GOOD NEWS ONLY with Mike Jones

 

The playoffs are HERE! If you are an Oilers fan (and thus a person with superior taste) you can now grab the Oilers Nation Beer at the Superstore liquor store downtown! Whatever your team though, Chow's Convenience Store has lots of swag for you to show your pride - including car flags!

As noted last week, Shantelle Davidson and Mychela Music are both competing in the CBC Searchlight contest. There are two other great artists I have just been made aware of that are competing:  Kyle Keough from Fort McMurray and Northern Quarter - Band which features former McMurrayite Kerry Hunter! 

Mr E's Solve-It-Torium YMM are unfortunately once again closed due to restrictions - however, they have amazing "Mystery Boxes" you can rent out and hold an Escape Room of your own at home! Support this great local business if you're looking for a different kind of activity.  

Lights Apparel, based out of Fort McMurray were able to make a $500 donation last week to the Northern Lights Health Foundation psychiatric department in honour of National Nurses Week

The Fort McMurray Boys and Girls Club are back up and running and you can check out their social media for a special virtual tour of their refurbished facilities! 

It's a Beautiful Life oh-oohhh-oh! Bob Ross Vintage Quartet has released a feel-good Ace of Base cover for your late night dancing pleasure!  

We had an amazing virtual planning meeting Monday night for the First Responders Golf Tournament and got some delicious charcuterie boards from Honey Stix Charcuterie for the committee! Super affordable and yummy!

I ordered for the first time from Fort Mac Burger Shack and was super impressed with the pricing. The fries were great!! 

A couple of birthday shoutouts this week - to Good Spread guitarist/singer Corey McKeag! The boys have been keeping their skills sharp and are ready to rock our faces off again as soon as we’re allowed! And to local comedian Ty Brandt who also runs a great whiskey podcast in town. ? Cheers to both of you! Thursday was the amazing Helen Bernetta's birthday! Whether it's starting the amazing Exhale Yoga & Barreor being an absolutely rock star on stage in a ton of different theatrical productions throughout town - this lady deserves all the props for being a true ambassador of our community! Happy birthday Helen! 

Clearwater Drive is officially 100% open! Shoutout to all the crews who've been putting in long hours. And shoutout to the residents and businesses (like the delicious Surekha's on the Snye) who had to deal with detours and extra traffic the past few weeks. Let's hope next year will be a lot more normal. 

PRIDE YMM has officially picked a date for their annual celebration - it will be Sunday, September 5th at Shell Place! Their hope is by postponing until September they will be able to have the fewest restrictions and their biggest and best Pride possible! 

Waypoints are holding a virtual paint night on May 26th for adults and children. The event is FREE and is creating awareness for Sexual Violence Awareness Month. You do not need to be a survivor of Sexual Violence to participate and your supplies will be delivered safely to your door on the afternoon of the event

The RMWB Census is still ongoing (separate from the federal one). Participation numbers are fairly low right now - it's important to fill it out as it really helps with the allocation of tax dollars towards your neighbourhood roads, parks, schools and more. Jennifer from FuseSocial does a great job running down the benefits on the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo's social media. 

The Province has announced the largest jobs training program in Alberta's history. Alberta Jobs Now will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses the support needed to get thousands of Albertans back to work. The grants can include covering 25% of salary (37.5% if the new hire has a disability) or training costs and most businesses can apply for up to 20 full-time new hires in each intake period - the first of which begins tomorrow. The Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce has a great write-up on their website with lots of information. 

Our Royal Canadian Legionis now officially registered as a museum! Over 90% of the memorabilia was saved from the flood - and most of what was damaged has been restored or replaced. The Legion hopes the new delegation will help them acquire new land from the province in Parsons Creek. They're hoping to break ground on a new building in the next two years. 

The Legion is also hosting a COVID-friendly scavenger hunt with prizes including gift baskets, gift certificates and tickets to an upcoming concert with the one and only Julian Austin- currently scheduled for August 7th at the Legion. Check out Car Scavenger Hunt Fundraiseron Facebook for more!

The McMurray Métisupcoming Cultural Center has been chosen as one of nine Alberta projects that demonstrates Low-Carbon Innovation and as such will qualify for another $500,000 in funding grants! 

The Northern Lights Health Foundationwas selected as one of the recipients of the Edmonton OilersCommunity Foundation's MASSIVE 50/50 draw on Wednesday! The pot for tonight's game is already over $1 million and we're still 6 hours from puck drop!

Very excited this morning to announce our new date for the 2021 First Responders Golf Tournament- September 3rd at Miskanaw Golf Club! Tickets go on sale next month. We still have a few sponsorship opportunities available - shoot me a message for more! 

I was honoured to be asked to take part in a video for the "Grab COVID by the Horns" campaign along with some other amazing folks in town. Check out Your McMurray Magazine's page to see the video!

Went and picked up my popcorn order from Sweets and Treats to support Santas Anonymous!last night and it was YUMMYYYYY! Tracie has tons of chocolates and more to sell for this great cause - join the group for more! 

Got to do a photoshoot with Amie Roberts Photographythe other night for my new YMM Magazine headshot and not only did the photos turn out amazing I also had an absolute BLAST! Photos coming soon!

Fort McMurray Golf Clubis about to get even better - they are set to add another 9 holes by opening their Big River course next Friday! Check their page out for more

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wood Buffaloare holding a corporate challenge where your household can sign up for "Lawn Bowling For Summer". It happens June 18 - 20!

Your next trip to Edmonton just got a little more awesome. Two amazing artists supported by Edmonton Arts Councilwill begin installing a gigantic 2,500 square foot mural of the absolutely iconic Chi Pig from SNFUand they couldn't have picked a better location - on the exterior of The Buckingham. The installation will begin in June and is expected to be finished in time for the one year anniversary of Chi's passing in July. 

Starting immediately, Albertans can officially buy Lotto tickets online! Lotto Max, 6/49, the Western (plus the Extra) are among the tickets that can now be purchased. AGLC plans to add sports wagering later in 2021. 

Congratulations to Will Hearn-Farvaon his brand new job as he will be joining the management team at the downtown Boston Pizza! With their epic golf simulator (which also let you play a ton of other games) and knowing I'll never see the bottom of a glass with Farva behind the bar - I can't wait to hit up BP's again soon! 

It's been an absolutely amazing week getting to know all of my new co-workers. Caregiver Connections Wood Buffalois holding a FREE virtual Movement for Mental Health event on Friday, June 11th. The event is for caregivers, which could include parents, teachers, nurses, first responders and more!

That's it for this week! Tell me something good in your life by emailing me at mike@balsom.ca  Go Oilers!