Living in Fort McMurray
Relocation
Prepare yourself for your move to Fort McMurray. Find what you're looking for on Canadian Relocation Systems.
Housing
Outpost does not deal with contractual information and housing for expatriates is part of the expatriates` contract. In general, rotating expatriates will be allocated accomodation in camp such as Albian Village. Families and other expatriates will be assisted in finding a place to settle with help of a relocation agent. For more information contact your HR representative.
Health care
Upon arrival you'll be presented with a list of Doctors and Dentists. Please check with your relation agent or HR representative.
Driving in Fort McMurray
For rules and regulations on driving in Alberta, see the Alberta section, topic Driving. You'll find information on driving and traffic rules, optaining a drivers' license, car insurance, vehicle registration and importing a car into the country.
Below you'll find a list of registry agents in Fort McMurray.
Registry Agent |
Canada Brokerlink Registries |
Fort McMurray Vehicle Licensing & Registry |
Alberta Motor Association, Fort McMurray Service provided to members only |
Transport from Fort McMurray to work
Most employees take the bus to work. Depending on the location of your residency, the site you work at, weather and traffic conditions, the trip takes between 1 hr and 1 and 20 minutes. Check out the busroute on Diversified Transportation Ltd
Schools
Fort McMurray has Primary schools, High Schools and a College (Keyano College).
A list of schools can be found in the Community Guide, page 9 (electronic version).
Social life
It might be surprising to learn that Fort McMurray is so much more than just a place to work. Because the work attracts so many people from far away, people are here without their family network and find other ways to socialize. There are many clubs and organisations centered around
- hobbies (photography, quilting, pottery, visual art, bridge, music, gardening, performing art etc.)
- sports (hiking, curling, hockey, golf, down hill ski, cross country skiing, diving, running, thriatlon, soccer, football, rugby, tennis, badminton, rowing, swimming, dance, yoga, etc.)
- religion
- cultural background
- volunteer work
and many more.
The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo publishes a two-yearly Community Guide to Recreation, Arts and Culture. It lists a.o. youth and family programs, (sports) clubs and organisations, places of worship and tourist attractions.
Among the many clubs and organisations there is for example a group called "The Walkie Talkies". This is a diverse group of spouses who get together to walk the beautiful trails in Fort McMurray all year round but also meet for art lessons, bridge, golf, gym classes, sewing, community volunteer work and generally socializing. The group is not only made up of Shell spouses, some are local, but most are expatriates with a wealth of talents and most importantly friendship.
Full community calendar listings are also available on the website of Fort McMurray Today (newspaper). The free saturday edition of the Newspaper is a good source to find out what's on around Fort McMurray.
Outdoor activities
Fort McMurray is a great place to enjoy the outdoors year round. The regions' trail system is of an outstanding quality and suitable for summer activities like jogging, mountainbiking and hiking as well as winter activities like sledging and cross country skiing. Vista Ridge is a ski, ride and slide facility located just outside Fort McMurray. In summer the rivers and lakes are great for fishing, canoeing and other water sports.
Indoor facilities
Fort McMurray has a large range of indoor facilities. Among them is the brand new MacDonald Island Park Complex. The centre houses Fort McMurray Public Library and a full sports- and leisure centre. A 50m. swimming pool and waterpark is under development. There are two other swimming pools; the Centennial Pool and at the YMCA of Wood Buffalo.
The YMCA has served the Wood Buffalo region since 1975 with sportsfacilities, childcare and community programs.
On the south end of town there is Keyano College Syncrude Sport and Wellness Centre.
Volunteer work
Volunteer work is socializing with an added value. There are ample possibilities of volunteer work in the region. Volunteer Wood Buffalo is an organisation that that promotes, develops and supports volunteerism in the Wood Buffalo Region.
Tourism around Fort McMurray
There are a couple of interesting tourist spots worth while exploring, also with visitors. There is the Oil Sands Discovery Centre, an interesting (hands on) learning museum that presents the history, science and technology of Alberta's Oil Sands - the world's largest single deposit of oil.
Another interesting place is the Fort McMurray Heritage Centre. This Heritage Park is Fort McMurray's own little village locked in time. Go to the park during the summer months and take a stroll through history. You will find historic buildings and artifacts which showcase our community's unique history. From the early 1900s trapper's cabin and Catholic Mission to Walter Hill's Drugstore from the 1930s, Heritage Park preserves Fort McMurray and region's past for generations to come. Guided tours of Heritage Park are also available.
Fort McMurray is a good place to watch the Northern Lights and people make exciting trips to Fort Chipewyan via the ice road that opens in winter. For the latest news on tourism check out the website of Fort McMurray Tourism.
