Now Hiring

"You must be very happy right now", read the text.

And as I read it I couldn't help but think how wrong the sender was, as I was not very happy at all. The text had arrived from a friend, hard on the heels of the announcement from our local MP indicating his resignation as our representative effective January 17. I was far from happy. I was accepting of the decision, of course, and not even particularly surprised as I had known and felt for some time that it was likely coming. I wasn't happy, but I wasn't disappointed, either - I was just resigned, too.

I want to make something very clear: I have never had anything against Mr. Jean as an individual. On the occasions I met him he seemed intelligent and well spoken, charming and without a doubt someone who has strong family ties and personal investment in our community. It was no secret that I despised his tree-killing paper newsletters, both for their waste of paper and their content that was often of little value to me, but I knew those newsletters were likely not his own idea. And it was no secret that I often disagreed with his political views, but again I am quite far left of centre in this province, and I make no bones about the fact that I was raised in NDP-era Saskatchewan, with a strong left lean in all I think and believe. I was predisposed to never agree with much of his political view. But I never doubted that he believed in this community and in this region, and while I worried about his representation of us in Ottawa all I truly wanted was to see him grow in his role and improve our position on the federal stage, as we had elected him to do.

That was cut short today when he resigned, a move that came as a surprise to many but not to me. His recent erratic behaviour on social media concerned me, including a near-argument he engaged in with my own Intrepid Junior Blogger. I couldn't determine the strategy or the concept that was guiding this social media use, and it puzzled me. It still does, to be honest, but I am also resigned to simply accepting that, too.

You see, I believe what we need in Ottawa is strong representation. I want someone who is willing to fight tooth and nail for us, to get backed up against a wall and come out swinging, to refuse to back down or accept less than what we need or deserve. We are facing some challenges in this region, and some crucial decisions. We are at a time of great opportunity, and great potential - and yet there is great possibility for us to falter, too, and we need the kind of representatives who will ensure our needs are heard and our challenges addressed. We need strength, and good judgment, and wisdom. We need a strong voice. I had once hoped that Mr. Jean would be that voice, but for whatever reason it appears he won't be, at least not in the future, and so we are now in the position where we are hiring a new voice - because that is essentially what we will be doing, you see. We will be voting to hire a new employee, one who will represent us, our needs, and our concerns. And frankly we need to find one helluva rock star employee for this position, and I hope we will be able to do it soon, because we cannot afford to be without representation for long.

Mr. Jean, this may or may not come as a surprise on a day full of them, but I want to thank you personally. I recognize that we did not always agree, and that some days I challenged you to step up and do a better job. While on occasion I doubted the strength of your representation and your political view I never doubted your love for your community, and I never doubted that you were sacrificing a great deal to represent us, because politics is not an easy job, despite what anyone says. I know that you faced many challenges, including people like me barking at your heels, and I want to thank you for your years of service to us, and to my family. Your contribution has been acknowledged, and is appreciated by me (and even by the very left leaning Intrepid Junior Blogger).

And to this region I now say this: who will apply for the job? Who has what it takes to be our new federal representative, with a strong voice, courage, and a will of steel? Who is willing to make the sacrifices required, and bring their very best to a difficult job every single day? Time will only tell as we begin to see names tossed around and eventually a few names on a ballot - but today I choose instead to think about the future with hope and optimism, as we search for a new voice. We are now hiring.

And just for the record if they send me a damn paper newsletter after they are elected it's game on.

Going Postal in Fort McMurray, Part Two: Return to Sender

Yesterday I wrote about a little plan hatched by Canada Post to address some of their financial woes, and it involved invoking a $5 surcharge on all parcels coming into Fort McMurray. That post, and that decision, ignited a social media firestorm, and while it was intriguing to watch the response on Twitter and Facebook from local residents it was even more intriguing to see Canada Post's reaction, which was:

** crickets**

Yes, dozens of people tweeted at Canada Post and asked for an explanation of this surcharge, and they did not reply to a single person (especially outraging from the ironically named @canadapostcares Twitter account). Not one. Now, their spokesperson did an interview with the Fort McMurray Today, and when asked why Canada Post is instituting this surcharge his response? Well, this was it:

Caines said he found out about the surcharge after Tuesday, and explained that it reflects the fact that it’s expensive to do business in the city.

“It’s related to the cost of doing service there, for providing the service. It’s that much more costly for us to do business there,” Caines said.

When asked if the charge will improve service in Fort McMurray, Caines responded, “Service has improved exponentially in Fort McMurray, we know that for sure. All through the Christmas holidays we had great service up there, parcels were being delivered, everything was fine.”

He added that Canada Post is trying to hire more people to deal with the understaffing issue, but said the surcharge wouldn’t go towards raising salaries to keep people in their jobs at Canada Post.

Fort McMurray Today, January 9, 2014

Now, keep in mind this is the same spokesperson who apparently earlier this week denied any such knowledge of any such surcharge to the reporter from the Today, and who appears to be a deer in the headlights when it comes to the realities, since for months residents have been complaining about lost and delayed mail and parcels, and erratic delivery service in Fort McMurray.

I asked Canada Post - repeatedly - to advise how many parcels come into Fort McMurray on a daily basis so I could gauge what this would mean in terms of cold, hard cash into their coffers. And while they did not respond to me (or anyone else) a former local employee did. They informed me that they estimated an average of 2000 parcels come into our community daily, with approximately triple that amount at Christmas. At $5 per parcel, and considering some variances for weekends, one could estimate that Canada Post is looking at about $3 million dollars plus in new revenue - just from this surcharge.

And please note that it seems this revenue is not intended to increase salaries to improve retention, and while they are trying to hire more staff it seems this cash is not destined to bump up salaries to entice new employees. And as per the spokesperson above the common wisdom at Canada Post Corporation seems to be that all is just hunky-dory in Fort McMurray and everyone is blissfully happy with their mail delivery....except that this is not seen in the deluge of emails and messages I have been receiving.

What I have heard is dozens of complaints, and even more so comments from people who have reached out to Canada Post through Facebook and Twitter and found their comments not only ignored but in the case of Facebook even deleted and their participation blocked so they could not communicate with Canada Post further. I take a dim view of this strategy, as unless an individual is abusive to other customers then their participation on your social media should be encouraged, even if it is complaints because those complaints give you an opportunity to improve your service. If your social media is only present to pay lip service to the concept of dialogue then you are better off not having it at all, because it defeats the purpose of creating that dialogue between service provider and customer, and instead of being good public relations it becomes some of the worst.

So, what would I suggest? I would like to see a press release from Canada Post detailing a few things. Since I suspect they never planned to announce this change publicly and you were likely only going to find out about it when Nan in Newfoundland went to send your birthday parcel and got dinged an extra 5 bucks I think the time has come when they cough up some facts.

Here I what I would like to see:

• a list of all communities who will have similar surcharges applied
• a total amount of annual revenue expected to be generated by this change
• a total amount of parcel volume into Fort McMurray
• an explanation of the increased costs of doing business here if salaries are not higher
• a response to some of the current complaints as expressed by local residents over service or lack thereof
• a commitment to not applying a similar surcharge to parcels originating in Fort McMurray (which would seem the next logical step if applying the increased costs of service argument)
• what impact this may have on agreements with retailers who provide online shopping and ship via Canada Post

Here is what I don't want to see:

** crickets**

I would also suggest that given this is a Crown Corporation that they not only have an obligation but a responsibility to reply to their customers, who are taxpayers and thus stakeholders in their business. These responses are not "optional", but I would rather suggest they are mandatory, because Canada Post does not "own" us - we own them, and as such we are deserving of some answers.

I would also suggest that this is an opportunity for our local MP to regain some ground he has recently lost with his electorate. He has the right and responsibility to seek answers on our behalf, and I would very much like to see Brian Jean do so, and do so immediately. This is a federal issue, and it is time for him to step up - or step aside if he can do nothing to provide the answers we seek. What I don't want to see from him is this:

**crickets**

I want to make something else clear. I am not of the "pitchforks and torch" crowd, and I am not looking to burn anyone at the stake. If this decision can be proven to me through sound financial reasoning then I am quite willing to let the matter drop - but if this is a Fort McMurray cash grab, one destined to have an effect on us and those who ship to us, whether they be Nan in Newfoundland or small business in Alberta or massive online retailers, then that should be understood as well. I think it is quite reasonable to not only ask for answers, but demand them - because I am very tired of having my questions returned to sender, like undelivered mail.

Contact Canada Post

 

Contact MP Brian Jean

Going Postal in Fort McMurray

I couldn't quite believe it when I read it on Facebook, and so I went on an independent search in the hopes of learning it wasn't true. You see, someone had posted a status indicating that Canada Post was going to implement a new area service area "adjustment" on parcels coming into Fort McMurray, and given our current postal woes I thought they surely must be incorrect and this was all some nefarious rumour. And then I found this:

Parcel Services Price and Service Overview of Changes

Service-area adjustment
A service-area adjustment of $5.00 will be applied to parcels shipped to areas Canada Post has identified as having a particularly high cost to serve (i.e.: Fort McMurray, Alberta).

That would be about when I felt my blood pressure rising. I realized I was about to go postal, but not in the good way where I go to the local post office (staffed by some lovely employees, incidentally). No, I was going to go postal over what appears to be another attempt to make some coin off our community.

What I found even more intriguing is when I went on Twitter a local journalist indicated that a spokesperson for Canada Post had denied this change, and yet I had found a document through a 30-second web search clearly showing this change is not only planned, but imminent. I'm not sure when, or if, they planned to let this cat out of the bag, but it is out there now, and it is worthy of discussion.

Look, I know Canada Post is experiencing some financial woes, and I am sorry to hear it because I support them, both as an organization and their employees. I believe in the beauty of mail, and as a writer I know nothing means more than the written word clutched in your hand on a piece of paper. I actually think the local employees are trying, but I also suspect they are overworked, underpaid and frustrated. What I do know is that in recent months postal service in Fort McMurray has been sub-par, and I and many others have experienced delayed and lost parcels, erratic delivery service, and seen worrisome things like parcels requiring signatures left on doorsteps. I found one parcel that was listed as delivered hidden in a bin of gardening equipment, where it might have stayed all winter had I not checked (as it is it sat there for a week in freezing temperatures as while CP insisted it was delivered I had no idea where it was). I have seen photos of delivery vehicles left with doors wide open and no employee in sight, parcels ripe for the picking by those who wandered by, and I have seen photos of mail delivery boxes left completely unlocked with the mail for dozens of houses in full view and again ripe for any thief (and for the record your mail likely includes enough for a clever con to stage a successful identity theft). What I have been seeing is a decline in service standards locally - and what I saw last night was evidence of some attempt to increase prices but not necessarily to address those service issues.

To be clear I am seeking some clarification on all this. I am currently trying to ascertain how many parcels are shipped into Fort McMurray on an annual basis. If each parcel being shipped in has an additional $5 surcharge tacked on I would like to know what that will total to on an annual basis as well, and then I would like to learn how that extra money will be used to address current service issues and improve local delivery. Will it go to increase the salaries of the local employees and increase employee retention? Will it go to hire more employees locally to address erratic delivery? And how will this affect those who ship to us, whether it is family or online retailers? What is the potential impact on businesses, both locally and those who do business with us? And finally will this actually drive those shipping to us away from Canada Post and into the arms of other delivery services who will not implement such surcharges? And what is this "high cost to serve" they mention as the justification for this increase?

I have contacted Canada Post to ask them to confirm if the document above is accurate and for clarification, and if so I would like to see some answers to my questions. If this is not an attempt to simply make some cash off our community (the Fort McMurray money grab is all too common a phenomenon) then I would like to see the plans to address our current service woes clearly explained, and how this surcharge will in fact benefit those of us who use Canada Post and who do our best to support them as an organization. And while they are at it perhaps they can answer some of the dozens of questions and concerns I have seen from local people asking about delayed and lost parcels and mail, as there has been trouble brewing with Canada Post here for some time, and this new strategy of actually making it cost more to ship to us is likely to be seen with very little enthusiasm until those issues are addressed. I eagerly await further information to be released on this matter, because frankly I suspect that if the answers provided are not satisfactory I won't be the only person in Fort McMurray to go postal in 2014.

Simpson-Esque

When I suggested I was working on a blog post related to my favourite line from the iconic television show 'The Simpsons' there was a lot of speculation about my favourite line, and how it might relate to Fort McMurray. Suggested was everything from "d'oh" (something I say often in traffic when someone cuts in front of me, fishtailing as they go and slowing down to ensure I almost clip their bumper) to the monorail theme song. And while I have found myself humming the monorail theme song when I was worried we were being taken in by song and dance men intent on selling their snake oil to this region, those phrases and songs are not my favourite line from The Simpsons. No, my favourite line is actually from Ned Flanders' father.

If you are a Simpsons fan you know that Ned's parents were beatniks, sort of the precursor to the hippies. When they were raising little Ned they tried to stay away from the then-current norms of discipline and parental authority, but when Ned began to display bad behaviour beyond their control they took him to see a child psychiatrist, who asked what they had tried to change his behaviour. Ned's father, desperate for help, said:

 

We’ve tried nothin’ and we’re all out of ideas.

 

 

It is, to me, not only the best line of The Simpsons but a deeply profound statement, and one that occurs to me often both in my personal life, and when talking about this community.

 

I had a conversation with someone at the end of 2013 who expressed their unhappiness with the plans to redevelop the downtown core in Fort McMurray. I have not hidden my support for this initiative, as I believe it is long overdue and necessary in order to have a downtown that becomes what we deserve - vibrant, energetic, and active. I worry when I see other communities that have focused solely on their suburban development, neglecting their downtown cores only to see them wither and die. And I know what a vibrant downtown can be, having grown up in Saskatoon, a city that managed to not only preserve but enhance the beautiful riverfront that graces that city. My conversation partner, however, wanted none of it. No redevelopment, no matter the direction, and no changes, because they believed the city had never had to intervene in such a direct way before, so why now? Why did we have to try to change the Snye waterfront, and redevelop the downtown? Why not just let it develop on its own, without assistance or intervention? Why not just let it be whatever it would become?

 

I believe there are parts of the redevelopment of the downtown core in Fort McMurray that are negotiable. Perhaps we can find a way for motorized vehicles to share the Snye with others who wish to enjoy the waterfront, and perhaps the proposed arena could be built in a different location should concerns about the proposed location dictate it. But what shouldn't be in doubt or in question is the plain necessity of doing something about our downtown core, because until now, we've tried nothing - but we do have an idea. We have an idea to make it a vital part of our community, not some forgotten core that will have to limp along on its own. We have an idea about how to create something special in our downtown, something that will attract new residents and please current ones. And the idea may not perfect, and it may need adjusting - but at least we have an idea.

 

When I was a child growing up in Saskatoon we had a Sunday ritual in the summers. My parents would pack a picnic, and we would head to Bessborough Park, one of the lovely spots along the river flowing through that city. We would stop and pick up a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and down we would head to the riverbank, my parents and I and whichever of my four sisters that happened to be around and their ever-changing cast of boyfriends and friends, and we would set up for the day with blankets and coolers and Frisbees. I still have photos of those outings, but more than that I have that picture in my head of enjoying our urban downtown, and how it felt like home. Whenever I go back to Saskatoon I head to that park, and I can almost see and hear the ghosts of those days.

 

And so this is what I want for Fort McMurray, too. I want us to have a downtown core that is not known for crime or other unpleasantries but rather remembered for long sunny afternoons with the family. I want one remembered for walks on cold winter days, stops at small coffee shops, and browsing through little shops along the way. I want us to never look back in the future and say "we've tried nothing, and we're all out of ideas", because then it may be too late, and our chance to create a vibrant downtown may be lost forever.

 

The devil is in the details, as they say, and some of the details of downtown redevelopment may still need to be ironed out - but the seed of the idea, the need to redevelop our downtown while both embracing our history, enjoying our present, and welcoming our future, is one we ignore at our own peril, and the peril of those growing up here, and who will one day have those memories in their heads. I remain committed to the concept of a revitalized urban core, one that will bring new experiences, new opportunities, and new possibilities. And whenever someone tells me we need to "do nothing" that line from The Simpsons dances through my head - because when we do nothing all the ideas fall away, doing nothing becomes the norm, and one day we realize we are not only out of time, but out of ideas, too.



Getting the Jab

Even though I was there shortly after they unlocked the doors there was a line-up. I ended up waiting for about an hour and a half, and then it was over in less than a minute. Another fifteen minutes in the waiting room and then I was on with my day, feeling slightly more secure in the knowledge that while I was not completely out of the woods I had done something that might be of benefit. You see, I had just gotten my influenza vaccine.

I realize that vaccines, and particularly those for influenza, can be a bit controversial. And I admit I haven't always gotten them, but this year I realized that having to take days - or weeks - out of my schedule for illness would not work well for me. And I debated it, too, because I believe the Intrepid Junior Blogger and I both had H1N1 in 2009 when it first appeared, although the strain of flu we developed was never formally identified. But, I weighed the risks, and the benefits, and then I rolled up my sleeve and the lovely (and very gentle) nurse at Public Health took care of the rest.

We are seeing a surge in influenza in Alberta this year, with H1N1 being one of the predominant strains. What is most worrisome about this one is that instead of hitting the elderly and the young hardest, as most strains do, it hits hard at the 30, 40, and 50 year old crowd, a group where I find myself in the centre. It is an uncomfortable bulls-eye, and after a bout of bacterial mycoplasma pneumonia in my twenties that left my lungs a little compromised I decided that in this case wisdom was the better part of valour, and I lined up for my flu "jab" along with dozens of others.

I'm not going to tell you whether or not to get the vaccine, although in my opinion one of the reasons we enjoy longer life spans and relatively good health is that we have vaccines that have virtually eliminated the diseases that used to kill us. My parents had siblings that died of vaccine preventable diseases, long before the vaccines were available, and other extended family members experienced the ravages of things like polio, mumps, and measles, which can have long and lasting effects. I am a believer in vaccines, although I believe in educated choices, too (I was apparently the only parent who refused the Hepatitis B vaccine for my child when she was in Grade 5, opting instead to pay for Twinrix vaccination that covered two strains of hepatitis, and the only one to outright refuse to have her vaccinated for HPV as I felt it could be just as easily done when she was a bit older - and when she was in Grade 1 I refused permission for tuberculosis testing when I learned that such broad spectrum testing was not advised by any international medical organization, particularly in children who had no known TB exposure). And that is why I did my research, weighed the odds, calculated what made sense for me - and then went and had the flu vaccine.

If you should opt for vaccination Public Health in Thickwood is offering it, including on Saturdays this month from 8:30 until 4:00 pm. Many pharmacists and doctors offices also offer the vaccine, and so there is no reason to not access it should you wish to do so. And while the vaccine is not 100% effective (no vaccine ever is) it may help you to avoid days or weeks of misery - or even worse. In my opinion the wait and the seconds of discomfort are worth it - but in the end only you can decide if it is worth it to you. If you do happen to experience influenza this year, whether you have been vaccinated or not, please get better soon - and do the rest of us a favour and stay the hell at home, because not only will you recover sooner you will not infect the rest of us. This could be a long influenza season given our cold temperatures - I hope you stay well, whether or not you decide to ge the jab.

A Very Rare, and Special, Guest Blog - The Sub-Zero Challenge

Today I am doing something I very, very rarely do, and in fact have only done once before. I have invited a guest blogger to submit a post - and the fact that I have done so should be considered carefully, because turning this blog over to someone else is like handing over your newborn baby - not something you do lightly, and not something you do without a great deal of faith and trust. Giving this young woman the opportunity to speak on my blog should indicate two things: 1) I endorse the cause she writes about, because it is close to my heart, too, and 2) I endorse this young woman, as I have had the great privilege to spend time with her and she is a remarkable person, beautiful, funny, honest, sincere, authentic - and, as you are about to see, damn brave. 

Fort McMurray, I present to you Elena Jacobs, who is about to embark on a very bold adventure, but not to benefit herself. It is all about benefitting others, as she will share. What I would like you to do with this post is to consider contributing to her cause, and to think about others ways you can contribute to this effort. One of the things we have in this region is great opportunity and potential - and responsibility, because with our good fortune comes an obligation to the welfare of others. This is something I take seriously - and I believe we all should, because being a good citizen is about making sure that we take care of everyone, especially the most vulnerable. And I think Elena has a very personal story about why it matters.

Sub Zero Challenge 

For most, winter camping would seem extreme, especially in the middle of a Fort McMurray winter. For some of the less fortunate residents of Wood Buffalo, it is a matter of survival. On January 18th, 2014, my “survivor man” fiancée and I are joining Councillor Phil Meagher, and a number of RCMP members and firefighters, in completing the Sub Zero Challenge. No matter how cold it gets, we will spend 24 hours outdoors on Gregoire Lake island and sleep in snow caves of our own making.

Through the Sub Zero Challenge, the Centre of Hope is raising funds for winter coats, toques and other cold weather clothing to help keep our homeless population warm this winter. We are taking in donations of clothing and funds to help ward off hypothermia and frostbitten fingers and toes. Our target is $30,000 and we have a long way to go before the challenge is complete. After reading the article in Fort McMurray Today, I knew the Sub Zero Challege was something I had to do.

Homelessness is very personal for me, as my grandfather was often homeless. While he would regularly migrate back to our First Nation reserve in Calling Lake, his addictions kept him mobile. In 2003, a stroke robbed him of his ability to walk. As devastating as it was, I was comforted in knowing the road to rehabilitation meant he was now safe and sheltered from the elements. He was warm, well fed and being taken care of by wonderful nurses who spoiled him with cookies.

The decade that we got to spend time with him was a gift that came to end in April when he passed on. I’m doing this challenge in my grandfather’s memory and know that he would be proud that I’ve listened to his  life lessons: don’t chew snuff, mind your elders, remember those outside, and everyone is family.

For the record: I do not chew snuff, after every snow fall I clear the driveway and sidewalk of a local senior through the municipality’s Snow Angel program, and I am going to rock this Sub Zero Challenge!

If you would like to make a donation and help us heat the streets, please visit www.subzerochallenge.ca.

Elena and Ralph

Elena and her grandfather Harvey

Elena and her grandfather Harvey

The 2013 Top Tweeters in #YMM

Last year, under pressure from my real-life and Twitter pal @kikkiplanet, I devised a top twelve list of Twitter accounts to follow in Fort McMurray (or #ymm as we say in the Twitterverse). It was a bit of a lark, done when she threw down the gauntlet after devising her own list and suggesting I do the same. What I wasn't ready for was the response, you see.

People took it seriously. I mean, it was a list made up in my head, based on my own criteria, and with little input from others. But the feedback I got on that list was astonishing, from those who were on the list, and those who were not. I considered not even doing a list this year, but then someone told me that they had been aiming to get on the list all year. Now I was really backed into a corner and realized this list isn't optional but almost required - and so here it is, the 2013 made-up-in-my-head list.

This time I did go to Twitter and ask for nominations, and while those had some influence in the end the list is of my making and no one else should take any blame. And there were some disqualifications this year, too. If you were on the list last year you won't find yourself here this year, because a new year is about new opportunities, and I decided to make this list fresh. Now, everyone who was on the list last year continues to be must-follows if you want to understand Fort McMurray, but they have some new companions on the list in 2013. The other disqualification was any Twitter account I have anything to do with, whether my own or employment related. That seemed only fair, as while I have a healthy ego I try to avoid thumping it too often, because that just makes the Intrepid Junior Blogger's task of keeping me humble through her teenage derision harder.

So, here is the 2013 list. There is a random number, so don't go looking for any meaning in how many there are, or which order they are in - except for the very last entry, the one that I believe had the most profound impact on Twitter in 2013. I hope you enjoy the list, and you'll likely think I missed someone or added someone I shouldn't have or otherwise take issue with it - and that's okay. This list is my opinion, and if you think I have some sort of mathematical formula that I use to calculate things then we need to have a wee chat about how I can barely figure out the advertised discount on a pair of shoes.

The Top Tweet Accounts of 2013

YMM

The All-Around Community Nice Guy

What can one say about someone who gets involved in a variety of discussions, but always does so with dignity and respect? Or who is a true community booster but who does so quietly? The family man who calls this community home and who represents our community well every single day on a social medium that can occasionally be challenging? Well, I guess you say they are a top tweeter, as @longpre11 is. He has impressed me time and time again, and I am honoured to not only know him on Twitter but in real life, too.

There has been a real resurgence in the nice-guy category this year on Twitter. @sirk_25 is another one of those nice guys who always interacts with respect, and who is unfailingly kind and encouraging. When he bought lunch for a group of strangers from Twitter, though, finding out where we were dining from Twitter and then calling in his credit card to pay our tab, he went from nice guy to incredible human being in my opinion. I have never met Kris, but I sincerely hope to do so some day, if nothing else to thank him for lunch - and for being such a great community representative on Twitter.

New Journalist to Town -

and One to Watch

The minute I met her I knew I liked her, as who could resist that charming smile? That smile hides a sharp intellect though, and young Aimee Harper came on the news scene during a tumultuous time. Thrown right into covering one of the most contentious elections in years, @aimeemharper brought intelligence and impartiality to her Twitter coverage of debates and events. I hope she sticks around for a long time, and tweets more often, because her unbiased and concise coverage is very much needed.

Top Media Personality

I don't know how he didn't make it on the list last year, really. Jerry has been such a tremendous addition to Fort McMurray it's nothing short of amazing. His advocacy, his sense of humour, and his willingness to use his platform to promote our community is incredible. Jerry spends a lot of his free time in the community devoted to local organizations and groups, sharing many of those experiences on Twitter, and his commitment to this place is the real deal. @jerrycountry933 is one of my heroes, frankly, and it is an honour to call him my friend - even if I never listen to country radio.

Dear lord how she makes me laugh every morning. I miss her when she is away, that voice I wake up to that has no problem making fun of herself and showing that she is far from some radio diva but rather a real person with challenges and problems and an amazing sense of humour. If you have never listened to her on the Mix Morning Show then you must, just to hear @APradioh share stories of single parenthood told with honesty. Sometimes she makes me shake my head - but every single time I just come back to how much I adore her. She is just as honest and funny on Twitter, meaning Amanda is the real deal, through and through.

Arguably the most handsome media personality in #ymm, active on Twitter in his promotion and defense of our community, and a hometown boy, Steve is not only a radio host but involved in film-making and now a weekly columnist with the newspaper. Not a reactionary, but rather incredibly measured in response given his age, @steve_reeve is a must-follow from the local radio and twenty-something scene - and besides he is simply a genuinely nice guy, which is so refreshing to find these days. And he is funny too, a bonus. And easy on the eyes. Total bonus.

Older than His Years - and Growing

What do you say about a young man who has the sole goal to improve our world - at the age of twelve? He recounts his exploits on Twitter and shares his triumphs and his challenges, including his recent trip to Africa to see the community water projects his hard work over the last two years helped to fund. This young man has done more in his short time on this planet than many of us have done in decades, and if you want to find inspiration and hope for the future then you must follow @thelegofly - because this kid is going places, and you don't want to be left behind.

Most Entertaining

I always look for her tweets, I love our interactions, and I find her endlessly entertaining, even when she talks about hockey. This young woman splits her life between Edmonton and Fort McMurray, and brings with her such enthusiasm and humour that you can't help but adore her. I have had the chance to meet @julieEY person and she is just as lovely as she seems on Twitter. This is a must-follow for amusement, and for a fresh perspective on the community. 

Oh, this bird! Twitter was made for the eclectic personality, and what could be more eclectic than a bird with a lust for garbage and a wit as sharp as his beak? If you want to laugh you must follow @FortMacRaven - but be ready, because the bird spares no one and will eagerly rip into whatever garbage you left lying around.

Sadly this is not an active account, because it was all about a dead, brown, dried up Christmas tree that was left on the bridge when someone left their load untarped. The intriguing part is that the tree was there long after Christmas, in plain sight but ignored, until someone gave it a Twitter account to share its plight and desperate plea to get off the bridge. It was an incredibly interesting exchange, and for me it was a catalyst to think about all the other "in plain sight but ignored issues" in this community. @YMMtreeONbridge might have had a limited life span on Twitter - but in that short time made a pretty enormous impact, and did it with a sense of humour, too.

Politician Doing it Right

There are some politicians who show up on social media around the same time as nominations are announced, staying just long enough to use the medium to improve their election chances and then disappearing in the night without even a second glance back (the Twitter electoral version of the "wham, bam, thank you ma'am") - but not Keith McGrath. Keith was active on Twitter prior to running for election, and has stayed active afterwards, sharing his thoughts and his activities. And recently when @McGrath_K found out on Twitter about the power outage in Gregoire leaving hundreds without power for hours in freezing temperatures he went there to offer assistance - using Twitter to help others, not help himself. For that he earned my admiration, my respect, and my must-follow recommendation.

Most Inexplicable Political Behaviour on Twitter

Some politicians use Twitter to get elected and disappear, while others just seem to have trouble getting the hang of the power of the medium. Using Twitter to argue with constituents (including the Intrepid Junior Blogger at one point, a farcical moment in my house), and tweeting in support of a controversial and embattled mayor seem questionable political strategies, but they are interesting. Follow @BrianJean_MP for his political position, but stay for the shenanigans.

Rarely Agree With and Yet Still Follow

I disagree with him. Often. And yet I still follow him, because he has interesting points of view, and because his commitment to this community is genuine. Half the time I don't know what he's on about, and the other half I am on the verge of arguing with him - but all the time I am appreciating his passion and interest in our home. Follow @tomremax for realty knowledge and advice - but stick around for the opinions and community engagement.

All about the Biz

They tweet about delayed flights, the weather, and other practical matters. But it was the time they tweeted about the broken ATM in the airport, suggesting travellers in need of cash stop at the nearby hotel for an ATM, that got me. The Fort McMurray Airport is getting it right, providing not just the basic information but small nuggets of help to their Twitter followers. If you fly out of YMM then you must follow @FlyYMM, especially as we get closer to the opening of the new terminal, and all the new possibilities that will bring.

I think what I like most about these guys is their bio. They maintain a Twitter presence, and are helpful and responsive, but they are upfront about not monitoring their account 24/7 - and they thank us for being part of our community. I'm impressed by that, and I never even use @diversifiedFTM busses - but if you do you should be pleased to know that these guys are doing social media right.

These guys are pretty terrific, especially in a community of young families. They tweet about events and matter important to parents, and they do so in a timely manner. They are positive and they share articles from their magazine, but they are not all about self-promotion, which is just as it should be. Got kids? Then follow @FMChildMagazine on Twitter!

Social Profit

The immediacy of Twitter is perfect for an organization like the Wood Buffalo Food Bank. In seconds they can share their need for certain goods with thousands of people, and stock their shelves with the items they have in shortest supply. @WBFoodBank is effectively using Twitter to communicate who they are and what they need, and are using a medium that is free and simple to do so. They are a model for other social profit organizations, and an example of how to use Twitter to achieve your social profit goals.

One of the biggest challenges of a new organization is making yourself known - but this year the Fort McMurray Filmmakers Association took Twitter by storm, effectively communicating who they are, what they do, and what they hope to accomplish. Through the medium they began to unite local filmmakers, spread the word about their projects, and showed the rest of the Twitter community what they were up to. I'm not surprised, though - each person involved in the association is young, dedicated, and active on Twitter, so combined they are an impressive group. For a new group, it feels like @ymmfma has been around forever - so I would say their Twitter goals for 2013 were definitely accomplished.

Occasional Good-Humoured Pot Stirring

Maybe he doesn't live here anymore, but Eric is Fort McMurray through and through, and he continues to be active in our community in myriad ways. I don't know how he does it, but he often dips in a spoon and gently stirs the pot, often leaving people guessing if he is serious or not. You can argue with him and he remains polite and respectful while firm in his opinions - and while he might be surprised to be on this list he shouldn't be. I'd say @classicjanvier is a must-follow simply because he gets what Fort McMurray is - and wears no rose-coloured glasses while seeing it.

Always Makes me Laugh

Looking for the worst puns in the world, told with astonishing ease and a quick wit? Then look no further. Not a local but regularly interacting with those on the #ymm feed, even when I don't want to laugh Tom makes me laugh, although some of his puns should be locked up forever. If you want to laugh then follow @pcrtomgillespie - but when the groans start don't say I didn't warn you about the truly terrible puns.

Pro Community Communicator

She is a communications professional, and she uses her skills to champion our community. Her love of Fort McMurray shines, and her advocacy is strong. She is careful with the written word, and knows the power of a well placed tweet, and she expects others to meet the same high standard she sets for herself. She is @KiranMK0822, and I am proud to call her my friend, as well as my fellow community advocate.

Through the Lens

Yes, yes, I know Twitter is about words and not pictures, but we are visual creatures and so these two photographers have not only captured the essence of our community through their photos but have also captured my heart. I follow them because they are both artists, seeing life here through their lens, and sharing it with the rest of us through their Twitter accounts. Both @140notes and @williamvavrek are skilled photographers, and both allow us to see Fort McMurray through another medium - photography. What I try to do with words they do with pictures, and I think to tremendous effect.

Staunchest Ally - and Doesn't even Live Here

He doesn't even live here and yet he might just be the biggest community booster we've got. Cody defends the industry with a passion, and does so with facts and figures and not just rhetoric. His passion is of tremendous value to us, and his friendship runs deep. It is comforting to know that @codyincalgary has our back - because you can never have too many loyal friends.

The Sports Guy

I admit it. I know nothing about sports. I am trying to learn, and so I follow local sports people from whom I wish to learn by osmosis (or at least their tweets). Robert isn't just a "sports guy" though - he's a damn fine writer and a great person to chat with on Twitter too - so give @novacanuck a follow, even if you are not into sports. And if you are into sports maybe we can do coffee sometime and you can educate me. God knows I need it.

Most Impact in 2013

There is one account in the local Twitterverse that had huge impact in 2013. It began as an anonymous account, and people were dying to know who it was. People asked if it was me, and all I could do was helplessly shake my head, because I knew it wasn't but didn't know who it was  - until one day when a friend and coworker came to me and told me it was them. I could not have been more proud, because this person changed the dialogue in Fort McMurray. With relentless optimism and positivity (too much for some people on occasion) they shared their love of our community, and promoted it without seeking the spotlight. They even inspired parody accounts, one that was mean-spirited in nature but that showed the true success of the original, because every hero needs a villain. 

In 2013 one Twitter account stood apart and above, and I was honoured to be at small lunch where the individual behind the account revealed their identity. For their contribution, their kindness, their dedication and commitment, I name @PositivelyYMM the #ymm must-follow of 2013. To be able to say that the person behind the account is a friend, coworker, and every bit as positive and warm as he seems to be on Twitter, is a genuine honour. So, to Jamie I say thank you - for bringing something new and fresh and wonderful to Twitter in 2013, and beyond.

So, there you have the list! Love it or hate it, Tweet me - and we can fight about it on Twitter ;)

Happy New Year,

#YMM!