Wood Buffalo RCMP Seeking Public's Help to Locate Missing 12-Year-Old Girl Wood Buffalo RCMP are asking for the public's assistance in locating 12-year-old Ava Franklin, who was last seen on April 9th around noon. Police have expressed concern for her wellbeing. Ava is described as 5'5" tall, weighing 140 pounds, ...

Canadian Paralympic Champion Nate Tucker Inspires Fort McMurray Students During In-Person Visit FORT MCMURRAY, AB - Canadian Paralympic gold medalist Nate Tucker is coming to Fort McMurray as part of a special mentorship event at Dr. K.A. Clark School. Tucker, a world-record-holding runner who overcame a childhood brai...

Six candidates confirmed in Fort McMurray-Cold Lake federal race FORT McMURRAY, AB - The race is officially on in Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, with six candidates confirmed by Elections Canada to appear on the ballot for the upcoming federal election. Incumbent MP Laila Goodridge is seeking re-election under the Conservati...

Alberta Monitoring Global Economic Uncertainty as Oil Prices Dip Below Budget Forecast Alberta is closely watching global economic volatility amid fluctuating oil prices, which have fallen below the province's budget projections. The 2025 budget was based on an average oil price of $68 per barrel, but prices have recen...

Trump pauses global tariffs, sparks market rebound - but China duties remain U.S. President Donald Trump has hit pause on his global tariffs for 90 days, triggering a rebound in oil prices and a rally on North American stock markets. The move follows steep market losses and growing fears of a U.S. recession. Trump now ...

Global markets reel as US-China trade war erupts into full-scale economic conflict A full-scale trade war between the world's two largest economies has erupted, with the United States enacting sweeping 104 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports and China responding with its own retaliatory measures. The move marks a sharp...

Alberta tourism sector booming, on pace to break spending record again in 2024 Alberta's tourism sector is surging at a pace unmatched by any other province. The latest data shows a 10 per cent increase in visitor spending during the first nine months of 2024. The province says this puts Alberta on track to break last ...

New top Mountie appointed as RCMP leadership changes hands in Alberta Alberta's RCMP have a new commanding officer, as Assistant Commissioner Trevor Daroux steps into the role following the retirement of Deputy Commissioner Rob Hill. Daroux brings more than 36 years of policing experience to the position, including tim...

Alberta government proposes scrapping municipal codes of conduct in overhaul of local governance rules EDMONTON - Alberta is proposing to scrap the requirement for municipal councils to adopt codes of conduct, citing growing concerns that the rules have been misused and caused dysfunction in local governments. The chan...

RCMP urge caution as motorcycle season revs up in Fort McMurrayFort McMurray, Alta. - With spring weather returning and motorcycles already back on the roads in Fort McMurray, Wood Buffalo RCMP are urging both drivers and riders to share the road safely. Police say this time of year brings an uptick in motorcycle traff...

Grande Prairie man arrested in Fort Chipewyan for breaching court order FORT CHIPEWYAN, Alta. - RCMP in Fort Chipewyan are crediting local residents with helping locate a man prohibited from being in the community, following his arrest late last month. On March 29, police received a tip about a man in the hamlet who wa...

Municipality Urges Caution and Preparedness Ahead of River Breakup Season FORT McMURRAY, AB - With warmer weather melting snow and ice across the region, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is urging residents to stay informed and stay safe as river breakup season begins. The annual thaw of the Athabasca and Clea...

Fort McMurray's 'Hello Summer' Festival Brings Big Names and Bigger Vibes in July FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - A wave of music, sunshine, and summer celebration is set to roll into Fort McMurray this July with the Hello Summer festival. This event is set to be one of the biggest outdoor concerts the region has seen in years....

Wood Buffalo RCMP Seek Public Help in Locating Missing Fort McMurray Man FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - Police are asking for the public's assistance in finding a missing 52-year-old Fort McMurray man who hasn't been seen or heard from in about six weeks. Robin Maracle was last known contact was in mid-February, and investigat...

Winter Maintenance Zones winding down for the season in Wood Buffalo FORT McMURRAY, AB. - Winter Maintenance Zone (WMZ) work across the region is winding down for the season. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo announced that all subzones are relaxed until further notice. That means no seasonal on-street parking ...

Visible smoke and fire part of planned hazard reduction activity FORT McMURRAY, AB. - You may start to see smoke rising or fires burning in the brush around town. Crews with Alberta Wildfire and Regional Emergency Services are beginning their annual spring hazard reduction burns this week across several areas of the Re...

Three new cases confirmed in Central Alberta; Texas outbreak passes 500 infections with two child deaths Alberta continues to see a steady rise in measles cases, with three new infections confirmed in Central Alberta over the weekend. The province has now recorded 27 cases, nine of them in the North Zone, and nearly al...

Liberal Party Names Kaitlyn Staines as Candidate for Fort McMurray-Cold Lake FORT MCMURRAY, AB - The Liberal Party of Canada has finally named Kaitlyn Staines as its candidate in Fort McMurray-Cold Lake for the upcoming federal general election on April 28, joining the slate of candidates from Canada's other major poli...

The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation is taking Alberta to court over oilsands cleanup concerns. They argue the province's Mine Financial Security Program isn't doing enough to ensure companies pay for land reclamation-leaving First Nations to deal with the mess. ACFN's Acting Chief Hazel Mercredi says without stronger ...

Alberta Tops Canada in Beverage Container Recycling Albertans returned more than two billion beverage containers in 2024, earning the province the top spot in Canada and second in North America for recycling. The return rate reached 85 per cent in 2024 which stands well above the national average of 76 per cent. surpas...

Alberta Nurses Secure Pay Raise in New Contract Alberta nurses will see a significant pay raise following the ratification of a new four-year collective agreement with the province. The new contract makes them the highest paid nurses in Canada. The deal, negotiated between Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the United N...

Wheelchair Curling Brings Joy to Willow Square Residents in Fort McMurray FORT McMURRAY, AB - Residents of Willow Square Continuing Care Centre are embracing the sport of curling through a recreational therapy program that promotes inclusion, socialization, and wellness. The initiative began this past winter with the g...

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...