More about Fort McMurray
Posted by louise
Canada: the second largest country in the world. We just came from the largest country in the world, but you can't have everything. Alberta is the best of the west. It has fertile farmland, oil and gas in abundance. Exciting cities like Calgary and Edmonton and the incomparable Canadian Rockies for a playground. And of course:
Fort Mac Money as Fort McMurray is nicknamed!
Did you know this fact about the Northpole? Well the magnetism worked on us!
History of Fort McMurray
Ca. 1600
Beaver Indians lived in the area that is now northern Alberta, including Fort McMurray.
1778
Peter Pond built a fur trading post near Lake Athabasca. A shopping mall is named after him.
1782
The Hudson's Bay Company controlled the fur trade for several centuries, undertaking early exploration and dealing with the native Indians. This company still exists today and is one of the oldest companies in the world. My father dealt with these guys when he had a mink farm back in the seventies!
1819-1822
Sir John Franklin mapped 2000 miles of the Arctic Coast. Fort McMurray's main street is named after him: Franklin Avenue.
1870
The fur trading post was named Fort McMurray after the Hudson Bay's Company Chief Factor William McMurray (right).
1899
The Cree and Chipewyan Indians signed a treaty surrendering hunting grounds for reserves, tools and money.
Bad move.
1921-1932
First Car. First airplane and first airmail from Edmonton. Nowadays it still takes 2 weeks from the Netherlands for the mail to reach Fort Mac.
1967
Great Canadian Oil Sands official opening. Ten years later they found the remains of a woolly mammoth.
Fort McMurray today
Today Fort McMurray is a fast growing town and part of Wood Buffalo, one of the largest municipalities in North America (79,810 regional residents). It sounds good eh? But yes, it is a small town and it is remote. 
The major industries are oil sands, natural gas, and forestry and it is on Greenpeace's agenda. With over $125 billion in oil sands investment planned for the next decade, Wood Buffalo is the world's hottest regional economy. Well, that was before the economic crisis...
The size and remoteness of a town is relative, it all depends where you come from....
