May 2008

Innovation Fund grant to the University of Renée’s Report ’s School of Energy and the Councilor Ward 3 Environment (SEE). This is good news as everyone knows of the waste that industry So much for the happy spring days that I closed produces, the potential of recycling any with in the last newsletter, oh well! I will try additional minerals is terrific. For the whole again, in hopes that this time spring will stories see: http://www.energy.alberta.ca/ and actually come, happy spring everyone! For the www.gov.ab.ca/ news releases. Draper residents it is time to be flood prepared (not that I need to remind you) if you haven’t April 8th meeting of council saw approved already seen the river break up emergency borrowing bylaws, the Solid Waste Master preparedness pamphlet go to Plan, which will help guide administration in http://www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/residents/emerg moving forward with the plan to reduce the ency_services/ . regions solid waste by 50%. Most of the initiatives are focused on recycling with the Good news for Draper residents, we have worst areas being construction waste (35%) figured out (hopefully) a way for all Ward 3 and industrial, commercial and institutional residents to be informed and up to date. The (38%). The report shows that our region is former Saprae Creek newsletter will now be (as almost double the provincial average on solid it used to be) a Ward 3 newsletter with separate waste landing in the land fill. This tells me that sections for Draper and Saprae and regional we all need to get “green”, and Saprae will be news for everyone. The residents of Draper doing its part really soon, with a recycling will be able to pick the newsletter up at the centre east of Spruce Valley by the playground. Market Town store in Waterways and the main I hope to do a ribbon cutting in early June, but post office downtown. will let everyone know as soon as things are coordinated with municipal staff. The final On March 28, 2008 an announcement was item on the 8th agenda was the Snye made by the province that $3.5 million is being Rehabilitation report which to me is not granted to Titanium Corporation Inc. (from rehabilitation but more of a remediation. The Alberta Energy) in order to research the value region will move forward with dredging until added opportunities and environmental benefits there are funds available to do a “rehab”. of stripping out hydrocarbons and heavy April 10th Saprae Creek and Draper residents minerals from oil sands tailings streams. Then nd th met at Vista Ridge for the 2 of 4 Envision on April 8 an additional $3-million Energy sessions. We reviewed the outcome from the 1st session and “fine tuned” the issues in each month of May: the third Envision session, and area. The next session is planned for the community clean up and BBQ in both Wednesday May 22nd 7-10 pm at the Royal Saprae & Draper. Canadian Legion in Waterways. Hope to see Have a great month! you there. Also, in May is the Community Ms. Renee Rebus Impact Assessment on the proposed road 791-6815 through Draper and Waterways from Saline [email protected] Creek, Thursday May 15th at the Tabernacle of [email protected] Praise Church, Dr. Neil Family Life Centre on Bulyea Avenue. Saprae residents may also be interested in attending as this would be an Around the Creek alternate route to downtown for us, as well as Cub News: Saprae Creek Annual Clean Up avoiding of a repeat of Sunday’s (April 20th) It is hard to believe that it is time to talk about Beacon Hill closure. the annual spring clean up especially when we look out our windows and see all the white April 17th the SCRS held a Special General stuff! The clean up will take place May 17th meeting to elect officers for the board as there with the rain date or “too wet ditch” date being were not enough people in attendance at the May 24th. We will meet at the fire hall at AGM. I would like to thank and congratulate 10:00am and pick up garbage until the new members: Daryl Schneider, approximately 12:00pm at which time we will infrastructure director; Kathy Schneider, youth meet for hot dogs and drinks. I would like to director; and John Alcock, chair. I am looking remind folks that they are responsible for the forward to working with you. ditch that runs along their properties. We will designate areas such as the parks and ditches April 22nd meeting of council discussed and that don’t run along property lines to approved Wood Buffalo Housing and volunteers who show up on the day of the Development Corporation to enter into event. Please mark these dates on your construction mortgages which will see an calendar. The more people who show up the additional 258 rental units in their portfolio and easier it will be to make out community a 31 town houses for sale under the Home cleaner and safer place for all to enjoy. Ownership Program. These units are sold at lower than market value and WBHDC will At this time I would like to inform Saprae carry a second mortgage if needed. Also Creek residents that my husband, Maurice, and covered were the installation of pedestrian I have decided that this will be our final year activated stop lights on Millennium Drive and for heading up the Scouting program. We have Parsons Creek/Dominion Drive by St. Martha’s been involved in the program in one capacity school, funding was given to Fellowship or another for the past nine years. It is my Baptist Church and the Fort McMurray intention in the up coming school year to begin Association for Community Living from the coaching. I cannot do that and run the cub Community Plan on Homelessness and program at the same time. Affordable Housing fund. The By Election for Ward 2-Fort McKay, will be We would like to thank all the kids that we held Monday May 9th was also approved by have led in the past many years for their Regional Council. enthusiasm and for the fun and laughs we have had during our many outings and meetings. We There are lots of gatherings planned for the hope that you will remember lessons learned and take those lessons with you as you grow Adopt-a-Trail and mature. We would also like to take this Join the Adopt-a-Trail program to help opportunity to thank the parents for their beautify our neighbourhood and keep it litter support and encouragement. One last thank you free. Yellow bags and gloves supplied by goes out to the community. Through your Karen Puga with Communities in Bloom. Call various means of support: bottle drives, 799-8643 for more information. popcorn purchases, etc. our groups have been able to go many outings that otherwise could Handyman Available not have taken place. Need a handyman? Bonded Journeyman Carpenter available to do small jobs in Saprae Having said the above we will be in need of Creek. No job is too small! new leaders for the upcoming year or the Call Stu 743-6203. program will come to and end. We have had only a Cub group for the past few years as we Casino Volunteers Needed! have had no leaders for either Beavers or The SCRS needs volunteers to help out with Scouts. If you are interested in being a leader their biggest fundraising event at the for any one of these groups please let me Boomtown Casino. know. Monday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 13, 2008. Nanette Clark Shifts are 3pm-8pm and 8pm-2am. 791-5087 or [email protected] Please call June 791-4339 to sign up.

Housekeeper available in Saprae Creek. The HUB on Wheels: Call 743-5013 Shake, Stomp and Boogie Shake, Stomp and Boogie is a musical time for Ward 3 Newsletter kids 0 to 5 and is held at the Saprae Creek Fire Submission, questions, comments or concerns? Hall every Thursday from 1:30 - 2:30. Call Melanie Reddy, Community Support, Interactive Play Group Saprae Creek at 743-8133 or email Mondays 10:30-noon, Saprae Creek Fire Hall. [email protected]. Newsletter deadline Kids 0-5. Moms, nannies, dads and is the 25th of the month. grandparents welcome. The coffee is always on.

John Alcock Jackie Peden Kathy Schneider Chair Recreation Director Youth Director 715-1155 791-2829 791-9870

Mariette Voigt June LeClair Saprae Creek Residents Vice Chair Treasurer Society (SCRS) 792-0567 791-4339 215 Freestone Way Fort McMurray, AB Daryl Schneider Wendy Smith T9H 5B4 Infrastructure Secretary [email protected] 791-9870 790-9646 Draper Road from the threat of forest fires. If you would like to participate, please contact Trish at 790-1088. Residents Society (Venue for BBQ and Alberta Forestry presentation to be announced.) We hope to see We are pleased to now be a you there; it will be a good time to get out and part of the Ward 3 meet your neighbours! newsletter. First, to introduce our current board, DRRS along with their position and contact number for reference:

Chair -- Marco Paulichen (790-1088) Vice-Chair -- Colin Grant (791-9064) Community Impact Assessment Treasurer -- Stella Osteneck (799-1346) Meeting Rescheduled Secretary -- Trish Paulichen (790-1088) Director -- Jim Hiltz (743-1520) When: Tuesday, May 15th, 2008 6:30pm- Director -- Blain Hoult (799-9117) 9:00pm Director -- Dale Flanders (791-0870) Where: Tabernacle of Praise Church, Dr. Neil We are hoping that being involved with the Family Life Centre, 7308 Bulyea Avenue. Ward 3 newsletter will help us better connect with more residents. If you are a resident of the Why: To discuss issues around the proposed Draper area and would like to become involved Draper Road expansion as part of the Saline in our society, please be sure to contact any of Creek Plateau Area Structure Plan the members of our board listed above. We implementation. would be more than happy to add you to our mailing list! The CIA will assess the potential impacts on the communities of Waterways and Draper. Our next Draper Road Residents Society meeting will be held on May 12th from 7:00 - Topics to be discussed include community 9:00 pm at the Royal Canadian Legion in strengths, transportation infrastructure, and Waterways. Draper residents are encouraged to possible growth. attend as several items on the agenda might be of interest: an overview of the ongoing RSVP: Seating is limited. Please register your Envision meetings with the municipality, a seat in advance. RSVP by Monday, May 12th, review of recent residential and commercial 2008 by contacting: development in the Draper area, a vote on a community website, and more. Please plan on Amanda Owens, Long Range & Policy attending, if you are able. Planning - Planner

Seeing as how spring is here (we hope!), a Email: [email protected] Draper Road clean up and BBQ will be held on Saturday May 31st from 1-4 pm. Following the Phone: 780-792-3407 BBQ there will be a presentation from Alberta Forestry regarding how to protect our homes Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

Hi, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Jan Pysyk, and I have lived in Saprae Creek for almost three years. I belong (Co- founder, Foster home and Volunteer) to a non-profit charitable organi- zation called Second Chance Animal Rescue Society or affectionately known as SCARS. We are strictly volunteer run and do not receive any government funding. We rely solely on monies raised through donations, memberships, fundraising, and supporters. We became incorporated in 2002. We do not have a facility. Our animals (mainly dogs and cats) are kept in private fos- ter homes. Our President Sylvia Christiansen grew up in Fort McMurray but is now a resident of Athabasca. She is our largest foster home with housing sometimes up to 30 dogs at one time. Sylvia was recently awarded the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s Animal Action Award which has only been given to five other Canadians. We have adopted out over 2000 animals (some right here in Fort McMurray) since 2002 and often have 130 or more animals in our care at one time. We do not intake pets. Our animals come from less desirable situations (some from Fort McMurray and surrounding areas) such as being abandoned along highways or dumped in landfill sites, and even worse situations. There are so many unwanted animals in our communities due to the lack of responsible pet ownership and not having your pet spayed or neutered. SCARS can only help as many animals as resources allow. There are many animals at large in Saprae Creek, and from past experience I know this area has been known to be a “dumping” ground for unwanted pets. Currently, we are trying to raise $100,000.00 for a much needed Quarantine Facility to be built at Sylvia’s. This facility will be used to house the many pregnant females as well as the puppies that continually come in with parvo and distemper from all over rural areas. We are not affiliated with the Fort McMurray SPCA, however our mission is the same and we do have a relationship with them. SCARS does not have authority to remove abused animals from private land. If you suspect animal abuse in your neighborhood please contact the SPCA at 743-8997. If you find an animal abandoned or injured along the highway or other areas, please contact us and we will do our best to rescue the animal.

I would like to invite you to visit our website at www.scarscare.org for more information on who we are, our animals currently up for adoption and how you can help.

We are seeking foster homes as well as much needed adoptive homes, event volunteers, etc in the Fort McMurray area.

May 24th we are having a Garage Sale in the parking lot of Father J.A. Turcotte School. If you would like to donate gently used items or volunteer for this event, please call me at 788-2009.

If you would like to donate your empty bottles and cans, or building materials as well, please contact me for pickup.

We are planning to hold a large event this October, and are currently looking for Sponsors as well as Silent Auction items.

All proceeds from these events will go directly into our building fund.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 788-2009 or if you would like to volunteer for some of our many upcoming events call Carol at 791-3158.