Alyssa Mackenzie arrived at Edmonton’s Butterdome an hour before officials were scheduled to begin distributing financial aid to wildfire evacuees.

Based on photographs she’s seen of Fort McMurray, only the stairwells remain from the apartment building where she lived.

“Everything we had was in that apartment. We managed to grab a quick bag, but anything else is gone,” Mackenzie said.

On Thursday, Mackenzie became one of the 17,000 displaced Fort McMurray residents who picked up a pre-loaded cash card —$1,250 for adults and $500 for children — provided by the provincial government to help take the stress off evacuees in paying for day-to-day necessities. For Mackenzie, the money will be a huge relief to help pay for things like gas and food. 

John Rose, Edmonton’s chief economist, said though the effect of the Fort McMurray fire is tragic, the effect it has on the economy isn’t.

“I take no pride in the fact that, in all probability, the fires in northern Alberta, in Fort McMurray, are going to be a positive impact on the city,” he said.

That benefit will be seen by the manufacturing and logistics sectors as rebuilding begins, as well as in consumer products as government relief cheques get spent. 

“We’re hosting all of these evacuees and they have a direct, immediate impact on the consumer side of our economy,” he said.

“They’re buying groceries, they’re buying clothes, some of them are buying cars and people are seeking accommodation, so all of those things will be a positive for the Edmonton economy.”

Nearly 90,000 people were evacuated from Fort McMurray and Anzac following a massive wildfire that ripped through the boreal forest last week. 

Government officials say that $15 million in relief funds were handed out on the first day the program, resulting in huge lineups at some of the distribution centres.

Evacuee Jean Nanemahoo left empty-handed after seeing the lineup wind through the university’s campus. “The line is too big for me, too long,” she said.

In turn, the provincial government pleaded with wildfire evacuees to hold off trying to collect the cards if they are not in desperate need of financial assistance.

“It will keep the lines shorter for those who really need the support right now,” Municipal Affairs Minister Danielle Larivee said at a news conference. “We have enough debit cards for every eligible evacuee. No eligible evacuee will miss out on this support.” 

The government also opened a second distribution centre in Edmonton at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to alleviate the hours-long wait at the University of Alberta’s Butterdome. 

Debit cards are also available at McMahon Stadium and BMO Centre in Calgary and the Bold Center in Lac La Biche. Those distribution centres will be open until May 20. After that, claims will need to be made at Alberta Works offices.

While evacuees lined up to receive their money, smoke and haze from the 241,000-hectare wildfire that’s still burning to the north clouded the skies over the Edmonton region. 

A special air quality statement was issued for Edmonton, St. Albert and Sherwood Park Thursday and it was projected to rise to a seven over the course of the day, which is defined as being in the high risk range. Alberta Health Services said people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions need to be particularly cautious, noting even healthy people may experience irritation from the smoke. 

Fort McMurray evacuees lineup at the Butterdome to receive financial assistance on Thursday, May 12, 2016.

Hundreds of workers are in Fort McMurray, preparing the city for the eventual return of its residents.

As for when that might happen, Larivee remained true to previous responses and would not commit to a date.

“I know that this is not the news that Fort McMurray and area residents want to hear, but this is what we have to do to ensure safety,” she said. 

Larivee told reporters there are many things that need to be addressed, including ensuring wildfire is no longer an imminent threat to the community, restoring critical infrastructure, such as natural gas, water, waste, sewer and emergency services, and re-establishing the local government. 

The hospital, which suffered some smoke and water damage, also has to be cleaned and restored so it’s functional before residents return, she said. There are about 400 people deployed to deal solely with getting it functioning again. 

A short-term medical and mental health care team has set up shop in Keyano College to assist first responders and other workers on the ground. 

In an update on fire damage, the government said 2,432 structures were destroyed, 530 were damaged and 25,000 are still standing. 

There are seven damage assessment teams on site looking at the exteriors of residential dwellings. Larivee said they inspected 520 homes Wednesday and should be done checking residential areas in five days.

Insurance assessors are also on scene inspecting homes from the outside. 

ATCO Gas has several hundred employees getting power restored. They have managed to get power and data service working in downtown Fort McMurray. 

Related

• Read all of our coverage on the Fort McMurray wildfires

Cooler temperatures have helped firefighters hold the line around the city and keep the wildfire’s growth to a minimum. However, fire officials said there are still hot spots in the vegetative areas around Fort McMurray and Anzac and flare-ups have occurred.

The temperature is supposed to heat up on Saturday, which could again pose some challenges to the frontline effort, but the province said it has enough resources to deal with it and the Canadian Armed Forces’ assistance is no longer required. 

More than 650 animals were received at the Edmonton Humane Society Wednesday to be checked over by veterinarians, and 225 pets were reunited with their owners that day. 

Meanwhile, in Lac La Biche, the driver of a CBC vehicle was transported to hospital in critical condition after going off the road Thursday morning.

RCMP were called to the scene on Highway 55 at Range Road 155 at 5:25 a.m. 

The CBC vehicle was travelling east on Highway 55 when it went off the road. The male driver was transported to Edmonton hospital by air ambulance. 

Police are continuing to investigate all possible contributing factors to this collision. 

With files from Ainslie Cruickshank, David Lazzarino and Paige Parsons

oellwand@postmedia.com

twitter.com/otiena

If you want to see why Edmonton’s economy is bucking provincial trends, it may be best understood over a late-night drink.

Trends in the late-night bar industry saw massive gains between 2010-14, said John Rose, the city’s chief economist, at an international convention for the hospitality industry held in Edmonton this week.

“The city was under-served and this is, in part, the industry catching up to what the underlying demand really is,” said Rose.

A survey that reached out to 275 licensed establishments that are open past midnight showed an increase in occupants of 62 per cent, and an increase in money spent by those occupants of 89 per cent.

The impact on the economy was even greater – more than doubling over the four years – due in part to the money spent being circulated throughout the city’s economy.

Though the licensed settings only account for 1.5 per cent of the city’s overall economy and 2.5 per cent of its workforce, Rose said it’s a good indicator of people’s desire to move to the city to work in areas like education, healthcare or government, which employs 25 per cent of the population.

He said migrants to Edmonton often fall into the 18-24-year-old age group and are more likely to patronize late-night establishments, meaning those locales also gain from a diversified economy.

“The structure of the Edmonton economy is quite different than the rest of the province,” he said. “So far, we dodged a big bullet with the provincial budget.”

With no provincial or federal cuts, he said he expects the local public sector to grow if not stay level.

Rose said the population growth, driven largely by in-migration, should continue the trends toward late-night spending but he expects that growth to be more modest in the years to come, even as the arena district continues to be built.

dlazzarino@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/SUNDaveLazz

Emergency crews are responding to a train colliding with a semi truck, causing a derailment in eastern Alberta.

RCMP say officers are on the scene and there is no indication dangerous goods were involved. 

Several cars have gone off the tracks west of Islay, Alta., blocking Highway 893. The highway has been shut down between Highway 16 and Township Road 512. 

Islay is in the County of Vermillion River, approximately 220 kilometres east of Edmonton. 

More to come…

Edmonton’s diversified regional economy continues to defy gravity despite the turmoil that has devastated Alberta’s oilpatch.

The capital region added roughly 30,000 new jobs the past year — fully a third of Canada’s total — and average weekly earnings jumped 4.7 per cent, says John Rose, the City of Edmonton’s chief economist.

Job gains in such sectors as logistics, health care and public administration more than offset losses in energy services and manufacturing, while huge projects, such as the $8-billion Sturgeon refinery and the new downtown arena, have kept the city’s construction industry humming.

In fact, rather astoundingly, among major Canadian cities, Edmonton ranks second only to Vancouver in employment growth in the past 12 months, says Rose. Toronto ranks third. Calgary, long the nation’s economic powerhouse, shed jobs.

That goes a long way toward explaining why Edmonton’s housing market has remained stable, even as Calgary has markedly softened.

The average sales price for a single-detached family home in the Edmonton region was $439,982 in April. That’s up by a hair (about $1,340) over the previous 12 months, the Realtors Association of Edmonton says.

The average price for all homes — including condos, duplexes and row houses — was also slightly higher, at $377,283. Compare that to Calgary, where the benchmark home price slid 3.4 per cent over the past year to $441,000, and prices for condos, semi-detached and row houses also weakened.

That’s the good news. But if you scratch beneath the surface, the picture in Edmonton is a bit less sunny, those in real estate say. While starter homes in the $350,000 to $450,000 range continue to sell at a healthy clip, market conditions are less robust for homes priced above the $500,000 mark.

“Basically, there is a sense that that the upper mid-range segment between $500,000 and $750,000 is slower,” says Kathy Schmidt, owner of Edmonton’s Schmidt Realty Group Inc.

“If you talk to any Realtor in the city with listings in that price range, they’re going to tell you it’s not moving the same as anything in the $400,000 price range. The question is why. Part of it, I think, is that it’s a price range that attracts the discretionary, move-up buyer. And it seems, anecdotally at least, those moves just aren’t happening right now.”

After crunching the numbers, Schmidt says homes priced in the $500,000 to $750,000 range have undergone a kind of stealth markdown the past year. If calculated on a median sales per square foot basis, she says single-family home prices are down about five per cent the past 12 months in Edmonton, Sherwood Park and St. Albert.

“For me this is just a way of trying to make sense of the market, and saying wait a second, how is it that the median price has hardly moved, but I know from looking at properties that are sitting on the market that something else is happening,” she says.

“What sellers are seeing is that while prices seem to be holding, buyers are expecting more house for their dollar. So when buyers are spending, they’re spending roughly the same amount of money, but they’re getting more house for it.”

Schmidt’s views are echoed by others who track the local housing market closely, including veteran Realtor Wayne Moen, of Re/Max Central. 

“I’ve got a client who won a lotto house in the far west end, out by the River Cree Casino. He was told it was worth $1.05 million. We’re now down to $849,000 and we’re getting nothing. So in those higher price ranges I think they’re hurting more,” he says.

“In the $350,000 or $400,000 range, depending on the location, they’re not doing too bad. Now if you’re listed at $500,000 in the Mill Woods area, it’s probably slow, but if you are $500,000 in Crestwood or in the university area, you’re still moving. So it’s all relative to the average price of the neighbourhood,” he adds.

“That tells you home sellers can get to $500,000 and maybe even $600,00, and still be pretty sure you’re going to get a deal in a reasonable amount of time. But then when you start pushing up in (less upscale) areas there is price resistance.”

Bruno Schiavon, co-owner of The Foundry Real Estate Co. in Edmonton’s Cloverdale neighbourhood, also sees a bit more resistance from prospective buyers in the $500,000 and up range.

“A little over two years ago you’d have buyers walking into properties and if the house was say $10,000 or two-per-cent overpriced, they wouldn’t really have any questions because they were confident that when they moved in it would be worth that price,” he says.

“But now buyer confidence has changed, regardless of what the statistics are saying, because their view of risk and reward has also changed. There’s a little bit more skepticism. Has the market plummeted in any way? No, it hasn’t, but there is quite a bit more caution than there was two years ago.”

Still, no one is ringing the alarm bells. 

“For the last 43 years I’ve been through quite a few ups and downs in this business, and this isn’t terrible by any means,” says Moen. “But our inventory levels are definitely up, so as a seller you need to be more aggressive in your pricing, or you just won’t get any action.”

glamphier@postmedia.com

A woman has been charged with manslaughter after a tenant allegedly attacked her landlord in Grande Prairie.

RCMP first responded to a Grande Prairie apartment on Wednesday around 9:30 a.m. where Sherra Eckert said she had been assaulted the night before by her female tenant who lives in another apartment suite in the same building.

Eckert has since succumbed to her injuries and an autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday to determine the cause of her death.

Barb Wright of Grande Prairie has been charged with manslaughter and is expected to make a first appearance in Grande Prairie court on Monday.

The Edmonton major crimes unit is now assisting in the case.

Investigators are asking anyone who had contact with Eckert on Tuesday or Wednesday or anyone with information to contact Grande Prairie RCMP at 780-830-5701 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers.

Grande Prairie is around 460 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

I had an interesting ride with one of the Co-Op Taxi drivers, who explained what a group of cabbies had done for some of the Fort McMurray evacuees staying at the Expo Centre in Edmonton. 

He shared how 23 Co-Op drivers had offered free rides to the evacuees anywhere they needed to go, such as shopping. He was so proud that being a fairly new immigrant to Canada, he was helping other Canadians in a time of need. He also told me that his family was trying to help too and his young son raised money for the Fort McMurray evacuees by having a lemonade stand. His daughter, who works at Sobeys part-time, raised over $100 toward helping.

I just wanted to give a big shout out to the driver of car No. 888 for getting out there and helping others. I know so many people are out there helping Fort McMurray, but sometimes you need to say, “Hey — Thank you!”

S.A. Henkelman, Morinville

Insurance, compensation among biggest questions ahead for Fort McMurray

Re. “Evacuees collide with landlords, insurance,” May 11

Talk of insurance reminds us that Fort McMurray will face a barrage of complex questions in the weeks to come, with adequate compensation perhaps being at the forefront.

Not too long ago, in the wake of the Slave Lake fire, I recall an awkward Edmonton cafe conversation regarding insurance claims for those not properly covered, or not covered at all. The dialogue didn’t last long, and seemed almost callous just broaching the subject. A profound matter, though, I continued to think on it.

Disasters of this type are well beyond the norm, and just living through them alone is enough to require complete support. Canada will only benefit by offering full compensation. If that means collectively picking up some of the tab, then I say we should feel privileged to do so.

With catastrophic floods and fires in recent memory, there has to be a wealth of knowledge on the subject. I hope others that have been affected will offer insight

Tom Roschkov, Edmonton

Carbon tax looks like cash cow

I am most concerned at the proposed introduction of a carbon tax by the provincial government. This presumably will encompass any goods and service produced using fossil fuels.

As a typical citizen, I am very aware of my utilities costs and have worked to reduce my bills, i.e. house energy efficiency audit completed and implementation of all proposals. A high-efficiency furnace has been installed and all lighting converted to LED. When I review my utilities bills I find that almost two-thirds of my consumable bills involve “fees” already.

To me a carbon tax is just another cash cow. Perhaps the department of “thinking up new taxes” could be assigned another job — I note we are already being softened up for a methane tax.

Mike Barker, Sherwood Park

Letters welcome

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com .

A male found bloodied on the ground in Callingwood Park is being treated for serious injuries in Edmonton hospital.

A dog walker called city police after finding the male in the west Edmonton green space just off 172 Street and 69 Avenue around 7 a.m. Saturday, said police.

Officers soon erected crime tape around the scene and the male was transported to hospital with serious injuries. The nearby skate park was spattered with blood.

Police continue to investigate.

Commuters who disparage the Talus Dome sculpture by the Quesnell Bridge ought to get up close and personal to this awesome sight instead of flying past it at 80 kilometres per hour.

My husband and I took the time a few days ago to walk right up to it. We were stunned by its unique design and playful mirroring of both of us and the scenery around us.

I get tired of people condemning what they haven’t truly seen. My husband was merely indulging me by accompanying me to the Talus Dome. Boy, was he ever impressed.

Joanne D. Clevett, Edmonton

Edmonton’s open arms wrap evacuees in kindness

Edmonton, thank you. My family was reunited at 3:30 a.m. on May 4 after much worry and long journeys.

Since that time, you have welcomed us with open arms. You have fed us, helped clothe us. You have offered sincere wishes of hope for a quick return to our home in Fort McMurray. You have offered hugs. You have opened up your attractions so we could take our minds off the overwhelming worries we feel. You have done more than we can express in this short letter.

We are now transitioning from a sprint away from the fire, to a marathon journey before we can return. It seems that we will be in your lovely city for some time to come.

It would also seem that while the fire ignited homes and engulfed Fort McMurray, it also ignited your hearts and you have engulfed us with kindness. We will forever remember the kindness, empathy, and love from the people of Edmonton. 

Jon, Sandy, and Lillian Tupper, Fort McMurray

Alberta must look beyond oil

Re. “Low oil prices are here to stay: senator,” May 14

Sen. Doug Black is so right about the need to diversify Alberta’s economy.  Diversification should have been targeted long ago, because relying solely on oil is now totally passé. As the senator mentioned, oil is not totally dead. But, if Albertans think oil is all there is, then for sure our province is in for a rough ride in years ahead.

Yes, oil and fossil fuels are on the way out, with more and better use of more clean sources of energy on the horizon.  The writing is on the wall, and we should all be cognizant of the fact that oil prices will remain as is. Thus, diversification is the answer for Alberta, and there is no time to waste.

Liz Milanovich, Edmonton

Alberta-Norway comparisons not so simple

Re. “Dipping into Heritage Fund has cost Alberta financial security,” Roger S. Smith, May 14

Roger Smith makes a reasonable point. The province’s income from non-renewable resource revenue could have been saved better. He does a bit of a spurious comparison between Norway and Alberta though — Norway is not a model to emulate for two reasons. 

First, Norway doesn’t have the fiscal burden of transferring money to the rest of a larger nation. Second, if Alberta could have built a fund larger than Norway’s, what has Norway been doing with its money? Its graduated tax rates are much, much higher than Alberta’s.

It’s time to put the Heritage Fund whinging aside and appreciate that Alberta taxpayers have paid heavily into other investments. Health care, roads, business subsidies and inexpensive daycare in other parts of the country is the legacy of Alberta’s government receipts. If competing with Norway is the goal, we need to ask whether funds leaving the province support that end.

Todd M. Kuipers, Calgary

Take a bow Alberta

Team Alberta showed its strength to step and help over 80,000 Fort McMurray evacuees.  

Our proud province demonstrated that Albertans are kind, generous and warm. When this crisis is over let’s remember that we can accomplish any goal when we work together. Take a bow Alberta because you deserve it.

At this time, I’d like to challenge us to raise the bar. Let’s put our Albertan focus and power to work again and end poverty in Alberta. We can do it.  I’m not saying it will be easy. I’m saying it will be worth it.

Chris Robertson, Fort Saskatchewan

Letters welcome

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com .

Fort McMurray wildfire evacuees can now use a new online housing registry to find much-needed short-term accommodations.

“Losing a home and personal belongings can be devastating. Most of us will never truly understand the experiences of the Fort McMurray evacuees,” said Greg Dewling, CEO of the Capital Region Housing Corp., at the official site launch Monday morning.

The housing corporation worked with Yardi Canada Ltd., the Alberta Residential Landlord Association, the City of Edmonton and other industry partners to develop the housing registry. The rentcafe.ca service is also available through a mobile app.

“Home is essential to moving forward and we are here to help families find a home again,” Dewling said.

Yardi Canada developed the site in under 72 hours following a request by the housing corporation, said Peter Altobelli, the vice-president and general manager of Yardi Canada Ltd.

The site launched Friday morning for landlords to list available rental units. By Monday morning, about 2,000 rental units had been listed across Canada.

Most of the units listed on the site provide breaks for Fort McMurray evacuees, such as reduced damage deposits or two-months free rent.

Dewling noted that the Edmonton market has had rent incentives for the last number of months due to a high vacancy rate, which was 4.2 per cent as of October 2015, up from 2014’s 1.7 per cent vacancy rate.

While Yardi Canada usually charges landlords to list rental properties on its site, the company has offered those services free for six months to help Fort McMurray evacuees find housing.

Capital Region Housing Corp. is also working with the Wood Buffalo Housing Development Corp. to ensure they are connecting with any affordable housing tenants who have evacuated to the Edmonton area, Dewling said.

The housing corporation has already received some applications for its affordable housing units, 39 of which were available at last count, he said.

Currently, there is a waiting list of 4,500 families for social housing, and the housing corporation is receiving about 300 applications a month, Dewling said, noting that all applications, including any by Fort McMurray evacuees, will be assessed based on need.

For its affordable housing units, the corporation is offering breaks to Fort McMurray evacuees alongside private landlords including reduced damage deposits of $199 and up to two-months free rent. Like most private landlords, the housing corporation is asking for proof of residency in Fort McMurray.

Dewling said the corporation is also working with the provincial government to address anyone who may need rental assistance due to the wildfire evacuations. He noted rental assistance was made available to those in need in previous emergencies including the Slave Lake fires and the southern Alberta floods.

A motorcyclist was killed and a pickup driver charged after a crash just west of Stony Plain.

Stony Plain RCMP were called to the scene around 7 p.m. Saturday on Highway 16A, near Range Road 11, where a westbound motorcycle struck a Ford F150 attempting to access the highway  eastbound.

Investigators believe the truck was trying to cross the highway when the collision occurred.

The 57-year-old male driver of the motorcycle was taken to hospital, where he later died.

The female driver of the F150 suffered minor injuries. She has been charged with failing to proceed safely.

Best-case scenario, the Oilers Entertainment Group believed it was going to make $900,000 on the Canadian Finals Rodeo in 2017.

Their in-house budget projections had CFR expenses pegged at $6.1 million and revenue at $7 million, provided they maxed out on ticket sales, sponsorship and television advertising for the six performances at Rogers Place.

Worst-case scenario, the OEG believed the event could cost them $400,000 in the first year, and might not make a profit until Year 3.

The OEG was prepared to accept the downside risk because they envisioned long-term upside through the five-year deal and into a second five-year term, if they exercised that option to renew what they envisioned as a partnership with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association.

As we all know now, the cowboys tipped their hats, said thanks but no thanks, pardner, and moseyed along in March. Edmontonians who care about rodeo and the CFR’s decades-long relationship with the city were aghast.

We had been conditioned to believe that Edmonton must hang onto the CFR by all means necessary, lest some other venue — we’re looking at you, Calgary — rustle away a goodly percentage of our rather flimsy western heritage, and all those pickup truck sales. And now we were letting it happen. Heck, OEG and the City of Edmonton was letting it happen.

That wasn’t exactly a fair representation. In mid-February, facing a March 1 deadline for cessation of exclusive negotiations with the CPRA, the city threw in another $200,000 for prize money, on top of the $2.75 million being offered by OEG. 

At that point, the city estimated its exposure at about $950,000, when the cash was added to its in-kind marketing and hosting contributions.

That’s beyond the city’s comfort zone, but it was a strategic injection. With the cowboys insistent upon a purse of at least $3 million, the city’s loot got them to $2.95 million. OEG said the cowboys could divert some or all of the $300,000 hosting fee toward prize money, for a pot as large as $3.25 million. That didn’t work for the CPRA.

“As previously discussed at our board meeting the CPRA requires this money to facilitate a CFR and retain some benefit monetarily for the association,” general manager Dan Eddy said in an e-mail to directors.

There were other problems with the final offer.

“One key road block was that OEG could not offer an escalating purse over time,” Eddy said in the e-mail.

Indeed. The prize money was going to be capped for the first five years as the OEG did what it could to grow TV and sponsorship revenues.

The cowboys also weren’t happy with aspects of the sponsorship package, which OEG proposed to lead exclusively. So the CPRA’s six-person negotiating committee rejected the deal, without first showing it to their entire board of directors. At least one CPRA director didn’t see the OEG offer until the second week of May.

By then, the CPRA’s May 5 deadline for new proposals had come and gone, and there wasn’t a single bid.

Calgary took a pass. Winnipeg Tourism didn’t bid but said it might have an interest in 2019, once the event proved it could work outside Edmonton. Tourism Saskatoon CEO Todd Brandt also sent the CPRA a letter rather than a bid.

“It is very clear that the multiple scenarios you propose would be an unacceptable risk for our city,” he wrote.

Mayor Don Iveson said Edmonton city council came to the same conclusion and a look at the request for proposal explains why. The CPRA claims all revenue from tickets, advertising and sponsorship and any profits realized by the event are the “sole property of the CPRA.”

No partnership. And no takers.

However, a member of the CPRA’s negotiating team told the association’s annual general meeting in Airdrie on Saturday that they are still talking CFR with Saskatoon and Northlands.

Brandt said Monday that his organization is considering a visit to the 2016 CFR, and would like to find a way to make the event work for their city, but they aren’t in active negotiations.

The CPRA did reach out to Northlands and were told to speak to the mayor’s office. That hasn’t happened and council hasn’t changed its collective mind to allow for another year at Northlands.

“The short answer is no, the mayor’s office has not had discussions with CPRA about hosting the CFR at Northlands in 2017,” media relations manager Cheryl Oxford wrote in an e-mail on Tuesday.

So the CPRA doesn’t have a home for its championship event after 2016. They sustained a $169,233 loss in 2015, after posting a $148,042 profit in 2014. And Eddy has been suspended with pay, following complaints from office staff. An outside HR firm will conduct an investigation.

The organization is facing serious challenges and has to take its next steps while the general manager is under suspension. A Monday request for comment on how they move forward had not borne fruit by Tuesday afternoon.

dbarnes@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/jrnlbarnes

For years hockey has been identified as Canada’s game. However, what we are seeing these days is a far stretch from the hockey we enjoyed with the fabulous six original teams that were the NHL many years ago.

It seems that, with the continuous expansion, the quality of good hockey can only be seen in stars like Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby and now Connor McDavid.

Gary Bettman has continued to push for expansion and, with so many teams needing players to fill their rosters, the quality of the game has suffered. There also seems to be very little concern regarding the concussions that are inflicted in today’s game.

Maybe it is time for some drastic changes that will reintroduce hockey as it was meant to be played. It’s time for a Canadian League starting with eight teams (Quebec included) and eventually add some of the European teams. This league would outlaw fighting and play hockey as it used to be played.

Jack Byrne, Edmonton

Norway-Alberta comparisons don’t work

Re. “Dipping into Heritage Fund has cost Alberta financial security,” Roger S. Smith, May 14

This was an excellent article, with the exception of the comparison between the country of Norway and the Canadian province of Alberta.  

While Albertans pay the same taxes to the Canadian government as other Canadians, Canadian government expenditures in Alberta are much below and revenues are above what they are in other Canadian provinces, both per capita, and as a percentage of provincial GDP. So the federal government receives huge net revenues from Alberta.

The Statistics Canada CANSIM “government sector revenue and expenditure, provincial economic accounts” show that Alberta’s net contribution for the 12-year period of 2000 to 2011 inclusive totalled $164.7 billion, averaging $13.7 billion per year. Comparable information is not now available for 2012, 2013 and 2014, but the net contribution for each of these three years was above average.

Using the long-term average of $13.7 billion for each of these three years, Alberta’s 15 year total 2000 to 2014 net contribution exceeded $205 billion, a contribution Norway does not have to make.

Fred McDougall, Edmonton

Thanks to police officer “paying it forward”

Just prior to and during breakfast at a local restaurant, I exchanged pleasantries with an Edmonton police sergeant. We chatted briefly about his upcoming work day. After he finished his breakfast, he offered me the newspaper he’d finished reading.

After finishing my breakfast, I approached my server to settle the bill. She informed me that the police officer had paid for my breakfast. “He told me that someone had paid for his meal a few days ago and he wanted to repay the favour,” she explained.

Thank you, sergeant. Your gesture was very much appreciated and will be “paid forward.”

L. D. McDougall, Edmonton

Life lessons in commercial breaks?

Here’s what I’ve learned from TV advertisements.

I’m richer than I think. If a cookie is called a breakfast biscuit it becomes part of a healthy breakfast. I can get thousands of dollars back if I buy a new vehicle. Fast food restaurants care about my health. I can get paid for shopping. And, there is a medication for every condition I might have, I just have to ask my doctor.

Any questions?

Drake Poels, Edmonton

Healthy women are good for the economy

Never in Canadian history have we had so many women in powerful positions in our government. Two Canadian women, Minister of International Development Marie-Claude Bibeau and MP Michelle Rempel are about to stand up and represent Canada at the fourth Annual Women Deliver Conference happening this week in Copenhagen.

My hope is that these two women will speak up loudly for the world’s poorest women in developing countries, over 100,000 of whom still die in childbirth every year, largely because they are malnourished. How shameful is that. It’s well known that healthy communities the world over start with healthy mothers and children.

Quite simply, healthy women are good for any country’s economy. My hope is that Bibeau and Rempel seize this opportunity to make donor countries aware that the best investment they, and we, can make in developing countries is to improve the health of women.

Paulie Duhaime, Calgary

Letters welcome

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com.

We asked Capital Ideas members how they make sure customers are receiving great customer service every time. Here’s what members of our community of business owners helping business owners had to say:

“Effective and consistent communication is key to maintaining great customer service with your clients. I think it’s important to identify your client’s communications expectations up front, and then meet them – exceed them – whenever possible. Delivering quality work is important, but communicating well about the delivery of that work, especially when things don’t go as expected, is crucial. Typically, disappointment and miscommunication can be avoided – or at least minimized – with good communication practices.”

— Rosemary Malowany, owner and principal, Piccadilly PR & Events

“The key is to make it as easy as possible for your guests or clients to give you their money. Whether that’s hours of operation, physical layout of premises, staffing or ease of use of products. If they have to work at it to spend money with you they will eventually choose another business.”

— Shawn Foran, general manager of Gateway Entertainment Center

Candace Wolfe, principal and creative director at Candace Wolfe Design. Photo: Nicole Ashley Photography

The most important thing to ensure consistently great customer service is to listen to your clients. Although you may have the expertise, it is of no value to them if you’re not applying that expertise in the way they need. Listen to their pain points – good customer service is offering a solution to a problem.

— Candace Wolfe, principal and creative director at Candace Wolfe Design, candacewolfe.com

“Constantly providing great customer service is easy if you love what you do! You treat your customer the way you’d like to be treated. Listen to what they want and listen with an open mind and respect. You may have done what they want a million times but this may be the first time for them. Don’t extinguish their enthusiasm and excitement, just add your expertise and availability. When your customers feel you are truly interested in helping them achieve their goal, great customer service is a given. Everyone likes to be heard and helped, that’s what we are here to do for them! If you can’t help them, sometimes we can’t we offer a referral or an alternate solution.”

— Suzan Burtic, president of Legends Limousine

“To provide consistently great customer service, you have to truly listen to your customers and appreciate what they are looking for. Get to know them, get a clear understanding of their needs, and build a positive relationship. People do business with people they know, like and trust. Be that company!”

— Nicole Ralph, manager of member development at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

“We have a customer service pledge that, in summary, says our clients will feel welcome when they enter our premises, engaged and respected while they are being served and satisfied when they leave. We leave it strategically placed around the clinics and we let our clients know about it so that they have high expectations and can hold us accountable. We discourage our staff from labelling even the most difficult clients. i.e. We don’t have PITAs (if you don’t know what that means I’ll tell you in another forum). It is extremely important though for our team to be supported when they are faced with difficult situations. They know that when the customer is not right they can vent in private and are not required to take abuse. But even though the customer is not always right, they know that our primary task is to provide excellent customer service.”

— Faith Grant, president, Rejuvenation Health Services Inc.

Have a mindset of willing to help the customer consistently above all in getting what he wants and trying your best to help the customer achieve it.

— Mansoor Punja, general manager at Fast Track Signs & Printing

“Know your customer! If you know your customer, you will know their habits, their likes, their dislikes, their organization level and the little something extra you can do to make their experience working with you exceptional. You can adapt to that each time to provide immaculate and dedicated customer service. It isn’t just about knowing them on a business level but also personal. We are all humans, we should treat each other that way.”

— Summer Scott, project manager at Top Draw Inc.

“Making your customer feel important! Getting back to their emails and phone calls immediately makes them feel that they’re important to you.”

— Ameet Khabra, online marketing specialist at Ameet Khabra Marketing

Illarion Shulakewych, founder of High Stick Vodka

My personal approach is to always try to put myself in my customer’s shoes. Whether justified or not, the feelings expressed are always real. Communication is key and always try to hold true to your values. An unfortunate reality is you won’t be able to please everyone but hopefully you can maintain a mutual respect with everyone.

— Illarion Shulakewych, founder of High Stick Vodka

“Company wide, we have a set of 10 principles (The ATBs) we try to get every employee to embody. As employees, we try to live them everyday, and it translates into our business. It holds people accountable and ensures the customer comes first. Within our own team, we try to make sure our customers have someone to speak to. There isn’t an automated line they call into. Even if they have to leave a message with one of our team members, they can expect a call back the same day.”

— Desmond Chow, senior financial advisor, ATB Securities Inc.

“I used to regret having spent 10 years working as a server in restaurants – until I became a business owner and I realised it was the best customer service training I could have had. I know my first job is to please my clients. Happy clients tell their circle. Unhappy clients who are made happy (‘How can I make that right for you?’) tell an even larger circle.”

— Rebecca Lippiatt, owner, Rebecca Lippiatt Photography

I hire the nicest people and my workplace is fun – my staff only want to be cheery!

— Chelsea Krupa, founder of Rehab and Retreat

“Developing and nurturing the right culture within your team, including your front line, will ensure consistent and superior customer service. In addition, invite a few customers to be a part of your customer advisory council. This council would meet frequently and your customers can help you better understand their needs and you can offer them an insight into your challenges, etc. This partnership allows them to be your voice and cheerleaders.”

— Ashif Mawji, president and co-CEO of Trust Science

“One of the most important elements in ensuring clients are happy each and every time is clarity and openness of communication. If a client knows exactly what to expect, both in process and deliverables, then there is no room for confusion. If you are both clear and open in communication, if there is any confusion or hurt feelings it can all be rectified promptly and efficiently.”

— Crystal Puim, principal at Crystal Puim Photography

“I believe that the most important thing to ensure consistently great customer service would be that of standing behind your work. In creating something unique to which is somewhat of a custom piece, I always give customers my business card with their purchase should they have any problems. They know where they can locate me, which is at the Callingwood Market every Sunday. I like the old fashioned way of doing business.”

— Shirley Zago, founder of G&G Redesigned Jewellery

Stacey Hogbin, owner of Wevive Fitness

In order to ensure great customer service all of the time you have to listen to your clients. You need to be open to their feedback on what can be done better and be willing to make adjustments along the way. Once or twice a year send out a client feedback form to all your active clientele and see what they have to say. And then listen, and act on it – don’t just read it!

— Stacey Hogbin, owner of Wevive Fitness

“Simple… Do what you say you are going to do, no matter what. Delivering on seemingly small commitments reinforces the trust that you will deliver on core commitments.”

— John Davis, partner at Blackburn Davis Financial Inc.

“Anticipating the needs of your customers, maintaining open and transparent communication and following through on your commitments and promises. You have to walk the talk, consistently, with every interaction. By doing the right thing every time, your customers will know that they are your top priority and that you aren’t compromising their customer service for your own priorities.”

— Chelsea Barlow, partner, KB Benefits

“Giving my clients great service is always a priority. Genuinely caring and listening to their needs, concerns and goals is a necessity. They need to know that I am dedicated to their success, not only in the good times but also the bad. As their trusted advisor, I am there to coach them through the hills and valleys of life. Sometimes all they need is a good listener.”

— Sandra Nageli, Investors Group Consultant

1. Authenticity
2. Give more than the customer expects
3. Offer an experience
4. The culture and attitude of the entire team should be aligned with the values of the company
5. Give with passion

— Mariana Konsolos, founder of Princess Florence Handbags

Think of your clients as more than just ‘clients’. Instead work side by side with your clients as “partners”.

— Kris Hans, Strategist, Market Grade Ltd.

The above answers are in response to a question posed by Tema Frank, chief instigator of customer experience at Frank Reactions. Here’s her perspective:

“You need to get the 3Ps of promise, people and process right in order to deliver consistently great customer service. Understand why you offer what you do (promise), what motivates your staff and customers (people) and — often overlooked by small businesses — make sure your processes are clear, efficient and easy for both staff and customers.”

Tema’s new book about great customer experience is about to be released. You can download the first chapter of the book for free at peopleshock.com.

Get Involved!

Answer our next question: What’s the most important thing to ensure consistently great customer service?

Submit your answers at the Capital Ideas website by Friday morning. We’ll publish the best answers, along with your business name and website next week.

This article was produced by Capital Ideas, a product of Postmedia Engagement Services, in collaboration with ATB Business.

The wildfire that razed thousands of buildings in Fort McMurray two weeks ago showed how unrelenting and unpredictable it is as it encroached on oil and gas facilities to the north, destroying one work camp and again forcing production to shut down. 

There was also further destruction in the city itself with an explosion in a house in the Dickinsfield area Monday night, damaging seven homes. A fire in a fourplex in south Thickwood damaged three condominium units. The causes were unknown. Both were under investigation. 

“It highlights again the uncertainty of the challenges with re-entry planning and re-establishing essential services,” said Scott Long, executive director of Alberta Emergency Management Agency.

About 60 per cent of the city’s gas infrastructure has been restored without issue, Long said. “The challenge is we are not going into anyone’s homes at all, so what caused it, how it came about — unknown. It could have been a number of factors.” 

ATCO Gas has initiated a “temporary pause” to see if any changes have to be made, he said. 

Flames engulfed Horizon North’s Blacksand Executive Lodge, a 655-unit facility, which had been evacuated Monday night along with more than a dozen other camps between Fort McMurray and Fort McKay housing about 8,000 people. 

The majority were sent by ground to work camps north of Fort McKay, but some were also bused or later flown to Edmonton and Calgary. 

“Those northern camps are not under threat and we do have the time and the space required to conduct an orderly evacuation if required,” Long said. 

Noralta Lodge Fort McMurray Village, a facility that can house more than 3,000 people, and Horizon North’s Birch Mountain, a 540-unit facility, are most at risk, officials said. 

“If we lose 665 bed spaces, then it can be rebuilt. The key is that people were safely evacuated yesterday. They are all empty and it’s just facilities. So right now, our focus is on, as always, public safety, critical infrastructure,” Long said. 

Premier Rachel Notley said the recent fire activity may cause delays to residents returning to Fort McMurray. Using satellite images, wildfire officials estimate the fire has grown to 355,000 hectares. It was one of four fires burning out of control in Alberta. 

The fire is expected to threaten Highway 63 north of the city as it closes in on the Saskatchewan boundary. Highway 63 from the Parson’s Creek interchange to the Suncor interchange is closed north and southbound.

As it moves east, the fire will hit the highway and the Athabasca River first, which could prevent it from reaching the west side of Suncor. 

The wildfire did encroach on the forest surrounding the southeast corner of the Suncor facility, but company spokeswoman Sneh Seetal said none of its assets have been damaged.

Seetal said “enhanced fire mitigation” strategies, including fire breaks, water sprinklers and pumps, are in place, and industrial firefighters remain on-site as essential staff.

Suncor had been in the process of restarting operations, but completed a shutdown when the new evacuation order was called, she said. Its three affected operations produce 591,000 barrels of oil per day. 

Syncrude spokesman Will Gibson said 400 people were bused Monday night to Edmonton due to a lack of camp accommodations and worsening fire conditions. About 100 essential staff, including industrial firefighters, remain at the Mildred Lake plant and Aurora mine.

Syncrude has the capacity to produce 350,000 barrels of oil per day, but workers were in the process of assessing plant equipment and had not started up, he said. 

Alberta government wildfire manager Chad Morrison said because of the lack of vegetation on and around oilsands sites, they’re “very resilient” to wildfire. 

“The issues for us are the industrial camps, the Northland (Forest Products sawmill) facility,” he said. “We feel fairly confident that the (oilsands) sites themselves will be OK.”  

Firefighters continue to protect and pay attention to how the fire moves in relation to the Thickwood, Timberlea and Parsons Creek neighbourhoods in Fort McMurray. The burnt-out areas around those communities and bulldozer guards should act as a buffer zone, Morrison said. 

“We are very optimistic that we’ll continue to hold there.”  

There are 1,754 firefighters, 208 helicopters, 412 pieces of heavy equipment and 29 air tankers currently battling 17 wildfires across the province. 

A wildfire burning in northwest Alberta is also being closely monitored.

Residents of the town of Fox Creek have been told to prepare to evacuate with two-hours notice.

An update posted to the town’s website Tuesday also advised residents that a water ban has been put into effect for firefighting reasons, though officials said the town is not currently threatened by wildfires.

A mandatory evacuation order for rural residences south of the nearby hamlet of Little Smoky was cancelled Tuesday, but people living in that area are advised to remain prepared to leave with two hours notice.  

Little Smoky is about 50 kilometres north of Fox Creek and about 150 kilometres southeast of Grande Prairie.

With files from Paige Parsons and The Canadian Press 

oellwand@postmedia.com

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Investigators say a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for second-degree murder may be in the Edmonton area.

Miguel Gomez, 20, is wanted by Saskatoon police for a second-degree murder charge in connection with an April 16 stabbing that left one man dead and another injured following reports of a parking lot fight in Saskatoon. A 22-year-old man died, and an 18-year-old was treated and later released from hospital.

Gomez is described as five-feet nine-inches tall and 185 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes and a small tattoo beneath each eye. 

Anyone who sees Gomez is advised not to approach him, and instead should contact police immediately. 

A Canada-wide warrant was issued for Gomez in April, and Saskatoon police believe he may be in the Edmonton area.

Police believe Saskatoon murder suspect Miguel Gomez, 20, may be in the Edmonton area.

As Beyoncé is set to draw thousands of fans Friday to Commonwealth Stadium as part of  The Formation World Tour, the City of Edmonton is warning neighbours not to sell parking illegally.

Beyoncé isn’t the only one who can “taste the dishonesty” — bylaw officers who catch people selling parking on their private property illegally can issue a $450 fine for operating without a business licence and another $1,000 fine for operating without a development permit.

On-street parking is limited during major stadium events and only vehicles with a valid permit may park in residential areas around the stadium. Residents can apply for a parking permit by calling 311 or sending an email to transportationoperations@edmonton.ca

Vehicles caught parking in residential areas around Commonwealth Stadium during the event will face a $75 fine and could be towed, incurring another $120 towing fee and a $35 per-day storage fee.

To avoid the stress of traffic congestion and eliminate the risk of getting a parking ticket, the City of Edmonton recommends taking public transit to and from Commonwealth Stadium. Cash fare for a bus or LRT ride is $3.25. For information on park and ride options, go to http://www.edmonton.ca/parkandride.

A week after closing the biggest deal in his company’s 62-year history, Stantec CEO Bob Gomes should have some interesting insights to share Thursday when he addresses the downtown business association’s annual spring luncheon.

Stantec’s $1-billion acquisition of Colorado-based water infrastructure specialist MWH Global expands the Edmonton-based engineering giant’s staff to roughly 22,000 people, and its corporate footprint to more than 25 countries.

With a market value of more than $3 billion, Stantec is Edmonton’s most valuable publicly traded company. In 2018, when it moves into its new downtown headquarters in the city’s burgeoning Ice District, Stantec will have the splashy digs to match

At more than 60 storeys, the imposing new Stantec Tower, immediately south of Rogers Place, will rank among the tallest office buildings in Canada.

“Stantec is an unbelievable success story and that’s why we’re partnering with them for our lunch, and giving them our business recognition award,” downtown business association president Jim Taylor said. 

glamphier@postmedia.com

The strong winds during the past few days in Edmonton were intensified by the sighs of relief from many senior private property owners as they put away their snow shovels and sidewalk ice scrapers after another winter season.

Many seniors are angry that they pay municipal taxes but are expected to maintain the sidewalks, while the city maintains only sidewalks around city hall, city parks and other city-owned properties. In downloading its statutory responsibilities, the city has disregarded their duty of care and its main purposes — to provide good government.

Senior private property owners and all property owners should encourage the city to reconsider its unconscionable bylaw that downloads sidewalk maintenance onto homeowners. 

Michael Marlowe, co-chairman, Alberta Association of Seniors Helping Seniors

It never rains … 

I have a simple solution to making it rain in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan and thus resolve the fire situation. That is to send me and my family on a camping trip in the area. I have never been on a camping trip when it did not pour with rain; that’s why I gave up camping.

 Peter J. Bates, Edmonton

Getting noticed for all the wrong reasons

I first noticed you, wearing a red ball cap, when your Jeep sped by me on Belgravia Road, only to cut abruptly into the right lane causing at least two vehicles to brake.

I noticed you follow the same pattern as you proceeded down Fox Drive, again cutting in to heavy traffic to access the Quesnell Bridge. By the time I arrived at the Whitemud Freeway, you were long gone and I was sure I had seen the last of you.

Surprise, surprise, I noticed you again as you were exiting your vehicle after your accident at 178th St. and 87th Ave. I guess this time the other driver couldn’t get out of you way fast enough.

H.H. Durocher, Edmonton

Talus Dome no better up close

Re. “Maligned sculpture best viewed up close,” Letters, May 16

Sorry, but the Talus Dome at $600,000, is not value for tax payers money.

I have been up close and viewed it many of times. First of all the artists, Ball and Nogues, are from California. How does this support local artists? They seem to think it fits nicely in our river valley. With the rich history of Edmonton, this what they come up with?

Across the river was once called Miners Flats, gold panning was huge along the river. The York Boats and the paddle wheeler went up river to Big Island. Any of these themes should have been depicted. Move this sculpture to the art gallery, and put art of relevance in its place.

Jim Egeto, St. Albert

Letters welcome

We invite you to write letters to the editor. A maximum of 150 words is preferred. Letters must carry a first and last name, or two initials and a last name, and include an address and daytime telephone number. All letters are subject to editing. We don’t publish letters addressed to others or sent to other publications. Email: letters@edmontonjournal.com .

As Edmonton firefighters struggle against dry conditions to stay ahead of numerous brush and grass fires igniting across the city, a sharp increase in the number of firepit complaints is putting them under extra pressure.

“We appreciate that there has been really good uptake by the public, but it’s a little bit frustrating just because of the sheer numbers,” deputy fire chief Russell Croome said Wednesday.

In less than two weeks since the city was put under a fire ban — a ban that continues over most of northern and central Alberta — Edmonton firefighters have been dispatched to 239 firepit complaints.

At its peak, Croome said they are getting between 30 and 40 firepit complaints an hour.

But the extra call volume isn’t entirely the fault of firepit owners. Croome said at least part of the increase in calls is coming from well-intentioned citizens who may not be familiar with exactly what the fire ban entails.

“It’s to the point where we have actually changed our protocol slightly in our dispatch centre to actually ask the caller if it’s a propane or gas barbecue,” Croome said.

Under the fire ban, all outdoor recreational fires are prohibited except for propane or natural gas-fuelled firepits and outdoor cooking appliances.

“What’s prohibited is solid fuels, things that will generate a spark or an ember,” said Croome.

The issue, said Croome, is that conditions have been so dry any errant ember can create a fire that quickly rages out of control.

A “graphic example” of this, Croome said, was the fire that broke out in Wolf Willow on May 8, where a fire that ignited in a playground in Oleskiw Park sent “fist-sized embers” more than 200 metres, starting fires on dry rooftops blocks away and damaging three homes.

“It was tremendously difficult for firefighters to focus on the source, they’ve got to fight the fire in the forest, and to divert forces to take care of all of the spot fires — there were many — on top of the roofs and structures that ignited. It was very challenging for us,” said Croome.

Not only does the dry weather make it easier for fires to start, it makes them harder to fight, with Croome saying weather conditions have made it “extremely difficult” to bring fires under control.

Since the fire ban was put in place in Edmonton on May 5, firefighters have responded to more than 112 small outside fires, 36 small grass fires and 12 large grass fires.

Croome said many of these fires were likely caused by carelessly discarded smoking materials.

Wet weather in the forecast should provide some relief for local firefighters, but Croome said it will likely fall short of what is needed to get Edmonton out of the extreme fire risk category.

As long as the weather remains dry, Croome urges Edmontonians to use caution and obey all fire bans.

“You could actually threaten your whole neighbourhood by accidentally starting a fire,” said Croome.

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The number of Edmontonians receiving employment insurance continued to rise in March, according to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada.

Across Alberta, 67,600 people received EI benefits, which is an increase of 3.3 per cent from February. In Edmonton, the number of claimants increased by 2.2 per cent since February, slightly less than in Calgary which saw a rise of 2.5 per cent.

The increase comes on the heels of an announcement made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week that beginning in July, unemployed workers in the Edmonton region will be eligible for the same extended employment benefits made available to the rest of the province in April. Previously, the unemployment numbers in the capital region didn’t meet the criteria for the special extension, which is determined using a formula. 

The increase in Alberta wasn’t in keeping with the national trend, which saw numbers largely remain the same as the previous month.

Alberta has seen a steady increase in EI recipients since the fall of 2014.