145 black bears were killed – one of the highest counts in recent history.

Almost half were killed at oilsands camps after being attracted by food or garbage.

Environmentalists are blaming oil companies for not storing garbage properly.

But Sustainable Resource Development says it was a failure in the berry crop that made the bears look elsewhere for food.

Published February 22, 2012

NLHF Executive Director Susan Chaffey proudly announced the total at the end of the 13 hour radiothon on February 21.

You can continue to donate ONLINE or by sending the Text HEART to 30333 for a $10 donation.

Funds raised from the 2012 Have a Heart Radiothon are designed for the Baby Friendly Initiative. The Baby Friendly initiative brings together community agencies, health care professionals and interested community members to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in the municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Fort McMurray will be the first community in Alberta to achieve Baby Friendly status from the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada.

Individuals or community groups interested in being part of the Baby Friendly Initiative can contact Alberta Health Services Public Health in Fort McMurray at 780-791-6291.

(Saturday)Febrary 25, 2012 starting at 9:00 am

Discussion Items:
1)Deadline for Independent Assessment Process Application 2)Common Experience late applications 3)Day student class action information “lunch to be served” and lots of door prizes

Garnet Bresson was arrested and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and given a 24-hour alcohol related driving suspension.

The speed limit on that part of Confed is 60 kilometres an hour.

The road was snowy and slippery at the time and the car – a four-door sedan – had three passengers in it.

Police did not say when the incident happened.

Published February 21, 2012

An Ottawa researcher obtained the document through access to information legislation this week, finding that bureaucrats are unconvinced that more focus on in-situ mining will address environmental issues.

It says that in-situ projects are accelerating emissions even faster, and that it’s far from clear that tailings ponds from pit mining can be successfully reclaimed.

It suggests that tailings ponds could cause permanent damage.

The memo was written just under a year ago ahead of a roundtable discussion with oil companies.

Published February 21, 2012

San Francisco-based URS Corporation has bought Calgary-based Flint Energy for one and a quarter billion dollars U.S.

Half of Flint’s Canadian revenues come from the oil sands.

URS’s CEO says the deal means Flint will have access to their company’s construction resources, which will mean faster growth.

Published February 21, 2012

In a scientific journal, Dr. Andrew Weaver demonstrates that if all 170 billion barrels that the industry is targeting were hauled out of the ground, temperatures would go up between 2 and 5 one-hundredths of a degree.

By comparison, if the world’s accessible coal resources were burned, it would raise temperatures almost one full degree.

Weaver says he’s not giving a get out of jail free card to the industry; he says governments still have to look for ways to shift demand away from hydrocarbons.

Published February 21, 2012

The threat is contained in a letter which was written in December by David Plunkett, Canada’s ambassador to the European Union.

European nations are preparing to vote this week on a directive that would single out crude from the oilsands as dirty oil, with a much higher carbon footprint than conventional oil.

Published February 21, 2012

The warning comes in light of projects like Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline that groups fear could be allowed to cut corners.

Environmental lawyer Stephen Hazell says the prime minister’s objectives have been clear for some time now, base on budget bills from the last couple of years.

Hazell says it’s not a partisan issue – adding one of the greenest government’s he’s ever seen was the Mulroney cabinet. He’s optimistic Ottawa will still change its perspective.

Published February 21, 2012

Local healthcare is the heart of our community. To keep our community vital, we need to keep healthcare strong.
On Tuesday, February 21st, rally your friends and family to raise funds and support the Northern Lights Health Foundation’s Have a Heart Radiothon presented by ATB Financial.

It was the first regular season regulation win in Spruce Grove for the Oil Barons in more than four years.

Kevin Lacroix scored the winning goal in a three-goal second period that featured additional markers by Killian Hutt and Justin Rose, who finished the campaign with 38 goals.

Colton Parayko opened the scoring in the first period on a coast-to-coast rush.

It was only the third time all year that Spruce Grove has allowed 4 goals at its home rink; and the Oil Barons did it with seven players out of the lineup due to injury or suspension.

However, because the Oil Barons fell 3-2 to Drayton Valley on Friday night, the Saints had already clinched the division title and a first round playoff bye.

The MOB will take on Grande Prairie in a best of five series beginning Saturday night at the Casman Centre.

On February 19, 2012, shortly before 6:00 pm, Wood Buffalo RCMP were dispatched to a motor vehicle collision on Secondary Highway 881, near Conklin, Alberta. Witness reports indicated that a southbound passenger van crossed the center line and struck a northbound car. The driver of the car, a 62 year-old male from the Smoky Lake area, was pronounced dead on the scene. The driver of the van, a 41 year-old female from Edmonton, and a male passenger, a 40 year-old from Conklin, were both transported via ambulance to the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre with non life threatening injuries.

The investigation is on-going, however preliminary reports indicate that snowy road conditions are believed to be a contributing factor in the collision. As a result of the collision the highway had been shut down for several hours. The RCMP are reminding motorists to be mindful of the ever-changing weather and road conditions when traveling during the winter months.

Published February 20,2012

On Friday night, the Spruce Grove Saints clinched the North division title by defeating the Bonnyville Pontiacs while the MOB fell 3-2 to the Drayton Valley Thunder.

That put the Barons in the #2 spot, which means a first-round matchup with the #7 seed Storm.

Games 1 and 2 will happen on Saturday and Sunday nights, the 25th and 26th of February, at the Casman Centre, with both games starting at 8pm.

Game 3 will be in Grande Prairie on Tuesday, February 28th at 7:30 at the Canada Games Arena.

If necessary, Game 4 will be the night of Wednesday the 29th in G.P., while a game 5 would be in Fort McMurray on March 3rd at 8pm.

Wood Buffalo RCMP have laid charges in relation to the single vehicle rollover that occurred on February 16, 2012, in the Thickwood area of Fort McMurray.

20 year-old Jared MacDonald of Nova Scotia, has been charged with several offences including Dangerous Operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, Impaired Operation of a Motor Vehicle causing bodily harm and Criminal Negligence causing bodily harm.

The accused had been released from custody and is expected to appear in court on March 5, 2012.

Published February 17th

Energy minister Joe Oliver and premier Alison Redford signed a memorandum of understanding today that they say will lead to new and improved technologies.

They say the MOU will mean collaboration on sustainable oil sands use involving industry, academia, and other research organizations.

Published om February 16, 2012

The poll has Alison Redford’s party leading with 37% with the Wildrose not far behind at 30%.

The Liberals and NDP battle for third place with 14% and 13% support, respectively.

In Calgary, the Wildrose is in a tie with the PCs at 36% support each.

But the government party still holds a healthy lead in Edmonton, 39% to 20%.

Published February 16, 2012

Earlier in the day, more than 600 workers walked off the job at more than a dozen locations across Alberta.

Some employees in Fort McMurray picketed this afternoon to support the strike by their colleagues.

They were protesting the most recent contract offer, which they said was worse than the one they had previously rejected.

The job action led to about 70 cancellations of elective surgeries and delays in getting meals to patients.

Published February 16, 2012

31 year old Adam Whiteford was charged after police say they found him with marijuana and Oxycontin.

He’s accused of trafficking as well as possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and possession of proceeds of crime.

Published February 16, 2012

Wood Buffalo RCMP say charges are pending after a dark red pick up truck crossed the median and rolled over into a parking lot.

The people in the truck were taken to hospital.

Published February 16, 2012

Rose is in his final year of junior eligibility and leads the team in scoring with 37 goals and 37 assists so far; he is the highest goal scorer for the MOB since Tyler Gron in 2007-08 (39 goals), who also became a NMU Wildcat.

The speedy Gibbons, AB native also joins teammate Brock Maschmeyer as future Wildcats; Maschmeyer is expected to join the team in 2013-14.

NMU plays in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in the top division of American college hockey.

Rose is the eighth Oil Baron on the current squad with a postsecondary commitment.

The company says it had to spent 190 million dollars to change its upgraders at the Long Lake oil sands project.

Total profits ended up at 43 million dollars.

The company’s shares are down more than 20 percent over the past year, and its CEO resigned last month after three years in charge.

The interim CEO says the company would consider selling its stake in Syncrude if it needed the cash.

Published February 16, 2012

The goal A-H-S tried to reach was admitting 60 per cent of patients within eight hours.

Health Minister Fred Horne blames an increase in numbers and aging patients.

Friends of Medicare Executive Director David Eggen says their final goal of 90 per cent is also highly unlikely.

Currently about half of patients are seen within eight hours.

Published February 16, 2012

Rich Coleman says he wishes they would follow the province’s lead in holding off on a position until the federal environmental review is finished.

Terrace council opposed the project after the Union of BC Municipalities also voted against it last fall.

More than 60 first nations and aboriginal organizations in BC have signed a declaration opposing the plan.

Northern Gateway would ship oil from Bruderheim to Kitimat, BC for shipment to Asia and the U-S.

Published February 16, 2012

Speaking to the Energy Police Institute of Canada this morning, Oliver says Ottawa is looking at creating firm deadlines for discussion periods.

Oliver says he feels thousands of people from the same group shouldn’t be reading from the same script at hearings like the one on the Northern Gateway pipeline.

Published February 16, 2012

Councillors in Terrace voted 5-2 to oppose plans for construction of the $5.5-billion pipeline from the Edmonton-area to Kitimat, 60 kilometres south of Terrace, where a tanker port would be built to ship oil sands crude to Asia.

The Monday night vote ends years of fence-sitting by Terrace councillors, with one noting the pipeline and port are good for Ottawa and Alberta, but leave Terrace, Kitimat and the surrounding communities with few benefits and most of the risk.

Published February 16, 2012

The findings are from a new Harris-Decima poll for Big Brothers/Big Sisters that shows one-third of adults think the abuse they suffered had a long-lasting effect.

Despite a more visible presence in the media, president Bruce Macdonald says it’s too difficult to tell whether bullying has increased.

Eighty-five per cent of those polled believe providing children with an older volunteer mentor is an effective method to reduce bullying.

Published February 16, 2012

If you want to hear a story about “Murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery – all those things we hold near and dear to our hearts,” then you need to head to Keyano as TELUS and Keyano Theatre Company present: Chicago.
Chicago is the musical story of Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who kills her lover to help boost her career, Billy Flynn is the lawyer who helps turn Roxie in to a celebrity and Velma Kelly is a fellow dancing jailbird who has an ear for headlines and an eye for talent.

Preview: February 16 (8 pm)
Opening: February 17 (8 pm)
Shows: February 18, 22, 23, 24, 25 (8 pm)
Matinee: February 19 & 25 (2 pm)

To purchase tickets, visit the Keyano Box Office or call 780-791-4990.

Maschmeyer has committed to the Northern Michigan University Wildcats of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), based in Marquette, MI.

“The feeling inside, you can’t describe it,” he said. “Once you’ve played in the league for four years, it’s just “come on, I want this,” and when you get it, your heart just stops for that one second.”

“It’s a great feeling.”

Maschmeyer is one of the highest scoring defencemen in the league with 42 points in 57 games played.

He was recently named as one of four nominees for the top defenceman award in the AJHL.

The affable blueliner says settling the school issue will leave only the upcoming playoffs as a point of concern this year.

“It allows me to focus a lot more, just because that monkey’s right off my back,” he said. “Now I can breathe and play even better from now on.”

His commitment continues his family’s strong hockey lineage; his brother Bronson is an overage defenceman for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers, his sister Emerance plays for the Lloydminster Bobcats and recently won gold at the world under-18s with Team Canada, and his older sister Brittany played division I hockey at St. Lawrence and Syracuse University.

NMU first expressed interest in the rearguard a month ago, and scouts were present at the final home weekend of the year.

“They saw what my brother could do, and they went and checked me out and I could do the exact same,” he said. “I know a few guys that went to the school like [ex-Oil Baron] Tyler Gron; things like that all added up, and them offering it just felt right.”

Maschmeyer has one year of junior eligibility left and could still return for a final season with the Oil Barons before heading south.

Published February 15, 2012

Fire It Up Let Love Live Again Tour. There’s plenty of space between the lines of Reid’s lyrics for listeners to find reflections of the pleasure and pain of their own greatest loves and losses.

The Calgary Herald reports the major firm is recommending that companies collaborate in the same way they’ve been cooperating on reducing tailings ponds.

The firm says 52 thousand workers will be required in the oil sands in 2015; and companies need to cooperate first on transportation to improve productivity.

Energy Minister Ted Morton says the government will lobby the feds for more temporary foreign workers and try to lure unemployed U.S. tradespeople through NAFTA.

Published February 15, 2012

The company’s profits went up from 78 million a year ago to 266 million this time around.

Production went up about 11 percent to more than 144 thousand barrels per day.

The company also says it’s considering some offers from foreign companies to jointly develop its Telephone Lake oil sands property into a 90 thousand b-p-d project.

Published February 15, 2012

The redevelopment plan is for all of downtown, as well as Waterways. The area has been divided into four zones, which will all see changes to make for a vibrant community.

Carol Theberge, the executive director of community development, says one area of concern during stakeholder meetings was redeveloping the Snye area. When the municipality built the dyke in order to build MacDonald Drive, it changed the ecosystem of the Snye, and it’s turned into a fish hatchery.

Director of planning and development Samuel Alatorre says that with the redevelopment, they want to ensure people can easily access all of the amenities with public transit and possibly parking structures. That said, the municipality is not looking to increase bus fares, but they would be looking to increase service.

The Bylaw that will put the CCARP into effect will be before council this spring.

You can view the CCARP by clicking here.

Published February 15, 2012

Pruden was arrested the night of January 8th, after RCMP were called by a person who claimed to have heard gunshots coming from a residence in Conklin.

Police say when they got to the home, they were confronted by a man with a gun. He was shot by police, then taken to hospital for treatment. He’ll be in court March 7th.

Published February 15, 2012

But the 3000-member union says there will be no strike during mediated talks.

The airline is telling customers they may keep booking flights because it’s business as usual.

Published February 15, 2012

The real estate firm donated $44,500 to the FCS yesterday. The money was donated by the employees, all of whom gave money out of their own pocket from commission made on sales.

Director of Marketing, Communications, and Fund Development for the Family Crisis Society Paul McWilliams says they not only help the women and children who are abused, but they also help rehabilitate the offenders.

The Family Crisis Society is building a new shelter, so they are able to help more people. Each year, they have to turn away about 100 clients, because they don’t have the space for them.

The additional space will allow them to not only help abused women and their children, but also men who are the victims of domestic violence, as well as elderly couples who are the victims of elder abuse.

Published February 15, 2012

CNRL took down the plant last week for repairs, saying it expected the work to be done quickly.

Now it says the damage is worse than it first thought.

The outage means the company has lowered its 2012 output targets by 12 thousand barrels per day.

A fire at Horizon more than a year ago caused it to be shut down for several months.

Published February 13, 2012

But they did rule out alcohol, drugs, and road conditions over the weekend.

The rollover near Redwater injured 31 people, trapping 5 of them and critically injuring 3.

The Edmonton Journal says a passenger claimed the bus hit the shoulder of the road before flipping.

Red Arrow says the bus driver was very familiar with the route.

Published February 13, 2012

Leader Danielle Smith announced today that her party would give 10 percent of all tax revenues to municipalities with no strings attached.

Another 10 percent of all budget surpluses would automatically go to municipalities as well.

It’s the third of five major platform announcements the party has scheduled in the lead-up to the election call.

Published February 13, 2012

The provincial Environment and Water department has given the company its approval notice for the 150 thousand barrel per day expansion.

President and CEO Bill McCaffrey says the approval means they have 210 thousand bpd of capacity now approved.

The company is hoping to increase its capacity tenfold by 2020.

Most of MEG’s almost one-and-a-half billion dollar capital budget this year will be spent on growing the Christina Lake project.

Published February 13, 2012

Wood Buffalo RCMP say they arrested BC native Matthew Hill and executed a search warrant, finding four different drugs, cash, and a prohibited weapon.

Hill is charged with possessing cocaine, marijuana, magic mushrooms, and hashish for the purpose of trafficking.

He’s due in court tomorrow.

Published February 13, 2012

Revenge is a dish best served, uh, with two golden trophies?

Taylor Swift lashed out at critics with her bluegrass-y song “Mean”—and she earned two Grammys for it Sunday night (Feb. 13), one for Best Country Song, the other for Best Country Solo Performance.

Not only that, but Taylor performed the song, and put in the words Someday I’ll be singing this at the Grammys. . . . The crowd rewarded the performance with a standing ovation.

“It’s always going to mean the world to me, the idea of getting to go the Grammys,” Taylor said when she got her first trophy, before the televised part of the Grammys started.

“But this one means a lot to me. There’s really no feeling like writing a song about somebody who is really mean to you and someone who really hates you, and then winning a Grammy for it.”

Taylor also got to see her folk duo friends The Civil Wars—her partners on The Hunger Games soundtrack song “Safe & Sound”—pick up two trophies as well.

The Civil Wars got Grammys for Best Folk Album and Best Country Group/Duo Performance, beating out some of country’s top names for the second one.

Story courtesy of Brad Schmitt of countryweekly.com

Adele went six for six, collecting all of the awards for which she was nominated – including top honors for album, record and song of the year – at Sunday’s 54th Annual Grammy Awards.

As she tearfully accepted album of the year for 21, the British singer, 23, professed her gratitude. “It’s been the most life-changing year,” she said, wiping her eyes.

Led by hit singles “Someone Like You” (which was named best pop solo performance) and “Rolling in the Deep,” the album was inspired by “a rubbish relationship,” she joked on stage at L.A.’s Staples Center. She also offered a searing performance of “Rolling in the Deep” midway through the telecast, her first live public performance since being silenced by a hemorrhaged vocal chord last year.

Among Adele’s other wins: best pop vocal album and best short form music video.
Spreading the Wealth
Other big Grammy winners included Lady Antebellum, whose Own the Night was named best country album.

Rockers the Foo Fighters’s Grammy bounty included wins for best rock performance and best rock song (“Walk”), best rock album and best hard rock/metal performance.

In the pre-show ceremony, in which a majority of the awards were given out, Taylor Swift collected two Grammys in the country music categories and Kanye West earned three trophies, including best rap album (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy). He and Jay-Z won best rap performance for “Otis” on the live show.

Indie singer-songwriter Bon Iver bested Nicki Minaj and others to win best new artist, and Chris Brown’s F.A.M.E. won best R&B album.

Story courtesy of Brian Orloff of people.com

$11-million is set aside for this fiscal year for the entire province, but the environment department says the vast majority will be spent in the Lower Athabasca region.

The money will be spent on new monitoring stations and boosting research.

Published February 13, 2012

Infectious disease specialist Dr Taj Jadavji says the American Medical Association has confirmed a Meningitis B vaccine is in the works, but it depends on how quickly the government approves it.

Meningitis B is often mistaken for the flu, and is responsible for 82 percent of cases in children, and 68 percent of cases in teens.

Published February 13, 2012

Smith says the big difference between the Wildrose and Conservative budgets, is that the Wildrose’s budget is balanced. To drive home the point of uncontrolled spending, the party has also established its own Alberta deficit clock.

She adds that every second, the government is spending $115 more than it takes in.

Published February 13, 2012

President of the AUMA, Linda Sloan, says that the needs of the 277 villages, towns, and cities weren’t adequately met.

Sloan says budgets can be set for this year, but since municipalities need to enter into long-term contracts for essential services, local governments are forced to run deficits while waiting for provincial funding.

Published February 13, 2012

The shooting happened after 3 PM as officers attempted to stop a stolen car.

Police say shots were fired at the car when it attempted to escape the scene, injuring the 16-year old driver.

He was flown to hospital in Edmonton and is now in stable condition.

The two passengers in the stolen car were not injured and were released by police.

The two officers involved in the shooting suffered minor injuries.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) is now handling the investigation.

Published February 12, 2012

It happened early in the afternoon, shutting down the street and its access to Highway 63; although access remained possible from Abasand Drive.

RCMP officers set up barricades during their investigation.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has advised only that the reason for the road closure was a shooting; it says the RCMP will be releasing more information as it becomes available.

Published February 12, 2012

CLICK HERE for a live feed of Whitney Houston’s funeral.

Beverly Hills police Lt. Mark Rosen told reporters outside the Beverly Hilton that Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. after being found in the bathtub of her room on the fourth floor of the hotel. Her body remained there and Beverly Hills detectives were investigating.

“There were no obvious signs of any criminal intent at this time,” Rosen said.

Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster, said Saturday that the cause of her death was unknown.

Houston’s death came on the eve of music’s biggest night — the Grammy Awards. It’s a showcase where she once reigned, and her death was sure to cast a heavy pall on Sunday’s ceremony.

Her longtime mentor Clive Davis was to hold his annual concert and dinner Saturday, and a representative of the show said it would proceed.

Houston was supposed to appear at the gala, and Davis had told The Associated Press that she would perhaps perform: “It’s her favourite night of the year … (so) who knows by the end of the evening,” he said.

Houston had been at rehearsals for the show Thursday, coaching singers Brandy and Monica, according to a person who was at the event but was not authorized to speak publicly about it. The person said Houston looked disheveled, was sweating profusely and liquor and cigarettes could be smelled on her breath.

Rosen said police received a 911 call from hotel security about Houston at 3:43 p.m. Saturday, and paramedics were already at the hotel because of a Grammy party. Paramedics unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate the singer, the lieutenant said.

The Rev. Al Sharpton called for a national prayer Sunday morning during a service at Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles.

“The morning of the Grammys, the world should pause and pray for the memory of a gifted songbird,” Sharpton said in a written statement.

At her peak, Houston was the golden girl of the music industry. From the middle 1980s to the late 1990s, she was one of the world’s bestselling artists. She wowed audiences with effortless, powerful, and peerless vocals that were rooted in the black church but made palatable to the masses with a pop sheen.

Her success carried her beyond music to movies, where she starred in hits like “The Bodyguard” and “Waiting to Exhale.”

She had the perfect voice and the perfect image: a gorgeous singer who had sex appeal but was never overtly sexual, who maintained perfect poise.

She influenced a generation of younger singers, from Christina Aguilera to Mariah Carey, who when she first came out sounded so much like Houston that many thought it was Houston.

But by the end of her career, Houston became a stunning cautionary tale of the toll of drug use. Her album sales plummeted and the hits stopped coming; her once serene image was shattered by a wild demeanour and bizarre public appearances. She confessed to abusing cocaine, marijuana and pills, and her once pristine voice became raspy and hoarse, unable to hit the high notes as she had during her prime.

“The biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy,” Houston told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in an infamous 2002 interview with then-husband Brown by her side.

It was a tragic fall for a superstar who was one of the top-selling artists in pop music history, with more than 55 million records sold in the United States alone.

She seemed to be born into greatness. She was the daughter of gospel singer Cissy Houston, the cousin of 1960s pop diva Dionne Warwick and the goddaughter of Aretha Franklin.

Houston first started singing in the church as a child. In her teens, she sang backup for Chaka Khan, Jermaine Jackson and others, in addition to modeling. It was around that time when music mogul Clive Davis first heard Houston perform.

“The time that I first saw her singing in her mother’s act in a club … it was such a stunning impact,” Davis told “Good Morning America.”

“To hear this young girl breathe such fire into this song. I mean, it really sent the proverbial tingles up my spine,” he added.

Before long, the rest of the country would feel it, too. Houston made her album debut in 1985 with “Whitney Houston,” which sold millions and spawned hit after hit. “Saving All My Love for You” brought her her first Grammy, for best female pop vocal. “How Will I Know,” ”You Give Good Love” and “The Greatest Love of All” also became hit singles.

Another multiplatinum album, “Whitney,” came out in 1987 and included hits like “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

The New York Times wrote that Houston “possesses one of her generation’s most powerful gospel-trained voices, but she eschews many of the churchier mannerisms of her forerunners. She uses ornamental gospel phrasing only sparingly, and instead of projecting an earthy, tearful vulnerability, communicates cool self-assurance and strength, building pop ballads to majestic, sustained peaks of intensity.”

Her decision not to follow the more soulful inflections of singers like Franklin drew criticism by some who saw her as playing down her black roots to go pop and reach white audiences. The criticism would become a constant refrain through much of her career. She was even booed during the “Soul Train Awards” in 1989.

“Sometimes it gets down to that, you know?” she told Katie Couric in 1996. “You’re not black enough for them. I don’t know. You’re not R&B enough. You’re very pop. The white audience has taken you away from them.”

Some saw her 1992 marriage to former New Edition member and soul crooner Bobby Brown as an attempt to refute those critics. It seemed to be an odd union; she was seen as pop’s pure princess while he had a bad-boy image, and already had children of his own. (The couple had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in 1993.) Over the years, he would be arrested several times, on charges ranging from DUI to failure to pay child support.

But Houston said their true personalities were not as far apart as people may have believed.

“When you love, you love. I mean, do you stop loving somebody because you have different images? You know, Bobby and I basically come from the same place,” she told Rolling Stone in 1993. “You see somebody, and you deal with their image, that’s their image. It’s part of them, it’s not the whole picture. I am not always in a sequined gown. I am nobody’s angel. I can get down and dirty. I can get raunchy.”

It would take several years, however, for the public to see that side of Houston. Her moving 1991 rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl, amid the first Gulf War, set a new standard and once again reaffirmed her as America’s sweetheart.

In 1992, she became a star in the acting world with “The Bodyguard.” Despite mixed reviews, the story of a singer (Houston) guarded by a former Secret Service agent (Kevin Costner) was an international success.

It also gave her perhaps her most memorable hit: a searing, stunning rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You,” which sat atop the charts for weeks. It was Grammy’s record of the year and best female pop vocal, and the “Bodyguard” soundtrack was named album of the year.

She returned to the big screen in 1995-96 with “Waiting to Exhale” and “The Preacher’s Wife.” Both spawned soundtrack albums, and another hit studio album, “My Love Is Your Love,” in 1998, brought her a Grammy for best female R&B vocal for the cut “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay.”

But during these career and personal highs, Houston was using drugs. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2010, she said by the time “The Preacher’s Wife” was released, “(doing drugs) was an everyday thing. … I would do my work, but after I did my work, for a whole year or two, it was every day. … I wasn’t happy by that point in time. I was losing myself.”

In the interview, Houston blamed her rocky marriage to Brown, which included a charge of domestic abuse against Brown in 1993. They divorced in 2007.

Houston would go to rehab twice before she would declare herself drug-free to Winfrey in 2010. But in the interim, there were missed concert dates, a stop at an airport due to drugs, and public meltdowns.

She was so startlingly thin during a 2001 Michael Jackson tribute concert that rumours spread she had died the next day. Her crude behaviour and jittery appearance on Brown’s reality show, “Being Bobby Brown,” was an example of her sad decline. Her Sawyer interview, where she declared “crack is whack,” was often parodied. She dropped out of the spotlight for a few years.

Houston staged what seemed to be a successful comeback with the 2009 album “I Look To You.” The album debuted on the top of the charts, and would eventually go platinum.

Things soon fell apart. A concert to promote the album on “Good Morning America” went awry as Houston’s voice sounded ragged and off-key. She blamed an interview with Winfrey for straining her voice.

A world tour launched overseas, however, only confirmed suspicions that Houston had lost her treasured gift, as she failed to hit notes and left many fans unimpressed; some walked out. Cancelled concert dates raised speculation that she may have been abusing drugs, but she denied those claims and said she was in great shape, blaming illness for cancellations.

Published February 11, 2012
___

Courtesy of 680News. Associated Press writer Andrew Dalton contributed to this report.

Alberta Health Services reports at least 30 have been injured and a dozen ambulances have been dispatched to the scene.

Most of the injuries are described as minor, but some are serious.

STARS Air Ambulance spokesperson Cameron Heke says they have already flown two men to the hospital in Edmonton with serious injuries, and they may need to transport a third person.

Sgt. Patrick Webb says Highway 28 will remain closed for a couple of hours while the patients are taken care of, the debris is cleaned up and an investigation is carried out.

Published February 10, 2012

CBC’s Cross Country Checkup with Rex Murphy is Canada’s only national open-line radio program and is broadcast live across the country every Sunday afternoon on CBC Radio One, on Sirius satellite radio channel 159, and around the world at CBC.ca. 

One of Canada’s leading broadcasters, writers, and public commentators, Rex Murphy presides over a lively discussion on an issue of national importance as host of Cross Country Checkup, while taking questions and comments via telephone and e-mail throughout the program. 

Close to a half-million listeners tune in to Cross Country Checkup every Sunday afternoon, and on average, 5,000 to 10,000 people attempt to call the program every Sunday. 

The March 18 edition of Cross Country Checkup will broadcast live from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. MT, and seating is open to the public and is on a first-come, first-served basis. More information on the topic and on Rex Murphy’s invited guests will be made available in March. 

“CBC’s Cross Country Checkup explores Canada’s national narrative issue by issue on a weekly basis, and we’re excited to host Rex Murphy and the program at MacDonald Island,” said Tim Reid, Chief Operating Officer at MacDonald Island Park. “Our region has a special story to tell and we’re honoured to be the window for a national audience.”

Cross Country Checkup is a Canadian tradition and has been on the air most Sundays for almost 50 years. Read here to learn more about Cross Country Checkup.

Born and raised near St. John’s, Newfoundland, Rex Murphy attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. In addition to his role as host of Cross Country Checkup, Rex Murphy contributes to CBC’s The National and The Globe & Mail. Read here to learn more about Rex Murphy.

But he says the government’s commitment to northern development doesn’t stop with the budget.

“We’re going to be having a few other strategies coming forward in the coming days,” he said. “We announced the Transportation Coordinating Committee a few weeks ago, which the community and industry were asking for, and there’s going to be a land release strategy coming forward shortly as well.”

Johnson says Highway 63 remains a top issue.

“It’s still a big priority for the province,” he said. “We need to get that thing finished. There is a mention of Highway 63 in the business plans – possibly the opposition just didn’t look closely enough.”

He says Wood Buffalo can expect more land to be released very soon ahead of them finalizing the urban development sub region (UDSR) land bank.

“We’re going to see a bit of a two-phased approach to land releases,” he said. “One is, what can we do in the near-term, what kind of land parcels can we get on the market without the UDSR being in place?”

“And we’re hoping to come up and announce those very shortly.”

He also adds that infrastructure spending has been boosted by the latest budget, as has money for municipalities.

Published February 9, 2012

“This is a great day for K-12 education in the province of Alberta,” said Jeff Thompson, chairman of the Fort McMurray Public School District Board of Trustees. “The government has fulfilled its commitment to provide school boards with predictable and sustainable funding for the next three years. This is a bold step forward and ensures that boards maintain quality programming for students by having secure funding in education for the next three years.”

The budget brought total funding to $6.8-billion; up 3.5% from last year.

“While the budget has increased overall, there are some funding envelopes that have been dropped such as the Relative Cost of Purchasing grant,” said Superintendent Dennis Parsons. “That said, the Minister of Education has assured school boards that there is greater flexibility in this budget which will allow us to address our unique needs,”

Parsons added he is eager to review the government’s plans for increasing infrastructure capacity in areas such as Fort McMurray.

Published February 9, 2012

“This is a budget of all talk and no actions,” he said. “Not a mention of our area, not a mention of Highway 63 or our seniors, I actually think it’s maddening.”

“They’ve mentioned other communities like Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary; not so much as a word about Fort McMurray–Wood Buffalo. They mention Bow Island, they mention Edson, but they forget to talk about where the economic revenue is coming from; and that’s our home in Fort McMurray.”

He says a Wildrose budget will be released tomorrow and differ greatly from what was released by the government today.

“Our budget is about listening to people,” Boutilier said. “Where the economic activity is coming from, first and foremost, infrastructure in areas where the dollars are being created should be first reinvested, so we can continue to feed the goose that is laying the golden egg.”

“Clearly this government believes that the goose should not be fed, and that is what they will pay the price on in the next election.”

Published February 9, 2012

Finance Minister Ron Liepert revealed the 2012 budget today, with a deficit of just under 900 million dollars.

But he projects a surplus of almost a billion dollars next year and more than 5 billion the year after that.

Today’s budget increases health and education funding and transfers an extra 2 billion dollars to municipalities.

It also includes 11 million dollars for oilsands environmental monitoring.

Published Februrary 9, 2012

The teams are hosting SAIT and Red Deer on Friday and Saturday, respectively, with women’s games at 6pm and the men at 8pm.

It happened Tuesday morning at about 8 o’clock, when two boys were walking towards Father Beauregard School and tried to cross Athabasca Avenue.

The car made a right turn onto Athabasca from Abbotswood Drive and hit the boy, then drove away.

The boy was taken to hospital but is okay.

Police say the driver was a woman with shoulder-length blonde hair in her 30s or 40s, driving a dark Ford SUV or cross-over.

Published February 9, 2012

Check our Facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/events/351795661518277/) or email secretary@tarsandbetties.com to make arrangements.

Keep informed about upcoming games on our website 9(tarsandbetties.com) or our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tar-Sand-Betties-Roller-Derby-League/215693311797530).

Some 900,000 Tassimo coffee makers are being recalled in Canada and about 835,000 are being recalled in the U.S.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says there have been 140 reports of problems with the Tassimo single-cup brewers dousing people, including 37 cases involving second-degree burns.

In one incident, a 10-year-old girl from Minnesota was hospitalized with second-degree burns to her face and neck.

The commission also says the coffee maker’s “T-disc” — the plastic disc that holds the coffee or tea — can burst while brewing and spray hot liquid.

It says a 2-year-old girl in Canada suffered second-degree burns to her face.

Some four million packages of Tassimo espresso T-discs are also being recalled, and about half of those were sold in Canada.

They were manufactured by Kraft Foods Global Inc., in Illinois, and were recalled after 21 reports of problems.

The brewers were made by California-based BSH Home Appliances Corp. that carry the Bosch and Tassimo Professional brand names.

Consumers can contact the company at 1-866-918-8763 for more information or visit its website at http://www.tassimodirect.com

Published February 9, 2012

The 2011 federal census says the population of Fort McMurray is just over 61,000 people, with more than 65 thousand residents in the entire region. The 2010 municipal census put Fort McMurray’s population at 77,000, a difference of about 20 percent.

Mayor Melissa Blake told the Edmonton Journal that the municipality has to extrapolate its total population. Statistics Canada does not extrapolate.

Published February 9, 2012

It happened at 4pm on December 30th in the Thickwood area near Signal Road, where a 24-year old woman was threatened with a knife and assaulted in an outdoor area.

Police say they located and charged Kemron Alexander on Monday with Aggravated Sexual Assault, Aggravated Assault, Robbery, Forcible Confinement, and Uttering Threats; they say it wasn’t a random attack.

Published February 8, 2012

Have you ever been faced with an emergency with your child and not sure what to do?  Educare’s ELFF program is pleased to be offering a FREE workshop in partnership with St. John’s Ambulance on Child Infant CPR.  Come join us on Feb 23rd, 7pm at Thickwood Heights School, and learn important life saving techniques.  The first 15 people registered will receive a compact first aid kit.  For more information, or to register, please call Dawna at 780.743.3464.  Sponsored by the Suncor Energy Foundation.

You’re invited to attend the second of an eye-opening, five-part series looking at bullying in school communities.
This is your chance to take part in a live discussion with Mr. Belsey, or watch his presentation through an online webinar right at home.

Open for Adults ONLY!
Tuesday Feb. 21, 2012
7 – 9 p.m.
Clearwater Public Education Centre Boardroom
231 Hardin Street

PLEASE RSVP BY E-MAIL TO: ParentInformationSession@fmpsd.ab.ca
TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT and obtain VITAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION Or call 780-799-7900 for more information

The new hours of operation will be as follows:

Syncrude Aquatic Centre:
Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and statutory holidays, 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Waterpark:
Daily, 10:00 a.m. to8:00 p.m.

Family Hot Tub, Lazy River, and Country 93.3 FM Yellow Slide and Rock 97.9 FM Rock Slide:
Monday to Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, and statutory holidays, 10:00 a.m.
to 8:00 p.m.

Please note:
The Syncrude Aquatic Centre will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for Winter Break (February 25 to March 4) and Spring Break (April 6-15).

Mac Movie Night will begin at 7:00 p.m. on the last Friday of every month, while Toonie Time will continue to take place during the final hour of every day except Friday.

—
For more information:
Adam Hardiman
Coordinator, Communications
MacDonald Island Park Corporation
780-791-0070 ext. 5060
780-713-8313
adam.hardiman@macdonaldisland.ca

Infrastructure minister Jeff Johnson, who’s the MLA for Athabasca-Redwater, says that there are strategies for developing northern Alberta.

“It did commit to ways we are developing Northern Alberta, and to initiate a comprehensive Northern Alberta development strategy,” he said. “And this is critical for us in northern Alberta; we need this to help us grow and develop in a sustainable manner and have the quality of life that we should have.”

The throne speech is also promising smarter spending.

The first Redford budget comes down tomorrow.

Published February 8, 2012

Statistics Canada says the municipality grew by more than 27 percent over the last five years; from just under 52 thousand people, to more than 65 and a half thousand people.

That’s a big difference from last year’s municipal census which said there were more than 66 thousand permanent residents.

But the growth rate still well outpaces the national rate, which was just under 6 percent, and the Alberta growth rate, which was almost 11 percent

Published February 8, 2012

 
Interested contestants can apply online at www.woodbuffalopageants.com. The competition itself will be held in the Black Box Theatre at Holy Trinity High School in May of 2012 and the entry fee is $200 per contestant.  Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Regional Emergency Services’ Fire Prevention Branch Fire Investigators have made progress in the fire investigation at Parsons Landing, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo announced today.

At this point the findings of the investigation are as follows:

• This fire does not appear to be suspicious in nature.
• The fire originated on the second floor, south facing balcony of the north wing.
• The sprinkler systems worked on all four floors of the building.
• The sprinkler systems were effective in stopping the spread of the fire on the first, second, and third floors. It is important to note that during a fire, only the sprinkler heads in direct proximity to the fire area are designed to activate.
• Insufficient power supply caused some alarm bells in the building not to sound.

Fire Prevention Branch Fire Investigators continue to investigate the cause of the fire. Further details will be released when available.

For information related to specific units or belongings retrieval, residents affected by the fire are reminded to speak with Shelter Canadian Properties Limited property management company at 780-748-4355, as well as with their insurance company.

Evacuees still requiring support, such as shelter or food, can contact Neighbourhood and Community Development during regular business hours at 780-743-7940.

Publisehd February 8, 2012

Those were the findings from a survey for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Ian Gunn says while many are not planning on making that investment this year, there is still a positive outlook when it comes to the economy.

“When there’s a good look for the economy, guess what, people will do some discretionary spending,” Gunn says. “Combined with interest rates still very low, it’s helpful from the standpoint that most people need to borrow to buy a home. Conditions are very strong.”

The survey spoke with 900 Albertans as well as members of the Calgary and Edmonton chambers of commerce.

Published February 7, 2012

A source told Reuters that the oil sands site could be down for two or three weeks.

The outage pushed CNRL shares down more than 5% after the news broke.

Horizon was offline for seven months last year because of a fire.

Published February 7, 2012

Investigators say it started outside the building on the upper floors before it spread to the attic.

After two days at a makeshift shelter at Ecole McTavish, evacuees are being let into their units temporarily to get belongings.

People who want to donate smaller items can call the Salvation Army at 743 4135; they can also leave their phone numbers and get a call back if there’s a need for any larger items.

Published Februray 7, 2012

Two temporary workers from China were killed in 2007, when a storage tank collapsed at Canadian Natural Resources’ Horizon project.

Sinopec says it has no official presence in Canada, and wants the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn the ruling.

Published February 7, 2012

Political analyst Joan Crockatt from Crockatt Communications says that it’s nothing more than free pre-election advertising for the ruling Conservatives.

She says the Tories are using the political calendar to their advantage, forcing opposition parties to scramble to try and get their message out.

Published February 7, 2012

The school has been closed since Sunday night when it was used as a temporary shelter for people evacuated during the Parsons Creek Landing fire.

The board says staff and students should enter through the front entrance while evacuees and emergency personnel should use the Fine Arts wing on the right hand side of the building.

“This area will be isolated from staff and students to allow us to get back to business as usual, and provide the needed privacy of those affected by this devastating fire,” said Dennis Parsons, Superintendent.

“We very much want to welcome our neighbours any way we can, while maintaining normalcy for our staff and students,” he added.

Published February 6, 2012

John Williamson says the recent decision by the United States to delay the Keystone XL pipeline is just one reason for his suggestion.

The Conservative MP who represents New Brunswick Southeast says getting Canadian oil to Saint John could renew talk of building a second Irving Oil refinery and create jobs.

Irving Oil spokeswoman Lesley Dickson says the company has processed Canadian crude oil in the past and could do so again if it is logistically viable.

Published February 6, 2012

Residents are advised to register with Emergency Social Services at École McTavish so that they may receive the appropriate personal assistance. Community Response Team (CRT) members are on site and are identifiable by blue vests.

Temporary Housing
• Cots will be available at École McTavish for those needing accommodations Monday night. Please see members of the Community Response Team (CRT).
• People in the community have offered rooms, meals and showers. If interested, information is available near the doorway on information boards.

Long-term Housing
• The CRT has housing information sheets available at École McTavish. They also have applications for available units from the Wood Buffalo Housing Development Corporation.
• Wood Buffalo Housing Development Corporation’s offices will be open until 8:00 p.m. Monday night. They will also be open Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Offices are located at #203 10020 Franklin Ave (upstairs of The Hub).
• Several property managers have put listings of available properties for rent. Information is posted on boards at the school.

Food, Medical, Pets
• Food is available at École McTavish. The Salvation Army Community Response Unit is serving soup. Pizza will also be available after 4:30 p.m.
• A pharmacist will be at École McTavish until 5:30 p.m. Monday. The pharmacist will have diabetes testing equipment on site from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• For those still missing pets, the Fort McMurray SPCA have staff on site trying to catch loose animals. They also have short-term pet housing available and supplies if anyone needs them.

All donations of clothes or toys should be directed to The Salvation Army, who will make sure these donations are available to anyone who needs them.

Published February 6, 2012

That’s because bureaucrats will be monitoring the oilsands rather than an independent agency.

The NDP’s Megan Leslie says she doesn’t trust the government to do that.

“I think it’s a big PR move to counter the negative publicity they’ve gotten around the EU fuel directive, or the Keystone XL decision,” she said. “I think it’s a stunt.”

Greenpeace spokesman Mike Hudema says there are some big questions still unanswered.

“Is the plan going to be run by an independent body?” he asked. “Both the Alberta and federal governments have huge credibility issues when it comes to providing reliable data to the public.”

The government announced the new plan on Friday.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers praised the announcement, saying it’s a transparent system that will help ensure responsible development.

Published February 6, 2012

Leader Raj Sherman also says they will save taxpayers millions of dollars by streamlining government departments, demoting managers to the front lines, and getting rid of the government communication arm, the Public Affairs Bureau.

Sherman made the comments as his party unveiled its election platform in Edmonton.

He labelled the Tories “bums” and called them bedbugs that must be eradicated from the legislature.

Published February 6, 2012

“Wood Buffalo housing & Development Corporation has a limited number of units available to qualifying individuals and families. All WBHDC units are pet free. Our Application Office, located in the Haxton Building at 10020 Franklin Avenue will remain open until 8:00 PM tonight and Tuesday, February 7th to accept applications from individuals and families affected by the Parsons Creek Landing fire.”

Published February 6, 2012

Warmer temperatures are expected this weekend, so motorists with heavier loads are encouraged to haul them this week.

The speed limit remains 50 km per hour.

Road maintenance work is ongoing and the public is reminded to use extreme caution when using the road.

Motorists are advised that there are no regular services on the Winter Road like gas stations or road patrols. Cell phone coverage is very limited. Travelers must be prepared for emergency situations.

For more information or to report any concerns, please call the Winter Road Hotline at 1-866-743- 6111 or 780-697-3600 during business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information on the Fort Smith Winter Road please contact Parks Canada at 1-867-872-7962.

Published February 6, 2012

“There are some country singers that are really good,” Shelton, who coached pop singer Dia Frampton to the final four last year, told PEOPLE. “We had a few last year but we didn’t end up with a country singer in the final four.”

The celebrity coach – along with Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine – will be back in the rotating chairs for season 2′s blind auditions on Sunday night, following the Super Bowl.

During the blind auditions, the celebrity coaches will hear contestants sing without seeing what they look like. If they like what they hear, the coaches can push the button, turn their chair around and see the face behind the voice, selecting the singer for their team. So, there’s no guarantee that Blake will coach the aspiring country stars.

“I know anything can happen,” he says, “but I really believe in my heart that one of several country singers that we have on our show this year have a shot at winning the whole thing.”
Story courtesy of people.com

Wood Buffalo RCMP are still on scene this morning at the site of a fire that broke out last night at Parson’s Creek Landing in the Timberlea area of Fort McMurray. Police were called to the structure fire at around 11:30 pm on February 5, 2012, to assist fire crews with scene containment as well as evacuations. Emergency Social Services for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo were activated, and a number of other agencies such as Utility Companies, the SPCA and Victim Services, were on scene to assist. Thus far there have been no reports of casualties or injuries as a result of the fire. Although no dollar value has yet been set, the level of property damage is considered to be significant.

The fire appears to have been held to the north wing of Parson’s Creek Landing apartment complex, however residents from all three wings of the complex were evacuated as well as those residing in the neighbouring building; Laird’s Landing. Residents of Laird’s Landing have since been allowed to return to their homes. The evacuation will likely remain in effect for the next 24-48 hours as fire investigators and police continue to investigate and ensure the area is safe for re-entry. Evacuees have been directed to the temporary shelter set-up at Ecole McTavish School. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Photo via Facebook

Published February 6, 2012

Investigations are underway for the cause of the apartment fire at 350 Parsons Creek Drive last night.

Emergency response teams were notified of the fire around 11:30 last night. The fire has been under control since approximately 1:30am. At this time, there are no reported injuries.

Affected residents are urged to register with Emergency Social Services at Ecole McTavish, at 352 Parsons Creek Drive. In order to provide personalized assistance, residents must register in person.

Impacted residents are advised to contact their insurance companies, and their landlord or condo board for the next steps.

Donations are not being accepted at Ecole McTavish or at municipal offices at this time. Information regarding community groups who are accepting donations for impacted residents will be made available on the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo’s Twitter page, @RMWoodBuffalo, and the RMWB Facebook page later today.

For more information, residents are encouraged to call the Emergency Management hotline at 780-799-8000.

Published February 6, 2012

(Photo via Twitter)

Several people have been evacuated from an apartment building in Timberlea after a major fire broke out.

Witnesses report having heard loud explosions before the fire spread near midnight on Sunday night.

However, there have been no reports of any injuries as a result of the fire.

The reported explosion was at the Parsons Landing building across from Ecole McTavish beside 302 Parsons Creek Drive.

Evacuees are being sheltered at nearby Ecole McTavish as fire crews respond.

Since Ecole McTavish is being used by evacuees from the blaze, the school is closed to students for Monday. Teachers are still required to report to the school.

Published February 6, 2012

Canadian Oil Sands Limited says equipment failures significantly reduced production last year.

Output totalled 105.3-million barrels.

Published February 3, 2012

The magazine had written a piece on the oil sands calling them “tar sands” and “dirty business.” Chief Economist with the Commerce, Ben Brunnen, says he wrote a letter last week to clarify some of the terms used in the article, and that letter has been posted.

He says by posting the letter, The Economist shows that it is listening, and the Chamber has valid concerns.

He says he is getting a little tired of coming to the defence of the oil sands, but recognizes it has to be done.

Published February 3, 2012

From her remarkable beginnings in an orphanage in India to her battle against breast cancer, Bif Naked has consistently defied the odds, and continues to do so. Her seminal hit single “Spaceman,” made Canadian history with a #1 position on National Charts and #2 position on Billboard’s International Charts making it the highest spun independent song in the history of Canada.

“I owe it to myself and to my fans to keep evolving and to keep challenging myself and I just can’t wait to rock.” – Bif

• March 1, 8 PM
• @ Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts
• Tickets: $40
• Acoustic Performance

Buy Tickets ($40)

Don’t know how, but always wanted to learn? No problem. Don’t have any equipment? No problem. You can learn to ski or snowboard with a lesson, rent equipment, or just lounge in the lodge enjoying the view. Don’t want to ski or snowboard but still want to play in the snow? Go tubing, no experience necessary!

Time to get your family and friends out to Vista Ridge for a day of skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. Time to hit the slopes!

• February 28
• @ Vista Ridge
• Ski Hill: 9am – 4:30pm
• Tube Hill: 4pm – 6:30pm
• All lift tickets: $15
• Except beginners: $5