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Ft Mac

The Fort MacMurray School System

The school system in Fort MacMurray has two components, the public school district and the Catholic school district. Each is made up of several schools that cover from pre kindergarten up through the 12th grade. The Fort MacMurray Public School District is composed of 7 elementary schools, 1 junior high school, 2 senior high schools, and 3 alternative and special education programs. The elementary schools are Beacon Hill School, Doctor K. A. Clark, Ecolé Dickinsfield, Greely Road, Thickwood Heights, Timberlea, and Westview. The junior and senior high schools are Ecole McTavish Community High, Composite High, and Westwood Community High. Fort McMurray Islamic, Fort McMurray Christian, and Frank Spragins High are the alternative and special programs in the local public school district. These schools do not require any tuition, and some offer classes in English as well as French.

The Fort MacMurray Catholic School District is the other component in the local school system. This system includes 10 schools and there is an additional school that will be added by the end of 2015. In addition to the schools there is also a Science and Technology Center and a Performing Arts Theater. The schools included in this district are St. Martha’s, Father J.A. Turcotte, Good Shepherd, Father Beauregard, Ecole St. Paul, St. Gabriel, Sister Mary Phillips, St. Anne, Father Patrick Mercredi Community High School, and Holy Trinity Catholic High School. The additional school opening soon will be St. Kateri. The Fort MacMurray Catholic schools usually involve a tuition payment and the amount will depend on several factors.

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Ft Mac

What Well Known People Have Resided in Fort MacMurray?

Fort MacMurray has been called home by a notable cast of residents, and a number of famous people have been born here or lived some part of their lives in the area. Actress Tantoo Cardinal is one notable resident, and another is actress Natasha Henstridge. Film stars are not the only individuals who find the remote beauty of Fort MacMurray appealing though, hockey players, singers, and musicians have also resided in the region. The front man Nils Edenloff, who is active with the group The Rural Alberta Advantage, has been a resident of Fort MacMurray. Singer Aaron Lines is also a notable individual who has lived here. The scenic beauty of the area draws in many types of people, and individuals from many different income levels and industries.

Some of the notable residents of Fort MacMurray are well known ice hockey players, and the region tends to draw these athletes. Colin Murphy, Chris Phillips, and Justin Pogge are just a few of the ice hockey players who have come to the Fort MacMurray area. Nolan Pratt and Scotty Upshall are other famous celebrity athletes who have enjoyed time in the region. Singer Aaron Lines and voice and television actor Tony Sampson have also called Fort MacMurray home. The population of the city is very diverse, and many people from various sectors who are not as well known have also resided here. A significant part of the population involves those in the petroleum and oil industry because of the Athabasca Oil Sands close by.

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Canada World

What are the Athabasca Oil Sands?

The Athabasca Oil Sands consist of large bitumen and heavy oil deposits, and these oil sands are situated in Alberta close to Fort MacMurray. The region is home to the biggest bitumen deposit in the world, and the original Cree population in the area used the deposits from the surface of the sand to waterproof canoes. Today several oil companies have operations in the area and Fort MacMurray is a vital part of the oil recovery operations. The Athabasca Oil Sands are not actually pure sand, instead the material is a mixture of water, silica sand, cruse bitumen, and clay minerals all combined together. The oil produced from these oil sands is vital to meeting the oil and energy needs of Alberta and the rest of Canada.

The Athabasca Oil Sands may also be referred to as the Alberta tar sands, the Athabasca tar sands, or just the sands or oil sands to locals in the area. The buries oil products are situated underneath many acres of forest and peat bogs. There are more than one and a half trillion barrels of crude bitumen contained in the Athabasca Oil Sands. Fort MacMurray has seen an incredible amount of growth over the last 10 years as more oil companies have started to explore, develop, and recover crude bitumen and other petroleum products. Much of the population of Fort MacMurray relies on the oil sands for their livelihood, and the economic boom continues to grow and expand even today. There are always employment opportunities for those who are looking for work in the oil industry in this area.

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Entertainment Ft Mac

What’s Playing in Fort MacMurray?

The main movie theater in Fort MacMurray is the Landmark Fort MacMurray, and this theater offers a wide selection of movies for kids and adults alike. Current films available at this venue include:

 

  • Edge of Tomorrow- This is a science fiction flick that stars Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise, and it has had some exciting reviews so far.
  • 22 Jump Street- If you are in the mood for an action movie with a comedy twist then this hilarious film featuring Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum may be a good pick.
  • How to Train Your Dragon 2- If you have kids, or you just enjoy animated movies with endearing story lines then this magical movie may be an excellent choice for you and your family.
  • The Fault in Our Stars- This is a romantic piece with a flair for drama, perfect for a chick flick, and it stars Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley.
  • Maleficent- Older kids who like adventure and a little scare now and then will really enjoy Maleficient, featuring Angelina Jolie as the evil witch and costarring Elle Fanning.
  • X-Men: Days of Future Past- Wolverine is back with a vengeance, and if you are hoping for plenty of action and excitement then this latest in the X Men legacy will not leave you wanting. Hugh Jackman and James McAvoy star n this film.
  • Transformers: Age of Extinction- If you have seen any of the previous Transformer movies then you know what to expect and you won’t be disappointed.
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Canada Ft Mac World

Interesting Facts About Fort MacMurray International Airport

  • Fort MacMurray International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Canada, with more than 80,000 flight arrivals and departures and almost two million passengers in the last year alone.
  • There is just a single runway at Fort MacMurray International Airport. This runway is made of asphalt and it is more than 7,500 feet long.
  • A new terminal was just completed at the airport to provide room for additional passengers, flights, and staff.
  • Fort MacMurray International Airport is a public airport that is owned and operated by the Fort MacMurray Airport Authority. This is a not for profit organization.
  • In 2013 alone the economic activity  generated by Fort MacMurray International Airport was more than $400 million dollars. The airport is vital to the surrounding community and the oil production efforts in the area.
  • There are over 15 food and beverage outlets in the airport. These include Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Subway, Burger King, Jugo Juice, Earl’s Kitchen, and others.
  • Fort MacMurray International Airport features approximately 22,000 parking spaces that have power, and there are 4 parking stands for aircraft and 4 air bridges as well.
  • A shuttle bus service and a play area for children are just a couple of the amenities that visitors will find at Fort MacMurray International Airport.
  • There are 7 different airlines that arrive and depart at this airport. These include Air Canada, Air Canada Express, McMurray Aviation, Sunwing Airlines, WestJet Encore, Northwestern Air, and WestJet.
  • There are 2 baggage carousels at Fort MacMurray International Airport for passenger luggage.
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Ft Mac

What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in Alberta?

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program, or TFWP for short, is a program that is operated by the Canadian government which allows for temporary workers to enter into Canada and work in the country when necessary due to a labor shortage of some type. Thousands of workers from foreign lands come into Canada each year in order to work, but the TFWP has specific restrictions and limitations. In order for a foreign worker to come into Canada there may be a number of permits and licenses that are required, depending on the job offer, employment classification, and other relevant factors. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is supervised by the Employment and Social Development Canada and the Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The goal fo the program is to promote economic growth in the country and help employers find the needed workers if there is a shortage for any reason.

The The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is currently being overhauled by the Canadian government to ensure that Canadian citizens and workers are given a fair chance in the labor market before foreign workers can be brought in to fill positions. The overhaul is being performed to eliminate confusion about the program and to ensure that Canadians are being put first. Transparency and accountability will increase as a result of the overhaul. In the past some Canadian workers had complained that foreign workers were being used while qualified citizens were not given an opportunity for employment. The current overhaul is expected to address these concerns and others.