Fort McMurray Minute: Issue 96

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

📅 This Week In Fort McMurray: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 5:00 pm, there will be a Council Meeting. The Municipality will officially proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month. Mayor Sandy Bowman will highlight the region’s social, cultural, and ethnic diversity and recognized the courage, resilience, and contributions of Black Canadians across generations. Residents are being invited to celebrate Black History Month and learn more about the experiences and achievements of Black Canadians throughout the community.
  
  
• The Fort Chipewyan Spray Park Feasibility Study, conducted in 2025, will be presented to Council for information. The study assessed the potential development of a spray park while considering additional community needs, including the possible expansion of Mamawi Community Hall following the demolition of the nearby old childcare building. Administration recommends analyzing synergies between the spray park and Mamawi Hall projects to ensure future investments align with the community’s priorities. A consolidated report combining findings from both feasibility studies will be presented to Council in Q4 2026.
  
  
• The Municipality is recommending that $274,578 previously committed to the Fort Chipewyan Historical Society (FCHS) for 2022 and 2023 Sustaining Grants be decommitted and redirected to the 2026 Community Services operating budget. FCHS became ineligible for Community Investment Program funding due to non-compliance with grant reporting and was struck from the Alberta Corporate Registry in June 2025, ceasing its caretaking of the Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial Museum. The Municipality has since secured a temporary Right of Entry Agreement with the Government of Alberta to resume utilities and access the museum for assessment and preservation. Redirecting the funds allows the Municipality to cover caretaking costs, maintain the site, and preserve the museum’s collection and archives without any new budget impact. 
  
  
• Council will hear the results of the 2025 Municipal Census, conducted between April 1st and June 30th, 2025. The results show the total population has grown to 107,740, a 1.6% increase from 2021, driven by more permanent residents and a decline in temporary workers and work camps. Most residents live in Fort McMurray, though rural communities such as Janvier, Saprae Creek Estates, Anzac, and Conklin also saw growth. The population remains young and working-age, with 43% between 20 and 44, while seniors represent 5.5% and are increasingly choosing to stay in the region. Census 2025 also captured household pets for the first time, reporting over 18,000, highlighting community needs for veterinary and animal services. These results will inform municipal planning, service delivery, and funding allocations, and will be submitted to the Government of Alberta for official approval and publication.
  
  
• The 2026 Public Art Work Plan will be presented to Council. The Work Plan, guided by the 10-year Wood Buffalo Public Art Plan adopted in 2021, outlines priorities and projects to support the region’s cultural identity, storytelling, and sense of place. Key program areas include acquisitions of artwork by regional and Treaty 8 artists, temporary art projects such as street banners, murals, and exhibit leases, and permanent public art installations at public sites, including the waterfront, Northside Twin Arena, and Fort Chipewyan. Administration is requesting $816,500 from the Public Art Reserve Fund to support the Work Plan, which is financed through a 0.5% allocation of annual capital project costs. The plan was developed with input from the Council-appointed Public Art Committee and aligns with the municipality’s goal of strengthening community identity through public art.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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