The long term care facility that Fort McMurray residents have been looking forward to will be relocated from Parsons Creek to Willow Square according to the latest announcement on this facility. This facility has been in the planning stage for years as squabbles and negotiations were drawn out and protracted. A Coming Soon sign about the facility has been standing all alone for the last 3 years, and many have begun to suspect that the facility will never materialize. An announcement by the provincial government about the site relocation could mean even further delays. According to Sarah Hoffman, the Minister of Health, the relocation was necessary. Hoffman stated “You have to make decisions taking community perspective into consideration. And the community definitely spoke loud and clear on this one.”

The long term care facility move from Parsons Creek to Willow Square is just one more step in a process that seems to have gone on far too long for many local residents and members of the Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo communities. The press attache for Hoffman sent an email which explained that “The government intends to recoup as much of the investment as possible and is considering future development opportunities. The design may also be used for other developments as well as the prefabricated wall panels, which could be used on a similar project at another location.” Hoffman also said “It was clear that the desire to have it in the right location — especially after waiting so long — was the driving factor. They said ‘you know, we want it tomorrow, but we want it in the right place forever’.” Where do you think the new facility should be located? Why?