Post on 02-Jun-2018
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UP INTHE AIR
From mail bag service off theSnye waterway to a brand new
terminal we celebrate 85 yearsof aviation in Wood Buffalo
Northern Expansion Aviation plays an unprecedented
role in opening Canadarsquos north
Behind the ScenesHow a dedicated team
keeps the airport running
A BY983085THE983085NUMBERS LOOK AT FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTrsquoS GROWT
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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From custom pipe fabrication and modularization for processing facilities to ensuring our
resource-rich land is safely restored to its natural state Aecon is a proud partner in Albertarsquos
oilsands We are Canadarsquos premier construction and infrastructure development company and
wersquore driven by our number one core value ndash SAFETY FIRST Wersquore committed to safely providing
construction solutions for every aspect of mining in todayrsquos oilsands
om p tsuom crF
h lcir-ercuoesr
e a Wsdnasilo
n bevire drrsquoew
n soi tcur tsnoc
odd mnn aoi tacirbae fpiom p
d tero tesy rlefas sd inah l
r ceimers prsquoadanae Cre a
e vroe cnr oebmur nuy on b
epsy arevr eos fnoi tulon s
sescorr pon foi taziraluod
ce Ae ta tl saru tas n to id t
r tsarfnd inn aoi tcur tsno
e ndashulae v TSRFIYTFEAS
s orsquoyaodn tg ininif m t oce
g onirusno ees ti tilicag fnis
n Ar ien trad puors a pn ioc
om t cnepmloeeve dru tcur
fao sd te t timome crrsquoeW
sdnasils o
rug o
rsquoa
d
trebln A
y anapom
gnidivory plef
py a
yg i
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONTENTS bull FALL 2014
ON THE COVER
Fort McMurrayrsquos beautiful new airport terminal
PHOTO Ema Peter
7 MESSAGES
Welcome messages from the chair of the Fort McMurray
Airport Authority and premier of Alberta
20 AIR OIL SANDS
Fort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviation
access to the Wood Buffalo Region
39 YOUR DAILY COMMUTE
In the remote Wood Buffalo Region flight provides
one of the safest modes of travel
69 NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP
Amidst unprecedented growth
YMM accommodates the future
72 THEN AND NOW
A by-the-numbers look at the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
8 BUSH PILOTS AND ENTREPRENEURS
A rich history of aviation has opened up
the Wood Buffalo Region
24 CHANGE IN THE AIR
Scott Clements and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
deliver on their promise for air service excellence
32 FROM THE GROUND UP
Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Air port Authority
helps deliver on promises for air service excellence
43 INSIDE YMM
From dishin g up pizza to removing snow we take a look
at the people and services that run Fort McMurray
International Ai rport
61 BOREAL GATEWAY
Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects and
designers on its award-winning design concept for the
Fort McMurray International A irport
COLUMNS
FEATURES
6143
24 8
3NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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10259-105 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 1E3
Tel 780-990-0839 Fax 780-425-4921
httpventurepublishingca
NORTHERN STARS
RUTH KELLY
Publisher
MIFI PURVIS
Director of Custom Magazines
LYNDSIE BOURGON
Managing Editor
CHARLES BURKE
Art Director
ANDREA DEBOER
Associate Art Director
COLIN SPENCE
Associate Art Director
BETTY FENIAK SMITH
Production Coordinator
BRENT FELZIEN BRANDON HOOVER
Production Technicians
Northern Stars is the annual publication of the Oilsands B anquet
celebrating corporate and community leadership in Wood Buffalo
Northern Stars is published through a collaboration between Venture
Publishing and Westbrier Communications The 2014 honouree isFort McMurray Airport Authority To be placed on a list to receive more
information about the banquet and the organizations it supports
email westbriershawca
VENTURE PUBLISHING INC
WESTBRIER COMMUNICATIONS
PHIL ENARSON
Event Management amp Marketing
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robin Brunet Ca itlin Crawshaw Robbie Jeffrey Allyson Myggland Neil Taylor
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alberta Aviation Museum Fort McMurray Historical Society
Greg Halinda Ema Peter
SHELDON SCHROEDER
Chair Board of Directors
SCOTT CLEMENTS
President and CEO
YMM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
From bush pilots to jet linersYMM has
been opening up Wood Buffalo to the
world for 85 years
Congratulations and our sincere appreciation
to the early pioneers in aviation
wwwnexencnoocltdcom
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ELEVATING AVIATION
TO A NEW ALTITUDEThe bright red Snowbird at the entrance to the new Fort McMurrayInternational Airport is a great symbol for what pioneering aviationhas always meant to our region
GutsDetermination Vision
Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Regional Municipality of WoodBuffalo and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority on 85 years of highperformance aviation services
Great People Great Place Great Community
Shell Canada Energy is 60 owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands
Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20) and Marathon Oil
Corporation (20) AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine amp
Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Welcome Messages
T
HE FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORI TY IS A NOT983085FOR983085PROFIT
organization that owns and operates the Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
The Airport Authority strives to best connect the people who live and work in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo to all major urban centres and economies around the world
Steady growth in natural resource development in our region continues to drive an increase in
the amount of people traveling and using our airport Nearly ten years ago it was recognized that
transportation infrastructure was needed to support the new developments and accommodate the
population growth On June 9 2014 our new airport terminal opened in Fort McMurray marking the
beginn ing of our airport improvements and expansion In 2013 the airpor t project alone injected $585
million in direct labor income into the economy While the economic impact of the Airport Authority
extends outside of the airport property line we do have 35 aviation related businesses located on the
airport campus
The state-of-the-art new terminal is equipped to handle 15 million passengers annually Currently
we are seeing volumes over 1 million passengers at the new termina l with nearly another 30000 0
passengers on corporate charters that continue to use the older North terminal With an annual
volume approaching 13 million we are Canadarsquos 16th-busiest airport Ex pansion plans are already
being developed to add additional capacity to the new terminalIn 2014 we are striving towards achieving our vision becoming Canadarsquos premier regional airport
We recognize that we are the first and last impression many visitors will have of the region and
ensuring our customers have a positive air travel experience is one of our key success drivers As we
grow and expand to meet the demands of our region we will work with our stakeholders whose input
and support is critical in the ongoing development our airport We will continue to meet the challenges
of supporting one of the major economic generators of the country
HANKS TO OUR ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALBERTA HAS
the potential to be a global powerhouse in energy and agriculture Wersquore home to the
majority of Canadarsquos proven oil reserves mostly concentrated here in the northern
part of our province The oil sands are a key driver of Canadarsquos economy contributing
billions of dolla rs and thousa nds of jobs across the countr y
Albert a is an attr active pla ce to do business and our gover nment wil l continue to create an
environment that encourages investment in our oil sands We wil l work to maximize the va lue
of Albertarsquos natural resources ndash for our generation and the next When companies invest in our
resources families benefit and communities thrive Wood Buffalo region is proof of this it is
made up of community and business leaders who celebrate diversity innovation and provide
opportunities for people to succeed
As a province it is imperative we al so invest in our most impor tant resource ndash our people
Wersquore train ing more apprentices helpin g under-represented A lberta ns find work attra ctin g
Canadians and skilled workers from abroad and continuing to work closely with First Nations
and Metis communities to build economic partnerships founded on sound environmental
principles
This strong foundation is what attracts the world to our doorstep I know that you the civic
and industry leaders of northern Alberta are poised to harness the opportunities that exist
here and take flight into a prosperous future
T
Sheldon Schroeder
Chair Board of Directors Fort McMurray Airport Authority
Honourable Jim Prentice
Premier of Alberta
7The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet NORTHERN STARS
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BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
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From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
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services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
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1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
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bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 276
From custom pipe fabrication and modularization for processing facilities to ensuring our
resource-rich land is safely restored to its natural state Aecon is a proud partner in Albertarsquos
oilsands We are Canadarsquos premier construction and infrastructure development company and
wersquore driven by our number one core value ndash SAFETY FIRST Wersquore committed to safely providing
construction solutions for every aspect of mining in todayrsquos oilsands
om p tsuom crF
h lcir-ercuoesr
e a Wsdnasilo
n bevire drrsquoew
n soi tcur tsnoc
odd mnn aoi tacirbae fpiom p
d tero tesy rlefas sd inah l
r ceimers prsquoadanae Cre a
e vroe cnr oebmur nuy on b
epsy arevr eos fnoi tulon s
sescorr pon foi taziraluod
ce Ae ta tl saru tas n to id t
r tsarfnd inn aoi tcur tsno
e ndashulae v TSRFIYTFEAS
s orsquoyaodn tg ininif m t oce
g onirusno ees ti tilicag fnis
n Ar ien trad puors a pn ioc
om t cnepmloeeve dru tcur
fao sd te t timome crrsquoeW
sdnasils o
rug o
rsquoa
d
trebln A
y anapom
gnidivory plef
py a
yg i
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 376
CONTENTS bull FALL 2014
ON THE COVER
Fort McMurrayrsquos beautiful new airport terminal
PHOTO Ema Peter
7 MESSAGES
Welcome messages from the chair of the Fort McMurray
Airport Authority and premier of Alberta
20 AIR OIL SANDS
Fort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviation
access to the Wood Buffalo Region
39 YOUR DAILY COMMUTE
In the remote Wood Buffalo Region flight provides
one of the safest modes of travel
69 NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP
Amidst unprecedented growth
YMM accommodates the future
72 THEN AND NOW
A by-the-numbers look at the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
8 BUSH PILOTS AND ENTREPRENEURS
A rich history of aviation has opened up
the Wood Buffalo Region
24 CHANGE IN THE AIR
Scott Clements and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
deliver on their promise for air service excellence
32 FROM THE GROUND UP
Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Air port Authority
helps deliver on promises for air service excellence
43 INSIDE YMM
From dishin g up pizza to removing snow we take a look
at the people and services that run Fort McMurray
International Ai rport
61 BOREAL GATEWAY
Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects and
designers on its award-winning design concept for the
Fort McMurray International A irport
COLUMNS
FEATURES
6143
24 8
3NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 576
10259-105 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 1E3
Tel 780-990-0839 Fax 780-425-4921
httpventurepublishingca
NORTHERN STARS
RUTH KELLY
Publisher
MIFI PURVIS
Director of Custom Magazines
LYNDSIE BOURGON
Managing Editor
CHARLES BURKE
Art Director
ANDREA DEBOER
Associate Art Director
COLIN SPENCE
Associate Art Director
BETTY FENIAK SMITH
Production Coordinator
BRENT FELZIEN BRANDON HOOVER
Production Technicians
Northern Stars is the annual publication of the Oilsands B anquet
celebrating corporate and community leadership in Wood Buffalo
Northern Stars is published through a collaboration between Venture
Publishing and Westbrier Communications The 2014 honouree isFort McMurray Airport Authority To be placed on a list to receive more
information about the banquet and the organizations it supports
email westbriershawca
VENTURE PUBLISHING INC
WESTBRIER COMMUNICATIONS
PHIL ENARSON
Event Management amp Marketing
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robin Brunet Ca itlin Crawshaw Robbie Jeffrey Allyson Myggland Neil Taylor
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alberta Aviation Museum Fort McMurray Historical Society
Greg Halinda Ema Peter
SHELDON SCHROEDER
Chair Board of Directors
SCOTT CLEMENTS
President and CEO
YMM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
From bush pilots to jet linersYMM has
been opening up Wood Buffalo to the
world for 85 years
Congratulations and our sincere appreciation
to the early pioneers in aviation
wwwnexencnoocltdcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ELEVATING AVIATION
TO A NEW ALTITUDEThe bright red Snowbird at the entrance to the new Fort McMurrayInternational Airport is a great symbol for what pioneering aviationhas always meant to our region
GutsDetermination Vision
Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Regional Municipality of WoodBuffalo and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority on 85 years of highperformance aviation services
Great People Great Place Great Community
Shell Canada Energy is 60 owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands
Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20) and Marathon Oil
Corporation (20) AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine amp
Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 776
Welcome Messages
T
HE FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORI TY IS A NOT983085FOR983085PROFIT
organization that owns and operates the Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
The Airport Authority strives to best connect the people who live and work in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo to all major urban centres and economies around the world
Steady growth in natural resource development in our region continues to drive an increase in
the amount of people traveling and using our airport Nearly ten years ago it was recognized that
transportation infrastructure was needed to support the new developments and accommodate the
population growth On June 9 2014 our new airport terminal opened in Fort McMurray marking the
beginn ing of our airport improvements and expansion In 2013 the airpor t project alone injected $585
million in direct labor income into the economy While the economic impact of the Airport Authority
extends outside of the airport property line we do have 35 aviation related businesses located on the
airport campus
The state-of-the-art new terminal is equipped to handle 15 million passengers annually Currently
we are seeing volumes over 1 million passengers at the new termina l with nearly another 30000 0
passengers on corporate charters that continue to use the older North terminal With an annual
volume approaching 13 million we are Canadarsquos 16th-busiest airport Ex pansion plans are already
being developed to add additional capacity to the new terminalIn 2014 we are striving towards achieving our vision becoming Canadarsquos premier regional airport
We recognize that we are the first and last impression many visitors will have of the region and
ensuring our customers have a positive air travel experience is one of our key success drivers As we
grow and expand to meet the demands of our region we will work with our stakeholders whose input
and support is critical in the ongoing development our airport We will continue to meet the challenges
of supporting one of the major economic generators of the country
HANKS TO OUR ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALBERTA HAS
the potential to be a global powerhouse in energy and agriculture Wersquore home to the
majority of Canadarsquos proven oil reserves mostly concentrated here in the northern
part of our province The oil sands are a key driver of Canadarsquos economy contributing
billions of dolla rs and thousa nds of jobs across the countr y
Albert a is an attr active pla ce to do business and our gover nment wil l continue to create an
environment that encourages investment in our oil sands We wil l work to maximize the va lue
of Albertarsquos natural resources ndash for our generation and the next When companies invest in our
resources families benefit and communities thrive Wood Buffalo region is proof of this it is
made up of community and business leaders who celebrate diversity innovation and provide
opportunities for people to succeed
As a province it is imperative we al so invest in our most impor tant resource ndash our people
Wersquore train ing more apprentices helpin g under-represented A lberta ns find work attra ctin g
Canadians and skilled workers from abroad and continuing to work closely with First Nations
and Metis communities to build economic partnerships founded on sound environmental
principles
This strong foundation is what attracts the world to our doorstep I know that you the civic
and industry leaders of northern Alberta are poised to harness the opportunities that exist
here and take flight into a prosperous future
T
Sheldon Schroeder
Chair Board of Directors Fort McMurray Airport Authority
Honourable Jim Prentice
Premier of Alberta
7The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet NORTHERN STARS
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
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ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
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yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 376
CONTENTS bull FALL 2014
ON THE COVER
Fort McMurrayrsquos beautiful new airport terminal
PHOTO Ema Peter
7 MESSAGES
Welcome messages from the chair of the Fort McMurray
Airport Authority and premier of Alberta
20 AIR OIL SANDS
Fort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviation
access to the Wood Buffalo Region
39 YOUR DAILY COMMUTE
In the remote Wood Buffalo Region flight provides
one of the safest modes of travel
69 NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP
Amidst unprecedented growth
YMM accommodates the future
72 THEN AND NOW
A by-the-numbers look at the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
8 BUSH PILOTS AND ENTREPRENEURS
A rich history of aviation has opened up
the Wood Buffalo Region
24 CHANGE IN THE AIR
Scott Clements and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
deliver on their promise for air service excellence
32 FROM THE GROUND UP
Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Air port Authority
helps deliver on promises for air service excellence
43 INSIDE YMM
From dishin g up pizza to removing snow we take a look
at the people and services that run Fort McMurray
International Ai rport
61 BOREAL GATEWAY
Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects and
designers on its award-winning design concept for the
Fort McMurray International A irport
COLUMNS
FEATURES
6143
24 8
3NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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10259-105 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 1E3
Tel 780-990-0839 Fax 780-425-4921
httpventurepublishingca
NORTHERN STARS
RUTH KELLY
Publisher
MIFI PURVIS
Director of Custom Magazines
LYNDSIE BOURGON
Managing Editor
CHARLES BURKE
Art Director
ANDREA DEBOER
Associate Art Director
COLIN SPENCE
Associate Art Director
BETTY FENIAK SMITH
Production Coordinator
BRENT FELZIEN BRANDON HOOVER
Production Technicians
Northern Stars is the annual publication of the Oilsands B anquet
celebrating corporate and community leadership in Wood Buffalo
Northern Stars is published through a collaboration between Venture
Publishing and Westbrier Communications The 2014 honouree isFort McMurray Airport Authority To be placed on a list to receive more
information about the banquet and the organizations it supports
email westbriershawca
VENTURE PUBLISHING INC
WESTBRIER COMMUNICATIONS
PHIL ENARSON
Event Management amp Marketing
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robin Brunet Ca itlin Crawshaw Robbie Jeffrey Allyson Myggland Neil Taylor
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alberta Aviation Museum Fort McMurray Historical Society
Greg Halinda Ema Peter
SHELDON SCHROEDER
Chair Board of Directors
SCOTT CLEMENTS
President and CEO
YMM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
From bush pilots to jet linersYMM has
been opening up Wood Buffalo to the
world for 85 years
Congratulations and our sincere appreciation
to the early pioneers in aviation
wwwnexencnoocltdcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ELEVATING AVIATION
TO A NEW ALTITUDEThe bright red Snowbird at the entrance to the new Fort McMurrayInternational Airport is a great symbol for what pioneering aviationhas always meant to our region
GutsDetermination Vision
Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Regional Municipality of WoodBuffalo and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority on 85 years of highperformance aviation services
Great People Great Place Great Community
Shell Canada Energy is 60 owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands
Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20) and Marathon Oil
Corporation (20) AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine amp
Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 776
Welcome Messages
T
HE FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORI TY IS A NOT983085FOR983085PROFIT
organization that owns and operates the Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
The Airport Authority strives to best connect the people who live and work in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo to all major urban centres and economies around the world
Steady growth in natural resource development in our region continues to drive an increase in
the amount of people traveling and using our airport Nearly ten years ago it was recognized that
transportation infrastructure was needed to support the new developments and accommodate the
population growth On June 9 2014 our new airport terminal opened in Fort McMurray marking the
beginn ing of our airport improvements and expansion In 2013 the airpor t project alone injected $585
million in direct labor income into the economy While the economic impact of the Airport Authority
extends outside of the airport property line we do have 35 aviation related businesses located on the
airport campus
The state-of-the-art new terminal is equipped to handle 15 million passengers annually Currently
we are seeing volumes over 1 million passengers at the new termina l with nearly another 30000 0
passengers on corporate charters that continue to use the older North terminal With an annual
volume approaching 13 million we are Canadarsquos 16th-busiest airport Ex pansion plans are already
being developed to add additional capacity to the new terminalIn 2014 we are striving towards achieving our vision becoming Canadarsquos premier regional airport
We recognize that we are the first and last impression many visitors will have of the region and
ensuring our customers have a positive air travel experience is one of our key success drivers As we
grow and expand to meet the demands of our region we will work with our stakeholders whose input
and support is critical in the ongoing development our airport We will continue to meet the challenges
of supporting one of the major economic generators of the country
HANKS TO OUR ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALBERTA HAS
the potential to be a global powerhouse in energy and agriculture Wersquore home to the
majority of Canadarsquos proven oil reserves mostly concentrated here in the northern
part of our province The oil sands are a key driver of Canadarsquos economy contributing
billions of dolla rs and thousa nds of jobs across the countr y
Albert a is an attr active pla ce to do business and our gover nment wil l continue to create an
environment that encourages investment in our oil sands We wil l work to maximize the va lue
of Albertarsquos natural resources ndash for our generation and the next When companies invest in our
resources families benefit and communities thrive Wood Buffalo region is proof of this it is
made up of community and business leaders who celebrate diversity innovation and provide
opportunities for people to succeed
As a province it is imperative we al so invest in our most impor tant resource ndash our people
Wersquore train ing more apprentices helpin g under-represented A lberta ns find work attra ctin g
Canadians and skilled workers from abroad and continuing to work closely with First Nations
and Metis communities to build economic partnerships founded on sound environmental
principles
This strong foundation is what attracts the world to our doorstep I know that you the civic
and industry leaders of northern Alberta are poised to harness the opportunities that exist
here and take flight into a prosperous future
T
Sheldon Schroeder
Chair Board of Directors Fort McMurray Airport Authority
Honourable Jim Prentice
Premier of Alberta
7The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet NORTHERN STARS
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 976
N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 576
10259-105 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 1E3
Tel 780-990-0839 Fax 780-425-4921
httpventurepublishingca
NORTHERN STARS
RUTH KELLY
Publisher
MIFI PURVIS
Director of Custom Magazines
LYNDSIE BOURGON
Managing Editor
CHARLES BURKE
Art Director
ANDREA DEBOER
Associate Art Director
COLIN SPENCE
Associate Art Director
BETTY FENIAK SMITH
Production Coordinator
BRENT FELZIEN BRANDON HOOVER
Production Technicians
Northern Stars is the annual publication of the Oilsands B anquet
celebrating corporate and community leadership in Wood Buffalo
Northern Stars is published through a collaboration between Venture
Publishing and Westbrier Communications The 2014 honouree isFort McMurray Airport Authority To be placed on a list to receive more
information about the banquet and the organizations it supports
email westbriershawca
VENTURE PUBLISHING INC
WESTBRIER COMMUNICATIONS
PHIL ENARSON
Event Management amp Marketing
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robin Brunet Ca itlin Crawshaw Robbie Jeffrey Allyson Myggland Neil Taylor
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alberta Aviation Museum Fort McMurray Historical Society
Greg Halinda Ema Peter
SHELDON SCHROEDER
Chair Board of Directors
SCOTT CLEMENTS
President and CEO
YMM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
From bush pilots to jet linersYMM has
been opening up Wood Buffalo to the
world for 85 years
Congratulations and our sincere appreciation
to the early pioneers in aviation
wwwnexencnoocltdcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 676
ELEVATING AVIATION
TO A NEW ALTITUDEThe bright red Snowbird at the entrance to the new Fort McMurrayInternational Airport is a great symbol for what pioneering aviationhas always meant to our region
GutsDetermination Vision
Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Regional Municipality of WoodBuffalo and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority on 85 years of highperformance aviation services
Great People Great Place Great Community
Shell Canada Energy is 60 owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands
Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20) and Marathon Oil
Corporation (20) AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine amp
Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 776
Welcome Messages
T
HE FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORI TY IS A NOT983085FOR983085PROFIT
organization that owns and operates the Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
The Airport Authority strives to best connect the people who live and work in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo to all major urban centres and economies around the world
Steady growth in natural resource development in our region continues to drive an increase in
the amount of people traveling and using our airport Nearly ten years ago it was recognized that
transportation infrastructure was needed to support the new developments and accommodate the
population growth On June 9 2014 our new airport terminal opened in Fort McMurray marking the
beginn ing of our airport improvements and expansion In 2013 the airpor t project alone injected $585
million in direct labor income into the economy While the economic impact of the Airport Authority
extends outside of the airport property line we do have 35 aviation related businesses located on the
airport campus
The state-of-the-art new terminal is equipped to handle 15 million passengers annually Currently
we are seeing volumes over 1 million passengers at the new termina l with nearly another 30000 0
passengers on corporate charters that continue to use the older North terminal With an annual
volume approaching 13 million we are Canadarsquos 16th-busiest airport Ex pansion plans are already
being developed to add additional capacity to the new terminalIn 2014 we are striving towards achieving our vision becoming Canadarsquos premier regional airport
We recognize that we are the first and last impression many visitors will have of the region and
ensuring our customers have a positive air travel experience is one of our key success drivers As we
grow and expand to meet the demands of our region we will work with our stakeholders whose input
and support is critical in the ongoing development our airport We will continue to meet the challenges
of supporting one of the major economic generators of the country
HANKS TO OUR ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALBERTA HAS
the potential to be a global powerhouse in energy and agriculture Wersquore home to the
majority of Canadarsquos proven oil reserves mostly concentrated here in the northern
part of our province The oil sands are a key driver of Canadarsquos economy contributing
billions of dolla rs and thousa nds of jobs across the countr y
Albert a is an attr active pla ce to do business and our gover nment wil l continue to create an
environment that encourages investment in our oil sands We wil l work to maximize the va lue
of Albertarsquos natural resources ndash for our generation and the next When companies invest in our
resources families benefit and communities thrive Wood Buffalo region is proof of this it is
made up of community and business leaders who celebrate diversity innovation and provide
opportunities for people to succeed
As a province it is imperative we al so invest in our most impor tant resource ndash our people
Wersquore train ing more apprentices helpin g under-represented A lberta ns find work attra ctin g
Canadians and skilled workers from abroad and continuing to work closely with First Nations
and Metis communities to build economic partnerships founded on sound environmental
principles
This strong foundation is what attracts the world to our doorstep I know that you the civic
and industry leaders of northern Alberta are poised to harness the opportunities that exist
here and take flight into a prosperous future
T
Sheldon Schroeder
Chair Board of Directors Fort McMurray Airport Authority
Honourable Jim Prentice
Premier of Alberta
7The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet NORTHERN STARS
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 876
BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 976
N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
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ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 576
10259-105 Street
Edmonton AB T5J 1E3
Tel 780-990-0839 Fax 780-425-4921
httpventurepublishingca
NORTHERN STARS
RUTH KELLY
Publisher
MIFI PURVIS
Director of Custom Magazines
LYNDSIE BOURGON
Managing Editor
CHARLES BURKE
Art Director
ANDREA DEBOER
Associate Art Director
COLIN SPENCE
Associate Art Director
BETTY FENIAK SMITH
Production Coordinator
BRENT FELZIEN BRANDON HOOVER
Production Technicians
Northern Stars is the annual publication of the Oilsands B anquet
celebrating corporate and community leadership in Wood Buffalo
Northern Stars is published through a collaboration between Venture
Publishing and Westbrier Communications The 2014 honouree isFort McMurray Airport Authority To be placed on a list to receive more
information about the banquet and the organizations it supports
email westbriershawca
VENTURE PUBLISHING INC
WESTBRIER COMMUNICATIONS
PHIL ENARSON
Event Management amp Marketing
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Robin Brunet Ca itlin Crawshaw Robbie Jeffrey Allyson Myggland Neil Taylor
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alberta Aviation Museum Fort McMurray Historical Society
Greg Halinda Ema Peter
SHELDON SCHROEDER
Chair Board of Directors
SCOTT CLEMENTS
President and CEO
YMM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
From bush pilots to jet linersYMM has
been opening up Wood Buffalo to the
world for 85 years
Congratulations and our sincere appreciation
to the early pioneers in aviation
wwwnexencnoocltdcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 676
ELEVATING AVIATION
TO A NEW ALTITUDEThe bright red Snowbird at the entrance to the new Fort McMurrayInternational Airport is a great symbol for what pioneering aviationhas always meant to our region
GutsDetermination Vision
Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Regional Municipality of WoodBuffalo and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority on 85 years of highperformance aviation services
Great People Great Place Great Community
Shell Canada Energy is 60 owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands
Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20) and Marathon Oil
Corporation (20) AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine amp
Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 776
Welcome Messages
T
HE FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORI TY IS A NOT983085FOR983085PROFIT
organization that owns and operates the Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
The Airport Authority strives to best connect the people who live and work in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo to all major urban centres and economies around the world
Steady growth in natural resource development in our region continues to drive an increase in
the amount of people traveling and using our airport Nearly ten years ago it was recognized that
transportation infrastructure was needed to support the new developments and accommodate the
population growth On June 9 2014 our new airport terminal opened in Fort McMurray marking the
beginn ing of our airport improvements and expansion In 2013 the airpor t project alone injected $585
million in direct labor income into the economy While the economic impact of the Airport Authority
extends outside of the airport property line we do have 35 aviation related businesses located on the
airport campus
The state-of-the-art new terminal is equipped to handle 15 million passengers annually Currently
we are seeing volumes over 1 million passengers at the new termina l with nearly another 30000 0
passengers on corporate charters that continue to use the older North terminal With an annual
volume approaching 13 million we are Canadarsquos 16th-busiest airport Ex pansion plans are already
being developed to add additional capacity to the new terminalIn 2014 we are striving towards achieving our vision becoming Canadarsquos premier regional airport
We recognize that we are the first and last impression many visitors will have of the region and
ensuring our customers have a positive air travel experience is one of our key success drivers As we
grow and expand to meet the demands of our region we will work with our stakeholders whose input
and support is critical in the ongoing development our airport We will continue to meet the challenges
of supporting one of the major economic generators of the country
HANKS TO OUR ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALBERTA HAS
the potential to be a global powerhouse in energy and agriculture Wersquore home to the
majority of Canadarsquos proven oil reserves mostly concentrated here in the northern
part of our province The oil sands are a key driver of Canadarsquos economy contributing
billions of dolla rs and thousa nds of jobs across the countr y
Albert a is an attr active pla ce to do business and our gover nment wil l continue to create an
environment that encourages investment in our oil sands We wil l work to maximize the va lue
of Albertarsquos natural resources ndash for our generation and the next When companies invest in our
resources families benefit and communities thrive Wood Buffalo region is proof of this it is
made up of community and business leaders who celebrate diversity innovation and provide
opportunities for people to succeed
As a province it is imperative we al so invest in our most impor tant resource ndash our people
Wersquore train ing more apprentices helpin g under-represented A lberta ns find work attra ctin g
Canadians and skilled workers from abroad and continuing to work closely with First Nations
and Metis communities to build economic partnerships founded on sound environmental
principles
This strong foundation is what attracts the world to our doorstep I know that you the civic
and industry leaders of northern Alberta are poised to harness the opportunities that exist
here and take flight into a prosperous future
T
Sheldon Schroeder
Chair Board of Directors Fort McMurray Airport Authority
Honourable Jim Prentice
Premier of Alberta
7The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet NORTHERN STARS
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 876
BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 976
N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1276
ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ELEVATING AVIATION
TO A NEW ALTITUDEThe bright red Snowbird at the entrance to the new Fort McMurrayInternational Airport is a great symbol for what pioneering aviationhas always meant to our region
GutsDetermination Vision
Shell Albian Sands congratulates the Regional Municipality of WoodBuffalo and the Fort McMurray Airport Authority on 85 years of highperformance aviation services
Great People Great Place Great Community
Shell Canada Energy is 60 owner and operator of the Athabasca Oil Sands
Project (AOSP) along with Chevron Canada Limited (20) and Marathon Oil
Corporation (20) AOSP includes Shell Albian Sands (Muskeg River Mine amp
Jackpine Mine) and the Scotford Upgrader
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Welcome Messages
T
HE FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORI TY IS A NOT983085FOR983085PROFIT
organization that owns and operates the Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
The Airport Authority strives to best connect the people who live and work in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo to all major urban centres and economies around the world
Steady growth in natural resource development in our region continues to drive an increase in
the amount of people traveling and using our airport Nearly ten years ago it was recognized that
transportation infrastructure was needed to support the new developments and accommodate the
population growth On June 9 2014 our new airport terminal opened in Fort McMurray marking the
beginn ing of our airport improvements and expansion In 2013 the airpor t project alone injected $585
million in direct labor income into the economy While the economic impact of the Airport Authority
extends outside of the airport property line we do have 35 aviation related businesses located on the
airport campus
The state-of-the-art new terminal is equipped to handle 15 million passengers annually Currently
we are seeing volumes over 1 million passengers at the new termina l with nearly another 30000 0
passengers on corporate charters that continue to use the older North terminal With an annual
volume approaching 13 million we are Canadarsquos 16th-busiest airport Ex pansion plans are already
being developed to add additional capacity to the new terminalIn 2014 we are striving towards achieving our vision becoming Canadarsquos premier regional airport
We recognize that we are the first and last impression many visitors will have of the region and
ensuring our customers have a positive air travel experience is one of our key success drivers As we
grow and expand to meet the demands of our region we will work with our stakeholders whose input
and support is critical in the ongoing development our airport We will continue to meet the challenges
of supporting one of the major economic generators of the country
HANKS TO OUR ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALBERTA HAS
the potential to be a global powerhouse in energy and agriculture Wersquore home to the
majority of Canadarsquos proven oil reserves mostly concentrated here in the northern
part of our province The oil sands are a key driver of Canadarsquos economy contributing
billions of dolla rs and thousa nds of jobs across the countr y
Albert a is an attr active pla ce to do business and our gover nment wil l continue to create an
environment that encourages investment in our oil sands We wil l work to maximize the va lue
of Albertarsquos natural resources ndash for our generation and the next When companies invest in our
resources families benefit and communities thrive Wood Buffalo region is proof of this it is
made up of community and business leaders who celebrate diversity innovation and provide
opportunities for people to succeed
As a province it is imperative we al so invest in our most impor tant resource ndash our people
Wersquore train ing more apprentices helpin g under-represented A lberta ns find work attra ctin g
Canadians and skilled workers from abroad and continuing to work closely with First Nations
and Metis communities to build economic partnerships founded on sound environmental
principles
This strong foundation is what attracts the world to our doorstep I know that you the civic
and industry leaders of northern Alberta are poised to harness the opportunities that exist
here and take flight into a prosperous future
T
Sheldon Schroeder
Chair Board of Directors Fort McMurray Airport Authority
Honourable Jim Prentice
Premier of Alberta
7The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet NORTHERN STARS
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
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ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
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hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
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ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
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lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 776
Welcome Messages
T
HE FORT MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORI TY IS A NOT983085FOR983085PROFIT
organization that owns and operates the Fort McMurray International Airport (YMM)
The Airport Authority strives to best connect the people who live and work in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo to all major urban centres and economies around the world
Steady growth in natural resource development in our region continues to drive an increase in
the amount of people traveling and using our airport Nearly ten years ago it was recognized that
transportation infrastructure was needed to support the new developments and accommodate the
population growth On June 9 2014 our new airport terminal opened in Fort McMurray marking the
beginn ing of our airport improvements and expansion In 2013 the airpor t project alone injected $585
million in direct labor income into the economy While the economic impact of the Airport Authority
extends outside of the airport property line we do have 35 aviation related businesses located on the
airport campus
The state-of-the-art new terminal is equipped to handle 15 million passengers annually Currently
we are seeing volumes over 1 million passengers at the new termina l with nearly another 30000 0
passengers on corporate charters that continue to use the older North terminal With an annual
volume approaching 13 million we are Canadarsquos 16th-busiest airport Ex pansion plans are already
being developed to add additional capacity to the new terminalIn 2014 we are striving towards achieving our vision becoming Canadarsquos premier regional airport
We recognize that we are the first and last impression many visitors will have of the region and
ensuring our customers have a positive air travel experience is one of our key success drivers As we
grow and expand to meet the demands of our region we will work with our stakeholders whose input
and support is critical in the ongoing development our airport We will continue to meet the challenges
of supporting one of the major economic generators of the country
HANKS TO OUR ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL RESOURCES ALBERTA HAS
the potential to be a global powerhouse in energy and agriculture Wersquore home to the
majority of Canadarsquos proven oil reserves mostly concentrated here in the northern
part of our province The oil sands are a key driver of Canadarsquos economy contributing
billions of dolla rs and thousa nds of jobs across the countr y
Albert a is an attr active pla ce to do business and our gover nment wil l continue to create an
environment that encourages investment in our oil sands We wil l work to maximize the va lue
of Albertarsquos natural resources ndash for our generation and the next When companies invest in our
resources families benefit and communities thrive Wood Buffalo region is proof of this it is
made up of community and business leaders who celebrate diversity innovation and provide
opportunities for people to succeed
As a province it is imperative we al so invest in our most impor tant resource ndash our people
Wersquore train ing more apprentices helpin g under-represented A lberta ns find work attra ctin g
Canadians and skilled workers from abroad and continuing to work closely with First Nations
and Metis communities to build economic partnerships founded on sound environmental
principles
This strong foundation is what attracts the world to our doorstep I know that you the civic
and industry leaders of northern Alberta are poised to harness the opportunities that exist
here and take flight into a prosperous future
T
Sheldon Schroeder
Chair Board of Directors Fort McMurray Airport Authority
Honourable Jim Prentice
Premier of Alberta
7The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet NORTHERN STARS
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 876
BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 976
N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 876
BUSH PILOTS (Top)
Lt Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquoMay
in 1917 (Bottom left) Wop
May and Jack Bowen pullinga plane out of the Snye
(Bottom right) One of the first
planes landing on the Snye
circa 1924
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION8 FlyYMMcom
FirstFlight
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 976
N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 976
N THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY A GROUP
of Calgary businessmen looking for oppor-
tunity in Canadarsquos North followed up on a
prospectorrsquos claim of gold in the Barren Lands
of the Northwest Territories They called up pilot
JS Caldwell and shipped a Vickers Viking biplane
amphibian named ldquoBouncing Broncordquo to Lac La
Biche where it was assembled During the summer
of 1925 Caldwell flew over a great sprawling
expanse of land southeast of Great Slave Lake
looking for signs of the prospectorrsquos claim
Wh ile h e ca me up dr y the vent ure repre sente d ju st t he f irst in a long lin e
of aeronautical contributions to the economic development of the Wood
Buffalo Region
Since Fort McMurrayrsquos establishment as a Hudsonrsquos Bay Company fur
trading post in 1870 trappers and traders plied the major water courses
(the Athabasca Clearwater Peace and Slave Rivers) carving navigable
routes through the northern Alberta hinterland In 1919 the Alberta
and Great Waterways Railroad pushed north from Edmonton
to its terminus at Waterways As a result many northern
shippers began shifting their business to the railw ay
But while rail and later road links connected
By Neil Taylor
BushPilots and
EntrepreneursA rich history of aviation has opened up the Wood Buffalo Region
I
9NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
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ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
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hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
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lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5076
SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1076
The Wright Brothers make the very
first airplane flight
over Kitty Hawk
North Carolina
Sixty letters are sent from
Vancouver to Seattle by pilot
Bill Boeingrsquos Model C airplane
Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins is
assigned to Fort McMurray to
explore the potential of airmail
service in the north
Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May and Vic Horne
deliver medical
supplies to Fort
Vermilion during a
diphtheria outbreak
1903 1919 JANUARY 1929 MAY 1929
Fort McMurray with the populated south it was
aviation that enabled Fort McMurray to become
a major staging area and supply base for Canadarsquos
northern people and natural resources
One of the first bush pilots to operate in the
Region was Clennell ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins a pilot
credited with the destruction of seven enemy
aircraft during the First World War After
conducting a pioneering 1928 aerial exploration
of the Barren Lands Dickins was assigned to Fort
McMurray by Western Canada Air ways in January
1929 to explore the potential for airmail service
from Edmonton to Fort McMurray and down the
Mackenzie River basin to Aklavik
Western Canad a Air ways was not th e only air
transport company operating in Fort McMurray
at the time Commercial Airways Ltd was formed
in 1928 by Cy Becker Vic Horner and Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May of Edmonton
In 1929 May and Horner undertook the famous mercy flight to Fort
Vermilion deliv ering medic al supplies to combat a diphth eria outbreak
in the community
ldquoThe pilots engineers and their families were true pioneersrdquo says
Denny May Wop Mayrsquos son and author of More Stories of Wop May
ldquoYou made do with what you had or could make ndash a spruce tree on
occasion became a strut for a wing or an undercarriage You had to be
resourceful and not let the difficulties get you down It was a tough life
People helped each other and everybody was a friendrdquo
Wh ile merc y f lig hts w ere o ne as pec t of C ommerc ia l A ir way srsquo
operations the owners believed that commercial success would only
come with the acquisition of lucrative government contracts to deliver
mail As a result Commercial Airways moved its headquarters to Fort
McMurray where it was awarded a contract to provide airmail services
along the Mackenzie River On December 10 1929 the first official flight
along the new 2697-kilometre mail route was taken ndash it would be the
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION10 FlyYMMcom
FLY BOYS Matt Berry and
Frank Hartley standing beside
a plane loaded with fur bales
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
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The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1276
ldquoThe early airmail allowed people in the
North to feel and be a part of Canadardquondash Denny May
longest farthest north mail route in the world
for many years ldquoThe early airmail a llowed people
in the North to feel and be a part of Canada rdquo
says May
Whi le airma il serv ice was a major revenue
source for early aviators flying from Fort
McMurray it was not their only means of income
The RCMP and Department of the Interior often
moved personnel and equipment by air to northern
postings The fledgling
tourism industry saw big
game hunters ferried intothe Nahanni district during
the summer while trappers
used aircraft to access remote trap lines flying
in their dog teams and supplies and shipping out
their furs
One of the most lucrative ventures for northern
aviators was transporting prospectors and mineral
exploration teams into some of the most isolated
desolate terrain in northern Canada The most
famous mineral discovery in the Northwest
Territories was made on a flight by Punch Dickins
in late September 1929 Dickins flew in to Great
Bear Lake to retrieve Gilbert LaBine the owner of
Eldorado Gold Mines Ltd On the flight out LaBine
spotted an area of heavy mineralization along the
southeast shore and asked Dickins if he could find the spot ag ain
In 1930 while other prospecting part ies were scouting Great Bear
Lake it was Gilbert LaBine who discovered the deposit of pitchblende
(a mixture of radium a nd uranium) that ulti mately became the
Eldorado Mine
As the Great Depression took hold consolidat ion occurred i n the
aviation sector starting in November 1930 when Western Canada
Air ways was reorg aniz ed as Canad ian Ai rways The following Ma y
Commercial Air ways was absorbed by Canadian Air ways There
were also new operators soa ring t he Regionrsquos
skies Spence- McDonough Air Transport was
established in 1931 by Bill Spence and MacMcDonough two pilots who had flown for failed
mining exploration firms Also that year Grant
McConachie began hauling fish from a Saskatchewan lake to the railway
at Cheecham just south of Fort McMurray During the winter of 1934-35
with four pla nes working six da ys a week he hauled ha lf a mill ion
kilograms of fish
By 1937 the Snye a backwater channel between the Athabasca and
Clearwater Rivers at Fort McMurray was a bustling water aerodrome
With four float ing docks accommoda ting 18 to 20 ai rcraf t it was
Canadarsquos largest commercial a irbase It became the logical ju mping
off point for numerous supply missions to fur trading posts mines
lodges military outposts and First Nation settlements throughout the
Northwest Territories The float or ski-equipped bush plane was king of
the air a round Fort McMurray but further change was i n the making
Canadian Air ways envisioned permanent land-based airport facil-
SEPTEMBER 1929 DECEMBER 1929 NOVEMBER 1930
Dickins flies the owner of Eldorado
Gold Mines Ltd over the NWT
discovering a mineral deposit of
pitchblende that became the
famous Eldorado Mine
Wop May takes the first official
airmail route
Western Canada Airways is
reorganized as
Canadian
Airways
New operators are established
including Spence-McDonough
Air Transport
WATER LANDING
Punch Dickins and Bill
Publicover in front of
a Fokker G-CASM
Photo courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION12 FlyYMMcom
1931
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1376
Canadian Natural
is proud to support
The Oilsands Banquet VIII
Wersquod like to send our best wishes
to the Fort McMurray Airport
Authority and thank the
organization for its work
to develop aviation in the
AthabascaWood Buffalo region
over the past 85 years
Congratulations on the newInternational Terminal
wwwcnrlcom
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Naturalis committed to operating
responsibly and ensuring we conduct business
in a manner that demonstrates our mission of
ldquodoing it right rdquo
We adhere to the principles of continuous
improvement efficient operations and
technological innovation
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1476
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION14 FlyYMMcom
The Snye becomes Canadarsquos largest
commercial airbase
In January the Canadian Pacific
Railway Company acquires
Canadian Airways Yukon Southern
Air Transport and eight others
forming Canadian Pacific Airlines
Wardair purchases two Boeing 70
and names one lsquoPunch Dickinsrsquo an
the other lsquoWop Mayrsquo
Trans-Canada Airlines changes its
name to Air Canada
In the post-war period an all-
weather airstrip opens in
Fort Chipewyan
1937 196819651942
ities throughout the Mackenzie River basin and
Yukon Southern Ai r Transpor t had scouted and
begun con struct ion of a series of airfield s between
Edmonton and the Yukon In January 1942 the
Canadian Pacific R ailway Company acquired
Canadian Air ways Yukon Southern Air Transport
and eight other companies to form
Canadian Pacific Airlines By the
summer of 1942 an all-season
wheel-based a irfield wa s nearin g
completion at Fort McMurray when
the US Army Corps of Engineers
arrived upon the scene
With wa r in the Paci fic the US A rmy was
worried about Al askarsquos securit y and the v ulner-
ability of shipping along the West Coast A push
was made to constr uct a stri ng of air fields across
Albert a Briti sh Columbia and the Territor ies for
ferrying military aircraf t and supplying the Canol
pipeline project
In the post-war period Canadian Pacific
Airli nes evolved into a wheeled ai rline serv ice
and gradually withdrew from bush operations
leaving these routes to other mid- and small-sized
operators including Pacific Western Airlines
The infrastructure supporting aviation in the
Wood Buffalo Re gion also conti nued to grow with
the addition of a new all-weather airstrip at Fort
Chipewyan in 1965
Today there are just under 30 airstrips operating in the Wood
Buffalo Region Several of these strips a re maintained by the Ministry
of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development for firefighting
purposes Others serve fishing lodges and First Nations settlements
Some of the newer larger airstrips are privately owned by oil companies
involved in development of the Athabasca oil sands Several of these
strips are capable of handling planes as
large as Boeing 7 37s which ferry personne
into and out of the camps mines and
upgrader sites
Investment in Canadarsquos oil sands
is massive and the population of Fort
McMurray is burgeoning Local airlines and air transport companies
provide ongoing air service to the Wood Buffalo Region and other
northern communities building on the legacy of the early aviation
pioneers in this part of the North
By 1937 the Snye was a bustling wateraerodrome With four floating docks
accommodating 18-20 aircraft it wasCanadarsquos largest commercial airbase
NORTHERN GATEWAY
(Left) Stan McMillan standing
with a blow pot
(Right) Punch Dickins
All photos courtesy the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1576
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
WestJet is founded by
a team of Calgarian
entrepreneurs
The ribbon is cut on the new
Fort McMurray International
Airport terminal
1996 June 1 2014
FAMOUS PILOTS IN
FORT MCMU RRAY As a major gateway to Canadarsquos north Fort
McMurray was visited by many of Canadarsquos
aviation greats Several of them used it as a base
of operations while others simply passed through
at various points in their illustrious careers
Wilfrid Reid ldquoWoprdquo May He participated in
the search for the Mad Trapper (Albert Johnson)
the RCMPrsquos first aerial manhunt May established
Commercial Airways of Edmonton and operated
the airmail route down the Mackenzie River from
the companyrsquos base in Fort McMurray
Clennell Haggerston ldquoPunchrdquo Dickins
Also a First World War aviator he held firsts fo r a
number of feats ndash flying across the Barren Landsof the No rthwest Territories flying the entire
length of the Mackenzie River and flying
prospectors into Great Bear Lake
Arthur Massey ldquoMattrdquo Berry He was involved
in a number of daring rescues including that of
fellow pilot Con Farrel and engineer F Hartley
who were stranded for 11 days in the Barren
Lands in 1935
Harold Rex Terpening An engineer not a
pilot he helped keep the early bush planes flyingduring the worst conditions imaginable and with
only his own ingenuity to guide him
Wilfred Leigh Brintnell During the Second
World War his company Aircraft Repair main-
tained and repaired many of the military aircraft
based in and flying through Edmonton on the
Northwest Staging Route
Stanley Ransom ldquoStanrdquo McMillan He was a
pilot on the ill-fated 1929 MacAlpine Expedition
stranded in the Barren Lands for seven weeks until
members managed to walk out to Cambridge Bay
on the Arctic coast
Flying with us has its rewards
Join WestJet Rewards to earn WestJet dollarsreg on your next flight
or vacation package
Join today at westjetcomrewards
reg Registered trademark of WestJet Airlines Ltd
From | De gt
Boarding Time | Heure drsquoembarquement gt OCT 16 20 14
Canadarsquos Energ y Capital
Unlimited Opportunities
Celebrating 85 Years of
A viation in Wood Buffalo
To | Destination gt
Boarding Pass |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|||||||
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1676
FirstFlight
TOUCHDOWN (Top)
Aircraft on the Snye as winter
approaches courtesy Alberta
Aviation Museum (Bottom
right) Two pontoon planesdocked on the Snye c 1940
courtesy the Fort McMurray
Historical Society (Bottom
left) Canadian Airways base
c 1930 (Opposite) aircraft
docked on the Snye near Fort
McMurray c 1930s courtesy
Alberta Aviation Museum
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION16 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
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ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1776
N A CALM DAY THE SNYErsquoS
glassy surface is the per fect
natural complement to the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo In
summer itrsquos where much of the city goes to swim
float or paddle alongside friends and family In
winter it makes for an idea l
ice skating rink The Snye
River is a body of water
that at one time linked the
Athabas ca and Clea rwater
rivers Today a damn stops it short of connecting
the two and it functions more as a lake In Fort
McMurrayrsquos long history it has t raditionally served
as a community hub ldquoThatrsquos where all the kids
hung out in town That w as our playgroundrdquo says
Jack ldquoTorchyrdquo Peden vice president of the Fort
McMurray Historical Society
The Snye also plays a key role in the regionrsquos
history Along its banks in 1899 representatives
of the Queen of England and more than two dozen
First Nations communities signed Treaty 8 In the
By Lyndsie Bourgon
WaterfrontHub The Snye waterway plays an important role inFort McMurrayrsquos aviation history
Odays of exploration and trapping its relatively placid waters provided a good
spot to dock small watercraft Trappers would boat into the Snye and park along
its shores over the summer while they worked in the regionrsquos shipyards
ldquoA lot of people in the town used watercraft because t here were no roads
in the areardquo says Peden ldquoThey would use the river system for getting out for
hunting recreation and as a means of getting somewhererdquo
As th e to w nrsquos ma in tr an sp or t hu b th e Sn ye wa s a n
incredibly busy place The Hudsonrsquos Bay Company used to
tie up its boats along the river and there was an outpost
nearby along the shore of the Athabasca R iver Eventually
the outpost became the airport with floatplanes landing and
docking on the Snye as they brought in supplies and mail Companies including
Pacific Western McMurray Air Ser vices and Contact Airways were based on the
Snye and flew throughout the north ldquoThey were shipping mail taking trappers
out to their lines shuttling sport f ishermen and working with the forestry
service to monitor firesrdquo says Peden ldquoMail was a big thi ng ndash a lot of it was
dispersed from Fort McMurray and flown all the way up to places like
Tuktoyuktukrdquo
As natu ral resource e xploration in t he area flouri shed into the
early 1900s so too did the aviation industry Fort McMurray
became one of the busiest and l argest aerod romes in all
of Canada in this period Tom Morimoto worked
As natural resource exploration in thearea flourished into the early-1900s
so too did the aviation industry
17NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
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ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
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ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
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ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1876
FlyYMMcom
BUILDINGFORT MCMURRAYTOGETHERCONGRATULATIONS YMMCelebrating 85 years ofaviation in Wood Buffalo
for Canadian Airways as a radio operator from
1935 to 1937 and found himself becoming close
friends with some of Canadarsquos most iconic pilots
including Wilfrid ldquoWoprdquo May ldquoWersquod all call them
by their nicknamesrdquo Morimoto says from his
home in Kelowna BC ldquoWhen I was the assistant
at the station I used to run around and take
messages to the pilots sometimes in the middle
of the night I got to know them quite well
ldquoIt was routine for usrdquo Morimoto says of
planes landing on the Snye ldquoIt was just the
airportrdquo
With technologica l advancements in flight
that quickly began to change ldquoIt just continually
grewrdquo Peden says ldquoI watched it as a young man
down there when I would work with aircraft
operators to help them unload and tie up the
planes We didnrsquot get paid much but we got to go
on trips sometimes and that was a big eventrdquo
As air travel modernized it outgrew what
the Snye could offer Larger airlines began using
wheeled planes instead and the focus of air travel
eventually became Fort McMurrayrsquos land-bound
runways ldquoIt was a loss of something a very tradi-
tional way of life for a long timerdquo Peden says ldquoIt
was sort of sad to see it gordquo Still he notes that the
Snyersquos effect on aviation history is undeniable ldquoIf
you go into other airports across Canada yoursquoll
see photos of airplanes on the Snyerdquo he says
Built in the mid-1960s to prov ide access toMacDonald Island the MacDonald Island land
bridge dams the Snye which continues to host
watercraft and float-planes Though it no longer
connects the regionrsquos two great rivers the Snye is
still a link between Fort McMurray its history and
its great natural surroundings
A YEAR OF FLIGHT
Also in 1929 the Boeing Company formed Boeing
Aircraft Canada and produced the first transport planes
in Western Canada Over the ensuing years Boeing
expanded its operations in Canada building a manu-
facturing facility near the Fraser River Eighty-five years
later Boeing is still an iconic Canadian company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 1976
Fly in Stay with UsClean Harbors Lodging has many executive lodges north and south of Fort
McMurray and conveniently located near several major Oilsands projects Each
lodge offers a wide variety of interactive amenities excellent food and spaciousrooms that let you relax in comfort Wersquove got you covered All you need to do
is tuck yourself in
R uth Lake Lodge
26 km north of Fort McMurray
Sierra Select Lodge
65 km north of Fort McMurray
Reserve your rooms todayCall 3101999 or emailLodgingReservationscleanharborscomwwwchlodgingcom
Clean Harbors is proud to sponsor
Oilsands Banquet VIII
to recognize the Fort McMurray Airport Authority
in their 85 year development of aviation
in the AthabascaWood Buffalo region
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
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HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
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But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2076
ECONOMIC ENGINE
(Bottom Left) Aviation helped
spur development of the
regionrsquos oil sands industry The
north terminal has become
a hub for industry traffic in
the region (Opposite) Suncor
employees disembark from
one of the companyrsquos aircraft
Photo courtesy Suncor Energy
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION20 FlyYMMcom
Cracking theNorth
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
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ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
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hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
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lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5076
SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2176
HROUGHOUT HISTORY FORT
McMurray has played an integral
role in opening up Canadarsquos north to
industry and trade From fishing to
fur trapping to todayrsquos
boomi ng energ y indust ry
transportation in and out
of the region has played a
huge role in its economic
stability
When Fort McMu rray Inter nationa l Air port
(YMM) officially opened its long-awaited new
terminal th is summer its modern new design
and 161458 square metres of exposed wood
beam a nd stonework wa s nothi ng like t he
airport John Wi lson flew into back in 1977
ldquoThe airport termina l was a collection of
By Caitlin Crawshaw
Air Oil SandsFort McMurrayrsquos economic engine is boosted by aviationaccess to the Wood Buffalo Region
T ATCO trai lers slapped to gether more or lessrdquo say s the long- time busi ness-
man During t he 33 years he lived in the city he watched the airport g row in
fits and starts in spite of several economic booms Itrsquos only been in the last
few years that government and business leaders have successfully rallied
for drastic improvements to the infrastr ucture ldquoWersquove
always had a need for a new terminal so this new facility
is long overduerdquo says Wilson who serves on the air portrsquos
business a dvisor y board Of cour se thi s lag had no thin g to
do with a lack of vision he notes ldquoInfrastructure needs
are always slow to get on the map and get fundedrdquo
The new terminal could nrsquot have come at a better time in 2013
a record 12 million travellers f lew out of the Municipality of
Woo d B uf fa lo vi a th e c it yrsquo s ag in g ai rp or t As a r es ul t
YM M beca me the 16th busiest ai rpor t in Can ada t hough
the municipality is only the 82ndnd biggest city in
Canada with 104338 residents Itrsquos expected
that the airportrsquos passenger load will grow by
ldquoAirports are becoming more and moreof an economic engine for any city ndashand Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquondash John Wilson
21NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2376
But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2276
25 pe r cent in the next two years pushing it to
capacity once again
Wilso n descr ibes th e air port as an ldquoecono mic
enginerdquo ndash and recent data supports his clai m A
2013 study by SNC-Lavalin pegged YM Mrsquos total
economic impact at $412
million for the entire Munic-
ipality of Wood Buffalo This
figure included the creation
of 1700 jobs and $584 mil-
lion in direct labour income
But the airport ndash and aviation in general ndash also
plays a supporting role in ma ny other industries
Case in point the energ y sector where skilled
workers a re in hi gh dema nd Bec ause of t he
high cost of homes in Fort McMurray (the
average sells for about $60000 0) and the low
vaca ncy rat e many workers co mmute to t heir jobs from across C anada a nd live i n camps for
short durations Itrsquos often easier and more cost
effective to fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transpor tation from
Fort McMurray ldquoWe have such an itinera nt
workforce right now People are flyi ng in
from all around Canada and t hat commuter
work popul ation is v ital for For t McMur rayrdquo
says Wilson Even those who live in Alberta
avoid commuting via car since Highway 63 is
notoriously dangerous
So air travel has become an important meansof getting people and goods into and out of the
region for nearly a century But it wasnrsquot until
1981 that a permanent control tower was erected followed by a
larger terminal (to accommodate 250000 passengers annually)
five years later
Af ter decade s of slow and steady g rowt h Y MM has been rapid ly
evolving since its incorporation as an airport authority in 2010 In
2012 public transit service to the airport
was added and i n 2013 it beg an offer ing
international flights ndash YMM provides
charter services to Mexico
But commercial air travel is just one par t
of the aviation industry in the Municipality
of Wood Buffalo Companies in the area of ten own and operate
their own ai rcraft in order to move labourers to and from work
sites and bring needed supplies ( like grocer ies) to remote sites
There are also plenty of charter companies providing regular
flights via smaller aircraft G-Sky Aviation is one of these firms
and operates a small fleet of fixed-wing aircra fts (including a
Dehavilland T win Otter Citation Bravo and King Air 200) viaa 25000 -square-foot hanger The company has only been in
operation for nine months but is already busy assisting companies
wit h crew c hang es g rocer y ru ns and qu ick meet ings in Edmo nton
and Calgar y ldquoTherersquos a lot of scheduled services between Fort
McMurray and Calgar y ndash maybe six or seven a dayrdquo says William
Houghton G-Skyrsquos general manager ldquoBy chartering an aircraft
you can come and g o on your own t imerdquo Th is saves c ompanies
from paying for hotels or other travel costs
Charter flights are always in demand thanks to the growing
energy sector says Houghton G-Sky Aviation wasnrsquot created with
a specific client in mind but to ta ke advantage of ldquocontinuing
opportunitiesrdquo in the area ldquoWith a ir charter itrsquos like controlledgrowth Itrsquos not huge growth itrsquos not slow growt h ndash itrsquos just
steadyrdquo
Itrsquos often easier and more cost effectiveto fly employees directly to work sites
rather than rely on ground transportationfrom Fort McMurray
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION22 FlyYMMcom
HEADING NORTH
(Bottom) Fort McMurrayrsquos
increased expansion has been
supported by ease of flight
to the region Photo courtesy
Region of Wood Buffalo
(Opposite) A Suncor mechanic
performs maintenance on
one of the companyrsquos private
aircraft Photo courtesy
Suncor Energy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
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ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
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dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
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ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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But on the whole aviationrsquos contribution
to the local economy seems to be increasing
rapidly ndash not steadily Wilson expects that YMM
wil l continue to i nject f unds i nto the are a via t he
development of a five-star hotel attached to the
terminal as well as a business park (something
akin to Nisku a few minutes from the Edmonton
International Airport) ldquoAirports are becoming
more and more of an economic engine for any
city ndash and Fort McMurray is really following
that trendrdquo he says
COMMUTING BY AIR Various oil producers operating out of the Wood
Buffalo Region use aerodromes to facilitate travelin and out of their mine sites and camps Airstrips
have been built and maintained to facilitate the
fly-in-fly-out work structure that industry relies
on and the aerodromes often resemble the same
small landing stri ps in small towns The regionrsquos
private aerodromes have been estimated to fly
about 750000 people per year
Companies like Suncor Syncrude Cenovus
and Devon have all hired pilots and mechanics
to operate their fleet of planes and private
aerodromes some of which provide t ravellers
with amenities similar to larger airports including
checked baggage services and departure lounges
And traffic is booming ndash Suncor flies about 25000
employees per month on average in its SunJet fleet
of five planes But because their employer owns
and controls the fleet therersquos often more flexibility
for commuting workers during busy times For
employees the commute to work is made easier
through flight Shuttles to the airport from home
and convenient flights from cities and smaller
communities across Canada are all work perks
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GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
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Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
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tradeSolving challenges
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2476
GROWING UP (Top left)
Mayor Melissa Blake can attest
that the original airport termi-
nal (bottom) constructed in
1985 was too small to handle
the outpour of passengers that
accompanied Fort McMurrayrsquos
economic boom
LiftingOff
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION24 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2576
HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HERErsquoS A RESTAURANT SOUTHEAST
of Fort McMurray where the cityrsquos
mayor Melissa Blake takes her
two young children for the artisan
fire-roasted pizza Nearby Vancouver-artist David
Robinsonrsquos sculpture Daedalist a streamlined ode
to flight hangs from the ceilin g More breathtaking
installations and sculptures wait within walkin g
distance A wall of dazzling lights near it mimics
the aurora borealis though the original is visible
from outside during nights when the conditions
are clear All this modern art and fantastic scenery is located in the Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos newest jewel the new Fort McMurray Interna-
tional Airport (YMM) terminal building
Bringing t he airportrsquos much-needed expansion from concept to fr uition was
an impressive task that a dedicated team of officials community members
and visionaries pulled off Herersquos how it happened
1985 The original termin al built in 1985 was designed
for 250000 passengers though it ended up recently
serv ing over one million ldquoMoving into the brand new
airport in 1985 was quite a significant thing for
By Robbie Jeffrey
Change is
in the Air Scott Clements of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority helpsdeliver on promises for air service excellence
T
25NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
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s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
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ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
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lld wi
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ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
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ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2676
BUSTING LOOSE Like the
municipality itself (right) the
airport at Fort McMurray was
bursting at the seams
us a nd it w as a big step up over the trailer that we
used to have people flying in and out ofrdquo says Blake
ldquoIt started off serviceable but when the economy
started to shift and more investment in the oil
sands was going on we could see it bursting at the
seams literallyrdquo Minor expansions like adding
wait rooms and ex tra gate spa ce allev iated some of
the immediate pressures They could not however
hold back the tide
Sheldon Schroeder the board chair for the Fort
McMurray Airport Authority is also a private pilot
ldquoAs a member of the community using the facility
as far back as 2007 it was undersizedrdquo he says ldquoIt
was a cha llenge an d it got worse year after yea rrdquo
ldquoAnybody who travelled through the ai rport in
Fort McMurray at any time over the last 10 years
knew there was a need to replace the existing
airportrdquo says Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA and former minister of
municipal affairs Indeed the dam burst and the little terminal that
could was in dire straights
2004 In the early 200 0s Fort McMurrayrsquos booming economy and
subsequent opportunity pushed the air port to a breaking point ldquoThe
fly-in-fly-out scenario means the airport exper ienced its challenges
quicker and more dramatically compared to the community which was
also under incredible pressurerdquo says Blake
ldquoIt was a nice litt le terminal designed for a quar ter-million people
in 1985rdquo says Scott Clements the President and CEO of the Fort
McMurray Airport Authorit y ldquoBut at one point over one million people
were goin g throu gh a term ina l with one bridge t wo gates a nd one
bagg age beltrdquo
2009 With 50 ye ars of ex perienc e tucked aw ay includi ng recent
positions as the CEO of Aviation Alberta and the CEO of the Edmonton
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION26 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2776 ll llll llll llcopy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
Solving challengestrade
Over the life of the well extreme thermal
conditions zonal isolation steam management
and meeting production goals can pose heavy-duty
challenges for any SAGD operation
With more SAGD wells drilled in Canada than any
other service company Halliburton experts have
been providing operators with complete heavy oil
solutionsmdashand unequalled customer commitmentmdashfor over 50 years
Whatrsquos your heavy oil challenge
For solutions contact heavyoilcanadahalliburtoncom
Solving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
tradeSolving challenges
copy 2012 Halliburton All rights reserved
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2876
Air port Au thorit y Clements w atched as Fort
McMurrayrsquos air serv ice grew He came out of
semi-retirement when he heard the city was
forming an Airpor t Authority ldquoI thought these
guys are going to want to have somebody that
knows the Airport Authority businessrdquo he said
He applied for the job and the Ai rport Authority
hired him on October 18 2009 ldquoScott is a driver
no question about itrdquo says Schroeder ldquoHe hired a
very qu ali fied team of p eople to execute his projec t
and made sure thing s were on trackrdquo
Hopes for the new airport soared as did fait h in
Clements ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with
the mission of creating the new air port facility it
was cle ar to me th at the bo ard wa s seriou s about
doing thisrdquo says Hughes ldquoIt told me that this was
going to be something that was going to get done
It was just a matter of maki ng sure all the pieces ofthe puzzle were put into place ndash that would involve
the municipality the province and the govern-
ment of Canada working together to ma ke sure
that we supported the Airport Authority board
and Scott Clements in his capacity as CEOrdquo
2010 The new airport didnrsquot
begi n in ear nest unt il 2010 when
the commission became t he Fort
McMurray Airport Authority a
not-for-profit organization governed
by the Re giona l Ai rport A uthorit ies Act of A lber ta
The Airport Authority became a standalone
entity with assets and financial statements and
it could borrow money without relying on the
municipality The municipality in tur n cleared
the airport expansion from its balance sheet
The Airport Authority was still accountable to
its group of appointers wh ich included repre-
sentatives from industry (Canadian Association
of Petroleum Producers) government unions
(CUPE) and the Fort McMurray Cha mber of
Commerce
The Airport Authority revised the plans left
from the commission which would h ave led to
a smaller expansion ldquoT he problem was that we
would ha ve built this b rand ne w faci lity a nd it
would ha ve alre ady been to o smal l bas ed on
projections at the timerdquo says Schroeder The
location of the new terminal also needed revision
Then there was the timeless problem of funding
ldquoWe didnrsquot have a huge t rack record because wersquod
just for medrdquo he conti nues ldquo We didnrsquot ha ve 10
years of b ala nce sheet h istor y to providerdquo
Perhaps most detrimental was the issue of grow th ldquoWhen you
looked at the growth projections if yoursquore at the low end of the scale
itrsquos a challenge to pay forrdquo says
Schroeder ldquoEven at the medium
and moderate ends of the sca le
we were in for 10 yea rs of pai n in
terms of being able to pay ba ck
the money that was required for
us to build this And if you recallin 2009 growth was flatrdquo Airport
usage declined and the boa rd was faced with the iss ue of how much
money to borrow in order to accommodate a growing a irport
ldquoBy November of 2010 the Authority w as presented the option to
build the ri ght bui ldin g for the fut ure but at a c onsidera bly incre ased
costrdquo says Clements ldquoIt was a very important and str ategic decisionrdquo
Projecting growth over the next 2 0 years at just under three per cent
the Fort McMurray Airport Aut hority made the decision to borrow
enough money for a larger expansion C lements proposed a classic
approach in contrast to the budget-limited vision of t he earlier
commission
To Blake it was common sense She describes her guiding philosophy
for investing in projects as ldquoIf we build it and nothing cha nged in
the future will we stil l need it The answer in the case of the airport
is lsquoabsolutelyrsquo Even if we d idnrsquot experience a single new passenger
increase in that time it was still a requirementrdquo
Common sense didnrsquot fully encompass the risks a nd the ambition
involved however ldquoWe donrsquot have shareholders we donrsquot pay dividends
and wersquore a not-for-profit organi zationrdquo says Schroeder ldquoYet we
bor rowe d $ 20 0 m il lion T hat ta kes a lo t of gut s wh en y oursquor e a $ 10 -
million-per-year organizationrdquo
ldquoIt turned out to be t he right decision for surerdquo says Schroeder
Clements agrees ldquoThank good ness they took itrdquo he says ldquoBecause
ldquoWhen Scott Clements was hired with themission of creating the new airport facility
It told me that this was going to be somethingthat was going to get done it was just a matterof making sure all the pieces of the puzzle were
put into placerdquo ndash Ken Hughes Calgary-West MLA
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION28 FlyYMMcom
Scott Clements President and CEO
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 2976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
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have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
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bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
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have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
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bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3076
EASY CONNECTIONS The
terminal will also include a
new four-star Marriott hotel
to be completed by 2017
in the subsequent four years we grew by 75 per
centrdquo Faith in the Airport Authority ndash a nd in
Clements ndash paid off ldquoIn the end the community
got a bigger better facility that is meeting t he
demands of today and w ill for a few years to comerdquo
says S chroeder
2012 Construction on the new
terminal began in August of 2011
The old northern terminal has
been desi gnated for char ter work-
force traffic easing congestion
and accounting for 20 per cent of
the airportrsquos total volume
The airportrsquos expansion was a marvel of
co-operation ldquoIrsquove been in this busi ness about
53 yearsrdquo says C lements ldquoIrsquove been there donethat and Irsquove seen successes and failures across
the country I have never seen a municipality
support an independent airport so quickly and so
comprehensively as the Reg ional Municipality of
Wood Buffa lo has donerdquo
The municipality gave the Airport Authority
$25 million in gra nts toward civil works like extending t he runway road
access water and sewer extensions passed a law exempting the A irport
Author ity fr om tax ation an d resolved to a ssis t the Aut horit y in secu ring
provincial and federal funding A s a result the provincial government
gave it 425 acres of Crown land for a nominal sum for development of
the second runway The application for $25 million in federal funding
is in process
The airport also benefits from
new developments in infrastructure
the CRISP ndash comprehensive regional
infrastructure sustainability plan ndash is a
40-year $11-billion project that will match
new infrastr ucture to the regionrsquos massive
growth Bridges w ill cross the Clearwater and the Athabasca a nd new
workersrsquo roa ds wi ll stre aml ine tr ips to nort hern work ca mps Succ ess-
ful tra nsportation to and from work contributes to the success of the
oil sands ndash in this sense the new infrastructure creates a win-win-winscenario in which the oil sa nds the airport a nd workers all benefit
The new air port is also a kind of welcome for investors ldquoAny
multibillion-dollar investment thatrsquos made in Fort McMurray will be
preceded by months indeed years of hard work and a great deal of
technical analysis and international investors and their advisors flying
into the community to assess the potentialrdquo says Premier Jim Prentice
ldquoIn the end the community got a biggerbetter facility that is meeting the demandsof today and will for a few years to comerdquo
ndash Scott Clements President and CEOFort McMurray Airport Authority
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION30 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3176
ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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ldquoWhen people come and see a first-class facil ity it
helps instill investor confidencerdquo
This all contributes to Fort McMurrayrsquos shift
from a small town to a destination in which to build
a home and start a family ldquoI heard from residents
that Fort McMurray has the ambition to be a Great
Northern Cityrdquo says Hughes ldquoTo do that you need
a number of community-building pillars and the
airport adds to that Other airlines like WestJet
and Air Canada are ta king a look at how they can
integrate into Fort McMurray more effectively so
itrsquos another notch in the belt and a really important
element that adds to the quality of liferdquo As more
oil sands facilities come on stream there will be
less focus on a fly-in fly-out workforce and more on
permanent community residences The reach of
this investment in the region is vast the economic
stability of the Reg ional Municipality of Wood
Buffalo is not just of key importance for Alberta
but for all of Canad a as well
MAY 2014 YMM i s now a ral lyin g cause for t he
community ndash a source of pride distinc tion and
worldli ness ldquoTh is new fa cilit y is clearl y maki ng a state ment that Fort
McMurray is here to stayrdquo says Hughes At the opening gala on May 31
2014 there wa s a palpable sense of pride Mayor Blake describes it as a
ldquorefreshing changerdquo The a irport she says shows that Fort McMurray
is a wonderful place to live and that there are more than just industrial
offerings
JUN E 2014 Pilots are astute observers of what makes an a irport
successful For Schroeder itrsquos what he hears in the a irport since its
official opening in June 2014 that sta nds out ldquoWhen I walk off a
plane here I listen to the people coming off the airpla ne with me I
hear lsquoOoohrsquo and lsquoAahrsquo rdquo he says ldquoYou feel like your community is on
the maprdquo
There are now four air bridges two bagga ge belts and 16 food
beve rag e an d re tai l out lets an d a f our- sta r Ma rr iott hotel conn ect ed
to the terminal will be complete by 2017 YMM itself will employ over
135 workers before the year is up and the airportrsquos tenants employ an
additional 400
Most satisfying though is hearing Clements look back on his work
and realize that he achieved what he set out to do His goal wa s to give
the community what it needed but he gave it more ldquoWhen people are
coming through and seeing it for the f irst timerdquo he says ldquoyou hear
them saying lsquoWow ndash now we have the termina l we deserversquo rdquo
How do we developtomorrowrsquos resourcesWith todayrsquos commitment
copy 2013 Schlumberger
slbcom
yrsquos commth todaWi
rowrsquoromtoo we develHow d
tneitmyrsquos comm
s resourcesrowrsquoopo we devel
hidf
ihn ws ieitiunmmoe cht
g a susnikao md tetacided0 e0002n 1ahe tros mti
hd tunors aeitiunmmoc
noitacude edivors ppleh
ecnereffie dhl tlke aam
wtah wohg wniwonK
icert psos mrsquodlror wuO
yrsquos commth todaWi
lld wi
h ati wkrod wne avie lh wci
ne icnereffie dlbaniatg a susere adiwdlros weeyoplm0 e
dnr aegrebmulhc Sdlroe w
dns aloohco st troppl suan
regrebmulhcy Shs wt iah T
naw cod hn aereh wneh w
eploes pe icruoseus ro
tneitmyrsquos comm
moclbs
eerhtsiergerumblhcS
e chn tr id oleil fie ohn tI
e eh tnoitacudn eus ocof
moosrasle c
ssenlled wn atnemnorivne e
HIGH FIVEBrandt is proud to sponsor the Oilsands Banquet Vlll
honouring YMM Wersquore grateful for loyal customers and the
support of the communities we call home Sponsoring local
events like this one is our way of saying thank you
thanksabillionca
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
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accommodations in an open
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services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
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bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3276
A TEAM EFFORT
Building the new Fort
McMurray International
Airport terminal building was
a cooperative process between
Stantec SNC-Lavelin
WSP E Construction
Ledcor Construction and
designers omb
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION32 FlyYMMcom
LiftingOff
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3376
BOUT FIVE YEARS AGO BRUCE
Ferguson principal program and
project management for Stantec
started rolling up his sleeves for work
at the new Fort McMurray International Airport
(YMM) And while he and Stantec were ready for the
challenge building one of Fort McMurrayrsquos most
important new buildings was a massive collabora-
tion between that company and three others
ldquoStantec was retained as t he project manag-
ersrdquo says Ferguson But SNC-Lavalin was t he
planner and project manager for the terminalrsquos commercial food and be verage
advertising and retail components WSP (formerly Genivar) was retained for
infrastructu re design E Construction was awarded a $49-million contract for the
installation of underground utilities roads parking lots taxiways and the new
aircraft pa rking apron and Ledcor Construction Limited was awarded a
$78-million contract to build the three-level terminal building
The office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers (omb)
had been contracted to design the terminal and it focused on
providing a va riety of sus tainable features appropriate for
a northern climate i ncluding passive solar orientation
energy optimization super-insulated building
By Robin Brunet
From the
GroundUpHow a team of planners designers and builders turned Fort McMurrayInternational Airport into an international destination
A
33NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5076
SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
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increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3476
BREAKING GROUND
Construction on the new
terminal began in September
2012 with the old northern
terminal now designated for
chartered workforce traffic
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION34 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5076
SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3576
envelope assemblies in-floor radiant heating
displacement ventilation and sophisticated
heat-recovery systems The team selected
low-emitting materials to promote healthy interior
environments for passengers and employees Mass
timber assemblies provide
a warm ambiance to the
buildi ng interior Fini shes
that feature durability and
sustainability include 180
pre-weathered steel panels
and over 125 exterior
precast panels The team
decided to use cross-laminated timber (CLT)
for the building structure early on in the design
process With 954000 board feet of pine
lumber ultimately used it turned out to be the
largest application of CLT beam technology in
North America
Many of the terminalrsquos components such
as the exposed CLT ceilings and walls built
from reclaimed BC mountain pine beet le wood were prefabricated
elsewhere shipped to site and a ssembled ldquoFort McMurray is a
challengi ng place to find tradesmen because theyrsquore all occupied with
other work so getting as ma ny things pre-fabbed and shipped to site
was v ital rdquo says Ferg uson ldquo The wood was ma nufac ture d in Pent icton
BC and precast concrete panels came f rom
Edmontonrdquo Over 15000 square metres of
terrazzo-topped flooring were manufactured
overseas and hollow core floor slabs were
fabricated in Edmonton
Construction on the terminal began in Sep-
tember 2012 and at its peak 70 contract trades
and as many as 250 tradespeople were on site
Challenges included the sitersquos high water table which necessitated six
months of round-the-clock dewatering for foundations Ledcor installed
CLT panels during exceptionally cold weather and in order to deal with
successive severe winters hoarding and heating systems were erected
that enabled construction to continue in sub-zero conditions
But the biggest challenge ndash for Ledcor at least ndash had nothing to
do with construction ldquoThe real issue came with the recruitment of
qualified manpowerrdquo says Bob Walker Ledcorrsquos senior vice-president
35NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
ldquoThis turned out to be a fantastic partnershipConsidering the size and complexity of the
project everything went fairly smoothly andeveryone brought their best game to the table
Wersquore proud of the final resultrdquondash Bruce Ferguson
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
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bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3676
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
CONGRATULATIONS YMM
AirportAerodrome Management
Refueling
Airfield Maintenance
Equipment MaintenanceAirfield Electrical Repair amp Service
Radio amp Weather Services
Aircraft Ground Support
Logistical Support
wwwuascorpca
UNIVERSAL AVIATION SERVICESRR1 Site 2 C-9 Airport Fort McMurray Alberta T9H 5B5
Phone 7807919881 bull infouascorpca
wwwftsgroupcom
FT Services is proud
to support the localcommunities that ouremployees call home
Congratulations to theFort McMurray AirportAuthority on 85 years of
aviation service to the
Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Albert a ldquoThi s provincersquos constr uction sector is
booming a nd quali fied trades professional s have
many choices With the numerous construction
opportunities they are not forced to find work
outside of their home baserdquo Ledcor ultimately
recruited talent from across Canada
Ferguson points out that it was crucial for
the terminal and other construction work to be
carefully co-ordinated ldquoWe also had an aircraft
parking apron plus taxiways plus a parking
area to build around the terminal building
and this meant we had to work closely with the
municipality to ensure getting basic services on
siterdquo A boundary was set around the terminal in
which Ledcor wa s restricted and this en abled
E Construction to control the surrounding
territory and ensure that roads sanitary a ndstorm infrastructure was ready in time
Jim Meyer senior director airport
development for SNC-Lavalin notes that
while pa ssenger grow th wil l gradua lly taper
off in the long run the Fort McMurray Airport
Authorit y is already pla nnin g furt her expa nsion
ldquoFortunately the termina l was designed to easily
accommodate expansion and in 2017-2018 wersquore
looking at two more bridges and more passenger
hold room capacityrdquo he says ldquoConstruction of
the new 220 -room hotel wil l commence next
spring and three LED light towers that replicate
the colours and patterns of the aurora borealis
wil l be instal led in the tra ffic circle at the ai rport
entrance this fall which will be an iconic
landmark for the air port and the communityrdquo
Ferguson echoes the sentiments of his
colleagues when he concludes ldquoThis turned out
to be a fantastic pa rtnership Considering the
size and complexity of the project everything
went fai rly smoothl y and ever yone brought
their best game to the t able Wersquore proud of the
final resultrdquo
FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3776
EDMONTON | CALGARY | FORT MCMURRAY 18665368590 OR staynoraltalodgecom
noraltalodgecom
Committed
We are committed to growing
with you providing the highest-
quality facilities and services to
help attract retain and increase
the productivity and safety of a
strong workforce
Flexible
Flexibility in the energy sector
is critical to the success of
our clients and guests We are
well positioned to adapt to
changing circumstances and
environments and to readily
respond to your unique
ever-changing needs
Solution Driven
Whether you require full
turnkey lodging solutions
accommodations in an open
lodge or facilities management
services in your own lodge we
have a solution for you
Nine lodges locatedwhere you operate
Noralta Lodge has over 5000 rooms strategically located
throughout the North
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5076
SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3876
Congratulations on 85 Yearsof Aviation in Wood Buffalo
wwwdrivingforceca
bull Cars
bull SUVrsquos
bull Suburban
bull 4x4rsquosbull 7 amp 15 passenger vans
bull Off Road Commander
bull Trucksbull Crew Cabsbull Extended Cabsbull Flatdecks
We rent
FORT MCMURRAY340 Parent Way
FORT MCMURRAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
1 Snowbird Way
780bull791bull0932
780bull747bull7619
bull Corporate commercial amp rentals
bull Daily weekly amp monthly rates
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 3976
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4076
TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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TRAFFIC WOES Highways
63 and 881 are significantly
busier than most roadways
and are subject to adverse
weather conditionsPhoto courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
terminal which will continue to safely transport
over a quarter of a million passenge rs and c argo to
and from the region each year
One of the businesses affected by the imple-
mentation of a dedicated workforce terminal has
been Suncor and its pri vate
airline Sunjet Having just
celebrated the air programrsquos
65th anniversary the airlinersquos
five aircraft move upwards of
210000 people each year throughout the Wood
Buffalo Region According to Kelli Stevens senior
advisor for Suncor Energy media relations and
issues management the designation of the existing
terminal as a workforce terminal is a welcome
change for Sunjet ldquoThere were too many people
flying in and out of the old airport for it to be the
size that it was The expansion makes a lot of
senserdquo she says
Flying your workforce into the region and
providing transportation directly to the work site
ensures that a companyrsquos most valuable resource ndash
its people ndash arrive safely For Suncor its aviation
program is essential Because the Firebag and Fort Hills operations
are situated well outside of the city boundaries and roads are subject
to unpredictable weather closures Suncor offers flight service to
employees Stevens says that a big advantage to chartering space at the
airport is the ability to tailor the flight schedule to correspond with the
companyrsquos plant operations which means that
Suncor employees are always arriving safely
to work and departing with efficiency ldquoIt just
makes it a lot safer a nd more comfortable and
less tiresome for our employeesrdquo she says
Shersquos not wrong about safety Highways 63 and 881 the only other
routes out of the city are significantly busier than most roadways In
2013 Wood Buffalorsquos Integrated Traffic Unit reported 15789 charges
laid while policing the t wo highways With worrisome roadway traffic
itrsquos not hard to see how much of an economic generator the airport
has been to the region and itrsquos no surprise that ai r traffic has steadily
increased year over year Providing a safe and convenient mode of
travel has proven to be essential to the 12 million passengers that
flew to the area over the past year The opening of the new terminal
has demonstrated that between the demand from industry and the
desire of businesses government and locals to forgo the long and often
stressful drive up Highways 63 and 881 the airport has nowhere to
grow but up
ldquoIt makes it a lot safer and morecomfortable and less tiresome for our
employeesrdquo ndash Kelli Stevens
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION40 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4176
copy 2 0 1 4 B r a n
d E n e r g y
amp I n f r a s
t r u c t u
r e S e r v
i c e s
I n c
A l l R i g h t s R e s e r v e
d
TOTAL ACCESS | INSULATION | COATINGS amp FIREPROOFING
ALUMA -
YOUR SINGLE
SOURCE
185 Taiganova CrescentFort McMurray AB T9K 0T4Phone 7807435011wwwalumaca
Aluma Systems congratulates YMM on
85 years of Service in the CommunityWe look forward to your continued
contribution through the new World Class
International Airport Facility
HAPPY
85TH
YMM
Accuracy every time
Find out more about how we dig deeper
Visit KellerCanadacom ndash formerly North American Caisson Ltd
Dinner with Dad We didnrsquot buy the
pancake mix Or make sure there was
enough maple syrup in the house
But we did deliver the natural gas to
make dinner the way only Dad can
do it When the energy you invest in
life meets the energy we fuel it with
breakfast for dinner happens
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4276
E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4376
HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4476
SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4576
says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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E A R T H W A T E R W A S T E R E S O U R C E S
AT O N E T I M E O R A N O T H E R W E A L L H A V EC H A L L E N G E S W I T H O U R W A S T E L I N E
Nobody wants oil field waste to eat away at project profits Which is why we offer the industryrsquosmost comprehensive on-site management solutions and extensive facility network aimed at
uniquely managing your waste streams and improving your bottom line We are Tervita anenvironmental solutions company and your sustainability partner Our broad range of integratedearth water waste and resource solutions are designed to help reduce your costs manage yourliability and protect your reputation Minimizing impact maximizing returnstrade Itrsquos about helping tosustain your business And everything around it Visit tervitacomwaste to learn more
Management of onsitehazardous and non-hazardous landfill
waste reducingcosts by 60
Specialized bins adding14 cubic yards per
load and decreasingtransportation costs
Proximity of Tervitafacilities to oil and gasproduction resulted in
50 cost savings
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HEN PASSENGERS ARRIVING
at Fort McMurray International
Air port ( YMM ) step into t he
arrivals area the smiling faces of
their friends and family are not the only ones to
greet them Also on scene are some true experts
in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
the community ambassadors who staff a brand
new Visitor Information Centre
The airport is home to the new centre which is a partnership ru n
by Fort McMur ray Touri sm the Reg ional Mun icipalit y of Wood Bu ffalo
and the Fort McMurray Air port Authority It provides on-the-ground
guidance for Fort McMurray tour ists workers and residents alike
The new booth presents a fresh face for ward for the groups
who cr ea te a w elc om in g f ir st im pre ss io n o f th e Wo od
Buffalo
ldquoWersquore a part of t he team here now which
is great because we represent the regionrdquo
By Martin Dover
A Warm
WelcomeCommitted ambassadors of the Wood BuffaloRegion welcome visitors to Fort McMurray
W
43NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SEE THE SIGHTS (Top)
The south loop of Wood
Buffalo National Park (Botton
left) Syncrude Boreal Open
(Bottom right) Northern lightsover Gregoire Lake
(Opposite) Dog sledding in
Fort Chipewyan
Photos courtesy Fort
McMurray Tourism
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION44 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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says Frank Creasey CEO of Fort McMurray
Tourism ldquoThis means that we have more
linkages and gateway access This is how we
welcome themrdquo
The boothrsquos community ambassadors are
friendly faces from the region people who can
answer questions about everything from public
transportation to hotel vacancies to lost phones
They also go out of their way to make sure
passengers know who they are and understand
why they rsquore present in t he air port i ncluding
answering any questions
The Visitor Information Centre team hopes
its new physical presence at YMM will g ive team
members more room to showcase attractions like
the Northern Lights and outdoor tourism
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province because you
have a wide var iety of people in for hunting fishing and energy tours at
our airportrdquo says Creasey
He emphasizes that itrsquos actually the good spirit of residents
and visitors that act as Fort McMurrayrsquos most prominent
ambassadors ldquoIf yoursquore coming here for the first time you know
what your job is but of ten not about the co mmu nit yrdquo
says Creasey ldquoThatrsquos our linkrdquo
ldquoItrsquos very good for the province becauseyou have a wide variety of people in forhunting fishing and energy tours at our
airportrdquo ndash Frank Creasey
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HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4676
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4776
HE THIN CRUST PIZZAS FRESH
salads and savoury soups the kitchen at
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria dishes up
might seem more suited to an Italian
trattoria than the arriva ls level of an airport but
that hasnrsquot held the popular Edmonton chain back
from providing Italian staples to the crowd at Fort
McMurray International Air port (YMM)
ldquoThe restaurant offers a taste of Italy in Fort
McMurrayrdquo says Paul Sarlis franchise owner of
the new Famoso ldquoItrsquos simple Itrsquos heart foodrdquo
By Martin Dover
Travel with TasteFrom pizza to lattes passengers at the Fort McMurray InternationalAirport munch on more dining options than ever before
TThe restaurant imports its bell-shaped ovens from Italy as well as its
high-quality ingredients and they certify t heir ldquopizzaiolordquo chefs in the art
of tossing thin crusts by hand
Famoso is just one of many new concession offerings at the new Fort
McMurray airport terminal Boosting t he options at YMM from two
to 16 there are now varied opportunities for food and drink on
both sides of the secu rity gate
The new food court on the depa rtures level before
security includes a Subway Burger King and
soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons Past the
check-in gates passengers h ave options
MORE OPTIONS
Earls Kitchen + Bar is one
of the airportrsquos newest
dine-in options
47NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5176
LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 4876
from a Starbucks Jugo Juice and the first Earls ever to open inside an
airport Famoso also appearing for the first time in an airport greets
passengers on the arriva ls level Through much consultation and plan-
ning a variety of options are now available to travellers and residents
alike Locals can also take advantage of the airportrsquos Shop Dine Dash
parking deal ndash visitors to their airport can show a receipt from one of
the airportrsquos restaurants or stores to receive free parking
Melanie Ference is the owner of Chocolates amp Candlelight a
Fort McMurray chocolate and gift shop thatrsquos been open since 1999
Ference had been looking for a way to expand her product line to a new
group of people and had even considered starting a mobile shop at one
point The new airport terminal provided a great opportunity ldquoEvery
airport needs a chocolate placerdquo she says
ldquoThe city was itching for something di fferentrdquo says Sarlis The open-
ing gar nered a lot of attention locally and there are even plans to open up
another Famoso branch in the city itself ldquoIt was a natural fitrdquo
AVAILAB LE AT YMM
Best Buy Express
Burger King
Chocolates amp Candlelight
Earls Kitchen + Bar
Elements
Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria
Ju go Ju ic e
Mary Brownrsquos Famous Chicken amp Taters
Nicholbyrsquos Convenience amp Duty Free
Starbucks
Subway
Tim Hortons
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION48 FlyYMMcom
FRESH FARE The bell-
shaped oven at Famoso
Neapolitan Pizzeria has been
imported from Italy
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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SAFETY ON THE
GROUND YMMrsquos airside
maintenance team are
responsible for all 2287
metres of runway
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION50 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
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and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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LAYTON ROZAK IS FORT MCMURRAY
Air port Author ity rsquos first mana ger of
operations and training He started
his career at the air port in 1998
join ing t he mai ntenanc e teamrsquos t ightk nit g roup
of seven employees as a n equipment operator
ldquoBack then we all did a little bit of everythingrdquo
he says Six teen years later he has held a
number of roles with the Airport Authority
including interim VP of operations Since
starting with the Airport Authority the departmentrsquos staff has grown to
20 members
The departmentrsquos responsibilities have also more th an doubled since
the opening of the new airport terminal ldquoThere are more bridges and
wal kw ays tha t we h ave to keep clea n in var ious seas ons And itrsquos
not just sweeping away debris or snow We have to consider
using equipment of various sizes in the r ight way in the right
conditions Itrsquos more intricate workrdquo says Rozak W hile
the runway did not move the total a irside square
footage of paved surfaces has more than doubled
By Martin Dover
Kingsof
theTarmacThe airportrsquos maintenance crew ensures aircraft can landand leave in the safest possible conditions
C
51NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5276
Airside pavement i ncludes runwa ys tax iways and
the apron (the aircraft bridging area) ldquoItrsquos the
same job as before the new terminal opened but
just with a lot more space to be responsible forrdquo
he says
Pavement is just one area of maintenance at the
airport Wildlife management is also part of the
departmentrsquos responsibilities and is demanding
during the spring and fall during bird migratory
season ldquoWe do everything from patrols to scare
cannons to adding scarecrows to the areas most
affectedrdquo he says
Runway clearing makes winter one of the
busiest seasons for Rozakrsquos crew ldquoSu mmer is
the best time to plan and prepare for the regionrsquos
inclement weather which lasts over half of the year
some seasonsrdquo he says ldquoWe want aircraft to land
safely all the timerdquo he says Part of this includes
undertaking friction testing every time weather
patterns change ldquoAfter we clean the snow off we have to check the
friction to ensure that itrsquos within safe limits for aircraf t to landrdquo
says Rozak ldquoWe might have to sweep some more put down sand or
even chemicals
ldquoTo see where the Airport Authority was when I started and where
we are now is just incredi blerdquo Rozak says ldquoIt reflects the g rowth
of the region That said my time here will finish up soon and I wil l
have to hand over the reins I grew up here but it is time for a change
for my family My heart will a lways be here thoughrdquo Rozak will be
assuming the site and facilities manager role at Shell Aviation in
Calgary starting this fall
Airside maintenance is everything behind the airport terminalrsquos
gates This includes tarmac maintenance and snow removal
Groundside maintenance are repairs and maintenance that takeplace in the terminal and outside security
THE ALL CLEAR
The airportrsquos maintenance
team has grown from
seven employees to 20
Photo courtesy Regional
Municipality of Wood Buffalo
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION52 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5376
THE BIGGESTTHING WE
MOVE IS TIME
When it comes to lifting transporting installing and
decommissioning large structures we believe your biggest
challenges are not about size They are about time Uptime
turnaround time and time to market While the right
equipment is essential itrsquos often not enough to get a job
done in time Mammoet brings deadlines forward through
careful planning innovative engineering and safe delivery
With offices in Canada and on every other continent
Mammoet provides tailor-made solutions for engineered
heavy lifting and transport Time may not be set in concrete
or forged in steel It isnrsquot even all that heavy And yet itrsquos the
biggest thing we can move for you
For more information please call Mammoet Canada West at
+1 780 449 0552 Or send an e-mail to
infomammoetcom
Discover more on wwwmammoetcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5476
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5576
F AIRPORTS ACT AS A SPACE WHERE
people nature and human ingenuity
intersect Todd Bressi was a natural choice
to involve in developing the Fort McMurray
International Airportrsquos (YMM) interior design
Bressi and his team at Pennsylvania-based
Place Design help determine how public art
and design can fit into various unique places
For YMM they assisted in creating a place
where pu blic a rt public use a nd cit y desi gn
mingle by curating the three art pieces that
appear throughout the building
T o do s o B r e s s i s pe nt a lo t o f t im e w it h air po r t m anage m e nt
and office of mcfarlane biggar architects and designers Before
choosing a nyth ing he a nd his tea m toured Fort McMurray and held
meetings to immerse themselves in the city a nd the new site
ldquoWe came to understand that Fort McMurray has been a very
dynamic place for all its historyrdquo says Bressi from his office
in Pennsylvania ldquoMost of wh at it h as accompl ished h as
be en at gr ea t ri sk Ex plo re rs ca me he re an d it rsquos st il l
true to this day
ldquoThat led to us thinking about scalerdquo he says
ldquoThe city is impres sive and o verwhel ming
in a wayrdquo In 2012 Place Design issued an
By Lyndsie Bourgon
TheArt
of FlightPublic art throughout the airport captures the spiritof the Wood Buffalo Region
IOIL TO ART Local artist
Lucas Seaward (top) painted
his contribution in oil sands
bitumen
55NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5676
A HIGHER PLANE
A retired Canadian Forces
Snowbird plane (left) is
rooted in the ground outside
the airport (Top Right) Liz
Ingramrsquos tribute to water in
the region (Bottom) Sculptor
David Robinsonrsquos lsquoDaedalistrsquo
installation
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION56 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
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AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5776
open call for artists and it received about 300
submissions in response The team narrowed
down and ranked its final choices based on expe -
rience and qualifications though the final decision
rested with the airport team Management agreed
with a ll of Place Desig nrsquos top-ranked a rtists
In the end two of the three final art pieces come
from Alberta artists and one from Vancouver
sculptor David Robinson ldquoHis work is not the kind
of work yoursquod normally see in a public art settingrdquo
says Bressi Robinsonrsquos aviation-themed sculpture
hangs from the ceiling in the arriva ls hall ldquoBut the
airport could see that his work is really evocative of
the struggle of building a city i n the wildernessrdquo
Fort McMurray artist Lucas Seaward contributed a mural in which
uses bitumen as his medium ldquoHis work is extraordinarily uniquerdquo
says Bressi ldquoIn my research I couldnrsquot find more than a handful of
people in the world that work with bitumen the way he doesrdquo
Finally University of Alberta professor Liz Ingram contributed
a piece that has been worked into a glass wall at the north end of the
waiti ng room ldquoThe relationsh ip between the pe ople and water is
elemental and Irsquom glad to recognize thatrdquo says Bressi of the piece
ldquoThey were each able to bring a deep and thoughtful look at the
meaning of the city and its setting relationship to environment and
resourcesrdquo says Bressi ldquoThe result is people who are as proud of the
artwork as they are of the rest of the airportrdquo
57NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5876
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION58 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
MAKING IT WORK
Local entrepreneur Doug
Golosky has a longstanding
history of partnership and
cooperation with YMM
Photo by Greg Halinda
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 5976
HE AIRPORT IS MORE THAN JUST
a home to the large airlines th at flyin and out from its main termina l It
also provides serv ices to a number of
smaller charter aircraft throughout the region
This includes companies like McMurray
Aviat ion and G-S ky Avi ation priv ate ch arte rs
that operate just around the corner from the
airportrsquos terminal Both companies shuttle
passengers around the region through a fleet
of smaller aircraft
G-Sky was founded two years ago by local
Meacutetis businessman Doug
Golosky ldquoHe realized
the value of an air carrier
that could provide air
charter for the community
and he wanted to use his
backg round t o buil d from h is ex isti ng fa cil itiesrdquo
says Bill Houghton general manager at G-Sky
Golosky was born and raised in Fort McMurray
and had identified the needs of the surrounding
communities and businesses as they grew over the
year s Thou gh he h ad a nu mber of real ly successful
By Martin Dover
Making
ConnectionsFort McMurrayrsquos fleet of chartered planes provides anecessary link for the regionrsquos remote areas
T
businesses what he saw was an openi ng for runnin g small commercial pa ssenger
services that would support the needs of the surrounding communitiesThis often means a number of people reserving a plane for use when there
is no scheduled service or businesses shuttling employees in and out of
remote areas
ldquoThe community likes the availability of itrdquo says Houghton adding that there
are a number of charter businesses in the city that have found success With
aviation playing such a key role in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalorsquos
economy the technologies the Fort McMurray Airport Authority runs and
landing strips it maintains are also used by a number of smaller charter aircraft
throughout the region
G-Sky leases land from the airport on which the company has built its hangar
and office The airport provides services for private charters
through runway maintenance and facilities like instru-
ments landing systems and runway security The air port
and private charters like G-Sky interact when the airport has
plans to build or change something on the land They also
speak regularly about procedure
Houghton says not much has changed with the opening of the new
terminal but that it makes it easier for passengers to transfer from
fli ght s t hat land at t he m ain t e r m i nal t o a char t e r
ldquoWe work with the m to make our business workrdquo
says Houghton ldquoThey work with us to ensure our
busine ss is suc cessf ulrdquo
ldquoWe work with them to make ourbusiness work They work with us to
ensure our business is successfulrdquondash Bill Houghton
59NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6076
NORTHERN
INSPIRATION
A steel art installation along
the arrivals entrance wall
mimics the light and fluidity
of the aurora borealis
All photos courtesy Ema Peter
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION60 FlyYMMcom
Inside YMM
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6176
UTTING A SLEEK MODERN FORM
above a stark northern Alberta
landscape the new Fort McMurray
International Airport (YMM) terminal
project was designed to be a minimalist powerful
expression of one of Canadarsquos most notable land-
scapes and populations
In 2009 Vancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar
architects and designers (omb) began conceiving of
what the cit yrsquos upcoming bra nd new air port could
become Architec ts began prep arin g proposals to
the Fort McMurray Airport Authority who had contracted them for the ambitious
new airport design The team visited Fort McMurray toured the city and
surrounding minesites and began to consider what made the place truly special
Wal kin g aw ay th ey k new the y wou ld pl ace a n emph asi s on t he bu ild in grsquos
physical materia ls in order to make it truly fit the Wood Buf falorsquos
identity Rising to the challenge of designing a regional airport
that services more visitors than many cities omb embraced the
responsibility of welcoming thousands of people to a commu-
nity like none other
Airp orts are cha llengi ng build ings F unctiona lly they
must be effective and efficient easy for employees
By Lyndsie Bourgon
Boreal GatewayVancouverrsquos office of mcfarlane biggar architects
and designers weighs in on its award-winningdesign concept for the airport
C
61NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6276
and travellers alike to navigate They have a
form and function that does not easily lend itself
toward creative design Yet they are most often
the first glimpses we get of unfamiliar places and
should feel welcoming to everyone from returning
residents to tourists to those on business trips
And ombrsquos portfolio
of work aims to place the
firm as a champion of
innovative wood designs
whether that rsquos part of the
structure or an interior
finish ndash including the
companyrsquos own open airy headquarters in North
Vancouver They have been recognized as leaders
in changing how public buildings use wood in
indoor spaces and theyrsquore committed to finding
solutions that bring the warmth and character
of timber to spaces it might not otherwise be
found ndash like an airport ldquoOverall we set out to use
robust and straightforward materials in a timeless
and sophisticated wayrdquo says Steve McFarlane
principal architect at omb YMM is pa rt of that v ision ndash inside its
major public areas are defined by a mass timber structure comprised of
cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and wood beams New to North
America CLT is composed of multiple layers of lumber mdash in this case
salvaged from British Columbiarsquos pine beetle infestation Each layer is
oriented crosswise to the next Replacing what would normally be a steel
or concrete structure CLT provides a light but
rigid structure that enabled the team to increase
construction time and reduce the carbon
footprint and cost of construction Left exposed
it offers a beautiful and warm interior finish
ldquoThe process is very much a collaborative
endeavourrdquo says McFarlane including talking
about ldquoall the usual informationrdquo That information includes building
program and budget as well as some less tangible concepts for the space
For instance how might the airport express the values of the commu-
nity And how could the airport facilitate expansion in the future
What it has achie ved is an open bright welcoming space ndash in 2013 the y
won a prestigious Canad ian Architec t magazi ne Award of Excellence for
their work
YMM is 17000 0 square feet of wood concrete steel and glass which
McFarlane says they meant to appear as ldquosolid and void expansion and
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION62 FlyYMMcom
Rising to the challenge of designing aregional airport that services more than
most cities omb embraced the responsibilityof welcoming thousands of people to a
community like none other
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6376
Keyano College is thankful for the Fort McMurray Airport Authorityrsquoscommitment to world class air travel in and beyond this region Tiscommitment has a direct impact on life at Keyano
bull Over 80 countries are represented in our student body Tis year alone we welcomenew students from Australia Brazil Ireland Poland urkey and across Canada
bull
Te YMM Airport is an entry point for visiting athletes as our Huskies host moreteams from beyond our regionrsquos boundaries for tournaments and other activities
bull Our residents enjoy dozens of events and acts at the Keyano Teatre amp Arts Centre andthe new airport creates a favourable and professional impression for performers comingin to the community
Just as Keyano is a gateway to career growth you are a gateway to this region Congratulations to theFort McMurray Airport Authority for bringing 85 years of aviation in Wood Buffalo to new heights
Visit keyanoca to learn more about our College Athletics Teatre and the Keyano CollegeFoundation that makes much of this possible
From one gateway to another
THANKS
keyanoca
Photomagic by foto source
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6476
compression framed and filtered viewsrdquo The
airport is built out of materials that reflect the
region including weathering steel bitumen-
coloured metal cladding and unfinished
concrete There is an impressive steel art
installation along the large arrivals entrance
wall desig ned by omb
which mimics the au rora
borealis Those tougher
materials are balanced
with more natura l
materials like terrazzo
flooring exposed wood
along the ceiling and
acoustic white oak-panelled walls The interior
is a sort of industrial-boreal mix and McFarlane
notes that sustainability was a key part of the
design ldquoWherever possible measures were
taken to build with less and create an efficient
buildin g that is responsive to its use and settingrdquo
The design team kept everything f rom building
orientation to effective day-lighting in mind
and has tailored everything from the light fixt ures to carpeting The
airport boasts super-insulation in-floor radiant heating and heat recovery
systems
But it was the spirit of community that really jumped out as significant
to the firm In Canada few communities have garnered their own
personality and attention like Fort McMurray As part of that omb knew
that the design had to be functional but also
truly of the city
ldquoThe character of the Wood Buffalo Region
results from an incredibly diverse range of
influences The relationship to heavy industries
creates a unique sense of community unlike
anywhere in Canadardquo says McFarlane ldquoThere
are boreal forest and muskeg swamps rubbing
shoulders with active heavy industry It makes for a unique landscape ndash the
fact of its future is constantly changing and all these human and natura l
elements are attempting to adaptrdquo
McFarlane says that the oil industry wasnrsquot far from their minds
throughout the process ldquoThe design was inspired by the scale of oil sands
development ndash from the extent of the resource interventions to the size
of the equipment used and their physical qualities ndash imparting a vast
scale throughout the terminalrdquo That grandiosity of the natural world is
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION64 FlyYMMcom
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building form but we seeit as working to generate an iconic presencein the landscape It represents the modesty
and diversity of the community it serveswhile also capturing the vast scale of its
settingrdquo ndash Steve McFarlane
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6676
FlyYMMcom
civeocomapparent the moment visitors step off the plane The
new airport down the road from the old termina l
is still nestled in the wilderness ldquoThese circum-
stances inspired us to cha llenge the conventional
approach to the structure of the build ingrdquo adds
McFarlane ldquoSo we developed a system of modular
structures to simplify construction while alsoenhancing qual ity The most innovative aspect of
this would be the use of mass timber technologies
for the roof
ldquoItrsquos a really simple building formrdquo he says ldquoBut
we see it as working to generate a n iconic presence
in the landscape It represents the modesty and
diversity of the community it serves while also
capturing the va st scale of its settingrdquo
The firm has experience in building
regional airports and recently completed the
47000-square-foot Prince George Airport The
idea of airports as a g ateway to more than a city
has influenced its work greatly in both cities
Fort McMurray International is roomier than its
Prince George counterpart with more glass and
lighter woods that open it up to the rangela nds
just ou tside t he door It al so feat ures a re lati vely
seamless transition between i ndoor and outdoor
space capitalizi ng on its secluded location ndash there
is an outdoor courtya rd and green space for
wait ing p assen gers a nd vi sitors t hat t he ai rpor t
hopes will dr aw more people to get out of their
cars and come inside ldquoWe arra nged the whole
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6776
AURORA IN FLIGHTAlong with a brand new terminal the Fort McMurray
International Airport and Fort McMurray Airport Authority
also have new logos Inspired by the natural world around
the airport the logo harkens to the aurora borealis the
gesture of a birdrsquos wing the take-off on an airplane and
the tail of an aircraft
F R E E
DOW N L OAD U N T I L OC
T OBE R 3 1
As Alberta Oil celebratesits 10th year we reflectupon the biggest deals the
most regrettable gaffesand the greatest victoriesof the last decade
Check out the Octoberissue of Alberta Oil today ndashon newsstands and onlineat albertaoilmagazinecom NOW AV AILABLE
ON Y OUR T ABLE T alber t aoi lmagaz i necom
oct 2 0 14 t ablet
CONGRATULATIONS
thing somewhat atypical of airport planning so
that arriving passengers could be greeted with
generous day-lit spaces and direct access to
the landscaped courtyard as opposed to dark
basement-l ike a rri val space s found i n more
conventional airportsrdquo says McFarlane
The designers also kept in mind the needsof the future airport ndash a pressing concern even
now as the new terminal just opens ldquoThe abil ity
to respond to new airport technologies adapt
wit hin t he mar ketpla ce and serv e the i ndust ry
was a ll con sidered rdquo says McFa rlane ldquoThe desig n
allows the departures hold room and passenger
processing areas to expand independentl y based
on demand with minimal disruption to ongoing
operations Future expansions are basically
added modulesrdquo
The annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6876
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
Whats YOUR image of Wood BuffaloShow us at wwwShowCaseWoodBuffalocom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 6976
HO ON EARTH PLANS F OR 75
per cent growthrdquo asks Scott
Clements President and CEO of
the Fort McMurray Airport Author-
ity ldquoNobody doesrdquo No stranger to rapid ex pansion
the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo still
couldnrsquot predict such an unprecedented level of
growth for the four years following the change in
governance in 2010 The Airport Authority formed
after a sluggish 2009 in which growth flat-lined and
airport usage declined The expansion of the Fort
McMurray International Airport (YMM) would eventually accommodate
15 million passengers ndash sizable volume in 2009 numbers ndash yet even before
it launched in June 2014 reality hit projections for October illustrated a
brand new airport already bursting at the seams with a whopping 13 million
passengers between the new terminal and repurposed north terminal
This is no marker of inadequate planning In 2010 with 50 years
of experience in tow Scott Clements brought to the board of
directors a classical approach to the new YMM The Airport
Author ity comp iled g rowt h projec tions arr ivi ng at a
modest three per cent over the next 20 yea rs and
examined its options for accommodation
By Robbie Jeffrey
Nowhere toGo But UpAmidst unprecedented growth YMM accommodates the future
W
69NORTHERN STARSThe annual publication of the Oilsands Banquet
LookAhead
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7076
EXPANSION PLANS
The airport has been
intentionally designed to
accommodate larger capacity
over the next decade
It may seem conservative in hindsight but build-
ing an airport based on three per cent growth was
actually a gamble The Airport Authority persisted
however ldquoWe faced some pretty tough decisions
here as a board about whether
we were going to go out and
borrow that much money for
that size of a facility at the
timerdquo says Sheldon Schroeder
chair of the board of d irectors ldquoWe chose to do so
and it turned out to be the r ight decisionrdquo
Clements agrees ldquoIt was a very strategic decision
for the board to takerdquo he says ldquoThank good ness
they took it because in the subsequent four years we
grew by 75 per centrdquo When the new YM M opened to
the public on June 9 2014 it wa s already approach-
ing the designed capacity for 2030
Still there is no reason to pan ic Schroeder
assures ldquoPeople say lsquoYoursquore almost at capacit y
alreadyrsquo Well we are and wersquore notrdquo he says The
north terminal will be repurposed for charter
workforce traffic representing nearly 20 per cent
of the airportrsquos total volume ldquoThrough the new
terminal building wersquoll have more than one million
passengers and through the old terminal wersquoll still
have 200000 to 300000 So wersquove still got a little
bit to go yetrdquo he says This buys time but north
terminal traffic will still surpass 400000 in the
next five years
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2 011 for a 20-year timeframerdquo says Clements ldquoWell wersquove just redone itrdquo
The next 30 years a re mapped out in the revisions
First up are an additional two airside bridges slated
for 2017 ldquoIrsquoll be bring ing to the board a proposal to
add an expa nsion to the air side that we literal ly just openedrdquo Clements
says ldquoIn planning terms thatrsquos like next weekrdquo
Of course growth is precarious and difficult to anticipate especially
over 30 years ldquoThis faci lity was supposed to be sized for the next 25
yearsrdquo says Schroeder ldquoItrsquos always challeng ing
for institutional service facilities to keep up
with high growt h ratesrdquo Challenges certainly
lay ahead then ndash last yearrsquos growth cleared 25
per cent Yet some of the more fundamental
obstacles for future expansion are al ready concerns of the past
YMM now features a Canadian Border Services Agency and acquired
point of entry status enriching the cityrsquos investment potential The Air-
port Authority is pressing the federal govern ment to employ its Buildin g
Canada Fund in a joint effort to extend the runway to 9000 feet long
enough to handle larger international cargo aircraft along with several
other key additions to the airport infrastructure Further proposed
critical infrastructure from regional initiatives ndash like bridges across the
Clearwater and the Athabasca rivers an extension of Highway 881 and
a workersrsquo road into the northern work camps ndash supports the airport by
increasing ease of access and livability
Co-operation between the municipal and provincial governments
and the Airport Authority is also well established On a more personal
level Clements describes the new terminal as a place of community
pride and awe a ral lying point for Fort McMurray ldquoIrsquove been in this
business for about 53 yearsrdquo says Clements ldquoI have never seen a
municipality support an independent Airport Authority so quickly and
comprehensivelyrdquo
No one as Clements says can predict the future Yet the board
understands that Fort McMurray is no ordinary market ldquoOur vision is
to be the premier regional airpor t in Canada rdquo says Schroeder ldquoSo faras a board and ma nagement team wersquove hit a home run hererdquo
The home run is an apt metaphor for the expansions to come and
for the airport itself ndash a home ru n takes off like normal but it sur prises
everyone by flying further than ever imagined
ldquoWe did a master plan in 2011 for a20-year time framehellipWell wersquove just
redone itrdquondash Scott Clements
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION70 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7176
CONGRATULATIONS TO YMM FORT
MCMURRAY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Edmonton Exchanger has provided plant construction and maintenance
services in the Fort McMurray region for over 35 years
We wish continued success to YMM Fort McMurray Airport Authority in
the years ahead
wwwedmontonexchangercom
Formerly CenturyVallen Vallen is Canadarsquos most
experienced provider of innovative safety industrial
janitorial and technical services and products With a
location in Fort McMurray we help companies across
Northern Alberta work smart
Fort McMurray
780 743 4336 | 3 431 MACKENZIE BLVD Safety | In dustrial | J anitorial | Technical Services vallenca
Introducing Vallen If youre looking to create a
safe healthy and productive workplace
well help you work smart
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7276
Flying by the Numbers
Then and NowFort McMurray International Airportrsquos traffic soared by 25 per cent in 2013making it the fastest-growing airport in Canada Here are some more numbersat the heart of the $258-million expansion
The number of parking stallseach of which is equipped with an
electrical outlet
The number of stalls at the oldterminal 62 of which werepowered2200 1092
The numberof food andbeveragevenues in
the newterminalincludingFamosoNeapolitanPizzeriaand Earls
The
numberof foodandbeverageoutlets inthe oldterminal
3000m2
The size of the terminal before
the airport expansion
15000m2
The size of the new YMM terminal
opened June 9 2014
at the new terminalThe number of air bridges
at the old terminalThe number of air bridges
The number of baggagecarousels in the old terminal
1
The number of baggagecarousels in the new terminal
2
The number of passengersthe new YMM terminal canaccommodate per year
The number of passengersthe old terminal couldaccommodate per year
1500000
2500002287 Total metres of runway (unchanged with the expansion)
12 million The number of passengers that travelled through YMM in 2013
242400
Oilsands company flights connecting annually through YMM
3 in 5Passengers travelling through YMM go to BC and Alberta
1700 The number of direct jobs created in 2013 generated by the
airport expansion
O T H E R
K E Y
N U M
B E R S
The number of publicaccess washrooms inthe new terminal
The number of publicaccess bathrooms inthe old terminal
102 Staff in the new terminal
(about double the staffnumbers pre-expansion)
135
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION72 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7376
8008324242 | TargetLogisticsnet
What you get out of your workforceall depends on what you put in
The Economics of Comfortreg
Great food is one of the most important investments you can make in your workforce But itrsquos not the only one Research has
proven that in addition to nutrition a good nightrsquos sleep and high crew morale can also have a significant impact on improving
worker productivity and reducing attrition sick days and accidents on the job We call it the Economics of Comfortreg Your
workers will call it home To receive a case study showing how we have helped drive profits to a clientrsquos bot tom line through
increased worker productivity call 800-832-4242 or visit TargetLogisticsnet
An ALGECO SCOTSMAN Company
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7476
Parting Shot
NORTHERN LIGHTS The
skies over northern Alberta
were part of the inspiration
for the new logo for the
Fort McMurray International
Airport See page 67 to
earn more
CELEBRATING85 YEARS OF AVIATION74 FlyYMMcom
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7576
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h
8112019 Northern Stars 2014
httpslidepdfcomreaderfullnorthern-stars-2014 7676
Celebrating 50 years of employee-powered growth
ldquo W e rsquo v e
d o n e $ 2
b i l l i o n
i n b u s i n
e s s w i t h lo
c a l A bo r ig i n a l co
m p a n ie s rdquo ndash D
o u g W e b
b A b o r i g i
n a l B u s i n
e s s L i a i s
o n
ldquo I w a s
p a r t
o f a t e a m
t h a t d e s
i g n e d
a c r u s h
e r t o o t h
p r o t o t y p
e t h a t i s
n o w t h e
i n d u s t r
y s t a n d
a r d rdquo ndash M
e l C a l l a n
P r o j e c t s
ldquo We rsquo re leade r s toda y
a nd we rsquo l l be leade r s to m
o r ro w rdquo ndash Sar mad Ab b as Main tenance
ldquo T h e
r e rsquo s 3 0
k i d s
p l a y i n g
i n s t r u m e n t s
i n t h e
b a n d t h
a n k s t o
m y S y n c r u d
e c o - w o
r k e r s rdquo
ndash L a nce Fe r r i
s F ro t h T re a
t me n t
ldquo W e rsquo r e a
d v a n c i n
g r e c l a m
a t i o n s c
i e n c e f o
r t h e e n t
i r e i n d u s t r y rdquo
ndash J e s s i c a C l a r k E
n v i r o n m e n t
a l R e s e a r c h