Streets of gold, or streets full of potholes?
Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today Dec. 29, 2006
The streets in Fort McMurray are paved with gold.
This is a phrase that many Canadians, especially those who don't live here, know and believe. Many of those familiar with this phrase probably call us Fort McMoney to boot.
Is it true? Here's a quick analysis:
For
- While streets, in our real world, are paved with crumbling asphalt, the high wages here lead to the perception. The wages are real.
- Wages at all levels -- from entry level to union positions, specialist computer experts to mining engineers -- are way above the norm.
- Vacancies abound -- the health region alone has more than 100 jobs it's recruiting for and can't find the people to fill. The same is true at the municipality and almost every oilsands plant.
- You want to get ahead? Show up with a few skills and an abundance of enthusiasm and drive -- be someone who never uses the word "never," but search for new ways to do something, and you'll go far.
- Want to be your own boss? This is the place for entrepreneurs. Whether you want to provide a service that's already here or something new, there's plenty of room in the marketplace. And any competitors will probably welcome you with open arms -- you'll take some of the strain off them.
- Looking for a social group to join, or just make new friends? Fort McMurray is probably one of the most accommodating places in Canada when it comes to making connections. While much is made out of the male-female imbalance, it's not as big an issue as it seems. Many other centres have a large female senior overload, while that's not true here. In some age demographics, it's 50/50.
- Like the outdoor life? This region has it in spades. The year-round recreation opportunities are second to none. People come here from across the globe to canoe our rivers. Whether it's hunting, fishing or riding recreational vehicles, we have everything but big mountain ranges. And the paved link to the outside world puts us ahead of remote (and expensive) destinations like the north.
- People here have an upbeat attitude. Those who don't like the region leave after a short while and leave it for the long-timers who love it here.
There's a downside to the gold, too.
- Some are left behind in the rush to riches.
- The fast-growing economy leads to some unsafe lifestyles -- specifically alcohol and drug use and overuse. While these are problems everywhere, from small town to big city, it's possible that big salaries here make it easier to get caught up in a fast lifestyle without due regard for the consequences.
- The Fort McMurray Factor. Things cost more here. Large projects rise 1.5 per cent per month in cost. Some oilsands projects have more than doubled in cost.
- Time away from family. Almost everyone in Fort McMurray now came from somewhere else or their parents moved here in adulthood. Family is the foundation of our society. Without it, many of us are anchorless.
- The pursuit of money for its own sake. Sure, big-screen TVs and trucks with chrome and big tires are valid, hardly the way to an uplifting life. Again, this is a phenomenon of our society, but places like Fort McMurray play their part.
On balance, the gold in the streets is somewhat accurate, but far from the whole story.
If the ill-fated publicity campaign that Wood Buffalo hopes to pursue in 2007 is ever successful, it must address these issues.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
The streets in Fort McMurray are paved with gold.
This is a phrase that many Canadians, especially those who don't live here, know and believe. Many of those familiar with this phrase probably call us Fort McMoney to boot.
Is it true? Here's a quick analysis:
For
- While streets, in our real world, are paved with crumbling asphalt, the high wages here lead to the perception. The wages are real.
- Wages at all levels -- from entry level to union positions, specialist computer experts to mining engineers -- are way above the norm.
- Vacancies abound -- the health region alone has more than 100 jobs it's recruiting for and can't find the people to fill. The same is true at the municipality and almost every oilsands plant.
- You want to get ahead? Show up with a few skills and an abundance of enthusiasm and drive -- be someone who never uses the word "never," but search for new ways to do something, and you'll go far.
- Want to be your own boss? This is the place for entrepreneurs. Whether you want to provide a service that's already here or something new, there's plenty of room in the marketplace. And any competitors will probably welcome you with open arms -- you'll take some of the strain off them.
- Looking for a social group to join, or just make new friends? Fort McMurray is probably one of the most accommodating places in Canada when it comes to making connections. While much is made out of the male-female imbalance, it's not as big an issue as it seems. Many other centres have a large female senior overload, while that's not true here. In some age demographics, it's 50/50.
- Like the outdoor life? This region has it in spades. The year-round recreation opportunities are second to none. People come here from across the globe to canoe our rivers. Whether it's hunting, fishing or riding recreational vehicles, we have everything but big mountain ranges. And the paved link to the outside world puts us ahead of remote (and expensive) destinations like the north.
- People here have an upbeat attitude. Those who don't like the region leave after a short while and leave it for the long-timers who love it here.
There's a downside to the gold, too.
- Some are left behind in the rush to riches.
- The fast-growing economy leads to some unsafe lifestyles -- specifically alcohol and drug use and overuse. While these are problems everywhere, from small town to big city, it's possible that big salaries here make it easier to get caught up in a fast lifestyle without due regard for the consequences.
- The Fort McMurray Factor. Things cost more here. Large projects rise 1.5 per cent per month in cost. Some oilsands projects have more than doubled in cost.
- Time away from family. Almost everyone in Fort McMurray now came from somewhere else or their parents moved here in adulthood. Family is the foundation of our society. Without it, many of us are anchorless.
- The pursuit of money for its own sake. Sure, big-screen TVs and trucks with chrome and big tires are valid, hardly the way to an uplifting life. Again, this is a phenomenon of our society, but places like Fort McMurray play their part.
On balance, the gold in the streets is somewhat accurate, but far from the whole story.
If the ill-fated publicity campaign that Wood Buffalo hopes to pursue in 2007 is ever successful, it must address these issues.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
7 Comments:
Your quote "Vacancies abound -- the health region alone has more than 100 jobs it's recruiting for and can't find the people to fill. The same is true at the municipality and almost every oilsands plant."
Personally I really don't get this!
I am a 47 year old man. I have a family, I am reliable, and I do have some skills.
Last May I left my job in order to get more education in order to get ahead of the game.
I spent 5 months in College to get my "Environmental Technician Diploma" I now possess 30 + certifications in the Environment/Safety field.
Now, my problem, I read articles online, in news papers, all over the place on how easy it was to get work in Fort Mac etc.
Now for the last 7 weeks I have been trying to get employed to no avail. I have sent out my resume to at least 25 to 35 sites in order to get employment.
My goal was to get employed as a "Safety Officer", that I assumed there was a demand for. Where are all these jobs anyway? No need for me to mention how frustrated I am.
Do I have to buy myself a job, is that how this works?
dugasguy@gmail.com
Excellent editorial, it is rare that writers take a balanced approach such as this when Fort McMurray is their subject. I have added a link to this on my own blog Fort McMurray jobs.
Im an apprentice electrician who just moved here allmost 1 1/2 ago with my spouces whole family from Newfoundland because i was told about the great jobs here in Fort Mcmurray..Lots of jobs yes but here i am even tho working full time and im still trying to get a job in my career feild! After hundreds of e-mails and resumes and personal visits to companys looking to hire electricians , still no go..I dont get it!...I was told this was the place to make lots of money ,and get your journeymans in no time....Did i miss something allong the way? ...Why is it noone wants to hire 1st year apprentice electricians up here, or so it would seem to me anyway..How can i advance if noone will hire me to train me..Not everything is about the oilsands people...some of us just want a chance to succeed in our trades..Is that too much to ask for?..
Dont believe everything you hear about Fort mcmurray, lots of jobs and above average pay but there are alot of min, wage jobs mixed in there too and 40% of Fort mcmurray residents are only working min. wage jobs so dont be fooled by the ads!..You have to life here to be considered avail, and be taken seriously too by the oilsands companys so i find because they dont want to be paying for turnaround posistions, and without certificates by the dozens even the bullshit ones youll need for any one to consider hiring you up here..its a mofia town in a way...the town gets rich as well by ticketing motorists for some of the most ridiculess bylaws ive ever heard of in Canada..And every year theres a new one introduced..Lots of crime here too and homelessness, come see for yourself...but the work and money is here for anyone to take a grab at just the same...this town isnt all sunshine and roses let me tell you that now!....40 % of Newfoundlanders make up the pop. of Fort mcmurray, another 40% of the pop.are philipinos and the other 20% are natives and other cultures ..., so offcourse culture clashes are inevitable!
Dont believe everything you hear about Fort mcmurray, lots of jobs and above average pay but there are alot of min, wage jobs mixed in there too and 40% of Fort mcmurray residents are only working min. wage jobs so dont be fooled by the ads!..You have to life here to be considered avail, and be taken seriously too by the oilsands companys so i find because they dont want to be paying for turnaround posistions, and without certificates by the dozens even the bullshit ones youll need for any one to consider hiring you up here..its a mofia town in a way...the town gets rich as well by ticketing motorists for some of the most ridiculess bylaws ive ever heard of in Canada..And every year theres a new one introduced..Lots of crime here too and homelessness, come see for yourself...but the work and money is here for anyone to take a grab at just the same...this town isnt all sunshine and roses let me tell you that now!....40 % of Newfoundlanders make up the pop. of Fort mcmurray, another 40% of the pop.are philipinos and the other 20% are natives and other cultures ..., so offcourse culture clashes are inevitable!
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Excellent job, Its a great blog story about Fort McMurray. Through your story i take more useful information regarding this Fort place related. Its very nice location and good Transport to Fort McMurray.
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