Fort McMurray Minute: Issue 85

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

📅 This Week In Fort McMurray: 📅

• On Wednesday, at 2:30 pm, the Wood Buffalo Pro-Business Advisory Committee will meet. At 5:30 pm, the Public Art Committee will meet. Agendas are published for both meetings, but unfortunately, the attachments and information for each agenda item are not yet available.
  
  
• The Advisory Committee on Aging will meet on Thursday at 1:00 pm, followed by the Wood Buffalo Waterfront Advisory Committee at 5:00 pm. The situation is the same for this pair of meetings - agendas are available but no attachments or information about the individual items has been published. We’ll keep an eye on these meetings and let you know if anything important takes place!
  
  
• As Fort Chipewyan remains under a boil water advisory, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is studying options to move the community’s water intake deeper into Lake Athabasca or find an alternative source. The advisory was issued October 30th after low lake levels and strong winds stirred up sediment, making it difficult for the water treatment plant to balance chemicals. Officials say potable water is now being produced, and if testing meets provincial standards, the advisory could be lifted between November 10th and 14th. The intake study, being conducted with local First Nations and Alberta Environment, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
  
  
• The Wood Buffalo Food Bank in Fort McMurray has seen a 23% rise in clients over the past year, with a notable increase in people working full-time who now rely on its services. In October, 265 full-time workers sought help, compared to just 77 the previous year, while unemployment among clients also rose 15%. Executive Director Tiffany Stagg says demand is outpacing donations, forcing the organization to consider quarterly food drives as supplies run low. Rising grocery prices have made it harder to provide fresh produce, with hampers now lasting clients only about two weeks. The fall food drive raised $268,000 and 30,000 pounds of food, falling short of its $300,000 and 50,000-pound goal. Stagg noted that while community support remains strong, it’s no longer sufficient to meet growing needs. Nationally, Alberta saw an increase in food bank usage in 2025, up 21.8%.
  
  
• The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo wrapped up its 2025 construction season after advancing more than 50 projects across the region. Major initiatives included progress on the Northside Twin Arena, ongoing flood mitigation along the Clearwater River, and expanded water and sewer services in rural communities. The Northside Twin Arena is now shifting to interior construction, with an opening set for the 2026-27 hockey season, while the new Fort McKay Community Centre officially opened in August. Flood protection work on Hardin Street has reached its target elevation, with paving and landscaping to follow next year. Rural utility upgrades connected 90 new properties in several communities, bringing the total to 402 of 835 eligible homes. Other highlights included upgrades to the Anzac Recreation Centre, a new bridge in Saprae Creek, and streetscape improvements in downtown Fort McMurray. Most construction has now paused for the winter, with major projects set to resume in spring 2026.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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