Fort McMurray

I’ve lived in Fort McMurray for almost two decades, and somewhat disagree with all the negative things being said about it.

I understand that there’s a large drug/crime problem here, but to tell you the truth, if you’re not into drugs/crime, it won’t affect you all that much. The town is bursting at the seams, many people are angry, I’m going to tell you why I am not.

I have a wonderful home here, a happy family, many good friends. We are all involved in some sport or another, and are quite social. We have barbecues with friends, go boating, hiking, and camping in the summer, skiing, tubing, snowshoeing and sledding in the winter. Our kids attend a great school, and maintain excellent grades.

We donate time and money to many charities, and try our best to give back to the community.

Those that hate it here and vow to never come back, slamming it the whole time, usually didn’t try all that hard to make the best of their time here. It doesn’t really matter where they go, they’ll probably be miserable everywhere.

Fort McMurray is my home, and will be for a long time. Those who want to come here and make big bucks, please be sure you come armed with an education of some sort. Don’t expect something for nothing. Too many people come here to find the streets paved with gold, and end up drugged out behind the 7-11 downtown, or outside the Center of Hope.

Life’s what you make it.

Hey I agree with the fact that the city is a money pit that attracts all walks of life, and yes a vast quantity of the population is Newfoundlanders. But referring to bizziegurl’s response, you have no idea what it’s like in newfoundland so don’t let your uneducated ignorance spill onto the pages of these sites. Our province does not see the magnitude of crime that exists out here. You can go on George street at the busiest time of year with thousands of people and you might see a fight. But here..a simple pub across the street will involve cops every night of the week, and a murder or two is just something that might come with it. People leave an area of economic instability to find a better, promising future..the nature of mankind honey! We’re just here to make money and get the fuck out.

I live here. Have for the past 7 years. It is hands down the armpit of the universe. Yah…you can buy a trailer for $320,000 if you are lucky. But that is just for the trailer, that doesn’t include the cost of the postage stamp sized piece of property it sits on. You get to buy that separately. We pay $4250.00 for a tiny little house that has no grass, so when it rains the back yard is one big mud puddle, and the basement bedroom is so cold it is unfit to live in it. People ask why don’t we buy. Good question. If the basic housing prices were sitting over $600,000 that would be great. The people are rude, there is no such thing as customer service, the place is littered with homeless people and garbage, like I mean tons of garbage. You can’t go walking through the pathetic mall without passing every second teenager pushing a baby carriage. The teenage boys dress like they are some kind of Eminem wanna be, and the girls look like something out of a Jay Z video. The women cheat on their men when they are on night shift, and the men cheat on their women when they “go sledding with the boys”. All this only tells me one thing. Most of the population here is Newfie. If they treat McMurray like this, than Newfoundland must suck. So why don’t I just pack up and move you ask! I am counting down the days now when my son graduates from high school and I can move back to reality. Hopefully somewhere where the city actually builds a dog park that has four sides.

Just like Edmonton, but worse & smaller.

Travel tips: DON’T GO TO FORTMAC!!!!! ROFL!!!

i have to say “worth visiting” because you really have to see it to believe it. And (overlooking the massive oilsands industrial operations) canada’s largest national park is right there, and the boreal forest is pretty darned cool all on it’s own….