Bad Dog! Mischievous Pup Sparks Mobile Home Fire in Gregoire FORT McMURRAY, AB. - A one-year-old German Shepherd with a taste for trouble-and electrical wiring-is being blamed for a fire that damaged a mobile home in Gregoire on Monday. Regional Emergency Services says "Levi" chewed through a lithium-ion batt...

Spring Load Limits Take Effect on Gravel Roads in RMWB FORT MCMURRAY, AB -The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is implementing spring load limits on municipal gravel roads starting Friday, April 4. Vehicles traveling on these roads must not exceed 75 per cent of their gross vehicle weight. The restrictions apply t...

Fort McMurray literary magazine marks Poetry Month with social media campaign, launch event FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - April is National Poetry Month, and Fort McMurray's NorthWord Literary Magazine is marking the occasion by sharing a daily poem from its archives on social media. The magazine is encouraging locals to join...

Canada and Mexico are being spared from most of the sweeping tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump today. In a lengthy speech from the White House Rose Garden, Trump unveiled his latest trade measures aimed at nearly every US trading partner to one degree or another. While the Canada-United States-Mexico Agr...

RMWB Launches 2025 Municipal Census With "Make it Count" Campaign FORT MCMURRAY, AB - The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) officially launched its 2025 municipal census today, urging residents to participate in the "Make it Count" campaign to ensure accurate population data for community...

AHS Reverses Controversial Hospital Food Policy After Public Outcry Alberta Health Services (AHS) has scrapped a planned policy that would have restricted food and drink access for emergency room patients and pediatric cancer patients following widespread backlash. The now-rescinded policy, that was approved in Septemb...

Liberals yet to announce candidate as nomination deadline nears in Fort McMurray-Cold Lake FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - With less than a week remaining for candidates to file their paperwork with Elections Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada has yet to announce a contender for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake in the upcoming federal el...

FORT MCMURRAY, AB - The Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce is inviting members to its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, starting at 5:00 p.m. MST. The meeting will reflect on the successes of 2024 and offer a look ahead to 2025. The AGM will feature a keynote address from Honourable Brian Jean, Al...

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - The Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM) is set to launch the 2025 YMM Digital Art Exhibit Series with an event celebrating art, travel, and community. The showcase will take place on April 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arrivals, Level 1 area, featuring works by local artists Lisa Smith, Rienna ...

Honouring a Legacy: Boutilier and Stroud Receive National Recognition FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - Two well-known community leaders in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo are being recognized posthumously with the King Charles III Coronation Medal for their years of dedicated public service. Former mayor, MLA, and provincial minister G...

Fire Marshal urges barbecue safety after weekend fire Fort McMurray, AB -- Fire Marshal Nick Brenner is reminding residents to take precautions while grilling after a weekend fire destroyed a barbecue and damaged a patio at an Eagle Ridge apartment complex. On the afternoon of Sunday, March 30, Fort McMurray firefighte...

Oil Sands Drive Growth in Canada's January Economic Expansion Canada's economy continued to show strength in January, driven largely by the energy sector, with the oil sands leading the way. A new report by Stats Canada shows real GDP rose 0.4%, following a 0.3% increase in December. Resource industries, including mini...

Alberta Snowstorm Leaves One Dead, Strands Motorists A powerful snowstorm swept through central and southern Alberta over the weekend, dumping more than a foot of snow in the Edmonton region and causing chaos on highways. RCMP responded to nearly 150 collisions as treacherous conditions led to multiple crashes. A tragi...

Trump's Softwood Tariffs Could Lead to Toilet Paper Shortages, Industry Warns Proposed U.S. tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber could have an unexpected impact on household essentials, including toilet paper. The Quebec Forest Industry Council, warns that higher tariffs will drive up the cost of northern bleached softw...

OHS Case Over Fatal Workplace Incident Ends with $1.2M in Penalties. FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - Three companies have been fined a total of $1.2 million in connection with a 2022 workplace fatality at Suncor Energy's base plant near Fort McMurray. Joy Global (Canada) Ltd., NCSG Crane & Heavy Haul Services Ltd., and Suncor...

Fort Chipewyan Winter Road Closing, Conditions Rough Conditions Last-Minute Travelers FORT MCMURRAY - The winter road to Fort Chipewyan will close for the season at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 31, cutting off road access to the northern hamlet until December. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo warns that warm temper...

Albertans to Pay Higher Wine Prices Starting April 1 This is the final weekend to stock up on wine before Alberta's new tax increases take effect on Tuesday. The province will implement a 15-cent flat-rate increase per 750 ml bottle of wine, along with a new value-added tax for more expensive bottles. For example, a $2...

Trump Flip-flops on Auto Tariffs Again The auto industry is sounding the alarm over President Donald Trump's latest trade announcement, which will impose a 25 per cent tariff on automobile imports and auto parts to the U.S., effective April 2. The sweeping tariffs, which will now apply to all foreign-manufactured vehic...

Airlines Cut Flights as Demand Drops Sharply Between Canada and U.S. Several airlines are reducing flights between Canada and the U.S. as passenger demand plummets. New data from OAG, a leading global travel data provider, shows bookings are down more than 70 per cent compared to last year, with over 320,000 fewer pass...

Alberta Moving Ahead with Photo Radar Cuts, Creates $13 Million Traffic Safety Fund Alberta is dramatically scaling back its use of photo radar, restricting Automated Traffic Enforcement (ATE) to specific areas while introducing a new $13-million Traffic Safety Fund to help municipalities improve high-risk intersection...

Four people from Fort McMurray are facing a list of charges, after police attempted to stop a speeding vehicle. Tuesday afternoon patrolling officers spotted a red GMC Acadia speeding from the downtown area. Police tried to stop the vehicle on Thickwood Drive. The vehicle kept going onto Timberline Drive, and then on...

Wood Buffalo RCMP arrested a Fort McMurray Resident early Sunday morning after an alleged confrontation with a local taxi driver. Just after 1:30 a.m., Mounties responded to a report of a passenger who had physically assaulted and threatened the driver. When officers arrived at the scene, the taxi had stopped in the ne...

RMWB Council has approved a new Land Use Bylaw, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The updated bylaw aligns with the Municipal Development Plan and aims to support local businesses, responsible development, and economic growth. Key updates include simplified language, more flexible regulations, new land use distric...

Today and tomorrow, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is in sunny Florida, but not for a vacation. She's speaking at a PragerU event, pushing back against U.S. tariff threats on Canadian goods and energy. Earlier this month, the U.S. threatened to slap a 25% tariff on Canadian imports and a 10% tariff on energy. In respon...

A Petro Canada gas station in Grassland, has been fined over $164,000 for breaching migrant labor rules, including poor recordkeeping, underpaying workers, and failing to provide a safe, abuse free workplace. The operator was also barred from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for the next five years. The violations ...

This weekend marks the last chance to travel the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road before it closes for the season on March 31. Until then, vehicles up to 45,000 kg can only use the road overnight. Daytime use by vehicles over 5,000 kg is prohibited and subject to fines. Light vehicles can still travel at any time. Drivers sh...

RCMP seize stolen vehicles and firearms in rural property search Smoky Lake, Alta. - A Smoky Lake man is in custody and 35 firearms have been seized following an RCMP search of a rural property about three hours south of Fort McMurray. Mounties say they searched a farm on Township Road 594 on March 19 as part of an ong...

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Announces Retirement Edmonton - After nearly four decades of public service, Deputy Commissioner Rob Hill is retiring from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Hill, who took command of the Alberta RCMP last year, announced he is stepping down after 27 years with the police force and severa...

FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its 2025 Business Awards, which recognize outstanding businesses and individuals who make a significant contribution to the region's economy and community. Nominations are open until April 30, 2025, and can be submitted online throu...

Energy East and GNL Québec could have redirected $38.4 billion worth of energy products per year to markets other than the United States, according to the MEI A new study by the Montreal Economic Institute shows Canada missed out on nearly $40 billion a year in energy exports by failing to build two major pipeli...

Alberta Budget Adds $1.1B for Education, but Critics Say More is Needed Alberta's Budget 2025 is adding $1.1 billion over three years to help schools manage rising enrolment, with the province saying the funding will allow school divisions to hire more than 4,000 teachers, educational assistants, and support staff. Edu...

Federal Emissions Cap Sparks Heated Debate Between Ottawa and Alberta The Federal Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) has released its impact assessment of the upcoming oil and gas emissions cap, calling it essential for Canada to meet its promised greenhouse gas (GHG) targets. The report stresses the need for the cap to...

Wood Buffalo RCMP Seek Help Locating Missing Woman FORT MCMURRAY - Wood Buffalo RCMP are asking for the public's help in locating a missing woman who has not been seen or heard from since Christmas. Angie Lee McGunigle, 45, is a Fort McMurray resident, and police say they are concerned for her safety and well-being. Sh...

Winter Maintenance Zones Relaxed Across Fort McMurray FORT McMURRAY - The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) has relaxed all Winter Maintenance Zones, meaning no on-street parking restrictions will be in effect across Fort McMurray from March 24 to 28. Crews will continue to maintain primary and feeder roads ...

Autism Society of the RMWB Faces Funding Crisis, Respite Program at Risk FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Autism Society of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is facing a $50,000 funding shortfall that could force the closure of its social respite care program by March 31, 2025. The program, which has operated for six y...

Fort McMurray Rotary Club Extends a Helping Hand to Fire-Ravaged Jasper FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Fort McMurray Rotary Club is paying forward the support they received after the 2016 wildfire by helping their counterparts in Jasper rebuild after last summer's devastating fire. Dan Sorensen, president of the Fort McMurra...

Its been the worst kept secret in Ottawa for more than a week, after Mark Carney was elected Liberal Leader, and sworn in as prime minister. Mark Carney made the journey to Rideau Hall in Ottawa where he met with Governor General Mary Simon. Simon agreed to Carney's request to dissolve parliament and being the five wee...

Tesla recalls nearly all Cybertrucks as body panels risk falling off Tesla's Cybertruck is quite literally falling apart, and now the company is scrambling to put it back together. The EV maker is recalling nearly all of its futuristic-looking pickups-more than 46,000 in total-after discovering that exterior panels can...

Fort Chipewyan Winter Road Load Limit Drops as Temperatures Rise FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - Warmer weather is once again bringing load restrictions on the Fort Chipewyan winter road. Starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 21, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) will reduce the daytime load limit on the route to 5,...

Calgary man charged after CBSA seizes 108 kg of cocaine at Coutts border A Calgary man is facing drug trafficking charges after border officers seized more than 100 kilograms of cocaine from a transport truck at the Coutts border crossing. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said officers stopped the commercial ve...

Fort McMurray Man Wins $100,000 on Instant LOTTO MAX Scratch Ticket FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - Karanpreet Singh's quick decision to scratch a lottery ticket in-store has turned into a life-changing moment. The Fort McMurray man is now $100,000 richer after winning one of the top prizes on a LOTTO MAX Instant Scratch & Wi...

Trump Says he Prefers Liberals, Lashes Out at Canada in Fox News Interview In a now typically inflammatory interview with Fox News' Laura Ingraham on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on Canada's federal election landscape, endorsing the Liberal Party while levelling a barrage of grievances against Canada...

Portage College students take first place at business case competition FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - Business students from Portage College took first place at the Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition, hosted last week by Keyano College. The competition brought together 11 teams from post-secondary schools across Alberta ...

Alberta Endorses Energy CEOs' Call for Infrastructure Expansion EDMONTON - Premier Danielle Smith and Energy Minister Brian Jean are throwing their support behind a call from 14 energy and pipeline CEOs urging Ottawa to fast-track oil and gas infrastructure projects across the country. In an open letter to federal part...

Province Invests in Fort McMurray Schools, Health Care and Infrastructure FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Alberta government will be investing nearly $5 billion to strengthen northern communities, with Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo set to receive funding for key infrastructure, education, and healthcare initiatives. Among the in...

FORT MCMURRAY, AB - Measles cases continue to rise in Alberta, prompting Alberta Health Services (AHS) to issue a public alert and request that schools in our region distribute an information letter to parents and caregivers. The latest outbreak includes confirmed cases in Edmonton, Calgary, Little Red River Cree Natio...

CUPE Releases Vote Results on School Support Staff Contracts FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - With school support staff back on the job Wednesday, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has released the voting results from its recently ratified collective agreements with Fort McMurray's Catholic and Public School Divisions....

OECD Slashes Growth Forecasts for Canada, Mexico, and US Amid Trade Turmoil The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has significantly downgraded its economic growth forecasts for Canada, Mexico, and the United States, citing escalating trade tensions and the inflationary impact of tariffs. In ...

Support Staff to Return to Work Wednesday Updated: 9:00 p.m. March 17, 2025 Fort McMurray, AB. - Education support workers with both the Fort McMurray Public and Catholic School Divisions have voted to accept new collective agreements and will return to work this week. The agreements come after a weekend of bargaining ...

RCMP Seek Public's Help to Locate Missing Fort McMurray Man Fort McMurray, AB. - Wood Buffalo RCMP are asking for the public's assistance in locating Evan Michael Orr, a 33-year-old man who was last seen on Sunday, March 16, in Fort McMurray. Orr is described as 6'1" tall, weighing 168 pounds, with black hair, bro...