editor’s
letter
Just last month we profiled the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo —
home to Fort McMurray — and spoke with Mayor Melissa Blake about the
area’s innovative plans for the future, which included increased sustain-
ability and an ambitious zero-waste initiative.
In a horrific turn of events, the municipality’s largest city was battling
out-of-control wildfires just as we were putting the finishing touches on
our May issue. We, along with the rest of Canada, watched as thousands
of northern Alberta residents fled the city, leaving their homes and pos-
sessions behind. News agencies portrayed the valiant efforts of firefight-
ers and other emergency workers, shared real-time accounts of dramatic
evacuation scenes and interviewed residents as they finally reached safety.
Our thoughts are with the residents of Fort McMurray and their families, emergency personnel and all oth-
ers who have been touched by this catastrophic event. We hope that with time and effort, Fort McMurray
will once again thrive as one of Alberta’s most unique and vibrant communities.
From airlines to fitness experts to medical researchers, here’s a quick look at some of the companies fea-
tured in this month’s issue:
• First Air, known as the “airline of the North”, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. It acts as a lifeline
for many of Canada’s northern communities, transporting about 230,000 passengers and 22 million kilo-
grams of cargo and mail each year.
• Ontario-based Inflamax Research is working hard to understand the mechanisms behind a worldwide
increase in allergies, and provide cutting-edge research that could lead to new treatments.
• Man has been searching the earth for hidden treasures since the beginning of time. In Quebec, the QMEA
has been acting as the voice of the province’s mining industry since 1975, helping its members reduce op-
erating costs and develop sustainable projects in a highly competitive environment.
• And finally, speaking of treasures, we interviewed the third generation of the J. Vair Anderson Jewellers
family. Ken Anderson, the founder’s grandson, is passionate about all that glitters and says the secret to the
family company’s success is a love for the job.
Cheryl Long
Editor
MAY 2016
H
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