Community

Strong Sense of Community

More than 1,500 people volunteer in about 30 community organizations, clubs and religious groups, contributing approximately 80,000 hours of unpaid service.

Residents are active in organized lacrosse, curling, choir, pottery, dance, soccer, theatre, baseball, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, golf, autosports, heritage and historical preservation, birding, running, music and multicultural events.

About the region and the residents

Located in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Fort McMurray is the largest urban community serving the Athabasca oil sands region of northeastern Alberta.

Fort McMurray is a thriving and vibrant community nestled in the boreal forest at the confluence of the Clearwater and Athabasca rivers.

The Wood Buffalo area is rich in outdoor adventure opportunities and is a world-renowned location to enjoy the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).

The 2010 municipal census reports that:

The population of the regional municipality is approximately 104,338 and more than 76,000 of the population lives in the urban service area of Fort McMurray.
It is a young community – 98% of residents are 64 or younger; the largest census age group is 25 to 44 (41.8%). The majority of households (66.7%) are owner-occupied.

The 2006 federal census reports that:

It is an educated community – 64% of residents 25 or older have a post-secondary certificate, degree or diploma.
It is also an affluent community – the median income is $130,000.

About the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
and Fort McMurray

The World Health Organization has designated Wood Buffalo as a safe community. To date, only six communities in Canada have achieved this international recognition.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is home to the more than 44,000-kilometre Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO site.

Community and environmental health

The Government of Alberta is increasing access to health care through:

Plans to build two new community health clinics
Expanded emergency space
Ambulatory care departments at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre

Air quality is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Monitoring since 1995 shows improved or no change in long-term air quality for carbon monoxide, ozone, fine particulate matter and sulphur dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide, however, shows an increasing trend. Learn more about air.