Integrated Offender Management aims to cut repeat offenses and improve community safety FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - As part of our ongoing series on the RCMP, Harvard media recently sat down to discuss with them how they handle repeat offenders, and people who are regularly involved in criminality. The Alberta RCMP are usin...

Organizers aim to collect 300,000 signatures by late October amid competing separatist push EDMONTON - A citizen-led campaign to affirm Alberta's place within Canada is officially underway following a public launch in Edmonton on Saturday. The signature drive launched from Old Strathcona in Edmonton on Saturday, August...

Police say risky driving choices increase danger for everyone FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - Wood Buffalo RCMP are asking motorists to slow down and avoid aggressive driving this August, warning that risky road behaviours significantly raise the chance of crashes, injuries and fatalities. Police say aggressive driving is not a...

Mac Island reopens afterregion sees worst air quality since 2016 wildfire FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - Thick wildfire smoke and extreme fire danger levels are impacting the Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche forest areas, with officials warning that conditions could remain hazardous in the days ahead. Over the weekend, air quali...

Reductions in assaults, sexual assaults and break‑ins drive province‑wide decline EDMONTON - Alberta RCMP jurisdictions saw a 6.9 per cent decrease in the Crime Severity Index in 2024, according to new Statistics Canada data. The index, which measures the volume and seriousness of police‑reported crime, is now at...

Alberta MLAs head to Boston to promote energy and agriculture exports EDMONTON - Alberta MLAs are heading to Boston this week to push for a barrier‑free trade relationship with the United States. The delegation will attend the National Conference of State Legislators from Aug. 2 to 7, promoting Alberta as a key partn...

Wildfire danger extreme in Fort McMurray Forest Area as fire advisories remain in place FORT McMURRAY, AB. - The wildfire danger is extreme in the northern portion of the Fort McMurray Forest Area and very high in the remainder, with hot and dry conditions expected to increase the risk in the coming days. A fire adviso...

Facility supported by Suncor will serve as cultural and community hub FORT McMURRAY, AB. - Fireworks and traditional dancing marked the grand opening of the Nikinan Community Centre on Treaty 8 territory, offering a new gathering place for the Fort McMurray 468 First Nation. Meaning "Our Place" in Cree, the f...

In the fourth installment of Harvard Media News' look inside the Wood Buffalo RCMP, we delve into what exactly happens when a resident calls those three famous numbers, 9-1-1. RCMP explains how its operators handle thousands of calls a year and why using the right line matters FORT McMURRAY, AB. - When a resident of Fo...

Additional classroom space coming to Fort McMurray schools as enrolment grows FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - Two Fort McMurray school divisions will receive a total of five new modular classrooms as part of a provincial effort to deal with growing student numbers. The Alberta government says two new modular classrooms will be ...

Four fires in Fort McMurray Forest Area are under control but conditions could worsen with continued heat FORT McMURRAY, AB. - The fire danger across the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is climbing as a heat warning continues for the Fort McMurray region. Officials say the risk remains extreme in the Fort Smith a...

DND fined for destroying hawk nest at CFB Suffield, but most of the money just circles back to Ottawa CALGARY - The federal government has fined itself $10,000 after the Department of National Defence (DND) pleaded guilty to destroying a threatened ferruginous hawk nest at Canadian Forces Base Suffield in southern Albe...

Alberta separation debate shifts as "remain in Canada" referendum petition advances EDMONTON - The Alberta separation referendum debate is taking a new turn, with a "remain in Canada" question cleared to begin collecting signatures while a rival separatist proposal has been sent to court. Elections ...

RCMP members seen as "a breed apart," but officers stress they are people too In the third installment of our series on the men and women serving as RCMP in the Wood Buffalo detachment, we sat down with Staff Sergeant Sabrina Clayton to talk about the human side of being a police officer. FORT McMURRAY, AB. -...

Canadian families face rising costs from Ottawa's counter-tariffs, says MEI MONTREAL - The Montreal Economic Institute says Ottawa's counter-tariffs on American goods have cost Canadian households nearly $92 each in just two months. The public policy think tank, which advocates for market-oriented reforms, says the tar...

Premier pushes back against referendum court review as Alberta's chief electoral officer defends decision EDMONTON - Alberta's chief electoral officer is defending his decision to refer a proposed referendum question on provincial separation to the courts, even as Premier Danielle Smith and her justice minister accused...

RMWB seeks candidates for new Audit and Compliance Committee FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is looking for qualified candidates to fill two positions on its newly established Audit and Compliance Committee. Council approved the creation of the committee through Bylaw 24/17 at its June 10...

Expanded Trans Mountain Pipeline and Chinese diversification driving surge Harvard Media News was among the first to report that China's Rongsheng Petrochemical planned to open an office in Calgary to help facilitate Canadian oil purchases. That move appears to be part of a larger trend, as energy trade between Canada ...

Keyano College environmental grads gain direct pathway to University of Alberta FORT McMURRAY, AB. - A new transfer agreement between Keyano College and the University of Alberta is creating a direct path for environmental technology graduates to pursue a science degree at one of the province's top universities. The de...

The Fort McMurray Giants refused to put their team on the field for a double header in Okotoks yesterday. According to a Facebook post by the team, the field was in terrible shape. So for safety reasons, the Giants refused to play. Both teams have filed a protest with the Western Canadian Baseball League. This could h...

RCMP highlight community ties and language skills in diverse Fort McMurray region, FORT McMURRAY, AB. - As part of its ongoing effort to build trust in one of Canada's most diverse regions, the RCMP in Wood Buffalo says its officers are working closely with cultural communities and using language skills to bridge gaps ...

Alberta court to weigh legality of sovereignty referendum proposal EDMONTON - Alberta's chief electoral officer has asked the Court of King's Bench to determine if a proposed referendum question calling for Alberta to become a sovereign country is legal under provincial law. Gordon McClure submitted the question to the...

Measles cases continue to rise in Alberta, but health officials say the pace has slowed slightly ahead of the busy back-to-school season. The province has now recorded 1,538 confirmed cases, including 27 new infections over the past week. Eleven cases remain in their communicable stage, meaning they are still contagiou...

Councillor Dogar sanctioned for interference during 2024 wildfire crisis, but sanctions no longer enforceable FORT McMURRAY, AB. - Councillor Shafiq Dogar was sanctioned by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo council for disrupting emergency operations during the 2024 wildfires, according to a report from the mun...

LAC LA BICHE, AB - A man is dead following a confrontation with RCMP officers at a residence in Lac La Biche on Sunday morning. According to RCMP, officers responded to a disturbance call at approximately 11:47 a.m. When three officers arrived at the scene, a confrontation occurred, during which the man allegedly attac...

Policing and the Public: The changing face of the RMWB This is the first in a series on policing in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). Harvard Media News recently sat down with Chief Superintendent Mark Hancock, Officer in Charge of the Wood Buffalo RCMP Detachment. Hancock is a 33-year veteran of the RC...

RMWB seeks public input on 10-year safety and well-being plan FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is developing a 10-year Safety and Social Well-Being Strategy and is asking residents, Indigenous partners, and service providers to help shape the plan. The strategy will outline long-term regio...

U of A program aims to boost number of Indigenous teachers across Alberta FORT McMURRAY, AB. - A teacher education program at the University of Alberta is expanding its reach with a aim of getting more Indigenous educators into classrooms across the province. The Aboriginal Teacher Education Program (ATEP) was founded ...

RMWB offers support for residents considering council run in 2025 election FORT McMURRAY, AB. - The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is offering a range of supports to residents who are thinking about running for municipal council in the 2025 election. The nomination period is now open and closes at noon on Sept. ...

Fort McMurray--As summer activities ramp up across Alberta, health officials are reminding residents to take extra precautions when spending time outdoors to avoid insect bites and potential wildlife encounters that could lead to serious infections. Insect-borne illnesses remain a concern, particularly West Nile virus ...

Toyota Supra, Chevy Camaro win top honours at Fort McMurray car show FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - A gleaming 2021 Toyota Supra and a restored 1969 Chevrolet Camaro drove away with top honours at this weekend's Wheels and Wings car show, organizers announced Monday. The annual event, held at Fort McMurray Airport's north termin...

Improperly extinguished cigarettes blamed for 2 Fort McMurray fires in 5 days FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - Fire officials in Fort McMurray are warning residents about the dangers of careless smoking after two separate fires caused by improperly discarded cigarettes within five days. The latest blaze broke out around 1 a.m. Thu...

Pro wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dead at 71 Hulk Hogan, the wrestling superstar whose larger-than-life persona helped turn professional wrestling into a global entertainment juggernaut, has died at age 71. The WWE confirmed his death Thursday, saying the 12-time world champion played a key role in shaping the modern era o...

Five former world junior hockey players acquitted in high-profile sexual assault case LONDON, Ont. - Five former members of Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team were acquitted Thursday of sexual assault, marking the dramatic conclusion to a case that has gripped the country for more than seven years and cast a long s...

Premiers wrap Muskoka summit with focus on trade tensions and domestic priorities MUSKOKA, Ont. - The First Ministers conference is wrapping up with premiers showing a united front on domestic priorities and growing concern over U.S. trade tensions. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith voiced frustration with delays in reneg...

Ottawa invests $3.2 billion to support newcomer integration and fill labour gaps OTTAWA - The federal government is investing more than $3.2 billion over three years to support the economic integration of newcomers and help fill labour shortages in high-demand sectors across Canada. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Di...

U.S. introducing $250 visa fee for many foreign travellers, including Canadian residents It is about to get more expensive for some travellers to enter the United States. A new US$250 Visa Integrity Fee will soon be required from non-immigrant visa applicants under a sweeping immigration and border security law signed ...

Alberta health officials warn of child fall risks from windows and balconies EDMONTON - Primary Care Alberta is warning families to take extra precautions this summer to prevent young children from falling out of windows and off balconies. Officials say toddlers and preschoolers are especially at risk, as many children...

Province expands Family Justice Strategy with new funding and community rollout EDMONTON - Alberta is expanding its Family Justice Strategy with an additional $3.2 million in funding from Budget 2025, bringing the total investment to $11.2 million. The move is aimed at helping more Albertans resolve family disputes out...

Province creates new team to help with classroom concerns. EDMONTON - A 25-member action team appointed by the Alberta government is tackling growing aggression and complexity in the province's classrooms. The group includes teachers, school leaders, trustees and support staff with direct experience working with studen...

Alberta police watchdog clears RCMP officers in fatal 2023 Fort McMurray shooting FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has concluded RCMP officers acted lawfully when they fatally shot an armed man during a violent domestic incident in Fort McMurray in September 2023. In a report released Wed...

Crime severity down in Canada after three-year rise, driven by drop in non-violent offences OTTAWA - Crime in Canada became less severe in 2024, reversing a three-year upward trend, as non-violent offences such as break-ins and motor vehicle theft declined sharply, new national data show. Statistics Canada reported tha...

Alberta watchdog clears RCMP in in-custody death of Fort McMurray man FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - Alberta's police watchdog has cleared Fort McMurray RCMP of wrongdoing in the in-custody death of a man on March 22, 2024, concluding that officers followed policy and were not criminally responsible. According to a newly relea...

Rock icon Ozzy Osbourne dead at 76, tributes pour in Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal legend who helped define a genre and captivated audiences for more than five decades, has died. He was 76. The Osbourne family released a statement Tuesday confirming the death, saying he passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones....

Fort McMurray - A late-night fire over the weekend is prompting a renewed warning from fire officials about the dangers of improperly discarded smoking materials. Just after midnight on July 19, Fort McMurray firefighters responded to a mobile home on Jackpine Way. When they arrived, they found a resident attempting to...

OPEC's market sway challenged as oil prices stay firm despite supply hike OPEC is boosting oil production in a bid to reclaim market share, but prices remain unexpectedly strong, revealing the cartel's waning ability to steer global markets. Despite reversing earlier cuts, OPEC's efforts have been offset by intensifyin...

Alberta promises rural care boost, but questions remain over recruitment and retention The Alberta government is rolling out more than $22 million in new spending to improve primary care in rural and remote parts of the province, but success may hinge less on money and more on whether enough professionals are willing t...

Alberta leads Canada in housing starts as construction surge continues EDMONTON - Alberta is leading the country in housing construction, with nearly 28,000 new homes already started in the first half of 2025 - a 30 per cent jump over last year's record-setting pace. New data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corpor...

ATC Cultural Festival marks fifth anniversary with new location in Waterways FORT MCMURRAY, AB. - The Athabasca Tribal Council Cultural Festival is marking its fifth anniversary with a new home in Fort McMurray's Waterways neighbourhood. The annual celebration of Cree and Dene culture will take place September 11 to 14...

Wildfire threat prompts evacuation alert for Slave Lake region SLAVE LAKE, Alta. - Residents in and around Slave Lake are being told to prepare for a possible evacuation as a wildfire burns northeast of the town and east of Highway 88. An Alberta Emergency Alert was issued Monday covering the Town of Slave Lake, includ...