Fort McKay


Fort McKay or Fort MacKay is a community in northeast Alberta, Canada that is located at the confluence of the Athabasca and MacKay rivers. It is approximately north of Fort McMurray via Highway 63 and Fort McKay Road. The community has an elevation of.
The majority of the community is situated on lands of the Fort McKay First Nation. The smaller portion of the community, known as Fort MacKay before 2018, is located adjacent to the FMFN lands to the south within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The portion of the community within the RM of Wood Buffalo is designated as a hamlet.

History

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

2016 wildfire

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

Geography

Climate

Fort McKay has a subarctic climate. and falls into the NRC Plant Hardiness Zone 3a. Summers are mild and short, and winters can be long and cold.

Demographics

In the RM of Wood Buffalo's 2015 municipal census, the hamlet portion of the community had a population of 51, a change from its 2012 municipal census population of 59.
In the 2011 Census, the settlement portion of the community had a population of 562 living in 201 of its 235 total dwellings, a 7.9% change from its 2006 population of 521. With a land area of, it had a population density of in 2011.

Economy

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

Government

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

Infrastructure

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