Ever since the Canadian explorer Alexander McKenzie repaired his canoe with tar derived from the Athabasca “Tar Sands” the Canadian province of Alberta always knew that they had a most wonderful asset for the future with a giant source of Alberta’s “black gold”.
Its not only the oil sands that has made Fort Mc Murray the regional hub for the area. Count in tourism , location a sound financial and retail infrastructure . Thus a solid infrastructure was in place to support the oil patch that has grown along with the Syncrude tar sands reclamation projects.
The population of Fort McMurray Alberta is less than 65, 000 and is a multicultural community. Half of its population is made up by native Albertans while about 20% are settlers from Newfoundland and Labrador. The city is one of the major hubs in oil production and houses two of the largest oil sand mining organizations Suncor Energy and Syncrude.
Housing prices in Fort McMurray is at its peak and is the costliest in all of Alberta despite its remoteness. The city’s natural beauty remains pure and unadulterated and provides for unparalleled vacation experiences. There are in-numerous sand dunes to be explored, trails to be hiked and pristine waters waiting to be fished.
What about climate. It is a matter of reasonable , even very nice summers but terribly cold – 40 degrees centigrade frigid type winters. Better have a working auto block heater for your vehicle – be it car or truck , if you are visiting the Fort come cold January or February weather conditions.
The downside of all of this prosperity that the Athabasca regional area is experiencing and enjoying is that the basis of the whole local economy is not diversified. Sure people may have other jobs , do other things and be in service industries – such as restaurants , bars , real estate or work in the health care fields in hospitals and clinics , yet in the end all the work and money is derived from the main industrial underpinning in the area – oil taken and extracted by high tech techniques of steam extraction of the mined Athabasca tar oil sands.
Fort McMurray Alberta offers a variety of fun and entertainment like 3-18 holes golf courses, billiard halls, bowling alleys, theatres, casinos, nightclubs and restaurants that cater to lower, medium and upper level incomes groups. Snowmobile tours, cross country skiing and ice fishing provide for excellent outdoor activities. Summer is the right time for hunting and fishing activities. Other events held at Fort McMurray Alberta include Blueberry festival, Famous Fish Fry, rubber duck race and many more.