Fort McMurray Minute: Merry Christmas, New Walmart, and the Vista Ridge Route

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

This Week In Fort McMurray:

• It’s Christmas on Wednesday. Thank you to every single one of our readers and supporters who reached out, donated, volunteered, or shared our content this year. We appreciate every single one of you and hope you have a wonderful holiday season filled with friends and family. Merry Christmas!
  
  
• We don’t often use these weekly emails to explicitly ask for support, but we’re in the middle of our year-end fundraiser, and we’ve set a goal to raise $5,000 by December 31st. This is a critical time for non-profits, and reaching our goal will ensure we can continue the important work we do. If you value what we bring to the table and want to see us keep going, please consider making a donation today. Every bit helps, and we’re deeply grateful for your support. You can contribute by clicking here. Thank you!
  
  
• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Regularly scheduled meetings will resume in January.

Last Week In Fort McMurray:

• RMWB Transit has added a new route. Starting January 4th and operating through March 29th, 2025, a pilot bus route will operate every Saturday to transport passengers to Vista Ridge ski hill. The bus will make stops at Timberlea, Thickwood, and Main Transit terminals, with a $2.00 fare per ride; seniors and children under five can ride for free. Skis and snowboards must be stored in cases, and passengers are responsible for loading and unloading their gear.
  
  
• Nicole Bourque-Bouchier and Gabriel David Tuccaro, both business leaders from Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo, have been named to the Order of Canada. They are the first people from the region to receive this distinction. Bourque-Bouchier was recognized for advancing women in business and promoting Indigenous economic development, while Tuccaro was acknowledged for his philanthropy and contributions to Indigenous business.
  
  
• Walmart announced the opening of a new Supercentre in Fort McMurray's Parsons Creek, which will be 45,000 square feet larger than the current downtown location. The new store will offer a broader range of products, including full food and general merchandise, and is expected to better serve the local community. Walmart Canada highlighted the increased capacity and convenient location, although no details were given about the future of the downtown store. The new Supercentre is part of Walmart's $300 million investment in expanding and upgrading stores across Alberta over the next two years. The official dates for the groundbreaking and the grand opening are yet to be announced.