On Monday May 12th, 2014 officials at the Kelowna International Airport and WestJet celebrated the inaugural direct flight to Fort McMurray.
Approximately 5,000 people from the Okanagan commute to northern Alberta for work and the new service will cut down travel time for those workers. KelownaNow decided to head up to Fort McMurray, on that inaugural flight, to find out what the area is all about.
When most people in the South Okanagan talk about the “oil fields” and Fort McMurray the perspective tends to skew to a negative, even though the majority of people have no idea what is taking place in the city. Surprisingly Fort McMurray is very similar to Kelowna when it comes to community and city growth. This prompted Kelowna’s Mayor, Walter Gray, and others from the Chamber of Commerce, YLW and Vernon to take a tour and learn more about the city.
Kelowna delegates visiting Fort McMurray (Photo Credit: KelownaNow.com)
Ten delegates flew to Fort McMurray early Monday morning and flew back home late Monday night on the first return flight available direct to Kelowna. While in northern Alberta delegates spent the day touring the growing city, learning about the opportunities and even had a helicopter tour of the oil sands nearby.
A city that not only has a high yearly income rate and low average age of residents can be a draw for many, and increasingly more and more people from the Okanagan. The direct flight came from the demand for those who live in either city, commute and perhaps want to get away for a few days.
Over the next few weeks KelownaNow will present an in-depth look as to why the Southern Interior is so drawn to Fort McMurray, and it is not just because of the high earning potential. Population growth is exploding in the city and the opportunity for work and business has expanded 125% in the last 14 years. From housing, to education, activities, big business, oil production and community KelownaNow will share, and show, what is happening in the city so many Okanagan residents head to for work.
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