Tag: downtown Fort McMurray

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Economic Ft Mac

Downtown Fort McMurray Now Offers Back to Business Resource Centre

A new Back to Business Resource Centre is finally open in downtown Fort McMurray, giving local businesses and companies a single centralized location where they can find resources and information that they need. The centre was funded by the Alberta province and it is located at 9816 Hardin St. on the first floor of the building. In a press release Minister of Economic Development and Trade Deron Bilous explained that “We want to be there with owners and workers through the challenges ahead and this one-stop-shop will make it easier for them to get tools and support from local organizations who understand their unique needs.” Mayor Melissa Blake stated “We want to thank the Government of Alberta for their generous support. These funds will allow us to make sure our local business owners can get back to a new business as usual.”

The downtown Fort McMurray Back to Business Resource Centre was made possible because of a partnership between many different entities. The provincial government took care of funding concerns, and the centre was coordinated by Wood Buffalo Economic Development. Other partners involved in making the centre a reality included the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, the Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association, Community Futures Wood Buffalo, the Fort McMurray Construction Association, and the Insurance Bureau of Canada. The centre is intended to be a portal which allows local businesses to access resources which can help them return to operation after the fire and evacuation. There are also business specialists who can offer guidance and support as well as business planning help.

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Economic Ft Mac

Fire Destroys Downtown Fort McMurray Apartment Building

As if the recent wildfire and evacuation was not enough a downtown Fort McMurray building was destroyed by a fire just days after the city finally reopened and evacuees started returning home. The Wood Buffalo RCMP has assured the public that the fire was not related to the wildfire but the exact cause of the blaze has not been identified yet. The Cassia Manor apartment complex was situated close to the corner of Marshall Street and Franklin Avenue, and it is part of the larger Franklin Landing complex. Firefighters arrived at approximately 8 pm to try to put out the blaze, which had engulfed many apartments on the top floors and spread very fast according to witnesses. Syncrude firefighting crews were also brought in to get the fire under control, and a light drizzle offered some much needed help in this area.

The fire at the downtown Fort McMurray apartment complex was mostly under control by 10 pm, but a thick smoke lingered for hours afterward. According to employees at the Home Hardware store located across the street from where the blaze happened there have been restoration crews working on the apartment building in recent days. Residents from nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution but the flames did not spread beyond the initial building. Returning Fort McMurray resident Paul Cardinal, who lives in a different apartment complex, told reporters “I am happy to be home, but this is starting to confirm what so many people were saying before and what I started to suspect when I saw Waterways when I drove home, and that is the city is not safe yet. Fires happen everywhere. I just want to believe my city is safe.”

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Economic Entertainment Ft Mac

Asti Trattoria Italiana is Now Open in Downtown Fort MacMurray

People searching for a great Italian restaurant in downtown Fort McMurray now have someplace new to visit since the opening of Asti Trattoria Italiana. Owned by Karen Collins the Italian eatery has a relaxed atmosphere and reviews of the food have all been enthusiastic and positive. Asti has replaced the more upscale Italian eatery Ristorante Cosa Nostra which closed, and the new place is located in the same location as the previous restaurant. Giovanni Poggio is head chef at Asti Trattoria Italiana, and Collins retained all of the staff from the former eatery although the space was reorganized. Members of the staff reside in Fort McMurray and the eatery could bring in much needed revenue to the downtown Fort McMurray area. In the initial days following the opening of the new Italian restaurant things were slow but business has picked up as more people realize that Asti Trattoria Italiana is in business.

When Collins was interviewed about opening Asti Trattoria Italiana in downtown Fort McMurray she discussed the expense, effort, and slow business in the beginning. Collins said “This was sort of a soft opening. I’m not too upset if we’re not busy. A lot of people have said it’s nice to see more of a relaxed atmosphere. Even the staff feels the difference, there’s a lot more laughter. If we get 30 to 40 customers a night, I’d be happy. We’ve done cost analysis. The lower prices should increase sales, whereas under Cosa Nosta prices were high, but the sales were low. And we’re trying some new concepts. It’s also available if a group comes in at night and they want to have family style platters, we can do that for them.”

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Ft Mac

Cora is New Restaurant in Downtown Fort McMurray Offering Breakfast and Brunch

new restaurant, downtown Fort McMurray

Downtown Fort McMurray has added a new restaurant for people in the area to frequent, and Cora offers a wide range of breakfast and brunch dishes on the menu. The restaurant is a franchise under local franchise owner Firas Farhat, and the chain was founded by Cora Tsouflidou. Visitors will find crepes, omelets, seasonal fruit, and many other delicious ideas which fit perfectly into the breakfast and brunch scheme. Farhat told the media that it took him 3 years to finally fulfill his dream and open up his own Cora franchise. Farhat has never owned a restaurant before although he does have experience with dealing with customers because he was the owner of the Syncrude Mildred Lake Village workcamp convenience store for 5 years. The grand opening of the resident included a visit by chain founder Cora Tsouflidou, and Fort McMurray Mayor Melissa Blake was also on hand for the event.

Tsouflidou discussed the new restaurant for her franchise in downtown Fort McMurray, and said “It’s two-three years that we’re talking at the office, that we should be here. It’s a great community. So many young families, so many children, so many people.” Farhat worked with three partners and approached Cora about opening a franchise location in Fort McMurray. The new franchise owner said “I’ve had people say they go outside of town just to go to a Cora’s. I couldn’t have picked a better franchise.” Farhat also explained why he chose this chain for a franchise by saying “The background of Ms. Cora, it just resonated with what I’m about. She did it for her kids. So what I wanted to do is I wanted to grow a business and, as my kids grow up, see their dad try to bring something to the Fort McMurray community and have it be successful.”