Mayor Bowman delivers 2026 State of the Region Address

Mayor Sandy Bowman delivered the 2026 State of the Union Address at the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on March 4.

The full transcript follows:

It’s an honour to have this opportunity again this year…

For what is the fifth State of the Region event for me since becoming Mayor.

Unfortunately for you, I’m probably not much better at public speaking then when I first started out!

The good news?

After a few years of doing this role for the community we love, I hope I’m a little better at the actual job!

Working alongside Council and a lot of great people at the Municipality, one thing is for sure:

• I have the long nights and grey hair to show for it…
• Although maybe that’s just me still waiting for my Oilers to finally win the Stanley Cup!
• I continue to be grateful and humbled by the trust and support you’ve shown me, and in us…
• We are guided by that every day and will never lose sight of the fact that we work for you, the people that put us here.

Now, turning to the people,

The important thing…is in this community…

In this region…

In our home…

What I’ve been hearing from a lot of folks is that…

We are in a better place than we were four years ago.

That’s what matters.

That’s what matters the most.

And it’s always what should matter the most.

This role has taught me a few things…

Well, maybe more than a few things!

But two of those learnings are on my mind today.

As we start a new story.

A new path.

And a new journey.

The first learning:

• Leave something better than you found it.

The second one:

• Take care of the kids, our youth.
• Take care of the seniors and Elders.
• Take care of those that need you the most.

Do those things, and the rest of it takes care of itself.

A huge thank you to Dianna, the Board of Directors, and the entire team at the Chamber of Commerce for making this happen every year.

Dianna and everyone there are incredible advocates and champions for the business community.

She shows up, they show up, and you should know as a small businessowner like me that they are working for you.

Please join me in giving everyone with our Chamber a big round of applause!

Now, something we were in conversation about recently was the 2025 Census, and I’d like to say a few words about it.

There was a lot to like about the recent Census.

While there is work to be done, there’s a lot of good news.

More people are living here permanently than ever before, at close to 84,000 people.

That’s more than in the Census before the 2016 wildfire.

More people are living downtown than ever before, and this is where we saw our biggest growth in recent years.

This is very promising.

Last January when we did this, I shared that the project accommodation and work camp population was down by about 12 percent…

Well, everyone…now, it’s down 22 percent.

More people that are working here are living here.

And more people that are living here, are living here for longer.

Now, we know this isn’t enough.

We won’t stop, until we are expanding, building new houses, and neighbourhoods…

But this is a big step in the right direction.

Our localization efforts with industry partners are working, and it’s great to see that we are making progress together.

In particular, thank you to the leadership and team at Suncor, for seeing how we could get more workers living in town.

I know it’s not a coincidence that as these efforts have taken shape…

That the number of people calling this home is now more than ever.

We can create win-win situations for the community, and for industry.

In fact, our region has often succeeded when we’ve taken this approach.

Just look at the Natural Resource Tax Incentive Program, approved by Council a few years ago.

Last year, we shared how Wolf Midstream had worked with us through this program to build a new facility here…

Creating hundreds of jobs and economic activity.

That wasn’t a promise, it was real, and it led to good things.

Now, we have a few more organizations looking at this program, and I’m hopeful there will be more to share soon.

This is all to say…

That when we do well, industry and business does well.

When industry and business does well, we do well.

And following from that, and we have often said…

This is true, too, now more than ever.

When Fort McMurray and this region does well…

Alberta wins.

When Alberta wins…

Canada wins.

Up here, we all know that.

As people that love this place, and know what it does, and know what it means…

We’ve been saying this all along.

Let’s hope our leaders can be guided by this, given the challenges being faced across the world.

We will be here for each other, here for Alberta, and here for Canada.

Just give us that chance.

The other important thing to mention about the Census is what newcomers told us about why they moved here.

In the past, it’s usually been for work.

Or to find work.

That’s still true, but it wasn’t the main reason.

The two most common reasons people are coming here:

• First: Family.
• Second: A place to live.

Let that sink in.

They moved for family.

They moved for a good place to live.

What we’re hearing from the real estate community, especially recently, backs this up.

I’m not telling you something you don’t know when I say that for a while now, it’s been a buyer’s market.

We’re hearing that there’s been bit of a shift.

Houses have been selling faster, for higher prices, and the inventory of what’s available is falling.

If this trend continues, and as industry grows, and localization becomes more and more of a reality…

My hope is that construction goes beyond the major investments from Walmart and Home Depot…

To new homes, and new places to live.

Family.

A good place to live.

Then, for work.

We see this with the ever-growing population of older adults, too.

Yes, we remain a young community compared to other places

You only need to visit our ever-growing schools to see that.

But the population of older adults has doubled in recent years.

They are moving here to join their working children, and to be with their grandchildren.

They are moving on their own, too.

For better housing, better healthcare, and because in this Age-Friendly community, you can age with dignity.

Thank you to all the organizations and the people that worked to create this over the years.

We are in a better place for it, seniors and Elders are in a better place for it.

We thank you for it.

Seniors and Elders also show us and teach us that to get where we’re going…

We need to be guided by the history, heritage and knowledge of the past.

Yes, we are a place where people have come from across Alberta, Canada and around the world to make a better life for them and their families.

That is my own story, and it’s true for a lot of us here.

However, we must always keep in our spirit our foundation a as northern region, where Indigenous Peoples have lived since time immemorial.

We are blessed to share this land with these Indigenous Peoples and communities, standing where we do near these historic rivers.

Over the last few years, working in a spirit of friendship and reconciliation…

We now have formal protocol agreements with all Indigenous communities in this region.

Yes, all of them.

Of course, this is just one piece of a more fundamental relationship.

• It speaks to what we believe
• What we know.
• What we care about.
• What they show us.
• What they teach us.

As I’ve said before, when we reflect on our relationship with Indigenous communities and Peoples…

Where we are, and where we’re going.

We’re not going back.

Let’s be the ones that future generations look at, and say:

• They were the ones that changed it.
• They were the ones that took things in the right direction.

We have work to do.

But we’re walking together, now.

Another journey we’ve taken is the one that seen us go…

From a small town to a boom town to a home town.

This hasn’t been an easy road, either, as everyone knows

We’ve lived and come through our share of challenges.

Some of them are still here.

Some of them probably always will be, despite our best efforts.

Some of them, and we don’t need to remind ourselves.

We know what those challenges were.

As a fighter in my past life, let’s just say that being knocked down didn’t define us.

It’s how we got back up, and how we will continue to get back up.

If you take a step back, though, and think about it…

If you look at what’s happening around the world, which affects everyone, including people right here in this community…

We have way more advantages, way more opportunities…

Then the challenges that face us.

I could give an entirely different speech about what those are, but you know, feel, and experience them every day.

Some like to call it the Alberta Advantage, which if the rest of the country really thought about it, they’d make it the Canada Advantage…but I won’t go there!

There’s only one thing better than the Alberta Advantage, though.

Yes, really.

Well, it’s what the Alberta Advantage is actually about.

• It’s us.
• It’s the people right here.
• It’s this region.
• Community.
• Industry.
• Workers.
• Families.
• Indigenous communities.
• Businesses.
• Social profit organizations.

We are the advantage.

The late Rex Murphy, a huge fan of this place, may have put it best.

And I’m paraphrasing here, but it captures what he was saying.

Rex once said: There is nowhere in Canada where what this country is all about, gets renewed every day…

More than in Fort McMurray, Wood Buffalo, Alberta.”

Rex was right then, and he’s right now.

So as people continue to move into Alberta, and that first stop is Edmonton or Calgary…maybe they’re willing to come a little further.

This year, with a new $661 million budget recently by Council, up almost $100 million from four years ago…

We are again positioned for the lowest municipal tax rates in Alberta, with no debt and no deficit.

We are nearing the culmination of the flood mitigation project, and rural water sewer is a reality and at the finish line.

These are the two biggest projects in the Municipality’s history, and they’re nearly complete.

This year, we will open the new Northside twin arenas, and we will build the new Arts Incubator in the heart of downtown.

We will keep making it easier to have a business, start a business and grow a business, too, with common sense and a community-first attitude.

We will continue to invest in, protect and keep downtown vibrant and safe after the success of the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program.

This program saw over $10 million turn into over $30 million investment downtown, most of it done by local contractors in support of local business, workers and property owners.

Of course, this alongside with increased budget funding year over year for Wood Buffalo RCMP, Bylaw Services, and Regional Emergency Services…

By supporting the Community Plan on Homelessness and our incredible social profit sector…

We have seen a reduction in overall crime, increase in public safety, and a downtown area that, step by step, is a better place to be.

For everyone.

We will continue to do a lot of things.

What is needed.

What is best for the people that live here.

What is best for the people that love our home, and the people proud to call it home.

Whether you’ve been here for 30 years, or 30 days.

Finally, thank you to my Council colleagues:

Councillors Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Lance Bussieres, Luana Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal, Greg Marcel, Don Scott, Kyle Vancasteyen, Jennifer Vardy and Stu Wigle.

This Council is engaged, connected, and working together.

We are fortunate to have such a great team.

Also, welcome to new C-A-O Andrew Boutilier, who officially joins us next week.

You are no stranger to the region and the people here, and we look forward to you joining here, soon.

As I wrap up, as has become a tradition of sorts, I’ll leave you with something to think about, to hold with us, that fits with why we’re here.

It’s a classic fable, and it goes like this:

The only bird that dares to attack an eagle is a crow, but the eagle never fights back.

Here is why:

• The crow is the only bird bold enough to sit on the eagle’s back and peck at its neck.
• Relentless. Annoying. But the eagle…stays calm.
• The eagle doesn’t flap. Doesn’t fight. Doesn’t waste energy.
• It does one thing: It rises.
• It rises.
• The higher the eagle soars. The thinner the air becomes. The crow? It can’t handle the altitude. 
• Eventually, the crow gasps. Loses strength…And falls off.
• Not because the eagle attacked.
• But because the eagle ascended. 
• Let the crows talk. Let them peck. You don’t have to respond. Just keep going higher.
• They can’t follow you forever. Your growth will suffocate their noise.
• Don’t engage.
• Elevate.

Marsi Cho!

Kinanaskomitin!

Thank you, everyone!