Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (abbreviated RMWB)<ref name="RMWB">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="twitterrmwb">Template:Cite web</ref> is a specialized municipality in northeast Alberta, Canada. It is the largest regional municipality in Canada by area, covering Template:Convert; this number includes the Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada.<ref name=2006CSDs>Template:Cite web</ref> It is home to oil sand deposits known as the Athabasca oil sands.

History

The Municipality of Wood Buffalo was incorporated as a specialized municipality on April 1, 1995 as a result of the amalgamation of the City of Fort McMurray and Improvement District No. 143.<ref name=AMAProfile1>Template:Cite web</ref> Specialized municipality status was granted to provide "for the unique needs of a municipality including a large urban centre and a large rural territory with a small population."<ref name=AMAProfile1/> The Municipality of Wood Buffalo subsequently changed its name to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on August 14, 1996.<ref name=AMAProfile1/>

June 2013 floods

By June 12, 2013, after many days of heavy rain, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo declared a state of emergency. They organized evacuations from some areas and placed others under boil water advisories as local waterways, such as the Hangingstone River, rose to dangerously elevated levels Template:Convert south of Fort McMurray, causing the closure of Highway 63.<ref name=CBC12June2013>Template:Cite news</ref>

“The Beast” Horse River Wildfire (2016)

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} From May 3, 2016 on, over 80,000 people were affected by evacuations, by May 3 at 6:49 pm, the entirety of Fort McMurray and surrounding areas were placed under a mandatory evacuation.<ref name="largestAB">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="FMCCBC">Template:Cite web</ref> making it Alberta's largest evacuation for a wildfire.<ref name="largestAB"/>

April 2020 floods

By April 30, 2020, after a 25-kilometre-long ice jam formed in the Athabasca River, flooding the northern Alberta city's downtown and surrounding areas, and forcing 13,000 people from their home, Fort McMurray's spring flood caused more than $520 million in insured damage, according to new numbers from the Insurance Bureau of Canada. That flood damage was followed by $1.2 billion in damage from a hailstorm in Calgary, Airdrie and Rocky View County, flooding in Edmonton in July and another storm in Calgary on July 24.

Geography

The Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo is in the northeast corner of the province of Alberta.<ref name=basemap>Template:Cite map</ref> It borders the province of Saskatchewan to the east; the Northwest Territories to the north; Improvement District No. 24 (Wood Buffalo National Park), Mackenzie County, and the Municipal District of Opportunity No. 17 to the west; and Athabasca County and the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87 to the south.<ref name=basemap/> The Athabasca River meanders northward through the central portion of the RM of Wood Buffalo before emptying into Lake Athabasca.<ref name=basemap/> Some of its water bodies include Christina Lake, Gardiner Lakes, Garson Lake, Gipsy Lake, Gordon Lake, Gregoire Lake, McClelland Lake, Namur Lake, Richardson Lake, and Winefred Lake (also partially within Lac La Biche County and the Municipal District of Bonnyville No. 87).<ref name=basemap/> Discharging northward from Lake Athabasca is Riviere des Rochers, which at its confluence with the Peace River becomes the Slave River.<ref name=basemap/> The Slave River forms much of the RM of Wood Buffalo's boundary with Improvement District No. 24 north of the confluence. Land formations include the Birch Mountains northwest of Fort McKay, Fort Hills north of Fort McKay, and Thickwood Hills west of Fort McMurray.<ref name=basemap/> A portion of the Peace-Athabasca Delta is also within the RM of Wood Buffalo.<ref name=basemap/>

Communities and localities Template:Anchor

Template:Col-begin

Template:Col-break The following urban municipalities are surrounded by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo:<ref name=communities>Template:AltaML</ref>

Cities

• none

Towns

• none

Villages

• none

Summer villages

• none

Template:Col-break The following hamlets are located within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo:<ref name=communities/>

Hamlets

• Anzac
• Conklin
• Fort Fitzgerald<ref>Template:AltaMC</ref>
• Fort Chipewyan
• Fort McKay
• Fort McMurray (urban service area)
• Gregoire Lake Estates
• Janvier South
• Saprae Creek

Template:Col-end

The following localities are located within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo:<ref name=localities>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col

• Almac Subdivision
• Beaver Lake-Young's Beach
• Bechtel Syncrude Camp
• Berdinskies
• Berny
• Big Eddy
• Billos
• Bitumount
• Brièreville
• Chard<ref name=AltaGNS>Template:Cite map</ref>
• Charron
• Cheecham
• Christina Crossing
• Corbetts
• Devenish
• Dog Head
• Draper
• Egg Lake
• Template:Not a typo
• Template:Not a typo Portage
• Fitzgerald<ref name=AltaGNS/>
• Fitzgerald 196
• Fitzgerald Settlement
• Fort Smith Settlement
• Gourin
• Grandin
• Improvement District No.143
• Kenny Woods
• Kinosis
• Le Goff
• Leismer
• Lenarthur
• Lynton
• Maloy
• Mariana Lake
• Mildred Lake
• Old Fort
• Pelican Settlement
• Pingle
• Point Brule
• Quigley
• Rossian
• Sandy Rapids
• Tar Island
• Waterways
• Willow Trail
• Wolyn

The following settlements are within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo:<ref name=basemap/> Template:Div col

• Chipewyan
• Fitzgerald (Smith Landing)
• Janvier South
• Mariana
• McKay
• St. Bruno Farm (also partially within Improvement District No. 24)

First Nations have the following Indian reserves within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo:<ref name=basemap/> Template:Div col

• Allison Bay 219
• Charles Lake 225
• Chipewyan 201
• Chipewyan 201A
• Chipewyan 201B
• Chipewyan 201C
• Chipewyan 201D
• Chipewyan 201E
• Chipewyan 201F
• Chipewyan 201G
• Clearwater 175
• Collin Lake 223
• Cornwall Lake 224
• Cowper Lake 194A
• Devil's Gate 220
• Dog Head 218
• Fort McKay 174
• Fort McKay 174C
• Fort McKay 174D
• Gregoire Lake 176
• Hokédhe Kué 196E
• House River Indian Cemetery 178
• Janvier 194
• Kʼı Kué 196D
• Łı̨ Dezé 196C
• Namur Lake 174B
• Namur River 174A
• Old Fort 217
• Sandy Point 221
• Tthebacha Náre 196A
• Thebathi 196
• Tsʼu Kʼadhe Kué 196F
• Tsu Túe 196G
• Winefred Lake 194B

Hydrology

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is in the lower basin of the Athabasca River watershed and Fort McMurray is the largest community on the banks of the river.<ref group=notes>The Athabasca River originates in Jasper National Park. It is fed by the Athabasca Glacier within the Columbia Icefield, at an altitude of approximately Template:Convert. The river travels Template:Convert before discharging through the Mackenzie River system into the Arctic Ocean through the Northwest Territories. Its course is marked by rapids, impeding navigation southwest of Fort McMurray.</ref> Local rivers include the Hangingstone River, Clearwater River and Christina River, a tributary of the Clearwater River.

The Hangingstone River drains an area of Template:Convert, which is dominated by muskeg,Template:Citation needed and flows into the Clearwater River just upstream of the Athabasca River at Fort McMurray.<ref name=RAMPHangingstone>Template:Cite report</ref> The river often experiences high flows in the spring during snow melt, during heavy rainfall events and when ice jams occur during spring ice break. The RMWB warns citizens of the potential for sudden flash floods "especially in populated areas adjacent to the Athabasca River, Clearwater River and Christina River." Water levels have been monitored by the Water Survey of Canada since 1970 (WSC station 07CD004). During the spring months there is increased monitoring of the "Clearwater River to the south of the urban service area to provide warning of an ice break" and the "Athabasca River upper basin, local river levels, precipitation and overall weather patterns."<ref name=flooding>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Clearwater River,<ref group=notes>Clearwater river is named because of its "unspoiled, clear-water river in a pristine isolated "wilderness setting of spectacular beauty."</ref><ref name=clearwater>Template:Cite web</ref> designated as part of the Canadian Heritage Rivers System, flows Template:Convert from its headwaters at Lloyd Lake in northwest Saskatchewan into northeast Alberta before joining the Athabasca River at Fort McMurray.<ref name=clearwater /><ref name=RampClearwater>Template:Cite web</ref> "The lack of significant oil sands developments means that the Clearwater River can be used as a baseline river system to provide information on the variability and characteristics of natural systems."<ref name=RampClearwater />

Demographics

Federal census

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo had a population of 72,326 living in 25,934 of its 30,451 total private dwellings, a change of Template:Percentage from its 2016 population of 71,594. With a land area of Template:Cvt, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.<ref name=2021census>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 2016 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo had a population of 71,594 living in 25,659 of its 30,713 total private dwellings, a change of Template:Percentage from its 2011 population of 65,565. With a land area of Template:Convert, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2016.<ref name=2016censusABmunis>Template:Cite web</ref>

Municipal census

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo population breakdown, 2021<ref name=2021municipalcensus/>
Component	Permanent  population	Shadow  population	Combined  population
Urban service area (Fort McMurray)	72,917	3,089	76,006
Rural service area	2,638	Template:Val	Template:Val
Total RM of Wood Buffalo	75,555	Template:Val	106,059

The permanent population of the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo according to its 2021 municipal census is 75,555,<ref name=2021municipalcensus>Template:Cite web</ref> a change of Template:Percentage from its 2018 municipal census permanent population of 75,009.<ref name=2018census>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, the 2021 municipal census counted a shadow population of 30,504 non-permanent residents for a combined population of 106,059,<ref name=2021municipalcensus/> while the 2018 municipal census counted 36,678 non-permanent residents for a combined population of 111,687.<ref name=2018census/>

Language

Mother tongue (2016)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Responses	%
English	54,020	Template:Percentage
Tagalog	2,920	Template:Percentage
French	1,880	Template:Percentage
Arabic	1,270	Template:Percentage
Gujarati	1,070	Template:Percentage
Urdu	1,035	Template:Percentage
Spanish	805	Template:Percentage
Somali	730	Template:Percentage
Amharic	455	Template:Percentage
Punjabi	425	Template:Percentage
Hindi	415	Template:Percentage
Mandarin	335	Template:Percentage

Knowledge of language (2016)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Responses	%
English	70,750	Template:Percentage
French	5,125	Template:Percentage
Tagalog	4,250	Template:Percentage
Arabic	1,830	Template:Percentage
Spanish	1,375	Template:Percentage
Urdu	1,340	Template:Percentage
Hindi	1,130	Template:Percentage
Gujarati	1,130	Template:Percentage
Somali	730	Template:Percentage
Punjabi	640	Template:Percentage
Mandarin	580	Template:Percentage
Cree	535	Template:Percentage

Immigration

Wood Buffalo is home to almost 2,000 recent immigrants (arriving between 2001 and 2006) who now make up more than 3% of the population. About 21% of these immigrants came from India, while about 10% came from each of Pakistan and the Philippines, and about 9% came from Venezuela, and about 8% from South Africa, about 6% from China, and about 3% came from Colombia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Religion

More than 80% of residents identified as Christian at the time of the 2001 census while almost 17% indicated they had no religious affiliation. For specific denominations Statistics Canada counted 15,880 Roman Catholics (37.4%), 4,985 Anglicans (11.7%), 4,225 for the United Church of Canada (9.9%), 1,730 Pentecostals (4.1%), 1,195 Baptists (2.8%), 965 for the Salvation Army (2.3%), 900 Lutherans (2.1%), 690 Muslims (1.6%), 350 Latter-day Saints (0.8%), and 320 Presbyterians (0.8%).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is home to vast oil sand deposits, also known as the Athabasca Oil Sands, helping to make the region one of the fastest growing industrial areas in Canada.

Attractions

Wood Buffalo National Park is adjacent to the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo to the northwest.<ref name=basemap/> The following provincial protected areas are also within the RM of Wood Buffalo:<ref name=basemap/> Template:Div col

• Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park
• Birch River Wildland Provincial Park
• Dillon River Wildland Provincial Park
• Fidler-Greywillow Wildland Provincial Park
• Gipsy Lake Wildland Provincial Park
• Grand Rapids Wildland Provincial Park
• Gregoire Lake Provincial Park
• Kazan Wildland Provincial Park
• Kitaskino Nuwenëné Wildland Provincial Park
• Marguerite River Wildland Provincial Park
• Richardson Wildland Provincial Park
• Stony Mountain Wildland Provincial Park
• Whitemud Falls Wildland Provincial Park

Government

The municipality's current mayor is Sandy Bowman, who was first elected in 2021. Its first mayor upon its creation in 1995 was Guy Boutilier, who had previously been the mayor of Fort McMurray and was subsequently elected as the region's provincial MLA. Doug Faulkner served as mayor from 1997 to 2004, and Melissa Blake from 2004 to 2017.

In the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the municipality was served by the electoral district of Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo until 2010, when a second district, Fort McMurray-Conklin, was created due to population growth. The new riding then became Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche in 2018.

Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo is currently represented by Tany Yao and Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche is represented by Brian Jean. Both MLAs are former members of the Wildrose Party and are current members of the United Conservative Party.

As of 2016, the municipality is located in the federal electoral district of Fort McMurray—Cold Lake. The riding has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada by former UCP MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche Laila Goodridge of the Conservative Party of Canada since 2021.

See also

• List of communities in Alberta
• List of specialized municipalities in Alberta

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:Wikivoyage-inline