Fort McMurray Minute: Issue 103

Fort McMurray Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Fort McMurray politics

📅 This Week In Fort McMurray: 📅

• On Wednesday, at 2:00 pm, there will be a Homelessness Initiatives Strategic Committee. The Committee will receive a report that provides an update on homelessness trends and housing efforts between October 2025 and February 2026. The number of individuals on the by-name list (a registry tracking people experiencing homelessness) increased from 116 in October to a peak of 239 in January before declining slightly to 221 in February. Newly identified individuals entering the system ranged from 18 in October to a high of 42 in January, with 30 new individuals added in February. At the same time, more than 200 people each month were engaged with housing programs offering supports or permanent supportive housing. The total number of individuals housed through these programs gradually increased from 153 in October to 161 by February. Monthly move-ins also rose slightly, with 17 people housed in February compared to 12 in October and November. Additional program activity included transfers of individuals into housing programs, responses to encampments, and funding initiatives aimed at preventing homelessness after institutional discharge.
  
  
• Snow removal operations are continuing, with Winter Maintenance Subzones 3 and 4 scheduled for cleanup between March 16th and March 20th. On-street parking restrictions will be in effect during this period while crews load and haul snow to disposal sites, a process that typically occurs only once or twice each winter due to the time and resources required. Subzones 1 and 2 are expected to follow from March 23rd to March 27th. Crews will also continue working in Downtown and Thickwood over the weekend, with temporary no-parking signs placed 24 hours in advance. Residents are being asked to help keep garbage and recycling collection on schedule by placing bins in front of windrows and keeping lids clear of snow and ice. The Municipality is also reminding residents to clear sidewalks and driveways within 48 hours after snowfall and to stay informed through updates and local notices.
  
  
• Non-profits in Fort McMurray are increasingly turning to side hustles and business-like strategies to survive as traditional fundraising becomes more competitive and donor numbers decline. Organizations like Heartspark rely on founders using personal funds and constant grant applications to keep programs running, while others, such as The Children’s Centre, face potential layoffs and program cuts. Once-generous corporate and government donors have dwindled following economic shocks like the 2014 oil price collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2020 flood, leaving fundraising campaigns far below past levels. Leaders from the Boys and Girls Club are adopting revenue-generating activities - renting facilities, hosting markets, and offering party rentals - to maintain operations, though staff reductions and increased workloads are common. United Way’s local fundraising has dropped from $8 million in 2014 to $890,000 recently, highlighting the sector-wide challenge.
  
  
• Speaking of non-profits, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has approved an additional $542,775 in grants for local non-profits after a review of the 2026 Community Investment Program (CIP) applications. The funding, drawn from the Emerging Issues Reserve, supports five organizations that were previously denied, deemed ineligible, or only partially funded, including King’s Kids Promotions Outreach Ministries ($100,000), the Nigerian Canadian Association ($25,000), Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron 868 ($47,775), Markaz Ul-Islam Congregation ($320,000), and the Fort McMurray Golden Years Society ($50,000). The review panel examined 43 applications, mostly confirming prior decisions while recommending changes for these five groups. This follows the December 2025 announcement of 44 CIP grants totalling $7.5 million for recreation, arts, social services, sports, and community events. The panel is also exploring potential program updates, including a new operating grant stream and an appeal process, informed by a Deloitte review.
  
  
• Transit service updates in Fort McMurray will take effect on March 20th, following a Council motion to improve efficiency based on rider feedback and usage data. Key changes include increased weekend service for Route 1, which will now follow a consistent daily schedule, and adjustments to Route 3 to reduce delays. Transit On Demand will see additional afternoon peak-time availability, while Specialized Transit routes are being optimized to ensure travel times do not exceed 200% of direct travel durations. Furthermore, school bus schedules are being modified to better align with start and dismissal times for several local high schools, including Westwood Community and Holy Trinity Catholic. These updates aim to enhance reliability and minimize missed appointments for riders. Residents are encouraged to review the revised schedules and route information through the municipal website or the Pulse communication line.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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