The northern section of the city is mostly residential with several ponds and creeks, as well as the Athabasca River in the eastern area. There are a number of businesses located along Memorial Drive and Confederation Way, as well as a water park and an athletic park.
Being more densely populated, the central section of town has a wider variety of amenities in numerous commercial areas. Restaurants, service providers, retail stores, indoor recreational options, a movie theatre, churches, schools, and parks are all available here.
With the exception of a few businesses, the southern section of Fort McMurray is almost entirely residential. Rivers and creeks run through this section, and the Fort McMurray International Airport can also be found here.
Entertainment and Tourism
The Oil Sands Discovery Centre is an educational facility that aims to educate visitors about the Athabasca Oil Sands, of which the city of Fort McMurray is a part. The Athabasca Oil Sands is the world’s biggest single oil deposit, and the centre provides information about the oil sands, the extraction of oil from the area, and uses for the oil that is extracted. The centre includes various film showings, exhibits, and demonstrations.
Syncrude Athletic Park features multiple sports fields and baseball diamonds, an outdoor skating rink (winter only), as well as spectator seating. The park also has a clubhouse that is open year-round. The clubhouse includes meeting rooms, an atrium, a large kitchen facility, change rooms with showers, an outdoor patio, outdoor picnic tables, and audio and video equipment for presentations. Various spaces in the clubhouse can be rented for private events such as birthdays, weddings, or group meetings.
Economic
The largest industry in Fort McMurray is oil production from the Athabasca Oil Sands. Major companies operating in Fort McMurray include Syncrude, Suncor Energy, Nexen, Shell, and CNRL. Many of those working in the oil industry in Fort McMurray have come from other cities, creating an industry boom that has increased residential construction needs. Other important industries in the city include natural gas and oil pipelines, forestry, and tourism.
Wood Buffalo Economic Development is an organization dedicated to supporting and promoting small businesses and entrepreneurial endeavours in the region. Various workshops, programs, and networking events help connect and educate business owners and their staff.
Real Estate Market
Newly built, higher priced single-family homes are most common in the northern section of Fort McMurray. The houses here tend to be large, with smaller yards. Mobile home options are also available in some areas of this section, and tend to be more affordable.
Condos in the central section can be a more affordable option for those looking to buy in Fort McMurray, and many of the buildings are newer. Single-family homes, commercial properties, and vacant land at various prices can also be found in this section.
Plenty of commercial space can be found in the southern section, mostly in industrial-style buildings. Reasonably priced mobile home options are also common here. Condo units are available, as is vacant land that tends to be higher-priced than in other sections of the city.
Average Home Price: $401,419
Average Condo Home Price: $83,707
Average Detached Home Price: $544,971
Average Townhouse Price: $158,386
Average Single Family Home Price: $315,714
Data source:Â Alberta Real Estate Association (AREA) report for 2020/2021.
Education
Examples of Fort McMurray schools include Dickinsfield School, McTavish Junior High Public School, Walter and Gladys Hill Public School, Holy Trinity School, Timberlea Public School, Christina Gordon Public School, Westview School, Fort McMurray Composite High School, Fort McMurray Christian School, St. Paul’s Elementary School, K. A. Clark School, Thickwood Heights School, Westwood Community High School, and Beacon Hill School.
Keyano College is the only post-secondary option in the city, and offers courses in art and design, business, healthcare, trades, and education. Other options require residents to travel outside of the city, and include Northern Lakes College (southwest of Fort McMurray) and Portage College (south of Fort McMurray).