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...

Think tank says federal fast-track bill confirms Ottawa's assessment process is broken A Montreal-based think tank with offices in Calgary, says a new federal law that allows Ottawa to fast-track certain projects is an admission that Canada's project approval process is failing. In a report released Thursday, the Montr...

Alberta defends wildfire response after critical Jasper report EDMONTON - Alberta is pushing back against a report commissioned by the town of Jasper into the 2024 wildfire that damaged parts of the community, arguing the province's role was substantial, coordinated and wrongly minimized. In a joint statement, Premier ...

Alberta Heritage Fund hits record $30B as province sets sights on $250B by 2050 EDMONTON - Alberta's Heritage Savings Trust Fund has surged to an all-time high of $30 billion following a $2.8-billion cash injection from the province's latest surplus, marking a major milestone in the government's long-term savings plan....

RCMP issue province-wide alert after Alberta teen dies from counterfeit Xanax pill EDMONTON - Alberta RCMP have issued a critical province-wide warning after the death of a 16-year-old boy was linked to a counterfeit pill containing a powerful and deadly opioid. The replica pills are designed to mimic Xanax, a commonly...

Man dead following RCMP-involved shooting in Grande Prairie; ASIRT investigating GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB. - A man is dead following a police-involved shooting late Friday night in Grande Prairie. RCMP say officers attempted to stop an erratic driver shortly before midnight on July 18. The vehicle fled and became stuck in th...

Much anticipated ATC Cultural Festival Marks Fifth Year with Expanded Celebration FORT McMURRAY - The Athabasca Tribal Council's Cultural Festival is returning this fall for its highly anticipated fifth anniversary, promising four days of traditional music, dance, storytelling, art and food that highlight the rich Dene...

Fire danger climbs in Fort McMurray and Lac La Biche forest areas as hot, dry weather continues FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - Wildfire danger is very high in the northern and southern portions of the Fort McMurray Forest Area, with hot and dry weather expected to further increase the risk in the coming days. The Alberta Wildf...

U.S. oil growth slows as prices squeeze producers, Goldman warns U.S. crude oil production is entering a period of stagnation, with analysts warning that the boom of recent years may be over. Goldman Sachs says the primary engine of American output growth, the Permian basin, is maturing, and lower oil prices are forcin...

Deadline approaching to register online for municipal election in Fort McMurray FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - Residents looking to save time at the polls for the upcoming municipal election are being encouraged to register to vote online before the Aug. 15 deadline. Under Alberta's updated election rules, all voters must now ...

RMWB crews to inspect and clean pipes in downtown, Waterways, Abasand, and other areas through September FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - Residents in several Fort McMurray neighbourhoods can expect to see sewer cleaning crews at work starting July 23 as part of a multi-year effort to keep the municipality's underground infrastr...

Scammers mimic jewelry stores and other retailers to steal credit card and personal information The Better Business Bureau is urging Albertans to be cautious online after a wave of fake "going out of business" sales have started circulating, particularly targeting shoppers looking for deals on jewelry and oth...

Gipsy-Gordon Wildland Provincial Park to protect wildlife, support Indigenous rights and outdoor recreation FORT McMURRAY, Alta. - Northeastern Alberta is home to a vast new protected area as the province officially establishes the Gipsy-Gordon Wildland Provincial Park, a move hailed as both an environmental milestone ...

Alberta nurses to be transferred to new health agencies as part of AHS overhaul EDMONTON - Nearly 5,000 registered nurses in Alberta will have their employment transferred from Alberta Health Services to two new provincial health agencies on September 1. The United Nurses of Alberta says formal transfer notices will be...

Pacesetters Early Learning and Childcare Centre must fix violations by October 15 or risk licence cancellation FORT McMURRAY, AB. - A Fort McMurray daycare is under close watch by Alberta's Ministry of Education and Childcare after being placed on a probationary licence due to multiple safety violations, including a la...

Pro-Canada movement gains traction in Alberta as separatist support stalls EDMONTON - The grassroots movement aimed at keeping Alberta in Canada is gaining momentum, as organizers prepare to formally launch their campaign against separatism by the end of the month. Forever Canadian, which describes itself as a unifying...

Most Canadians now see U.S. as top threat, Pew survey shows A growing number of Canadians view the United States as a greater threat than nations like Russia, North Korea, or Iran, according to a new global survey by the Pew Research Center. The poll found that 59 per cent of Canadians now see the U.S. as their country...

Reflections Lookout opens in Fort McMurray, honouring wildfire resilience FORT McMURRAY, AB- Reflections Lookout, a new community park honouring the resilience of Fort McMurray residents during and after the 2016 wildfire, officially opened Tuesday. Dozens gathered at the northeast corner of Beacon Hill Drive for the o...