REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WOOD BUFFALO`S HERITAGE 2015

Men playing hockey on the frozen Clearwater River or Snye. Each year, hockey teams from both Fort McMurray and Waterways competed to
win the Fairbairn Cup. The Cup was donated by the owner of Imperial Oil, Jack Fairbairn, and the rivalry was fierce between the teams.
Date: 1930s. Credit: Eymundson Collection, Fort McMurray Historical Society
REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF
WOOD BUFFALO’S HERITAGE
2015
JANUARY 2015
Credit: Roy Hawkins, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
The 1935 Fort McMurray Cubs hockey team photograph
CIRCA 1935
From left to right: Father Patrick Mercredi, Ed O’Coffey, Pat O’Coffey,
Hugh Stroud, Leonard McKinley, Roy Hawkins, John Webb and Les Murdock.
The goalie in front was Real Martin.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
4
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W
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Saturday
2
3
7
8
9
10
13
14
15
16
17
FEBRUARY 2015
S
6
13
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NEW YEAR’S
DAY
1975: Fort McMurray
installs the first operational
traffic lights
1977: Composite High
School opens its doors to
586 students
11
T
2
9
16
23
30
Friday
1
DECEMBER 2014
S M
1
7 8
14 15
21 22
28 29
Thursday
12
1870: Dr. William McKay
returns to Fort Chipewyan
to fight a major smallpox
epidemic
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1952: Town increases the
speed limit to 25 m.p.h.
FEBRUARY 2015
Credit: Rex Terpening, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
Rex Terpening and Helen McRae cross country skiing
CIRCA 1933
Rex Terpening was an airplane mechanic based at the Snye. Helen McRae was
a schoolteacher in Fort McMurray.
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
Wednesday
2
3
Thursday
4
Friday
5
Saturday
6
7
1988: The Olympic Torch
passes through Fort
McMurray en route to the
Calgary Winter Olympics
8
9
10
11
12
13
22
FAMILY DAY
14
1788: The North West
Company announces
the construction of a
new trading post, to
be established at
Fort Chipewyan
1802: Alexander
MacKenzie is knighted
for his explorations in
Northern Canada
15
VALENTINE’S DAY
16
17
18
19
20
21
23
24
25
26
27
28
1992: Fort McMurray hosts
the Alberta Winter Games
2004: Fort McMurray hosts
the Arctic Winter Games
MARCH 2015
JANUARY 2015
S M T W T
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MARCH 2015
Credit: Houston Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
Mayor Alfred Penhorwood throwing the first rock at the new
Waterways curling rink.
CIRCA 1948
The grand opening was an exciting event in the small, isolated community
and most of the local citizens were in attendance.
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
Wednesday
3
Thursday
4
1785: Explorer Peter Pond
presents the first map
of the region to
U.S. Congress
8
5
Saturday
6
7
2014-2015 ACAC Men’s
Basketball Championships
begin
9
1978: Chris Phillips, NHL
star, is born. Phillips is later
raised in Fort McMurray
15
Friday
16
10
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
1799: David Thompson
arrives to survey the area
around Fort McMurray
ST. PATRICK’S DAY
1977: Local resident Julia
Lloyd, selected to coach
Olympic Trainees
22
23
1978: Fort McMurray
named “Town of the Year”
by Trade and Commerce
Magazine
29
30
31
FEBRUARY 2015
S
1
8
15
22
Canadian Ringette
Championships begin
M
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16
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3
10
17
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25
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5
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APRIL 2015
S
7
14
21
28
S M T W
1
5 6 7 8
12 13 14 15
19 20 21 22
26 27 28 29
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2
9
16
23
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F
3
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17
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4
11
18
25
APRIL 2015
Credit: Eugene Burton Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
The Fort McMurray women’s softball team at the Prairie area of
downtown Fort McMurray
CIRCA 1936
In the back row (left to right): Celestine “Lafills” Auger, Jean Leggatt, unknown,
unknown, Katy Card, Peace Cornwall, Alice Desjarlais, Mary Bird.
In the front row, kneeling, from left to right: Nora Cornwall and Daisy Hughes.
Sunday
EASTER SUNDAY
Monday
5
EASTER MONDAY
Tuesday
6
Wednesday
Thursday
1
1
2
7
8
1971: Over 500 children
line up for the opening of
the Centennial Pool
12
Friday
Saturday
3
4
9
10
11
16
17
18
23
24
25
GOOD FRIDAY
1670: The Hudson’s Bay
Company is established
13
14
15
1980: Fort McMurray’s
first transit system begins
service
19
20
21
22
2015 Crescent Point
Energy Western
Canada Cup
The average date for river
break-up
26
27
28
29
30
1962: The Town of
McMurray is officially
renamed the Town of
Fort McMurray
MARCH 2015
S
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MAY 2015
S
7
14
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S M T W T F
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3 4 5 6 7 8
10 11 12 13 14 15
17 18 19 20 21 22
24 25 26 27 28 29
31
S
2
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30
MAY 2015
Credit: Nelson Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
Two men participating in a log competition at a sports meet, likely on
Dominion Day (Canada Day)
CIRCA 1920
In this event, the men were tied to the log with white fabric and would each try to make their
opponent lose their balance. The last person sitting on the log would be the winner.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
APRIL 2015
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Friday
JUNE 2015
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6
S M
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7 8
14 15
21 22
28 29
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W
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T
4
11
18
25
F
5
12
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Saturday
1
2
8
9
S
6
13
20
27
7
1980: The Fort McMurray
Regional Hospital officially
opens
MOTHER’S DAY
10
11
12
13
1885/1954: The latest river
break-up ever recorded
14
15
16
1975: Canoes replace cars
for transportation due to
local flooding
17
24
VICTORIA DAY
18
19
20
21
22
23
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
1977: Latest recorded
snowfall
JUNE 2015
Credit: Nelson Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
Women participating in a running race at a sports meet
CIRCA 1920
Sports meets were an exciting event in the community, and everyone would come out to
watch the festivities, which generally took place on Dominion Day (now Canada Day).
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
5
6
9
10
11
12
13
1947: First town
council meeting
7
8
1970: The Fort McMurray
Courier publishes its first
newspaper
1970: The current St. John
the Baptist Church opens
14
15
16
Northern Kickoff
17
18
19
20
1719: Three men arrive at
York Factory, Manitoba
carrying the first recorded
lump of oil sand from
Fort McMurray
FATHER’S DAY/
NATIONAL
ABORIGINAL DAY
21
22
23
28
29
30
1973: The Waterways Post
Office closes
24
MAY 2015
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25
JULY 2015
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S
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26
27
JULY 2015
Credit: David Kushner, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
David Hill jumping over the bar during a high jump competition on
McMurray Sports Day
CIRCA 1935
An annual event held on Dominion Day (now called Canada Day). All of the children
looked forward to the event, especially because they were each given free ice cream
and pop- rare treats!
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
JUNE 2015
AUGUST 2015
S M
1
7 8
14 15
21 22
28 29
T
2
9
16
23
30
W
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10
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Wednesday
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
CANADA
DAY
Thursday
1
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
Former annual Dominion
Sports Day
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
22
23
24
25
29
30
31
1924: The first Northern
Alberta Railways train from
Edmonton arrives at the
new Waterways station
19
20
21
1958: “Project Oilsands”,
an experimental atomic
extraction method, is
approved.
26
27
28
1952: A proposal to hire a
lifeguard for the Snye
is rejected
AUGUST 2015
Credit: Tolen Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
A raft race taking place during the Blueberry Festival
in Waterways
CIRCA 1973
The Blueberry Festival was always held at the end of the summer. People would
sit on the remains of the Wing Dam to watch the boats.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
JULY 2015
SEPTEMBER 2015
S M T W
1
5 6 7 8
12 13 14 15
19 20 21 22
26 27 28 29
2
HERITAGE DAY
3
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Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
S
5
12
19
26
5
6
1899: Treaty 8 is signed on
the Snye
7
8
Opening Ceremony of the
Western Canada Summer
Games
1985: Fort McMurray
hosts the Alberta Summer
Games
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
24
25
26
27
28
29
Closing Ceremony of the
Western Canada Summer
Games
23
30
31
1956: The Northern
Transportation Company
Ltd. tug boat, the
Clearwater, sinks with
8 crew onboard
SEPTEMBER 2015
Grade eight students from St. John’s School playing
baseball
Credit: School Reunion, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
The students were playing on the field behind the school.
CIRCA 1950s
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
8
9
10
11
12
16
17
18
19
23
24
1980: Fort McMurray
acquires city status
6
LABOUR
DAY
7
1987: The four baseball
fields at MacDonald Island
are named after notable
residents
13
2001: The official opening
of the Casselman/ Lush
Memorial Skate Park
14
15
1978: Syncrude officially
opens
20
21
22
25
ALBERTA
CULTURE DAYS
1967: The Great Canadian
Oil Sands (now Suncor)
begins production
ALBERTA
CULTURE DAYS
27
28
29
30
AUGUST 2015
S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
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30 31
OCTOBER 2015
S M T W T
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4 5 6 7 8
11 12 13 14 15
18 19 20 21 22
25 26 27 28 29
F
2
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31
ALBERTA
CULTURE DAYS
26
OCTOBER 2015
Credit: Fort McMurray Historical Society.
Two men leg wrestling on the floor while three people judge
the competition
CIRCA 1965
This particular type of wrestling is known as “Indian Wrestling”. It involves
two people lying side by side on their back while raising a leg up in the air.
The first person to pull their opponent over two out of three tries wins
the match.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
SEPTEMBER 2015
NOVEMBER 2015
S M T
1
6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
4
W
2
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
17
24
F
4
11
18
25
S
5
12
19
26
5
S
1
8
15
22
29
M
2
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16
23
30
T
3
10
17
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W
4
11
18
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T
5
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F
6
13
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27
Thursday
Friday
1
2
3
8
9
10
16
17
S
7
14
21
28
6
7
1962: A yield sign is
approved for the Main
Street and Franklin Ave
intersection
1983: NHL player Scott
Upshall is born in Fort
McMurray
11
THANKSGIVING
12
13
Saturday
14
15
1989: Betty Collicot
becomes the first female
Mayor of Fort McMurray
18
19
20
21
22
23
28
29
30
24
1969: Local theatres
receive permission to
screen films on Sundays
25
1787: Explorer Alexander
MacKenzie arrives in the
area
26
27
HALLOWEEN
31
NOVEMBER 2015
Credit: Fort McMurray Today Archives, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
The first rugby team in the area, the Fort McMurray Knights,
was established in 1974
CIRCA 1980
The team was named after Mayor Chuck Knight who was a strong advocate
for the construction of recreation facilities in town, such as the original
MacDonald Island Recreation Complex.
Sunday
Monday
1
Tuesday
Wednesday
2
3
8
9
10
15
16
22
23
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
4
5
6
7
11
12
13
14
17
18
19
20
21
24
25
26
27
28
1974: City issues over 1,000
building permits to date
REMEMBRANCE
DAY
2010: The puck drops at
the “Northern Classic”
Hockey game between
the Fort McMurray
Oil Barons and Drayton
Valley Thunder
29
30
OCTOBER 2015
S M T W T
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4 5 6 7 8
11 12 13 14 15
18 19 20 21 22
25 26 27 28 29
F
2
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16
23
30
DECEMBER 2015
S
3
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17
24
31
S M T
1
6 7 8
13 14 15
20 21 22
27 28 29
W
2
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
17
24
31
F
4
11
18
25
S
5
12
19
26
1974: First local trade show
is held in Fort McMurray
DECEMBER 2015
Credit: Bob Duncan, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
John Whiteknife racing a dogsled from Fort Chipewyan to
Fort McMurray
CIRCA 1970s
The lead sled dog has a red bell attached to its harness.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
1
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
5
9
10
11
12
1972: CJOK radio breaks
the airways with its first
public broadcast
6
7
8
1975: Approval given
to construct the original
MacDonald Island complex
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
1948: The Village of
McMurray is renamed
Fort McMurray, and is
proclaimed a town
20
21
22
23
CHRISTMAS
EVE
24
30
NEW YEAR’S EVE
31
25
CHRISTMAS
DAY
BOXING
DAY
26
1995: The Haxton Center
in Borealis Park officially
opens
27
28
29
NOVEMBER 2015
S
1
8
15
22
29
M
2
9
16
23
30
T
3
10
17
24
W
4
11
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5
12
19
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F
6
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S
7
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21
28
JANUARY 2016
S M T W T F
1
3 4 5 6 7 8
10 11 12 13 14 15
17 18 19 20 21 22
24 25 26 27 28 29
31
S
2
9
16
23
30
2016
JANUARY 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
FEBRUARY 2016
Friday
Saturday
1
2
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
MARCH 2016
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
APRIL 2016
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
31
MAY 2016
Sunday
1
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
JUNE 2016
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Thursday
JULY 2016
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
AUGUST 2016
Friday
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
1
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
31
SEPTEMBER 2016
Sunday
4
Monday
5
Tuesday
6
Wednesday
7
Thursday
Friday
OCTOBER 2016
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
NOVEMBER 2016
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
1
1
2
3
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Tuesday
1
Friday
DECEMBER 2016
Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday
2
3
4
5
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
1
Friday
Saturday
2
3
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
11
12
13
14
15
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25
26
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NOTES
LOCAL SPORTS THROUGH TIME
JANUARY 2015
Credit: Roy Hawkins, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
JULY 2015
Credit: David Kushner, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
The 1935 Fort McMurray Cubs hockey team photograph
CIRCA 1935
From left to right: Father Patrick Mercredi, Ed O’Coffey, Pat O’Coffey, Hugh Stroud,
Leonard McKinley, Roy Hawkins, John Webb and Les Murdock. The goalie in front
was Real Martin.
David Hill jumping over the bar during a high jump competition on
McMurray Sports Day
CIRCA 1935
An annual event held on Dominion Day (now called Canada Day). All of the children looked forward to
the event, especially because they were each given free ice cream and pop- rare treats!
FEBRUARY 2015
Credit: Rex Terpening, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
AUGUST 2015
Credit: Tolen Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
Rex Terpening and Helen McRae cross country skiing
CIRCA 1933
Rex Terpening was an airplane mechanic based at the Snye. Helen McRae was a
schoolteacher in Fort McMurray.
A raft race taking place during the Blueberry Festival
in Waterways
CIRCA 1973
The Blueberry Festival was always held at the end of the summer. People would sit on
the remains of the Wing Dam to watch the boats.
MARCH 2015
Credit: Houston Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
Mayor Alfred Penhorwood throwing the first rock at the new
Waterways curling rink.
CIRCA 1948
The grand opening was an exciting event in the small, isolated community and most
of the local citizens were in attendance.
SEPTEMBER 2015
Grade eight students from St. John’s School playing
baseball
Credit: School Reunion, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
The students were playing on the field behind the school.
The Fort McMurray Historical Society owns and operates
both Heritage Park and the Marine Park Museum
HERITAGE PARK MUSEUM:
A little village locked in time! Experience Fort McMurray’s vibrant past.
Heritage Park preserves a collection of Fort McMurray’s oldest buildings &
artifacts. Spend a day exploring the vibrant days of the fur trade, fishing, river
transportation and pioneer life.
Contact Information:
1 Tolen Drive
Fort McMurray, AB
T9H 1G7
P: 780.791.7575
F: 780.791.5180
Gift Shop is open year round
Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm
www.fortmcmurrayhistory.com
www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca
CIRCA 1950s
APRIL 2015
Credit: Eugene Burton Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
OCTOBER 2015
Credit: Fort McMurray Historical Society.
The Fort McMurray women’s softball team at the Prairie area of
downtown Fort McMurray
CIRCA 1936
In the back row (left to right): Celestine “Lafills” Auger, Jean Leggatt, unknown, unknown,
Katy Card, Peace Cornwall, Alice Desjarlais, Mary Bird.
In the front row, kneeling, from left to right: Nora Cornwall and Daisy Hughes.
Two men leg wrestling on the floor while three people judge
the competition
CIRCA 1965
This particular type of wrestling is known as “Indian Wrestling”. It involves two
people lying side by side on their back while raising a leg up in the air. The first
person to pull their opponent over two out of three tries wins the match.
MAY 2015
Credit: Nelson Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
Two men participating in a log competition at a sports meet, likely on
Dominion Day (Canada Day)
CIRCA 1920
In this event, the men were tied to the log with white fabric and would each try to make their
opponent lose their balance. The last person sitting on the log would be the winner.
NOVEMBER 2015
Credit: Fort McMurray Today Archives, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
MARINE PARK MUSEUM
The first rugby team in the area, the Fort McMurray Knights,
was established in 1974
CIRCA 1980
The team was named after Mayor Chuck Knight who was a strong advocate for the
construction of recreation facilities in town, such as the original MacDonald Island
Recreation Complex.
JUNE 2015
Credit: Nelson Family Collection, Fort McMurray
Historical Society.
Women participating in a running race at a sports meet
CIRCA 1920
Sports meets were an exciting event in the community, and everyone would come out to watch the
festivities, which generally took place on Dominion Day (now Canada Day).
DECEMBER 2015
Credit: Bob Duncan, Fort McMurray Historical Society.
John Whiteknife racing a dogsled from Fort Chipewyan to
Fort McMurray
CIRCA 1970s
The lead sled dog has a red bell attached to its harness.
“Where Steel Meets Keel”
The Marine Park Museum is located along the Clearwater River in an area that was
once called the Prairie Shipyards. The 4.4 acres site is the original location of the
shipyards where, after spring break up, passengers and freight destined for the north
were transferred from the railway to ship or barge. It is the only remaining shipyard in
the province of Alberta.
Contact Information:
8405 Prairie Loop Blvd
Fort McMurray, AB
T9H 0G2
P: 780.881.3005