As the urban centre at the heart of Canada’s oilsands industry, Fort McMurray has seen more than its share of ups and downs.
A decade and a half ago, the northern Alberta community was this country’s most famous boom town. High oil prices helped to drive unprecedented demand for the thick, viscous bitumen that lies beneath the earth’s surface here, and workers flocked from around the world to cash in on the bonanza.
Then crude prices crashed, layoffs began, and the frenzy of oilsands-related construction dried up. The party, it seemed, was over.
Now, with the official opening of the long-awaited Trans Mountain pipeline expansion just days away, those who live and work in this region hope their fortunes are once again headed for an upswing.
‘What supports them, supports us’ — a community tied to one industry
Fort McMurray, population 68,000, is situated in northern Alberta in the heart…
