Fort Report Spring/Summer 2015

A Newsletter for the Citizens of Fort Saskatchewan The

FortREPORT IN THIS ISSUE

A MESSAGE FROM MAYOR KATCHUR

Front Page A Message from Mayor Katchur New NWMP Fort Exhibit Transfer Station Using Social Media Can Help

Inside Spread

The question on the top of everyone’s mind these days is how will the low price of oil impact our city? The good news is that Alberta has had low oil prices in the past and during those times Fort Saskatchewan not only survived, we thrived.

Fort Saskatchewan is known as the Gateway to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and remains the ideal location to be a regional service centre for Alberta’s oil and gas industry, a centre for the processing of natural gas and for the technology research sector. As I said, everyone wants to know what potential impact this downturn in oil prices will have on us. Although we must always be aware of what’s going on, I have responded by saying that this is a period of normalization and a pause for correction and in the words of our leaders, “we must not over react”.

In Fort Saskatchewan, the sky is not falling.

Our growth rate is between 4 to 6% annually. Investor confidence still remains very high in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland and in Fort Saskatchewan. Our existing industries are expanding, new facilities are being built, and new technologies are

being tested. At the Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Stakeholder event last month, we heard a commitment of $16 billion dollars’ worth of industrial construction projects in the Heartland. Industrial investment in Fort Saskatchewan this year, will be over $850 million dollars. This is based on permits that are currently being processed.

City Council recognizes the opportunities that are available to us and we have been positioning ourselves to have a strong, diverse, economy so we can all continue to be prosperous.

We will continue to lobby the provincial government and work with our regional partners to seek solutions to our regional transportation issues. We know the City of Fort Saskatchewan can’t influence a second bridge crossing on our own, but we are pleased that we have the support of the Capital Region Board. They have provided the Province with an Integrated Transportation Plan that identifies the need for another bridge crossing and strengthening the transportation network, which includes the intersection at Hwy 15/37/825.

On the municipal front, Council is managing your resources. The 2015 budget came in with a 1.85% tax increase which was one of the lowest in the Capital Region.

2015 2015 Operating Budget Budget Revenues

The exhibit will feature six themes: • The March West

Fort Sask Alert System 37,252,111

Transit Pilot

Sales, Rentals and User Charges

19,390,736

Census 2015

Penalties and Interest

313,500

Fines, Licenses and Permits

3,861,500

Investment Income

517,000

Government Transfers

1,439,483

Other Revenues

4,655,740

Total Revenues

67,430,070

Expenses Salaries, Wages and Benefits

23,430,998

Contracted and General Services

11,647,080

Purchased from Other Governments

13,477,398

Materials, Supplies and Utilities

5,556,302

Grants to Organizations

1,370,164

Debentures

4,083,761

Bank Charges

• Maintaining Law and Order • The Centre of the Community • Characters at the Fort • The North-West Rebellion and Expansion of the Fort The stories will be told through historic photos, artifacts, and quotes from those who lived and worked at the Fort.

Interesting Facts…

• The NWMP made their trek from eastern Canada to stop the whiskey trade, establish Canadian sovereignty, and to pave a peaceful path for settlers

Singing In the Rain

120,500

Other Expenses

7,743,867

Total Expenses

67,430,070

Transfer Station open daily effective February 1 The Transfer Station is now open from 11am to 5 pm, seven days a week.

On April 1, the station switches to summer hours and will be open daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

The Transfer Station is located at 8609 - 111 Street. For details on what is acceptable at the Transfer Station, check your 2015 Waste Collection Schedule, or go to fortsask.ca/waste for more information.

• In winter, the men used dogs and dogsleds for patrols • During one patrol, Jarvis travelled 3,218 km going from Fort Saskatchewan to Fort Resolution and back. He traveled mostly by dogsled • The NWMP Fort was the centre of the community

Using Social Media can Help

• The Mounties were active athletes, competing on both NWMP and civilian teams. Mounties played cricket, tennis, football, hockey, baseball, and rugby.

The fiercest competition was between the men at Fort Saskatchewan and the men stationed in Edmonton

In December, Municipal Enforcement received a report about an elderly woman who was missing. The caller explained that the woman suffered from Dementia. Three officers became involved in the call and one of them, Officer Anderson posted a message on the City’s Facebook page asking the community to be on the lookout for her.

• Once their time with the force was up, many policemen settled nearby or opened businesses in the growing village

Using one of the tips posted by a resident, Officers Anderson, Leblanc and Webster were able to locate the woman and get her home safely.

• The North-West Rebellion caused panic among the settlers, who sought protection within the palisade walls

Great job by all involved!

• The 275 men of the NWMP took with them on the March West – 20 Métis Cart Drivers, 114 Red River Carts, 67 Wagons, 311 Horses, 124 Oxen, 18 Bulls, 52 Cows and 40 Calves

• Reorganization of the NWMP changed Fort Saskatchewan from a small garrison of around 20 men to the headquarters for G Division with approximately 100 men in 1885

• The policemen traded their red serge for saws and shovels. The first order of business was to build their own fort

For more information, contact Culture Services at 780.992.6261.

cityfortsask

Back Page Events Calendar

• Once the fort was built, settlers came to homestead or to form a fledgling village in the safe shadow of the palisade

• Daily Life at the Fort

Heartland 101: Lighting the Way at Industrial Facilities

Property Taxes

NEW NWMP FORT EXHIBIT The North West Mounted Police (NWMP) Stable is almost finished and ready for visitors to explore and discover how the NWMP helped build our community.

Family Day Unplugged

@cityfortsask

Tel 780.992.6200 | info@fortsask.ca | fortsask.ca

Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/CityFortSask

02.16.2015

Family Day in Fort Saskatchewan Mudbay Jugglers

(Presented by Qualico Communities) Shell Theatre Monday, February 16 at 3 pm Wildly creative and humourous, this troupe will leave your family with a smile from ear to ear.

Tickets only $2 at the Dow Centennial Centre

Free Admission to the Dow Centennial Centre 9 am - 9 pm Apple Fitness Centre, gym (until 8:30 pm) and soccer field (until 6 pm).

Leisure Zone activities available all day: ping pong, shuffleboard, pool, air hockey

Winterfest and Vintage Snowmobile Show Presented by the Fort Saskatchewan Historical Society 11 am - 2 pm Fort Heritage Precinct

West River’s Edge at the Lions Club Trout Pond!

Alberta Sport Fishing Regulations apply to this pond and only non-motorized boats are permitted. Ice thickness is not monitored.

Thin ice conditions are possible. ***USE AT YOUR OWN RISK***

Family Swim Harbour Pool Feb 16 from 1:30 - 4:30 pm

Toboggan Hills Always play safe – wear a helmet on your head!

• behind Co-op grocery store on 100 Ave.

Free Family Skates at the Dow Centennial Centre Public skate 9:30 am - 2 pm and 2:30 - 4:30 pm Preschool Puck Play 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Why Unplug?

• Children who watch more television during the first three years of life are more likely to have more problems with attention deficit disorders when they are 7 to 9 years old.

(Institute for Safe Families)

• By graduation, the average teen will have spent more time watching screens than being in the classroom, playing sports and talking to their parents. (Screensmart.ca)

• Rotary Amphitheatre • West River’s Edge on River Valley Drive • near Pryce Alderson Park on Westpark Drive

Family Skates Outdoor Skating – if weather conditions allow.

Rink Shacks at Mowat and RCMP Outdoor Rinks Open 1 - 8 pm

™

Ice Fishing

Enjoy your day and don’t forget to log your unplugged hours!

Can your community connect the most on Family Day? • Log the hours you and your family unplugged on February 16.

Beginning February 17, go to www.fcssaa.org to log your hours and tell your story.

Brought to you by Edmonton Evergreen Brazeau County City of Edmonton City of Leduc City of St. Albert City of Fort Saskatchewan

Leduc County Strathcona County Sturgeon County Town of Beaumont Town of Bon Accord Town of Calmar

Town of Devon Town of Drayton Valley Town of Gibbons Town of Legal Town of Morinville

Town of Redwater Village of Breton Village of Thorsby Village of Warburg

Heartland 101: Lighting the Way at Industrial Facilities www.lifeintheheartland.com

Communicating with Community Companies move toward more efficient lighting with reduced environmental impact

Designed to keep your family safe

Heartland 101: Lighting at Industrial Facilities With a shift toward LED lights, companies are decreasing Think: reduce, reuse, recycle.

You might the pictureWay a blue bag LED lights also last longer than traditional stuffed with common items such as more plastic yogurt containers, Companies move toward efficient lighting light withspill. reduced environmental impact lighting and are more efficient, thus reducing energy cardboard cereal boxes and aluminum soup cans. consumption.

January 2015 It’s also possible to apply the three Rs to lighting. Large industrial facilities like those in Alberta’s Industrial Lighting Initiatives in the Heartland Think: reduce, recycle.atYou mightsites picture bag stuffed with common items such as Heartland do just reuse, that. Initiatives industrial are a blue Both Shell and North West Redwater Partnership, among plasticreduce yogurtthe containers, cardboard boxes and aluminum soup cans. helping environmental impact ofcereal lights while other companies, are undertaking specific actions to still ensuring safe working conditions. achieve efficient and optimallike lighting.

It’s also possible to apply the three Rs to lighting. Large industrial facilities those in Alberta’s

This FREE service keeps you up-to-date in the event of an emergency.

Industrial Heartland do just that.

Initiatives at industrial sites Their are helping reducewhich the will be operational The Purpose of Proper Lighting • Shell: Quest project, environmental impact region of lights still ensuring working conditions.

The glow from an industrial canwhile often illuminate the safe this year, uses only LED lights. Additionally, Shell’s new skyline, particularly during the short days in winter months.

These lights play an at facilities including: The Purpose ofimportant Proper role Lighting

administration building for 500 employees is designed to LEED Silver standard, which includes a focus on reducing light area lighting automatically turns off The glow from an industrial region can often illuminate thepollution. skyline,Work particularly during the short • Safety: Adequate lighting ensures safe working if no one is in the room. The building also uses the sun’s days in winter These lights play an important role at facilities including: conditions and months. helps prevent injuries natural light as much as possible.

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Safety: Adequate lighting ensures safe working conditions and helps prevent injuries • North in West Redwater Partnership: efficiently properly lit work sites The lighting design their Sturgeon Refinery, which is currently under Notification: Lights are used on signs, signals,foremergency alerts and more

• Productivity: Employees can work more in  Productivity: Employees canefficiently work more properly lit work sites



construction, mitigates the effect on wildlife, ensures optimal placement to reduce the number of required fixtures, and uses products that are free of mercury and In recent years, many industrial facilities have focusedhazardous on reducing the impacts of their lights. materials.

Additionally, the use of photocell This includes Environmental impacts on nature and wildlife through unwanted skyglow light to spill.

Excess adjust lighting control allowsand for lights automatically Minimizing Impacts to changing seasons and daily conditions. can affect wildlife relationships, behavioral patterns.

Inlight recent years, many industrial facilities havemigration focused onand natural • Notification: Lights are used on signs, signals, Minimizing Environmental Impacts emergency alerts and more

reducing the impacts of their lights. This includes impacts For more information about Life in the Heartland, visit on nature and wildlife through unwanted skyglow andare light With a shift toward LED lights, companies decreasing light spill. LED lights also lastand longer lifeintheheartland.com, follow us on Twitter Facebook, spill. light canlighting affect wildlife relationships, migration thanExcess traditional and are more efficient, thus or reducing energy consumption. email info@lifeintheheartland.com. and natural behavioral patterns.

Lighting Initiatives in the Heartland Both Shell and North West Redwater Partnership, among other companies, are undertaking specific actions to achieve efficient and optimal lighting.  Shell: Their Quest project, which will be operational this year, uses only LED lights.

Additionally, Shell’s new administration building for 500 employees is designed to LEED Silver standard, which includes a focus on reducing light pollution. Work area lighting automatically turns off if no one is in the room. The building also uses the sun’s natural light as much as possible.

You sign up once and it only takes minutes.

Subscribe at:

fortsask.ca/alerts

Transit Pilot

Operating until December 31, 2015 LEGEND 582 Bus Stop

583 Bus Stop

School

Court House

Route

Route

Hospital

Golf

City Hall

Harbour Pool

A

Timing Point

A

Timing Point

Legion

#7411 85A ST & 99 AVE #7607 #178 WESTPARK WY

#7690 WESTPARK CRT & WESTPARK WY

#7416 82 ST & 96 AVE #7515 WESTPARK WY & WESTPARK DR

#77164 WESTPARK DR & WESTPARK BL

#7863 WESTPARK BL & HWY 21

#7768 SHERRIDON DR & 99 AVE

D

#7746 86 ST & 94 AVE

B

C

#7922 SHERRIDON DR & 99 AVE

#7853 108 ST & 99 AVE #7869 108 ST & 98 AVE

#7997 SHERRIDON DR 96 AVE

#7948 LOWE AVE & BROOMFIELD DR

#7767 90 ST & 97 AVE

#7606 80 ST & 95A AVE

#7615 84 ST & 94 AVE

#7781 102 ST & 100 AVE

#7539 95 ST & 99 AVE

C

#7967 89 ST & 94 AVE

#7418 WESTPARK WY & 95A AVE

#77168 WESTPARK DR & CARAGANA WY

#7517 WOODBRIDGE LK & CARAGANA WY

#7409 89 ST & 99 AVE

#7921 90 ST & 99 AVE

B

#7947 94 ST & 99 AVE

#7600 82 ST & 98 AVE

#7998 WESTPARK DR & CRANBERRY BD

#7938 105 ST & 100 AVE

#7962 100 ST & 100 AVE

#7929 SHERRIDON DR 95 AVE

#7972 92 ST & 96 AVE

#7669 92 ST & 95 AVE

#7612 90 ST & 94 AVE

#7978 101 ST & LOWE AVE

#7936 JUBILEE DR & LOWE AVE

#7985 SHERRIDON DR & 93 AVE #7932 93 AVE & LEGION

#7970 84 ST & 92 AVE #7694 WOODBRIDGE LK WISTERIA LN

#7405 DOW CENTENNIAL CENTRE #77176 SOUTHFORT BL & RIDGELAND WY

A

#77167 SOUTHFORT DR

#77171 SOUTHFORT DR & ALLARD WY

#77177 94 ST & CORNERSTONE CNTR

#77173 84 ST & SOUTHFORT DR

#77163 SOUTHFORT BL & SOUTHFORT DR

Pilot service on Routes 582 and 583 provides weekday service from 5:30 am to 8:00 pm and will continue until December 31, 2015. Buses run every 30 minutes in the morning and afternoon peak hours from 5:30 to 7:30 am and 1:30 to 8:00 pm. Buses run every hour between 8 am and noon.

The city is divided by the two routes which both terminate at the Dow Centennial Centre to connect with the Edmonton Transit Route 198 into Clareview LRT Station.

Route 582 Service from Westpark, DCC, Southfort, and Pineview to: • James Mowat, Rudolf Hennig, Win Ferguson • RCMP Station

Route 583 Service from DCC, Downtown, Sherridon, Southfort to: • Harbour Pool, Library, Downtown, Cornerstone • Ecole Park, Fort Elementary, Fort Christian, Next Step, St. John XXIII, St. John Paul II, Fort High, Fort Junior High and Our Lady of Angels

Transit Fares: Students under 12 ride free Students over 12, one-way $1.00 Student with U-Pass – ride free Adults $2.00 one-way Seniors $1.00 one-way Exact times and bus stop locations are listed in the Route Brochure available at City Hall, Library, Pioneer House, DCC, Harbour Pool or by visiting www.fortsask.ca/FST If you have questions about the local transit pilot, please call City of Fort Saskatchewan at 780.992.6248.

City of Fort Saskatchewan

Census Day is Monday, April 20, 2015 Fort Saskatchewan’s 2015 Municipal Census will be conducted online from April 20 to June 1, 2015. Residents will be able to log in online and answer eight short questions, for example: • The number of residents in the home; • The age and gender of each resident;

What if I do not respond online?

If you do not respond online by May 11th, an enumerator will visit your household to take your census information at the door. It will only take a few minutes of your time, and all enumerators will carry proper identification. Remember, if you submit your census information online it will not be necessary for an enumerator to visit your household.

Questions/Comments Contact: City of Fort Saskatchewan Legislative Services Email: legislativeservices@fortsask.ca Phone: 780.992.6154

• Employment status; and • Length of residency in Fort Saskatchewan.

All information collected will be kept confidential and used only for the production of aggregated statistics. Responses will remain anonymous – names will not be collected and exact dwelling addresses will not be associated with the questionnaire responses.

How do I respond online?

Why conduct a Census?

The City of Fort Saskatchewan receives various grants from the Provincial and Federal governments, a number of which are based on a per capita (number of residents) basis. With current census data, the City receives the maximum amount of grant funding for programs and services. The census data is also useful for the future planning of transportation, parks, schools and protective services, such as fire and police.

Starting April 20th a PIN number will be hand-delivered to your door, and is unique to your residence. Watch for the bright green notice entitled, Count Yourself In.

5

This notice will provide instructions on how to submit your census information online.

cityfortsask

@cityfortsask

Tel 780.992.6200 | info@fortsask.ca | fortsask.ca

Mark Your Calendar A Message From Our Economic Development Director

Shell Theatre Shows

Community Events

Shell Theatre, Dow Centennial Centre, 8700 - 84 Street Information: 780.999.6844 Tickets @Ticketpro.ca

Feb. 14 Family Games Day Presented by the Fort Saskatchewan Public Library, 10011 - 102 Street 12 pm - 4 pm Information: 780.998.4275

Feb. 13 An Intimate Evening with Jann Arden (Presented by Dow) 7:30 pm Feb. 14 Valentine’s Day with Florence K 7:30 pm

Feb. 21 Death by Chocolate Presented by the Rotary Club Normandy Room, 9964 - 93 Avenue 7 pm Information: 780.999.7567 or fortsaskrotaryclub@gmail.com

Mark Morrissey The eternal optimist. We all know one.

Someone who never sees the glass half empty and believes that every cloud has a silver lining. We may not always agree that the situation is as rosy as they would lead us to believe, but in the case of Fort Saskatchewan’s economy, they’re not wrong.

Lately we’ve been bombarded with messages of doom and gloom from the national media, with dire predictions of a provincial recession and hard economic times ahead. You’d think a little optimism would be rare, but cautious optimism is what we heard last week at Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Stakeholder event.

The message from companies in the Heartland region was one of growth, expansion, and more importantly; shovels hitting the ground.

The $16 billion in announced projects in the Heartland, a number of which are already under construction, all contribute to diversifying the economy and lessening the provinces dependence on crude oil.

It also helps mitigate the impact that low oil prices will have on the economy. As Neil Shelly, Executive Director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association noted in his speech to those gathered; we are starting to see a lot of investment in the natural gas and natural gas liquids sector from developments in Alberta’s vast shale plays. Fort Saskatchewan, is quickly becoming a hub for this development due to our location within the Heartland and our existing natural gas infrastructure.

2014 was a busy year for the City. We saw development of two modular fabrication facilities, a natural gas processor expand their infrastructure, and new technologies around oil refining being tested. We are looking forward to continuing this industrial momentum into 2015 and beyond.

We expect 2015 to be a busy year for commercial development in Fort Saskatchewan as well. We’ve completed a retail analysis which has provided valuable information to help us attract more retailers to the City. We’ve already begun using this information to target specific companies and are looking forward to continuing discussions with them. This will build on the progress made in 2014 where we saw an increase in the number of businesses operating in the City. Our new Economic Development Officer, Mike Erickson, has been working hard with a number of groups interested in Fort Saskatchewan and we look forward to some positive announcements in the coming year.

The

FortREPORT

A Newsletter for the Citizens of Fort Saskatchewan

cityfortsask

Feb. 16 Winterfest and Vintage Snowmobile Show Presented by the Historical Society Fort Heritage Precinct, 10006 - 100 Avenue 11 am - 2 pm Information: 780.998.3498

Feb. 25 Pink Shirt Day - Stop Bullying Presented by the Boys and Girls Club 3:45 pm Walk from The Boys and Girls Club to the Co-op parking lot.

Free hot dogs and cake

Feb. 16 Family Day with the Mudbay Jugglers (Presented by Qualico Communities) 3 pm - Tickets only $2

Mar. 3 International Women’s Day Lions Mane, Dow Centennial Centre, 8700 - 84 Street Information: 780.992.6623/780.992.0250 Mar. 10

Mar. 21 Wayne Lee Hypnotist Two Shows: 7 & 9:30 pm Mar. 7 Shelly Dubois (Presented by Shell) 7:30 pm

Alberta Lottery Fund Gallery Exhibits Sherritt Cultural Pavilion, Dow Centennial Centre, 8700 - 84 Street Thursdays and Fridays, 11 am - 2 pm and prior to shows at Shell Theatre Information: 780.992.6400 Feb. Basic Drawing and Painting by Alberta Mental Health Mar. Celebrating 100 Years of the Provincial Gaol Mar. 5 Special Evening Celebration – 100 Years of the Provincial Gaol 7 pm Apr. Chris Kingston May Kathryn McNain

Harbour Pool Events Harbour Pool, 10001 – 94 Avenue Information: 780.992.6162 Feb. 21 Community Loonie Swim (Sponsored

by CUPE Local 30) 2 - 4 pm Mar. 21 Community Loonie Swim (Sponsored

by Twice But Nice) 2 - 4 pm April 4 Easter Egg Hunt at the Harbour Pool (Sponsored by Jeff Morgan of Royal LePage) 2 - 4 pm April 18 Community Loonie Swim (Sponsored

by The Retreat Salon & Spa) Harbour Pool, 10001 - 94 Avenue 2 - 4 pm Information: 780.992.6162

Mar. 15 Music Festival Gala Shell Theatre, Dow Centennial Centre, 8700 - 84 Street 2:30 pm Information: 780.992.6400 Mar. 27 Community Night Potluck Hosted by the Fort Saskatchewan Multi-Cultural Association First United Church, 10409 - 100 Avenue 6:30 pm Information: ftsk.multicultural.accos@gmail.com Apr. 24 - 26 Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Trade Show & Sale Location: Dow Centennial Centre, 8700 - 84 Street Information: 780.998.4355 Apr. 25 Storm the Fort Night Run Hosted by JohnnyB FITT Information: 780.998.7219 May 1 - 3 Fort Saskatchewan Pottery Guild Sale Waiward Steel Pottery Studio, Dow Centennial Centre, 8700 - 84 Street Friday: 4 - 8 pm, Saturday: 9 am - 4 pm, Sunday: 10 am - 2 pm Information: www.fspg.ca May 7 - 8 Peoples of the North Saskatchewan Festival Presented by the Historical Society Location: Fort Heritage Precinct, 10006 - 100 Avenue 9:30 am - 3 pm Information: 780.998.3498 May 8 - 9 Sheeptown Players Annual Murder Mystery Location: Lakeview Inn & Suites, 10115 - 88 Avenue Information: 780.999.6844 May 9 Pancake Breakfast Location: Pioneer House, 10102 - 100 Avenue 8 - 11 am Information: 780.998.3898

May 7 Mother’s Day Pot Luck (Sponsored

by Tim Horton’s) Location: Harbour Pool, 10001 - 94 Avenue 12 - 2 pm Information: 780.992.6162 May 10 Mother’s Day Swim (Sponsored

by Tim Horton’s) Mom Swims free Location: Harbour Pool, 10001 - 94 Avenue 2 - 5 pm Information: 780.992.6162 May 23 Community Loonie Swim (Sponsored

by Fort Saskatchewan Block Parent) Location: Harbour Pool, 10001 - 94 Avenue 2 - 4 pm

@cityfortsask

Job Fair Presented by the Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Dow Centennial Centre , 8700 - 84 Street 2 - 8 pm Information: 780.998.4355

Tel 780.992.6200 | info@fortsask.ca | fortsask.ca