Oil Sands Question and Response (OSQAR) Blog

Reclamation project is fen-tastic

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Fens are an important part of many ecosystems, especially in the boreal region where they are the most common type of wetland. More commonly known as muskeg or peat land, fens are a type of wetland where the decaying vegetation accumulates as peat. Before it was developed, half of the land in the Wood Buffalo area was fen wetland.

Leaving room for caribou

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Much of the woodland caribou’s key habitat overlaps with prime real estate for oil and gas development. This begs the question, how can we responsibly develop these lands while protecting this at-risk species? Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development explores this issue in their latest blog post and shares their long range plan.

Reducing GHGs: It’s the little things that count

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In some respects, average homeowners are not that much different from operators of big oil sands developments - both go to great lengths to make their spaces safe and functional. 

Conservation vs. development: How to strike the right balance

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Stretching across the northern expanses of Canada, the boreal forest is considered to be one of the world’s most globally significant woodlands. To help preserve the natural heritage of this region, the International Boreal Conservation Science Panel has issued guidance on how best to balance conservation and industrial development in the area. One of their key recommendations - ensure that, at minimum, 50 per cent of this environmentally sensitive region be forever protected.

Finding common ground in the midst of controversy

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Amongst the noise and fury of claim and counter-claim, hyperbolic media rhetoric and fact-less, ad hominem arguments taking place as part of the North American energy debate, environmental organizations and oil and gas companies in Pennsylvania recently did something rather unusual, and almost beautiful.

Oil sands: A different perspective

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Now here’s something you don’t see every day: oil sands from space! Using a series of satellite images, NASA allows us to get a bird’s-eye view of how the Athabasca oil sands region has changed since 1984.

Fort McMurray: a diamond in the making

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As part of OSQAR’s 100th edition milestone celebration, we asked Suncor employees to share with us their views and ideas on oil sands development. 

How can oil sands operators become better neighbours to caribou?

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One of the oil sands industry’s most pressing concerns is its impact on woodland caribou herds. As an iconic Canadian species, and something of a bellwether for boreal forest health, we all want to see caribou thrive. 

Seeing the forest AND the trees

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Location, location, location — it’s as important for oil sands developers as it is for other businesses. For Suncor and its industry peers, the sought-after real estate is within the 142,200 square kilometres of land that lies atop Alberta’s oil sands.

'Twas the night before Christmas: A Suncor parody

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(With apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the site,
The conveyor belts were whirring, all through the night.
The hard hats were hung in the lunch room with care,
In hopes that the bus back to town would soon be there.