It's a tough life.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Insanity
Apparently I have developed a local fan base as I received a message from a reader (who reads my blog on her phone on the bus ride to work) reminding me to post soon since I've been a little tardy as of late. I have good reason for it since work has been a bit hectic. One might even use the word "insane". This actually had me thinking back to a few days ago, when as I was looking through my music collection I started to realize just how many composers in my little musical library actually did go insane. It makes for an interesting list.
1. Robert Schumann was a German composer who, after botching an experiment to improve his manual dexterity by slicing tendons in his hand (mmm...yummy), later went insane, and threw himself into the Rhine River. He was rescued but died in an asylum.
2. Alexander Scriabin (don't we all remember him?) apparently went insane too. He didn't throw himself into a river like dear Robert or make any attempts at suicide that I'm aware of though. His exit from this world was a lot less dramatic as he died from an infected shaving cut (seriously).
3. Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer who, though living to the ripe old age of 90 suffered from bouts of depression and destroyed the score of his 8th Symphony by burning it. Today, only a few scattered fragments remain.
4. Bedrich Smetana, considered the father of Czech romantic music, got a double whammy as he went both deaf and insane.
5. Antonio Salieri, went insane in old age and raved about how he had killed Mozart. This led to a play by Pushkin, and a 1979 play by Peter Shaffer which in turned served as the basis for the 1984 award-winning movie "Amadeus". Salieri's rep took quite a knock as a result of this and really muddied the waters when it came to understanding the relationship between the two.
6. Eric Satie was rather reclusive and a pack rat to boot. After he died they found his home full of umbrellas that he evidently never used.
7. Alessandro Stradella is a little-known Italian composer, known more today for his many love affairs than his music. Now, Stradella didn't go insane BUT he was killed by hired assassins after having extra-curricular activities with the daughter of a certain nobleman. Now, that's nuts.
1. Robert Schumann was a German composer who, after botching an experiment to improve his manual dexterity by slicing tendons in his hand (mmm...yummy), later went insane, and threw himself into the Rhine River. He was rescued but died in an asylum.
2. Alexander Scriabin (don't we all remember him?) apparently went insane too. He didn't throw himself into a river like dear Robert or make any attempts at suicide that I'm aware of though. His exit from this world was a lot less dramatic as he died from an infected shaving cut (seriously).
3. Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer who, though living to the ripe old age of 90 suffered from bouts of depression and destroyed the score of his 8th Symphony by burning it. Today, only a few scattered fragments remain.
4. Bedrich Smetana, considered the father of Czech romantic music, got a double whammy as he went both deaf and insane.
5. Antonio Salieri, went insane in old age and raved about how he had killed Mozart. This led to a play by Pushkin, and a 1979 play by Peter Shaffer which in turned served as the basis for the 1984 award-winning movie "Amadeus". Salieri's rep took quite a knock as a result of this and really muddied the waters when it came to understanding the relationship between the two.
6. Eric Satie was rather reclusive and a pack rat to boot. After he died they found his home full of umbrellas that he evidently never used.
7. Alessandro Stradella is a little-known Italian composer, known more today for his many love affairs than his music. Now, Stradella didn't go insane BUT he was killed by hired assassins after having extra-curricular activities with the daughter of a certain nobleman. Now, that's nuts.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
A New Visitor
Initially I planned to do a quick post just to show my birding list for the year so far since I spotted my first Brewer's Blackbird at work late this afternoon, but then a new visitor showed up in the backyard this evening as the light was beginning to fade so now I suppose I can write about both.
I had just stepped out onto the back deck to enjoy the cook breeze when I noticed a couple birds in the tree. In and of itself this is no big deal since there are a few that don't automatically take flight, Red polls especially. But the red polls are gone now and this was something new. I figured pretty quickly they were some sort of warbler and I got a decent look in the fading light before I spooked them and they made a beeline for a pine tree a couple yards down.
I found myself wishing I had my binoculars with me and raced up to grab them along with a guidebook. I spent a few minutes looking out the back window but they didn't return. No doubt my excitement and my rushing up and down the stairs provided a few moments of amusement to a couple of my tenants. At any rate, it turns out my two little visitors were Orange-crowned warblers or at least if they weren't I'm not really sure what else they could be. Their yellow colour was much more muted than other similar-looking birds in my guidebook and I did get a pretty good look.
I recently commented on Clare's blog about how I've had my open for King fishers and Red-breasted nut hatches since I love to be able to add them to my life list but just haven't seen them yet despite the fact that they are rather common here. Interesting how the ones you hope to see elude you and then you end up seeing something completely unexpected instead. But this is something birding that appeals to me.
Here then, too is my updated 2012 bird list (in more or less chronological rather than taxonomic order....I am a student of history after all), since it's been about a month since the last update. I'm almost up to 20 on my list, a modest number I know but it's still early so I'm sure it will grow.
1. Common Raven (over-winter)
2. Black-billed Magpie (over-winter)
3. Evening Grosbeak (over-winter)
4. Pine Grosbeak (over-winter)
5. Bohemian Waxwing (over-winter)
6. Black-capped Chickadee (over-winter)
7. Common Red Poll (over-winter)
8. Downy Woodpecker - March 27
9. Slate-Coloured Junco - April 5
10. House Sparrow - April 6-10?
11. Herring Gull - April 10
12. Canada Goose - April 15
13. Chipping Sparrow - April 18
14. Rock Dove - April 20
15. Tree Swallow - April 20
16. Red-Winged Blackbird - April 21
17. American Robin - April 24
18. Brewer's Blackbird - May 9
19. Orange-crowned Warbler - May 9
I had just stepped out onto the back deck to enjoy the cook breeze when I noticed a couple birds in the tree. In and of itself this is no big deal since there are a few that don't automatically take flight, Red polls especially. But the red polls are gone now and this was something new. I figured pretty quickly they were some sort of warbler and I got a decent look in the fading light before I spooked them and they made a beeline for a pine tree a couple yards down.
I found myself wishing I had my binoculars with me and raced up to grab them along with a guidebook. I spent a few minutes looking out the back window but they didn't return. No doubt my excitement and my rushing up and down the stairs provided a few moments of amusement to a couple of my tenants. At any rate, it turns out my two little visitors were Orange-crowned warblers or at least if they weren't I'm not really sure what else they could be. Their yellow colour was much more muted than other similar-looking birds in my guidebook and I did get a pretty good look.
I recently commented on Clare's blog about how I've had my open for King fishers and Red-breasted nut hatches since I love to be able to add them to my life list but just haven't seen them yet despite the fact that they are rather common here. Interesting how the ones you hope to see elude you and then you end up seeing something completely unexpected instead. But this is something birding that appeals to me.
Here then, too is my updated 2012 bird list (in more or less chronological rather than taxonomic order....I am a student of history after all), since it's been about a month since the last update. I'm almost up to 20 on my list, a modest number I know but it's still early so I'm sure it will grow.
1. Common Raven (over-winter)
2. Black-billed Magpie (over-winter)
3. Evening Grosbeak (over-winter)
4. Pine Grosbeak (over-winter)
5. Bohemian Waxwing (over-winter)
6. Black-capped Chickadee (over-winter)
7. Common Red Poll (over-winter)
8. Downy Woodpecker - March 27
9. Slate-Coloured Junco - April 5
10. House Sparrow - April 6-10?
11. Herring Gull - April 10
12. Canada Goose - April 15
13. Chipping Sparrow - April 18
14. Rock Dove - April 20
15. Tree Swallow - April 20
16. Red-Winged Blackbird - April 21
17. American Robin - April 24
18. Brewer's Blackbird - May 9
19. Orange-crowned Warbler - May 9
Monday, May 7, 2012
Cairns
A couple weeks ago while I was poking around down at the Snye, I came across a cairn denoting one end of the Methye Portage, an old transportation route linking the Athabasca River to Lac La Loche, across the border in Saskatchewan via the Clearwater. After posting a photo of the cairn on my blog here, on commenter mentioned that this was one of three such cairns, dating from the 1930's. Another important cairn (pictured below) can be found just inside the treeline at the edge of the parking lot at MacDonald Island. It commemorates the signing of Treaty 8 on August 4, 1899. A third cairn, which is a little more tricky to get to can be found a few hundred kilometres north in the community of Fort Chipewyan.
(Below: Methye Portage cairn photo taken back in March. It commemorates Peter Pond's as the first European to reach the confluence of the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers in 1778.)
I was also to learn that this is not the original spot for the Methye Cairn as it has been moved a couple of times. Five years ago this week past week as it turns out, the cairn was moved to this spot from Franklin Avenue. It's original position was outside the Old Peter Pond School on Haineault where the Superstore now stands.
(Below: Methye Portage cairn photo taken back in March. It commemorates Peter Pond's as the first European to reach the confluence of the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers in 1778.)
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Twin Highway 63!
In some ways, today was just like any other spring day, clear and sunny with a slight breeze. In many ways though, it wasn't, as many people gathered at MacDonald Island for a rally to make our voices heard. Highway 63 has been earned the moniker "Highway of Death" and in light of last weeks tragedy, community members gathered to be counted, to raise their voices, to let the provincial powers that be that Highway 63 must be twinned. The time for waiting and the time for talk is over.
While I took my camera and notepad along and was writing furiously at times, it all seems quite a blur so rather than try to decipher my penmanship, I've decided to more or less "go with the flow"and write from the heart as it seems more important to get the message out rather than narrate a minute-by-minute recollection. Having said that, certain moments do stick out in my mind.
A convoy of Diversified buses (one for each victim) left the Casman Centre bringing in people to attend the protest. 28-year-old Courtney Penney, who was 6 months pregnant with her first child, worked in Diversified's HR department and was tragically killed. Her husband Mark, was one of but two survivors. If any company had first-hand knowledge of the dangers of Highway 63, it would be Diversified Transportation. They are the company contracted to provide busing for oil sands employees from Fort McMurray to the different sites, including Suncor, Syncrude and Albian Sands. I travel daily on Diversified to and from work, fortunately on the (very small) section of the highway that has been twinned. This tragedy has touched the community in many ways but it extends beyond Fort McMurray. One young victim Faith Kondusky-Sennett was originally from St. Catherines and had moved with her family to Calgary. Miraculously she was pulled alive from the wreckage by passer-by Dion Lefebvre. Tragically, later died in hospital. Faith was 11 years old. Another victim, John Schroeder, grew up in Windsor, Ontario, where I lived and attended university in the '90's. I knew the area he grew up very well and went to university with more than a few graduates of his high school in Riverside. Schoeder, like many Windsorites I've known, gave back to his community by volunteering at a retirement home in Calgary. The youngest victim was 2-year-old Ben Wheaton, only a few months older than my own son. Both his parents died along with him. Amazingly, his 3-year-old brother Timothy survived. His father, Shannon was a pastor at a local church in Dickensfield, a mere 5 minutes from my house. A work acquaintance of mine knew Shannon a little from back in Newfoundland and told me how his "biker look" masked a caring man, passionate about his family and his church.
The Diversified convoy lined up prior to leaving for Mac Island.
Even before arriving me encountered our first group of supporters outside a church on Thickwood. It was an encouraging start.
I spent a few minutes once I got down there just wandering the crowd, trying to get a sense of the mood. It seemed rather somber and yet there was an energy in the air. I think too often Fort McMurray is disparaged and there is a certain self-consciousness about drawing attention to yourself, or at least that's been my read in the time I've been here. At any rate, people wanted to make their voices heard and I felt a growing anticipation.
I noticed two little boys playing in the grass next to a sign they had made and it caught my attention. A simple and heart-felt message that brought a tear to my eye to be honest. Timothy of course was the youngest of the two survivors.
After an opening prayer from a local clergyman, there was a musical performance of a couple of songs written for the occasion. I recall the crowd being rather quiet for the first song, however applause and shouts of support went out at the second song at the lyrics "cry out at the shame"and "call out the army if you have to, we're sick of losing mates."
A few speakers then took the stage address the crowd. First up was local blogger Theresa Wells, whose open letter to Premier Redford has received more than 24, 000 views. Another speaker, a mother and 32-year resident, her voice full of emotion, told of the pain of losing her only son one New Year's day. One speaker spoke of the impact of these tragedies on children, how a child would never graduate, know his first kiss or go on his first date because, due to someone's stupidity, he had become a statistic. She also spoke of a child not even getting to experience what life was like because they didn't even have a chance to be born. Sadly, this was the case in this recent tragedy. Another lady, an 18-year-resident, spoke of how, even though she is originally from Newfoundland, Fort McMurray is now home for her. She read from an open letter she had written about how many close calls she's witnessed. Yes, we also have Highway 881, which connects to 63 a few kilometres south of the city. BUT, again, Highway 881 is another two-lane highway. She urged all listening not to wait until we were personally affected before taking action. Dion Lefebvre who witnessed the crash and rushed in to help, also spoke. He was very blunt and to the point -- "Big Oil is profiting off our community and people here pay the price so let's twin this highway. Let's just fucking get it done." Finally, both our newly-elected MLA's took the stage. Both Don Scott and Mike Allen spoke of their commitment to keep the twinning of the highway a priority when the legislature meets. They spoke of their intent to meet with the soon-to-be-appointed Minister of Transportation and other officials and push for progress.
And push for progress I hope we continue to do. I haven't read any media reports yet, though I intend to do so once I have this post up. Both CBC and CTV were there so I know we got out message out.
Yes, safer driving is part of the solution. I'm not sure there was anyone there who would have argued against it. However, given the sheer volume of traffic on Highway 63, it is clear that improving the road by twinning it is also an important piece of the puzzle. The provincial government committed to this in 2006. Little progress has been made. We've heard all the excuses. Enough. It's time to get it done. Premier Redford, the ball is in your court.
I thought I'd finish up with a few photos from fellow McMurrayites, many of whom sported signs expressing their concern or mourning the loss of a loved one.
While I took my camera and notepad along and was writing furiously at times, it all seems quite a blur so rather than try to decipher my penmanship, I've decided to more or less "go with the flow"and write from the heart as it seems more important to get the message out rather than narrate a minute-by-minute recollection. Having said that, certain moments do stick out in my mind.
A convoy of Diversified buses (one for each victim) left the Casman Centre bringing in people to attend the protest. 28-year-old Courtney Penney, who was 6 months pregnant with her first child, worked in Diversified's HR department and was tragically killed. Her husband Mark, was one of but two survivors. If any company had first-hand knowledge of the dangers of Highway 63, it would be Diversified Transportation. They are the company contracted to provide busing for oil sands employees from Fort McMurray to the different sites, including Suncor, Syncrude and Albian Sands. I travel daily on Diversified to and from work, fortunately on the (very small) section of the highway that has been twinned. This tragedy has touched the community in many ways but it extends beyond Fort McMurray. One young victim Faith Kondusky-Sennett was originally from St. Catherines and had moved with her family to Calgary. Miraculously she was pulled alive from the wreckage by passer-by Dion Lefebvre. Tragically, later died in hospital. Faith was 11 years old. Another victim, John Schroeder, grew up in Windsor, Ontario, where I lived and attended university in the '90's. I knew the area he grew up very well and went to university with more than a few graduates of his high school in Riverside. Schoeder, like many Windsorites I've known, gave back to his community by volunteering at a retirement home in Calgary. The youngest victim was 2-year-old Ben Wheaton, only a few months older than my own son. Both his parents died along with him. Amazingly, his 3-year-old brother Timothy survived. His father, Shannon was a pastor at a local church in Dickensfield, a mere 5 minutes from my house. A work acquaintance of mine knew Shannon a little from back in Newfoundland and told me how his "biker look" masked a caring man, passionate about his family and his church.
The Diversified convoy lined up prior to leaving for Mac Island.
Even before arriving me encountered our first group of supporters outside a church on Thickwood. It was an encouraging start.
I spent a few minutes once I got down there just wandering the crowd, trying to get a sense of the mood. It seemed rather somber and yet there was an energy in the air. I think too often Fort McMurray is disparaged and there is a certain self-consciousness about drawing attention to yourself, or at least that's been my read in the time I've been here. At any rate, people wanted to make their voices heard and I felt a growing anticipation.
I noticed two little boys playing in the grass next to a sign they had made and it caught my attention. A simple and heart-felt message that brought a tear to my eye to be honest. Timothy of course was the youngest of the two survivors.
After an opening prayer from a local clergyman, there was a musical performance of a couple of songs written for the occasion. I recall the crowd being rather quiet for the first song, however applause and shouts of support went out at the second song at the lyrics "cry out at the shame"and "call out the army if you have to, we're sick of losing mates."
A few speakers then took the stage address the crowd. First up was local blogger Theresa Wells, whose open letter to Premier Redford has received more than 24, 000 views. Another speaker, a mother and 32-year resident, her voice full of emotion, told of the pain of losing her only son one New Year's day. One speaker spoke of the impact of these tragedies on children, how a child would never graduate, know his first kiss or go on his first date because, due to someone's stupidity, he had become a statistic. She also spoke of a child not even getting to experience what life was like because they didn't even have a chance to be born. Sadly, this was the case in this recent tragedy. Another lady, an 18-year-resident, spoke of how, even though she is originally from Newfoundland, Fort McMurray is now home for her. She read from an open letter she had written about how many close calls she's witnessed. Yes, we also have Highway 881, which connects to 63 a few kilometres south of the city. BUT, again, Highway 881 is another two-lane highway. She urged all listening not to wait until we were personally affected before taking action. Dion Lefebvre who witnessed the crash and rushed in to help, also spoke. He was very blunt and to the point -- "Big Oil is profiting off our community and people here pay the price so let's twin this highway. Let's just fucking get it done." Finally, both our newly-elected MLA's took the stage. Both Don Scott and Mike Allen spoke of their commitment to keep the twinning of the highway a priority when the legislature meets. They spoke of their intent to meet with the soon-to-be-appointed Minister of Transportation and other officials and push for progress.
And push for progress I hope we continue to do. I haven't read any media reports yet, though I intend to do so once I have this post up. Both CBC and CTV were there so I know we got out message out.
Yes, safer driving is part of the solution. I'm not sure there was anyone there who would have argued against it. However, given the sheer volume of traffic on Highway 63, it is clear that improving the road by twinning it is also an important piece of the puzzle. The provincial government committed to this in 2006. Little progress has been made. We've heard all the excuses. Enough. It's time to get it done. Premier Redford, the ball is in your court.
I thought I'd finish up with a few photos from fellow McMurrayites, many of whom sported signs expressing their concern or mourning the loss of a loved one.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Highway 63 Protest
I had an interesting little discussion at work today with a co-worker about the recent tragedy on Highway 63 and what could be done to stop the carnage. He told me that he was surprised at how stark and empty the crash site was now that it had been cleared....not a sign or memorial in sight, which he found rather distressing. He suggested a marker of some sort for every victim along the roadside. I agreed it would be a good way to get peoples' attention. (As it turns out, I see at Fort McMurray Musings that there are a few memorials along the roadway, a poignant reminder that some people who travelled the highway never made it home.)
I asked him how he knew the crash scene so well as he had described it in great detail. It turns out that this young man also drives a tow truck for a local company and had been called out that day to help authorities with the blockade at the scene. All he mentioned was that he hated being out there. It was sad and depressing and he saw sights that were, in his words, "not very pretty to look at." Understandably, he didn't want to dwell on the topic so I respectfully changed the subject, though this little morning conversation has been in the back of my mind all day.
I've heard of some rather interesting ways of protecting the provincial government's lack of action on twinning the highway. One person made an on-line comment that we should have the legislature sit here in Fort McMurray rather than Edmonton for a month or two, forcing MLA's to travel highway 63 and hopefully making them more aware of how dangerous repeated trips can be. Another person had a more hands-on idea, namely physically blocking the highway and handcuffing all travel to the various oil sands sites. This would have the effect, the writer assured, of forcing so-called "Big Oil" to act where government has so obviously failed. While the first suggestion is interesting, I'm not sure about the second one.
Anyhow, I had been hearing talk of a planned protest on this issue over the past couple days but no further details as to the when and where. Tonight though, I've learned that there is a protest planned for this Saturday May 5 at MacDonald Island, beginning at 11am. I'm not sure exactly what organizers have in mind beyond these few details, but as I am scheduled to be off work that day, I do plan on being there.
So I encourage all Fort McMurayites to attend if you are able to. I'll admit, I'm a pretty quiet, introverted guy. I never planned on using this blog for any sort of social advocacy when I began it. But I'll gladly step out of my shell this time. I've been accused of "black and white" thinking from time to time but really, the lack of action and resulting carnage is just plan unacceptable in my book. I hope you feel the same. Again, if you are able, I would strongly encourage you to attend the rally this weekend.
Let's send a clear message. Let's make a difference.
I asked him how he knew the crash scene so well as he had described it in great detail. It turns out that this young man also drives a tow truck for a local company and had been called out that day to help authorities with the blockade at the scene. All he mentioned was that he hated being out there. It was sad and depressing and he saw sights that were, in his words, "not very pretty to look at." Understandably, he didn't want to dwell on the topic so I respectfully changed the subject, though this little morning conversation has been in the back of my mind all day.
I've heard of some rather interesting ways of protecting the provincial government's lack of action on twinning the highway. One person made an on-line comment that we should have the legislature sit here in Fort McMurray rather than Edmonton for a month or two, forcing MLA's to travel highway 63 and hopefully making them more aware of how dangerous repeated trips can be. Another person had a more hands-on idea, namely physically blocking the highway and handcuffing all travel to the various oil sands sites. This would have the effect, the writer assured, of forcing so-called "Big Oil" to act where government has so obviously failed. While the first suggestion is interesting, I'm not sure about the second one.
Anyhow, I had been hearing talk of a planned protest on this issue over the past couple days but no further details as to the when and where. Tonight though, I've learned that there is a protest planned for this Saturday May 5 at MacDonald Island, beginning at 11am. I'm not sure exactly what organizers have in mind beyond these few details, but as I am scheduled to be off work that day, I do plan on being there.
So I encourage all Fort McMurayites to attend if you are able to. I'll admit, I'm a pretty quiet, introverted guy. I never planned on using this blog for any sort of social advocacy when I began it. But I'll gladly step out of my shell this time. I've been accused of "black and white" thinking from time to time but really, the lack of action and resulting carnage is just plan unacceptable in my book. I hope you feel the same. Again, if you are able, I would strongly encourage you to attend the rally this weekend.
Let's send a clear message. Let's make a difference.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Dear Alberta Conservatives, all I ask is that you keep just one election promise and twin Highway 63
In light of the recent tragedy on Highway 63 I feel compelled to express my deepest concern for your complete ineptitude with twinning the highway. I travel Highway 63 every day to and from work and on occasion to Edmonton as well. I consider myself blessed that I avoided serious incidents on this roadway. Sadly, this past Friday 7 people were not so lucky and become more statistics of the so-called "Highway of Death" and a government that has a funny way of showing it has its citizens' best interests in mind.
Fort McMurray plays a vital role in the economy of not just Alberta but Canada as a whole. The city continues to grow a rapid pace and will only get bigger and the traffic will only become more congested in the future. Why then are we connected to the rest of the province by a mere two-lane highway? Your government announced that the twinning of the highway would be a priority and yet to date, only a measly few kilometres have been completed.
To be blunt, this is pathetic. Between 2001 and 2005 there were over 1000 vehicle collisions resulting in 25 fatalities and 257 injuries. In 2006 you announced that twinning of the highway would be a priority, probably because you were facing an election in 2008 would be my guess, and major infrastructure projects are always a good way to attract votes. As of 2009, a measly 16 km had been completed and according to the information I've seen, you plan to have another 36 km complete by 2013. Again, sad.
During the most recent election campaign we saw assurances that, once again, twinning Highway 63 would be a priority. Forgive me for being a little cynical but I can smell bullshit when I see it. The truth is that people here are growing tired....tired of an endless charade of excuses and red tape from getting the land freed up, to concerns over caribou to having the budget for it. I find this last one funny. The province gets something like $5 BILLION in royalties from oil and gas. Media sources I've seen report it would cost $1.1 billion to finish the highway. The money is there. Don't tell us it isn't. You just spend it like a bunch of drunken sailors on shore leave. (My apologies to sailors)
Dear Alberta Conservatives - you have been given a new mandate that frankly I don't think you deserve. I find it particularly sad that the party responsible for the lack of action in recent years on this vital piece of infrastructure has again been voted back in to power. Please, do your job and finish what you promised to do. Twin Highway 63. Fort McMurrayites are concerned, frustrated and DEMAND action. Fortunately for your sake I maintain, through sheer grit, a modicum of decorum which prevents me from explaining how I really feel about this truly despicable situation.
The voices of the victims cry out. Keep your promise. I don't want this to be a promise in the 2015 election. I want to see it dealt with. PLEASE, do the right thing. Twin Highway 63 now.
Sincerely,
Darcy Steele
A passionate resident and supporter of Fort McMurray
Fort McMurray plays a vital role in the economy of not just Alberta but Canada as a whole. The city continues to grow a rapid pace and will only get bigger and the traffic will only become more congested in the future. Why then are we connected to the rest of the province by a mere two-lane highway? Your government announced that the twinning of the highway would be a priority and yet to date, only a measly few kilometres have been completed.
To be blunt, this is pathetic. Between 2001 and 2005 there were over 1000 vehicle collisions resulting in 25 fatalities and 257 injuries. In 2006 you announced that twinning of the highway would be a priority, probably because you were facing an election in 2008 would be my guess, and major infrastructure projects are always a good way to attract votes. As of 2009, a measly 16 km had been completed and according to the information I've seen, you plan to have another 36 km complete by 2013. Again, sad.
During the most recent election campaign we saw assurances that, once again, twinning Highway 63 would be a priority. Forgive me for being a little cynical but I can smell bullshit when I see it. The truth is that people here are growing tired....tired of an endless charade of excuses and red tape from getting the land freed up, to concerns over caribou to having the budget for it. I find this last one funny. The province gets something like $5 BILLION in royalties from oil and gas. Media sources I've seen report it would cost $1.1 billion to finish the highway. The money is there. Don't tell us it isn't. You just spend it like a bunch of drunken sailors on shore leave. (My apologies to sailors)
Dear Alberta Conservatives - you have been given a new mandate that frankly I don't think you deserve. I find it particularly sad that the party responsible for the lack of action in recent years on this vital piece of infrastructure has again been voted back in to power. Please, do your job and finish what you promised to do. Twin Highway 63. Fort McMurrayites are concerned, frustrated and DEMAND action. Fortunately for your sake I maintain, through sheer grit, a modicum of decorum which prevents me from explaining how I really feel about this truly despicable situation.
The voices of the victims cry out. Keep your promise. I don't want this to be a promise in the 2015 election. I want to see it dealt with. PLEASE, do the right thing. Twin Highway 63 now.
Sincerely,
Darcy Steele
A passionate resident and supporter of Fort McMurray
Friday, April 27, 2012
Preventable
Working in the environment that I do I've certainly become more safety conscious over that past few months. Every day you come home safe is a good day. I've had a couple close calls in the past year but you stand back, assess, learn from it and carry on. Given how much I work around moving vehicles, sometimes in tight spaces I have respect for what a 4-wheeled moving object can do. So I find myself saddened and also frustrated coming home and reading about a tragedy on the highway south of the city.
This didn't have to happen. Unfortunately, Highway 63 gets a lot of media attention and seldom if ever is it good. I'm saddened because one person's mistake had such an unfortunate ripple effect, affecting the lives and families of 9 individuals. I'm frustrated too because if ever there was a wake up call for the powers that be to take action on improving safety on this road this must surely be it. While an announcement was made in 2006 that a 240 km section would be twinned a pathetic 16 km was completed by 2009. At this rate, it will take 45 years to complete this project.
Safer drivers are obviously part of the solution but twinning the highway and improving its driveability certainly wouldn't hurt either. 45 years? Let's hope not.
This didn't have to happen. Unfortunately, Highway 63 gets a lot of media attention and seldom if ever is it good. I'm saddened because one person's mistake had such an unfortunate ripple effect, affecting the lives and families of 9 individuals. I'm frustrated too because if ever there was a wake up call for the powers that be to take action on improving safety on this road this must surely be it. While an announcement was made in 2006 that a 240 km section would be twinned a pathetic 16 km was completed by 2009. At this rate, it will take 45 years to complete this project.
Safer drivers are obviously part of the solution but twinning the highway and improving its driveability certainly wouldn't hurt either. 45 years? Let's hope not.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Break
After several days of anticipation, the Athabasca River finally broke this past weekend, officially at 3:15 Sunday afternoon. It comes one day earlier than last year and is about par for the course. Records of the break up have been kept more or less continuously since 1875 and the median break up date I believe is April 19.
Given that this was a thermal break up rather than a dynamic break up and that the adjoining Clearwater hasn't broke yet (as far as I'm aware) flooding hopefully won't pose a major threat. At any rate, I have no fear of that here as my house sits well above the river valley. Unfortunately the best views I have of the river at the moment are from work where it's not particularly wise to be running around with a camera. If this year is like last though, I'm sure the Athabasca will have more than its share of exposure on the blog here.
Given that this was a thermal break up rather than a dynamic break up and that the adjoining Clearwater hasn't broke yet (as far as I'm aware) flooding hopefully won't pose a major threat. At any rate, I have no fear of that here as my house sits well above the river valley. Unfortunately the best views I have of the river at the moment are from work where it's not particularly wise to be running around with a camera. If this year is like last though, I'm sure the Athabasca will have more than its share of exposure on the blog here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)