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2017 Annual Report Now Available!
September 28, 2018
Check it out here: www.wbea.org/2017-annual-report. This year, the WBEA went digital with the report to increase accessibility of the information and provide a more interactive user experience. An interactive report means you can click on links throughout to access additional information. You can also hover over graphs to see specific data […]
The WBEA has Moved
September 1, 2018
Our new address is: 805 Memorial Drive, Unit #3 Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0K4 Our main phone number remains the same: 780-799-4420.
Provincial Air Quality Advisory in Effect
August 10, 2018
A precautionary air quality advisory remains in effect for all of Alberta due to wildfire smoke blowing into the province from British Columbia. Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) readings for the entire RMWB are elevated, including ‘High Risk’ readings in the communities of Fort McMurray, Fort McKay and Fort Chipewyan. Residents should […]
WBEA Launches Community Odour Monitoring Program App To Research Odours In The RMWB
October 4, 2017
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) has launched an app that allows community members to report information about the odours they experience in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The app was designed as part of the WBEA’s Community Monitoring Program (COMP), which seeks to gain […]
Air quality risks with wildfires (Alberta Airsheds Council media release)
June 16, 2017
Edmonton, Alberta – Alberta and Western Canada are now into the wildfire season and both Alberta and BC are currently experiencing wildfires. Wildfires can have a significant impact on the quality of the air we breathe. Air quality is monitored and reported in over 30 communities in Alberta. Alberta’s Airsheds […]
WBEA’s New Conklin Lookout Air Monitoring Station, A Monitoring Partnership With AEMERA and EC, Begins Operation
August 18, 2015
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) has begun streaming continuous air quality data from a new air monitoring station, Conklin Lookout. This new monitoring station is the result of a partnership between WBEA, the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency (AEMERA) and Environment Canada (EC). […]
Wood Buffalo Environmental Association Appoints Director Of Operations
July 13, 2015
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is pleased to announce a new addition to their senior staffing complement. Mr. Sanjay Prasad has been appointed as Director of Operations for the Association. Mr. Prasad has a great deal of experience that pertain to his new role at […]
MEDIA RELEASE: WBEA Report Assesses Forest Health In The Athabasca Oil Sands Region
June 4, 2015
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) published a report today, Assessing Forest Health in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, that summarizes 15 years of results from its Terrestrial Environmental Effects Monitoring forest health monitoring program. WBEA’s Forest Health monitoring approach determines cause-effect relationships between air pollutants and […]
WBEA REPORT ASSESSES FOREST HEALTH IN THE ATHABASCA OIL SANDS REGION
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) published a report today, Assessing Forest Health in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, that summarizes 15 years of results from its Terrestrial Environmental Effects Monitoring forest health monitoring program. WBEA’s Forest Health monitoring approach determines cause-effect relationships between air pollutants and forest […]
MEDIA RELEASE: New Wbea Website Features 17 Years Of Air Quality Data For Wood Buffalo Region
March 10, 2015
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) takes another step toward continuous improvement with the launch of a completely redesigned website, www.wbea.org. Along with a more contemporary design, changes have been made to site-wide navigation to help users find the data and information they need faster. […]
NEW WBEA WEBSITE FEATURES SEVENTEEN YEARS OF AIR QUALITY DATA FOR WOOD BUFFALO REGION
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) takes another step toward continuous improvement with the launch of a completely redesigned website, www.wbea.org. Along with a more contemporary design, changes have been made to site-wide navigation to help users find the data and information they need faster. Fort […]
Fort Mckay First Nation Rep Joins Wood Buffalo Environmental Association Governance Committee
January 26, 2015
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is pleased to welcome Fort McKay First Nation representative, Ryan Abel, B.Sc., B.Ed., to its Governance Committee. Ryan is the Environmental Lead, In Situ & Forestry with the Fort McKay First Nation, and he currently represents Fort McKay on the […]
Wbea Translates Project Video For Cree & Dene Stakeholders
November 7, 2014
Fort McMurray, Alberta – In its continued effort to better inform and engage with Aboriginal community members, the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) has translated its newest informational video into Cree and Dene languages. The video features the Association’s Community Odour Monitoring Project, and highlights findings from the pilot year. […]
New Video Features Volunteer-Based Fort Mcmurray Community Odour Monitoring Project
August 28, 2014
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The newest video produced by Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) gives stakeholders and community members a detailed look at one of the Association’s newer monitoring programs – the Community Odour Monitoring Project. Odours have become a prominent issue in some communities in the Wood Buffalo region, […]
WBEA ELECTS ABORIGINAL, INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT AND ENGO MEMBERS TO GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
June 13, 2014
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) elected a new Governance Committee at the Association’s 16th Annual General Members meeting on Wednesday in Fort McMurray. Made up of two Aboriginal members, three industry members, one government member and one environmental non-government member, the new Governance Committee is […]
WBEA’S STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES NOW AVAILABLE ON WEBSITE
May 8, 2014
Fort McMurray, Alberta –The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) has taken another important step toward full transparency by posting its Standard Operating Procedures for ambient air monitoring on the Association’s website, www.wbea.org. WBEA operates an extensive air quality monitoring network that includes 16 continuous ambient air monitoring stations located throughout the […]
WBEA AIR MONITORING VIDEO TRANSLATED FOR CREE & DENE STAKEHOLDERS
April 24, 2014
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is reaching out to Cree and Dene speaking community members through an informational video that has been translated into both Cree and Dene native languages. The video gives stakeholders and community members an insider’s look at WBEA’s extensive air monitoring […]
WBEA APPROVES 2014/2015 OPERATING BUDGET
April 8, 2014
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is pleased to announce that its Board, comprised of 38 members from industry, government, Aboriginal groups, and ENGOs, today passed a budget of $13.7 million for the 2014/2015 fiscal year. While the approved $13.7 million budget leaves WBEA with a […]
ENVIRONMENTAL AIR MONITORING VIDEO TAKES VIEWERS INSIDE WBEA’S NETWORK
December 19, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is giving stakeholders and community members a firsthand, insider’s look at their air monitoring network through a new video. The short video explains exactly how WBEA goes about the job of continuously monitoring and reporting air quality for the Regional […]
WBEA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INVITED TO SIT ON EXPERT PANEL TO ASSESS NEW AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF OIL SANDS DEVELOPMENT
November 28, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Percy, has accepted an invitation from the Canadian Council of Academies (CCA) to sit on an expert panel that will be assessing new and emerging technologies to reduce the environmental impact of oil sands development. The […]
THREE MORE ABORIGINAL GROUPS JOIN WBEA
October 7, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The membership of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) has grown again. Three new members were welcomed to the table at the Association’s General Member’s meeting in September; the Fort McMurray #468 First Nation, the Christina River Dene Nation Council, and the Chipewyan Prairie Dene First […]
JOINT CANADA/ALBERTA IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR OIL SANDS MONITORING BEGINS SUMMER AIR MONITORING PROJECT
August 12, 2013
Fort McMurray, AB – A comprehensive environmental field study to gather information on air contaminants in the Wood Buffalo region will occur from August 12 to mid-September 2013. The collaborative study between government, non-government, university and community partners will collect both airborne and ground-based measurements to determine how air pollutants […]
FORT MCMURRAY MÉTIS LOCAL 1935, PARKS CANADA & BRION ENERGY ARE NEWEST STAKEHOLDERS TO JOIN WBEA
June 18, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) welcomed three new members to their table at the Association’s 15th Annual General Meeting on June 12th; the Fort McMurray Métis Local 1935, Parks Canada and Brion Energy. WBEA’s membership voted unanimously to accept the new members, bringing the Associations […]
FORMER SENIOR ENVIRONMENT CANADA SCIENTISTS JOIN WBEA
May 24, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is pleased to announce two new additions to their senior staffing compliment. Dr. Tom Clair joins WBEA as the new Lead Scientist for the Association and Mr. Jean-Guy Zakrevsky as the new Program Manager for WBEA’s Ambient Air Technical Program […]
WBEA RECRUITS FORT MCMURRAY VOLUNTEERS FOR COMMUNITY ODOUR MONITORING PROJECT
May 7, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA), through its Human Exposure Monitoring Program (HEMP), is launching a new community-based odour monitoring project in Fort McMurray. The project is a result of a new focus and direction for HEMP. WBEA Executive Director, Dr. Kevin Percy, PhD, explains, “In […]
PUBLISHED BOOK SYNTHESIZES YEARS OF AIR MONITORING RESULTS IN THE ATHABASCA OIL SANDS REGION
January 31, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – In November of 2012 the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) published a detailed book that, for the first time, synthesizes the results and concepts of WBEA’s 2008-2012 scientifically enhanced monitoring work, and offers a wide ranging look at significant environmental indicators of air quality and the […]
MÉTIS REPRESENTATIVE ELECTED TO WOOD BUFFALO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
January 8, 2013
Fort McMurray, Alberta – A representative of the Fort McKay Métis community was elected to the Governance Committee of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) in December 2012. Peter Fortna, Manager of Sustainable Development with the Fort McKay Métis has joined WBEA’s Governance Committee as the new Secretary/Treasurer. WBEA Executive […]
WBEA LAUNCHES AIR QUALITY HEALTH INDEX APP
September 21, 2012
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) has launched an iOS application this week that brings real-time Alberta Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) readings to Apple mobile device users with the touch of a finger. The app, designed for use on Apple devices such as the iPhone, […]
WBEA MONITORING WILL CONTRIBUTE TO LOWER ATHABASCA REGIONAL PLAN
August 22, 2012
Fort McMurray, AB – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) supports the environmental management approach taken in the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan (LARP), formally announced earlier today by Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister, Diana McQueen. The Plan considers the cumulative effects of all activities on air, water and biodiversity. […]
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED TO WOOD BUFFALO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
July 20, 2012
Fort McMurray, Alberta – A new President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and Director were elected to the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) Governance Committee at the Association’s Annual General Meeting last week. Diane Phillips, Syncrude Canada Ltd., was elected President of the Association, Nick Veriotes, Total E&P Canada Ltd., was elected […]
WBEA RESPONSE TO 2011 OCTOBER REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
October 6, 2011
Fort McMurray, AB – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) acknowledges the 2011 October Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, released October 4, 2011, regarding environmental monitoring in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. WBEA is a multi-stakeholder, not-for-profit, science-based monitoring organization, headquartered in Fort McMurray, AB. […]
SASKATCHEWAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND HAMMERSTONE CORPORATION WELCOMED TO THE WBEA TABLE
September 30, 2011
Fort McMurray, Alberta – Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Environment and Hammerstone Corporation have joined the General Membership of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA). WBEA’s membership voted unanimously to accept the new members at its 114th General Member’s meeting on Wednesday, September 14th, 2011. Murray Hilderman, Air Policy Architect, Technical […]
WBEA LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE WITH AIR QUALITY HEALTH INDEX TOOL
September 19, 2011
Fort McMurray, Alberta – Today the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) launched its new and improved website at www.wbea.org In addition to the updated look and feel, the new website provides a number of new tools and features for public and member users. One of the most important changes to […]
MEDIA ADVISORY: WBEA RELEASES ITS SUMMER 2011 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
August 5, 2011
Fort McMurray, AB – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) released its Summer 2011 Report to the Community this week. The Summer 2011 report features air monitoring results from the 2010 monitoring year within the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, updates on other WBEA environmental monitoring work, and future plans for […]
FRESH SYSTEM GIVES ALBERTANS EVEN BETTER AIR QUALITY INFORMATION (ALBERTA ENVIRONMENT)
July 13, 2011
Edmonton, Alberta – Alberta is adopting a modified federal Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) to give Albertans the most timely and relevant information to plan their outdoor activities. The Governments of Canada and Alberta have worked together to develop an air quality reporting system for Alberta that takes advantage of […]
WBEA APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
June 25, 2011
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) is pleased to announce that Dr. Kevin Percy, Ph.D. has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association, effective July 18th. Dr. Percy first joined WBEA in January 2009 as the Association’s Lead Scientist. In the […]
CENOVUS ENERGY BECOMES NEWEST MEMBER OF THE WOOD BUFFALO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION
March 11, 2011
Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) welcomed Cenovus Energy Inc. as its newest member this week. WBEA’s membership voted unanimously to accept Cenovus’s application for membership at its 113th General Member’s meeting on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Cenovus operates an enhanced oil recovery project at Christina […]
WBEA ENHANCES ITS HUMAN EXPOSURE MONITORING PROGRAM TO RESPOND TO ODOUR ISSUES IN THE RMWB
January 10, 2011
Fort McMurray, Alberta – Since 2007, the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) has been scaling up the level of science within their programs in order to better support good environmental decision making in the RMWB. The Association has significantly enhanced their current programs and methods, and the latest enhancement comes […]
WBEA RESPONSE TO “A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE: BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THE OIL SANDS”
December 23, 2010
Fort McMurray – The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) acknowledges the significant findings of the Federal Oil Sands Advisory Panel Report “A Foundation for the Future: Building and Environmental Monitoring System for the Oil Sands”, released December 21, 2010. WBEA is a multi stakeholder, not-for-profit, science-based monitoring organization, headquartered in […]
A&WMA; 103RD INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION
June 23, 2010
The Wood Buffalo Environmental Association presented a wide-ranging suite of technical and scientific papers at the Air & Waste Management (A&WMA) Association?s 103rd International Annual Conference & Exhibition, held at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, June 22-25, 2010.The theme of this year?s conference was ?Energy and Environment?. Scientific papers were […]