On June 7, 2022, A.U.G. Signals Ltd. (AUG), Fort McKay First Nation (Fort McKay), Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA), and University of Toronto (UofT) signed an MOU to install and operate AirSENCE in the community of Fort McKay, Alberta.

Fort McKay First Nation is located along the banks of the Athabasca River with approximately 800 members of Dene, Cree, and Métis descent. The community is situated in the boreal forest of northern Alberta and lies at the center of a large-scale oil sands extraction area. The influence of oil sands mining and processing on Fort McKay’s natural environment, public health, and politics has led to its participation in resource development discussions as a key stakeholder. The community is concerned about the environmental quality and liveability of reclaimed land; a rise in VOC (volatile organic compound) levels in the air surrounding the oil sands^[1] has been observed, and community residents are justifiably distressed about the potential health impacts of these emissions.

The WBEA has monitored and reported air quality in northeastern Alberta since 1997. WBEA’s Ambient Air Technical Committee (AATC), composed of representatives from its member organizations, sets the strategic direction for air monitoring in the region.

AirSENCE units installed at Fort McKay will provide continuous measurements of particulate matter (PM₁, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀), CO, CO₂, NO, NO₂, O₃, SO₂, H₂S, and VOC every minute. Access to this data will allow the community to keep tabs on local air quality and make better informed decisions to help protect the health and wellbeing of its residents as well as the surrounding environment. [1] FORT MCKAY FIRST NATION’S INVOLVEMENT IN RECLAMATION OF ALBERTA’S OIL SANDS DEVELOPMENT