Life in a Northern Town

Population
Approximately 70,000.

Average Home Price
Single-family homes were around $656,081 last December – a few percentage points lower than at the same time in 2007.

Weather
Winters are long with a January average of -19.8 C. Summers are short. Average temperatures peak in July at 16.6 C.

Commuter Route
Highway 63 north. Connect off Highway 28, just northeast of Edmonton, the start of 4.5-hour road trip. Flights depart daily from Edmonton, Calgary, even Toronto.

Median Household Income
$122,422 (2005, before taxes) for private households in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, most of which, population-wise, is Fort McMurray. That number’s double the provincial equivalent.

Economic Picture
As you’d expect, resource-based industries – oilsands primarily, but also pipelines, natural gas and forestry – account for most of the area’s economic activity. Much of the remainder comes from the construction to support it all.

Under Construction
To be completed this fall, the $176-million MacDonald Island Park rec centre will put pools, rinks and myriad fitness facilities under one giant roof in the middle of town. Besides that, housing starts continue at about 1,800 a year. The other newsmaker: 240 kilometres of Highway 63 are undergoing twinning at an estimated cost of more than $680 million.

Conversation Starter
The oilsands have slowed, but the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is still playing catch-up. Four hundred jobs, from general labourer to senior manager, immediately need filling in order to bring area services and infrastructure in line with the rest of Alberta.

Where to Eat
Try something locally owned and operated. Tio Mario whips up Italian from scratch. The Fish Place has the local Maritime population feeling much more at home. Make a reservation.

Where to Sleep
The pricier Radisson Hotel and Suites gets singled out for clean-liness and service. For value for money, travellers also recommend the Sawridge Inn and Conference Centre. To get off the beaten path, try a B&B like Chez Dubé Country Inn, Aurora or Hilltop Oasis.

Diversion
Visit the Oil Sands Discovery Centre for the history and the technology behind Alberta’s economic engine. For a story that goes back even further, try Heritage Park, operated during the summer by the Fort McMurray Historical Society. In the winter, with the Rockies so far away, nearby Vista Ridge should satisfy skier and snowboarder alike.