Alberta
Wetlands spontaneously forming in oil sands region’s reclaimed boreal forest
Suncor Energy employees monitoring wetlands in the oil sands in northern Alberta. Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
From the Canadian Energy Centre
By Will GibsonWetlands and peatlands are a crucial part of the boreal forest’s ecosystem
A zoologist by training, Jan Ciborowski has spent more than three decades wading through wetlands in the Great Lakes and northeastern Alberta. During that time, he has come to appreciate how nature can change the best laid plans of even the smartest scientists and engineers.
Ciborowski and a team of undergraduate and graduate students are now studying a recently documented phenomenon that highlights nature’s guiding hand: spontaneous wetlands forming in reclaimed areas in the oil sands.
These so-called “opportunistic wetlands” began developing on oil sands sites reclaimed and planted to become forests decades ago at Suncor Energy’s Base Mine and Syncrude’s Mildred Lake Mine north of Fort McMurray.
“Up to 18 per cent of the reclaimed area expected to become forests have seen wetlands spontaneously forming. We are investigating whether they are likely to persist and forecast whether they will be able to sustain themselves,” says Ciborowski, who has held the NSERC/COSIA Industrial Research Chair in Oilsands Wetlands Reclamation at the University of Calgary’s Department of Biological Sciences since 2019.
“We can make forecasts about what will develop over hundreds of years when you reclaim an area but it’s not in our hands. Nature makes those decisions.”
Wetlands and peatlands are a crucial part of the boreal forest’s ecosystem, serving as vital habitat to hundreds of species of wildlife, including waterfowl, songbirds, and mammals such as beaver and moose. They act like sponges, absorbing precipitation and run-off that prevents flooding, and providing water during dry periods to the surrounding upland forests. Peatlands also serve as sinks to store carbon.
Because oil sands companies are legally committed to reclaim their leases to a status equivalent to prior to disturbance, they benefit from wetlands on their reclaimed sites.
The two oldest mining operations — Suncor’s Base Mine and Syncrude’s Mildred Lake Mine — have constructed man-made wetlands on reclaimed sites, where the companies have conducted research.
This is why the presence of opportunistic wetlands, which have been forming on their own, have created a great deal of interest within the industry.
Ciborowski’s team is studying 120 wetlands in the region ranging from two to 40 years of age. Half are on reclaimed oil sands sites and the other half are not.
“These are all very young compared to mature peatlands that have taken hundreds of years to develop. We are monitoring water quantity, water quality, landscape disturbance, and the colonizing plants and animals to understand how conditions develop and to forecast wetlands’ succession,” he says.
Outside of the oil sands, opportunistic wetlands can form when water balances change after forest fires consume the trees, or when beaver activity causes ponds to start forming.
“These can be our frame of reference for comparison with the wetlands forming on reclaimed landscapes. The real challenge is being able to understand whether those wetlands will remain when the trees grow to maturity,” he says.
While it is hard to forecast the future for opportunistic wetlands, Ciborowski has seen how early studies have influenced the science of reclamation and practices within the industry.
“What’s exciting about our work is we’ve gathered experts in a number of different disciplines — hydrology, geosciences, plant ecology, aquatic ecology to name a few — to work together on reclamation science. My belief in research is that collaboration is crucial. One can’t expect to find the necessary breadth of expertise to do it in a single lab.”
Alberta’s government is working with municipalities to tackle social disorder arising from the fentanyl crisis by aligning community peace officers with local police.
Enhancing law enforcement coordination between the province and municipalities is crucial to strengthening enforcement efforts in the ongoing fight against fentanyl and the illicit drug trade. A more unified response among law enforcement agencies is crucial to effectively and efficiently addressing the fentanyl crisis and its devastating effects on Albertans.
At the request of the provincial government, more than 800 community peace officers from 34 large- and mid-sized municipalities will immediately begin coordinating operations with local police to more effectively combat social disorder stemming from the use of illicit drugs, including deadly fentanyl.
“We know a law enforcement presence will make a difference. Fentanyl continues to endanger the lives of Albertans and is devastating to families and communities. Crisis demands immediate and unified action. By aligning the efforts of community peace officers and local police, we are ensuring a coordinated, team response to combat the illicit drug trade to improve public safety. When community peace officers and local police work together in integrated street patrols, we create a visible and unified front against crime.”
“It takes a team effort to tackle the fentanyl crisis. Every level of government has a role to play. Working together with our municipal partners will ensure we can address this crisis, improve public safety for Albertans and combat fentanyl, which has destroyed families and livelihoods.”
Unifying the operational command of community peace officers under the leadership of municipal police services and the RCMP in the fight against fentanyl will make strides towards safer Alberta communities. Additionally, an increase in law enforcement boots on the ground on Alberta streets will create the operational consistency needed to more effectively combat illicit drugs, crime and social disorder. Closer operational alignment between police and community peace officers is a key part of the Alberta government’s approach to confronting urgent public safety issues with strong, cohesive law enforcement across all Alberta municipalities.
This measure is in response to the province stepping up to work collaboratively across all levels of government to address concerns around fentanyl trafficking and border security. Given the complexity and severity of these issues, municipalities have been asked to implement operational alignment to their community peace officer programs immediately. Alberta’s government appreciates the support of municipalities to tackle these growing concerns together through swift and collaborative action.
“Tackling the fentanyl crisis is critical for supporting healthy communities, and for defending Canada’s economic interests during tariff negotiations. Edmonton has been building a collaborative public safety environment for a long time, and we will continue to look for opportunities to collaborate to keep our city safe.”
“Calgary is fully aligned with the province in tackling the complex and devastating drug crisis, and we have led the way with a strong, unified response for the last several years. We recognize the severity of this issue and the critical need for continued collaboration and coordination between Calgary Police Service and our Community Peace Officers. Our integrated approach has amplified our collective impact on public safety.”
Visible officer presence matters and by having community peace officers and municipal police work together in integrated operations, Alberta’s government is bolstering the law enforcement presence that effectively deters criminals and illegal activity. When community peace officers and municipal police work together in integrated street patrols, it will create a visible and unified front against crime.
“The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) reaffirms its unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Province of Alberta to aggressively address the urgent challenges related to fentanyl use/trafficking, including the increased crime and disorder associated with it. The AACP supports strong collaboration and cooperation between the police of jurisdiction and municipal peace officers in an integrated response to public safety concerns. The AACP remains steadfast in its commitment to working together on pressing public safety issues.”
“Alberta Municipalities is pleased to work with the provincial government on this important initiative. Our member communities welcome the opportunity to contribute to a unified approach to tackling drug trafficking and drug use.”
“Alberta’s mid-sized cities are proud to participate in this joint effort. By enhancing law enforcement coordination, we are confident we will create a more effective system that keeps our communities and citizens safe while making real progress on reducing crime and social disorder. We thank the Government of Alberta for working side-by-side with municipalities and ensuring close collaboration on the issues that matter most to our residents.”
The province will monitor the effectiveness of these changes in improving public safety to ensure the best path forward.
Quick facts:
- In mid-February, the minister of public safety and emergency services sent formal letters to 34 municipalities requesting that they immediately begin working with police leadership to align or unify the operational command of their community peace officer programs under the leadership of their police of jurisdiction.
- Municipalities were requested to implement these changes by Feb. 24, 2025.
- There are currently 806 peace officers employed in large and mid-sized municipalities across Alberta.
News release from the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
Pope Francis has appointed Most Reverend Richard W. Smith as the next Archbishop of Vancouver. The Vatican made the announcement earlier today.
“I am grateful to His Holiness for the confidence placed in me to assume this new mission, and ask for the assistance of your prayers,” Archbishop Smith said in a letter to the clergy and the Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Edmonton.
“By God’s grace, I have had the extraordinary privilege to serve as your Bishop for nearly eighteen years. I am thankful beyond words for the many occasions we have had to work together in our portion of the Lord’s vineyard. Within my heart I hold a particular appreciation for the priests, deacons, and consecrated women and men with whom I have enjoyed a close collaboration.”
Archbishop Smith will remain in office until his formal installation, which will likely take place in the latter part of May. Additional details will be announced at a later date.
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