I am writing to you from Fort McMurray, Alberta, where back in the 1700's the Aboriginals discovered the region's bitumen deposit and used it to seal their canoes. Today, bituminous sands, a.k.a. oil sands, are a vital energy resource. And that's why I'm here. API put together a two-day location tour of the Alberta oil sands to give reporters and bloggers an up close and personal look at how Canada and the U.S. can continue their energy partnership.

Canadian energy company Suncor Energy, Inc. hosted the first day of the tour. The day started early when we hopped on a coach bus bound for Suncor's mining site. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining, but unlike August in Washington, D.C., August in Alberta means 70 degrees and little humidity!

Once on site we were taken to the hear... more »