Wood Buffalo, AB Area Guide

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Family friendly Public transit is accessible Walkable to grocery stores Yards are well-kept Lots of parks Walkable to restaurants Friendly neighbors Safe at night Pet friendly Streets have sidewalks A quiet area Sense of community

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Wood Buffalo, AB

Wood Buffalo is a municipality located in Alberta. Formed as a result of the amalgamation of Fort McMurray, Wood Buffalo is an urban service area that sits in the centre of the Athabasca oil sands in northeast Alberta. Many residents still consider it to be a city, even though it lost its city status in 1995 when it became the RM of Wood Buffalo. Wood Buffalo has played a big part in Canada’s petroleum industry, which is its main economy. Many residents work in this industry, or in forestry, as there is boreal forest surrounding the city. In the past, the region was dominated by the Bree people due to its location at the confluence of the Athabasca and Clearwater Rivers. This all changed in the 20th century when oil explorations began.

Considering its remote location, Wood Buffalo is quite a pricey city to live in, especially in neighbourhoods on the west side of the Athabasca River. The area right where the two rivers meet is Wood Buffalo’s city centre and where most Wood Buffalo locals will lead you if you want to enjoy the city’s nightlife. There is also a good selection of restaurants here, although the Timberlea neighbourhood is also a good place to go for a meal. Most other areas of the city are predominately residential subdivisions.

Being an oil production hub means that the average annual income in Wood Buffalo is higher than in many other cities in Alberta. It also has its own college - Keyano College – that trains workers for the oil sands. The college also has a state-of-the-art recital hall that hosts plenty of theatrical and musical events. For residents with children, there are a number of great schools in the city, some of which offer special programs like French immersion and performing arts. There is also one Francophone school, which is great for bilingual families or those that use French as their mother tongue.

Besides its strong economy, Wood Buffalo has a few other pros that make it a great place to live. One good things about the city is its transportation, with buses running throughout all neighbourhoods. There are also buses to the Fort McMurray International Airport and long distance buses to Edmonton and other areas throughout the province. In terms of recreation, any Wood Buffalo guide will recommend to go canoeing along one of the rivers and a wait until dark to see the Aurora Borealis.