Two downtown businesses were the victims of break and enters this weekend.

Wood Buffalo police say Urban Empire was targeted around 7 am Saturday and that clothing and cash was stolen.

Around half an hour later the alarm at Bob Barrett Men's Apparel was set off.

Two males were caught on camera entering the store and taking a cash register.

In both cases the front door to the business was smashed, but police say other than that, there is no indication that the two crimes are connected.

The cause of a fire that gutted a Beacon Hill townhouse remains under investigation.

The Fort McMurray Fire Department arrived at 711 Beacon Hill Drive around 7:20 Saturday night where smoke was seen coming from all windows.

The fire quickly burned through the floor causing major damage to the townhouse.

There were no reported injuries.

One local municipal councillor is out working on his own with a brand new communication-inspired initiative.

The first two of six sessions called "Conversations with John Vyboh" were held at the Quality Hotel over the weekend.

Attendance was modest for both sessions, which were not widely publicized; seven people turned out for Sunday's workshop.

Vyboh told Mix News he wanted to better communicate with his constituents on what they wanted to see for the future of the Wood Buffalo region.

"Hence the idea of having about six workshops, and they cover a wide range of areas from urban to rural, from taxation, fiscal framework, to the environment, to sustainability," he said.

"I think it's just really important to throw out a net as wide as possible so that I'm getting a very good idea of what people are thinking in these areas."

Sunday's session focused in on municipal services, and some of the ideas which were generated focused in on recycling and composting, roadways and transportation.

Vyboh used the help of Don Reimer, former General Manger of Communications for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to implement the sessions.