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DebunkingFortMcMurraysnastynicknamesLeadersandresidentsweighinonboomtownstereotypesNorthernersCommunities12TuesdayMarch252014ByMARIACHURCHFortMcMoneyFortMc-MordorNorthSt.JohnandFortMcCrack-allnick-namesthatCanadianshavedrummeduptodescribeCanadasmostinfamouscityswathedinprejudicelocateddeepinAlbertasoilcountry.FortMcMurrayhasbeeninthemediaspotlightforyearsastheepicentreofthecountryseconomicgrowthandthebattlegroundforcon-ictingpoliticsbutthankstothecitysremotelocationandbadreputationfewCa-nadianshaveactuallybeenthere.Formostitsreputationfarprecedesandlikelykillsanydesiretovisit.InsteadthemajorityofCanadiansrelyonscandal-ousmediastoriesaplethoraofnicknamesandtheirownvividimaginationoframpantcrimedrugsanddebaucherytounderstandtheoilsandsboomtown.Thecitysleaderswantthosemythsdebunked.Thebadpressmuststoptheysay.LifeinFortMcMurrayisuniqueyesbutthecom-munityismakinghugestridessince2007whenamediare-portsuggesteditwaseasiertobuycocainethanpizza.LeadersspeakoutMelissaBlakemayoroftheRegionalMunicipalityofWoodBuffalohasbeenbattlingthebadpressonFortMcMurrayoverhernineyearsinofce.TheproblemquitefranklyistherepresentationthatyougetfromoutsidesourcesormediaBlakesaidaddingthatthestoriesoftenappearpredeterminedandignorereality.Ifthestoryhappenstobeaboutthecostofhous-ingoraboutdrugsorcrimetheyarenottakingintoconsiderationrealityintheregionwhichisverydramaticallydifferentshesaid.Theyconceivethistobeabluecollaredworkingtownandnoth-ingbutThatsjustnotthecommunity.WoodBuffaloRCMPsu-perintendentBobCouturehasbeeninthehotseatforoneandahalfyearsnowastheofcerinchargeofFortMac.Heconrmedthattherealityisfarfromwhatpeo-pleimagine.Thereareperceptionsandinnuendothatthecrimerateishighandtheresallkindsofbadthingsthathappeninourcommunitythatisnottrueatall.WoodBuffaloisaverysafecommunityCouturesaid.RicMcIverAlbertasIn-dustryministersaidhesbeentoFortMcMurraymanytimesandhefeelsthestigmasurroundingtheoil-sandsboomtownissimplyignorance.Thebestcureforanin-accuratestatementisinfor-mation.IdontfeelthatwayunsafebecauseIvebeenthereanumberoftimeshesaidaddingthatthecityhassomeuniquechallengesbutalsoincredibleresourcesatitsdisposal.PermanentpopulationincreasingBothBlakeandCouturesaytherapidgrowthofFortMcMurrayfromboomingin-dustrypresentsdemographicchallengesforthecitybutthekeytobalancingthatisbyattractingapermanentpopulation.Forthelastseveralyearsthecityof119000hasseenastaggeringgrowthrateofaround7percentperyearbutmuchofthosenewcom-ersarelong-termratherthantransientCouturesaid.Therearepeopleherethatarecomingtoliveworkandplay-toputdownrootshesaid.In2012theFortMcMur-rayhospitalhadarecord126livebirthsanindicationthecommunityischangingCou-turesaid.Tocontinueattractingper-manentresidentsBlakesaidthecityhasbeensteamingaheadwithplanstorebuildthedowntowninorderseeitdensiedmodernizedandbeautied.Thecityhasalreadymadehugestrideswithinfrastruc-tureincludinganewroad-waythroughthecitywithbrandnewbridgesovertheAthabascaRiver.Blakesaidthecommunityisalreadyfeelingthebenets.SouthernAlbertanTyKonschuhmovedtoFortMcMurrayayearagotoworkforapipelineoutt-tingcompany.WhenIrsthadtogotoFortMacIwaslikeHolycrapIdontdodrugsImgoingtogettornapartbutmyinitialimpressionofthecitywasWowitsreallynicehesharedwithTheJournal.McMurraynotwithoutproblemsDespitetheiroptimismleadersandresidentsofFortMcMurrayrecognizethereareuniqueproblemstolifeintheboomtown.Fly-inworkerscommut-ingtotheoilsandscampsmakeuparound80000ofthetotal200000populationofthemunicipality.WhiletheirreputationisworsethantherealityKonschuhsaidthereisadarksidethatcomeswithalargeyoungdemographicbentonmak-ingquickcash.Therearealotofdrugsthereifyoulookforitbutifyoustayawayfromititdoesntevenphaseyou.Thatseemstobemyexperiencehesaid.Aninatedcostoflivingalsopresentsachallengeforwageearnerswhodontmakethebigbucksofftheoilsandsorarebattlingothersocialissues.Wedohaveanissuewithhomelessnesswithinourcommunitybutonethatisnotsignicantandnodiffer-entthananyotherlargemu-nicipalitywithinCanadaCoutureexplained.Likeinothermunicipali-tiesRCMPinWoodBuf-faloworkwithlocalserviceproviderssuchastheCentreofHopeahomelessshelterdowntownFortMcMurray.TheCentreforHopehasbeenoperatinginFortMc-Murraysince2005servingthecommunityshomelessandworkingonstigmare-ductionandawareness.Ourcommunityhasalotofpositiveenergy.TheresalotofgrowthhappeningsaidBarbaraRexspokespersonforthecentre.Rexsaidtheydohavealotoftransientusersoftheshel-terbuttheypridethemselvesonthecommunityintegrationtheyhavefosteredoverthepastseveralyears.Ourcommunityissogiv-ing.Theresourcesthatareavailabletousintermsofacloseknitcommunityarere-allyabenetanditsreallysomethingthatweareveryfortunatetohaveshesaid.LookingtothefutureAttheendofthedayCou-turesaidpeopletendtofocusonthebadbutitstimetostartseeingFortMcMur-raysgood.WhynotfocusonwhatsthisisallaboutThiscom-munityisaboutthepeoplethataremakingthisplaceworkhesaid.Konschuhsaidhecanfeeltheatmosphereofchangeintheyoungboomtownandexpectsmoreeducatedpeo-plewithfamilieswillcomelookingforworkandchoosetorelocate.Yougivethattown10moreyearsanditsgoingtobewaymoreofasubur-banhappyplacetolivehesaid.Thereareperceptionsandinnuendothatthecrimerateishighandtheresallkindsofbadthingsthathappeninourcommunitythatisnottrueatall.WoodBuffaloisaverysafecommunity.BobCoutureRCMPWoodBuffaloFortMcMurrayisknowbyaplethoraofnegativenicknamesreferringtotheoilsandsandthosewhoworkinthem.PhotoFortMcMoney