Fort McKay

Fort McKay (/məˈkaɪ/ mə-KY)[3] or Fort MacKay is a community in northeast Alberta, Canada that is located at the confluence of the Athabasca and MacKay rivers. It is approximately 54 km (34 mi) north of Fort McMurray via Highway 63 and Fort McKay Road. The community has an elevation of 260 m (850 ft).

Fort McKay

Fort MacKay
Hamlet
Aerial view of Fort McKay
Fort McKay
Location of Fort McKay in Alberta
Coordinates: 57°10′52″N 111°35′59″W
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Census divisionNo. 16
Specialized municipalityRM of Wood Buffalo
Established1820[1]
Named1912[1]
Government
 • MayorDon Scott
 • Governing body
Area
 • Total9.53 km2 (3.68 sq mi)
Elevation
260 m (850 ft)
Population
 • Total742
 • Density77.9/km2 (202/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T0P
Area code(s)780, 587, 825
HighwaysHighway 63
WaterwaysAthabasca River
WebsiteRM of Wood Buffalo

The majority of the community is situated on lands of the Fort McKay First Nation (FMFN). The smaller portion of the community, known as Fort MacKay before 2018, is located adjacent to the FMFN lands to the south within the Regional Municipality (RM) of Wood Buffalo. The portion of the community within the RM of Wood Buffalo is designated as a hamlet.[4][5][6]

History
Fort McKay First Nation's welcome sign for the community

The community was named in 1912 after Dr. Williams Morrison MacKay, the first president of the Northern Alberta Medical Association.[5][6] The community's name is spelled Fort McKay by the Fort McKay First Nation.[6] In August 2012, the Fort McKay Métis Community requested the RM of Wood Buffalo to change the name of the hamlet to Fort McKay.[7][8][9] The change was recognized by the RM on January 22, 2018.[3]

2016 wildfire

Fort McKay hosted 5000 evacuees from the 2016 Fort McMurray Wildfire but itself was put under an evacuation notice due to the northward advance of the flames toward the community.[10][11]

Geography

Climate

Fort McKay has a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc).[12] and falls into the NRC Plant Hardiness Zone 3a.[13] Summers are mild and short, and winters can be long and cold.

Demographics
Population history
of Fort MacKay
Indian settlement
YearPop.±%
1991256—    
1996347+35.5%
2001437+25.9%
2006521+19.2%
2011562+7.9%
2016742+32.0%
Sources: Statistics Canada, 1991–2011 censuses[2][14][15][16]

In the RM of Wood Buffalo's 2015 municipal census, the hamlet portion of the community (the part formerly known as Fort MacKay) had a population of 51, a -13.6% change from its 2012 municipal census population of 59.[17]

In the 2011 Census, the settlement portion of the community had a population of 562 living in 201 of its 235 total dwellings, a 7.9% change from its 2006 population of 521. With a land area of 8.17 km2 (3.15 sq mi), it had a population density of 68.79/km2 (178.16/sq mi) in 2011.[2]

Economy

The economy is centred on the development of the Athabasca oil sands to the immediate south and north. Motorists travelling north on Highway 63 pass through oil sands developments en route to the community.

Government

The community is located in the federal riding of Fort McMurray—Cold Lake.

Infrastructure

The community is located 6 km (3.7 mi) north of Highway 63 via Fort McKay Road, and is served by air at the Fort MacKay/Horizon Airport.

See also

References
  1. "1820 to Present Discovery and Growth". Fort McKay - About us. Fort McKay First Nation. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  2. "Census Profile – Fort Mackay, S-E, Alberta (Census subdivision)". Statistics Canada. May 2, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  3. Condon, Olivia (January 23, 2018). "F'Spirit of reconciliation' at council's Fort McKay meeting". Postmedia Network. Fort McMurray Today. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  4. "Specialized and Rural Municipalities and Their Communities" (PDF). Alberta Municipal Affairs. April 1, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  5. "Fort MacKay". Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  6. "About Fort McKay". Fort McKay First Nation. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  7. "Council Meeting Request" (PDF). Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. August 28, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  8. "Approved Minutes of a Meeting of the Council of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo". Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. August 28, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  9. McDermott, Vincent (August 28, 2012). "Fort MacKay requests name change". Postmedia Network. Fort McMurray Today. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  10. Bird, Cullen (May 7, 2016). "Fort McKay under voluntary evacuation order as wildfire size expected to double". Postmedia Network. Fort McMurray Today. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  11. "Fort McKay First Nation welcomed 5,000 people at wildfire evacuation's peak". Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  12. "Climate Regions". Archives - Environment Canada. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  13. "Plant Hardiness Zone by Municipality". Natural Resources Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  14. "Electronic Area Profiles: Profile of Census Divisions and Subdivisions, 1996 Census – Fort Mackay, S-E". Statistics Canada. December 23, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  15. "Community Highlights for Fort Mackay". Statistics Canada. August 26, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  16. "2006 Community Profiles – Fort Mackay, Alberta (Indian settlement)". Statistics Canada. January 5, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
  17. "Province Approves 2015 Municipal Census Figures". Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. February 23, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
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