Sarah Leamon: A love letter to Fort McMurray
If you didn’t know where Fort McMurray was before May 3, 2016, chances are that you do now.
Normally, when nonresidents speak about the little city in northern Alberta, they talk about it in stark simplicity, referring to it as a "boom town" and focusing on oil production and the economic and environmental ramifications of the industry.
But the wildfires seem to have changed all of that—the tragedy has put a human face on the community of Fort McMurray.
I was born and raised in the City of Fort McMurray, my family still lives there, and I often return to visit and work in the community. Although I left at age 18, I have always considered myself to be a proud Fort McMurrayite and have always vigorously defended the community against those who argue that it offers little more than greenhouse gases.
In spite of all the negative press it’s gotten in the past, I want people to know that Fort McMurray is a community—and a beautiful one at that.
The city gave me, and so many others, a safe and secure place to grow up, complete with seemingly endless greenbelts, lakes, and forests to explore. It is home to world-class event and leisure centres, which foster community participation in both sports and the arts. A uniquely multicultural city, with residents hailing from Newfoundland to Africa and everywhere in between, Fort McMurray attracts tourists from all over the globe, hoping to catch a glimpse of the breathtaking wonder of the Northern Lights. It has also provided countless families with a stable income and its contribution to our country's overall economic well-being is indispensible.
But this seems to be beyond some people. People like one-time NDP candidate Tom Moffatt, who expressed disturbing opinions about the karmatic nature of the calamity in Fort McMurray. A sense of outright rage overwhelmed me when I read his tweets and a handful of others like it.
And while I understand principled opposition to the oil and gas industry that the city has become a poster-child for, it is also important to remember that a national disaster, affecting tens of thousands of Canadians, is no time to make a political point.
I would also like to remind readers that no matter what your stance is on the oil sands and its environmental impact, we are all consumers of oil products in one way or another. No one is exempt. The tragedy faced by residents of Fort McMurray should not be used as a leg-up onto an ideological high horse.
But thankfully, people like Moffatt have been the exception to the rule.
For the most part, Fort McMurrayites—myself included—have been overwhelmed by the exceeding generosity that has been displayed by our fellow Canadian neighbours. From food drives to clothing donations, it seems that our entire nation has come together in support of the 80,000 Fort McMurray evacuees.
As I watched news reports about Syrian refugees, from as far away as Halifax, rallying to help displaced residents of this small, Northern Alberta town, I felt a particular sense of Canadian pride. This, I thought, was a particularly touching and a clear illustration of what it means to be a true Canadian and to go above and beyond to help our neighbours in need.
But beyond the kindness and the philanthropy, something else struck me about the situation in Fort McMurray—and that was the power of social media.
The fact that over 80,000 residents were able to safely and orderly evacuate a city with only one way out—all at the same time—is almost unfathomable.
In speaking with my friends and family about what happened, it is clear that the vast majority of people got their evacuation instructions by accessing social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, using their mobile phones.
It appears that, in the context of an emergency, the ability to access up-to-the-minute information in the very palm of your hand is pivotal to enhancing safety while reducing chaos. Even as I sat in a hotel room in Bangkok, halfway across the world, I was able to stay in touch with my loved ones and find up-to-date information about the developing situation in a way that would have been simply unimaginable even a short decade ago. I, for one, am so thankful for that.
But while technology may have facilitated a modern-day evacuation miracle, it would all be lost without the strength of the human spirit.
I stand in awe of the fortitude and acuity that has been demonstrated by the residents of Fort McMurray. I have been amazed at the courage shown by first responders, including fire and police services, as well the generosity of our fellow citizens from coast to coast. As time marches on, I can only expect to be humbled by the resilience of my hometown, as it rises from the ashes and proves itself indomitable.
That being said, it is important to remember that the residents of Fort McMurray have a long road in front of them. Although headlines about the wildfire may disappear quickly, displaced residents and those in need will not. The rebuild will take months–if not years–and our fellow Canadians will continue to need help.
We should not forget that.
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