great things in our region? Check out the Community Guide to Recreation, Arts & Culture – Spring & Summer 2010)