Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:01 Good morning, Fort McMurray and wood Buffalo. And for that matter, the rest of the world, uh, my name is Elliot Pierre, and you've tuned into the Mac city morning show as per usual. We'll start the show off the same way we start every show off by me saying thank you to you. I know that you could be doing a million other things with your time. So the fact that you've tuned in to spend it with myself and the guests and the man behind the camera, Tanner really does mean the world to me. So thank you very much for tuning in and, uh, spending some time with us. And on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro.
Speaker 1 00:00:32 Oh, she caught me loves you're listening to the max.
Speaker 0 00:00:41 All right. And we're back. Okay. So as per usual, I do not introduce my guests. I let them introduce themselves because they can obviously do a better job at saying who they are than I can. So on that note, let's find out who our guest is today. Hello, Sarah, how are you doing? Tell the people at home who you are and
Speaker 2 00:00:58 Hi, Elliot, uh, I'm Steve ADI. I'm, uh, I'm president of build wood, Buffalo, home builders, land developers, and renovators in Fort McMurry. Um, and, uh, I've been here for a long time and started with Syncrude in 1977 and, uh, retired about six years ago. And I'm, uh, I'm on a bunch of boards and different boards and, uh, just stay involved and, um, just try and help the community.
Speaker 0 00:01:23 Yeah. You're definitely a community, uh, activist that's for sure. Every event, every volunteering, anything that's going on. You're definitely,
Speaker 2 00:01:30 Yeah. Everywhere. I do know what there's a lot to do. So, uh, uh, yeah, I do get involved in a lot. It's, uh, it's exciting. It's interesting. I meet a lot of people and, um, it can make a difference.
Speaker 0 00:01:41 There you go. So you moved here in 1977. That was the same year. My parents moved here and you know, my, my, my mom and dad, um, I'm always fascinated in regards to how people heard about Fort McMurray, especially back then. So how did you hear about Fort McMurray and then what gave you the drive to come here?
Speaker 2 00:02:03 Yeah, well, um, I was in, uh, I studied agriculture in, at the university of Guelph in Ontario and then, um, and then, uh, Alberta, uh, needed, um, I was hoping to work for, in research in Alberta. So we, we came to Calgary and then, uh, I wasn't able to get on with, uh, with the government in Alberta. So I worked on dairy farms and while I was down there, I heard about Fort McMurray and, um, and then, um, there was opportunity, uh, there was, um, good jobs and, uh, I was hoping to save some money and buy a farm. And, uh, so we moved up here and actually just around here was a w our first job was in ABAs and painting the, uh, exterior of houses, my wife and I just, uh, um, we actually painted, uh, two streets and, uh, it was a fun time. And, uh, the Fort was, um, you know, just growing and, uh, it was absolutely incredible, but that's what got us here. And, uh, and then I got on with Syncrude 1977 and, um, and my wage kept going up and farming comes didn't. So, uh, I never did get into farming, but, uh, yeah, no regrets. It was absolutely amazing. And it was an amazing community. And, um, yeah, we're still,
Speaker 0 00:03:20 There you go. Now, um, for most of the people watching this or watching it on their phones or on their computers, when you want to research a community or hear about a community, you just go online. So I know when I talked to my dad about how he found out about Fort McMurray, he happened to be in a coffee shop and he just had a newspaper and there was an ad and he was just like, Oh, interesting. So when you heard about it, was it word of mouth? Was it a radio? Was it a newspaper? What was, how did you first hear or see Fort McMurray existed?
Speaker 2 00:03:50 Word of mouth, some friends talking and, um, yeah. Then we looked into it and got in our truck and drove North.
Speaker 0 00:03:59 That's awesome. No, it says definitely. Uh, I like, as most people know at this point, I'm born and raised here. So I'd like to think I'm adventurous. However, like individuals like you and my father and everybody who moves here just that's a big leap. Like when you were a young man, you definitely were adventurous to just be like, you know what, I'm going to move from. Gwelf Ontario to Alberta, from Alberta Calgary to Fort McMurray, who definitely had a sense of adventure built into you.
Speaker 2 00:04:27 We were squatting too. We had a, we had a trailer and we lived in a trailer, uh, my wife and I and a dog. And, um, and we were ended up where the motorcross park is now. And they cleared an area for four new people. And, uh, it was just a clay mucky area that, uh, yeah, so worked in, ended up renting a mobile home downtown. And then, and then we, we moved into the civics when Syncrude hired me, we moved into the civics just over here and, uh, and, um, yeah, and then, and then I built my first house in 1981 in Dickins field.
Speaker 0 00:05:06 Okay. And are, I don't want to give away your address, are you still into concealed,
Speaker 2 00:05:11 Alone in the house? Um, and, and I rent it, but I, I got into construction, so, uh, I built a bunch of houses and I've kept that house and I moved into one of the houses we built. Okay,
Speaker 0 00:05:21 Okay. Right on what'd you just said, I don't think many people will know, like I take it for granted because I've been here forever and I know the history of Fort McMurry or some of it, but yeah. Syncrude used to own a number of houses in Afghanistan and people don't remember that. And then sink. Yeah. Syncrude was in the housing games,
Speaker 2 00:05:38 Northward, and, um, it's, it's unfortunate. They're, you know, they're, they're still not doing that right now. They're actually, um, uh, th the all companies are hugely supporting camps and, um, and that's really a, um, a focus of build wood, Buffalo. And so we supported the on camps and, um, and, um, you know, there's some challenges, but it's very different than when I started at St. Crude. And, you know, incredibly when I started at Syncrude, uh, there was, um, not an option you had to live here. And, um, and right now they're giving people options. You don't have to live here. And so then we, you know, we would like to challenge that and then, and have people cause we, our community is really suffering as you're, you know, everybody's well aware and, uh, and, uh, it wouldn't take us much to get back on track. Right.
Speaker 0 00:06:32 So let's talk a little bit about that. Uh, bill wood, Buffalo, that you talking about, people at home who have never heard of them before, what's your initiative? What's the goal of that organization?
Speaker 2 00:06:42 The bill with Buffalo was, uh, established, um, 1998 is what Buffalo builders association. And then, um, it amalgamated with the urban development Institute out of Alberta, out of Edmonton. And then we've changed to build B I L D. So that's another association that, uh, is, um, provincial association build Alberta, and that represents home builders, land developers and renovators, um, and, um, you know, at many different levels. And so build wood, Buffalo, um, is we pay, um, a large portion of our membership to build Alberta and also to the Canadian home builders association. And what we do is we, those organizations, um, look into code and building code, um, safety codes, um, uh, legislation that, that influences that's coming down. There's a real, um, there's a real, um, uh, direction on, um, red cross Canada on putting levies on new developments, which then mean that the developers have to pay for even firetrucks, which then they have to put onto the price of the lots, which means that the people buying end up paying substantially more than the people that have already bought.
Speaker 2 00:08:07 Right. So, you know, challenging, what's realistic and what's fair. So that's needs to be done at a provincial level. Right. You know, trying to influence the actual legislation to understand what's coming. Right. And so that's a big part of, uh, of our organization. Then our local organization gets involved in we're on a number of committees. So, uh, we're on the waterfront committee, the, the land development committee, the downtown development committee, um, it's about five different committees that we have, some of our members that are involved with and interacting with to better understand and to, you know, just to, to, to, to represent that part of the conversation. So that's also, we, uh, yeah, we, we try to, um, we're trying to get new members. We used to be a big organization that when now there's no home building. So, uh, there's not a lot of motivation for people to join us, but, uh, we're still strong organization, um, all volunteers and, um, and, um, we're trying to get up and running. And I really think there's a strong future with, uh, you know, $50, um, um, Western Canada select and $60 WTI recently, or, uh, seeing, uh, some reports that the cashflow is going to be amazing. So, um, we're expecting that, uh, that, that will start to really shine a light in our future here. So we're looking forward to
Speaker 0 00:09:29 That's awesome. I love the optimism. That's phenomenal.
Speaker 2 00:09:32 Well, finally, it's been, yeah, we're at the bottom, you know, one thing really quickly, a demographic you had did an analysis. Um, two years ago, they do an annual, um, uh, survey of the whole world of house affordability and shockingly and incredibly Fort MacMurray is the most affordable in the whole world. I read some family income and yeah, demographic, you look it up. Um, I think we're page 14. Um, and we're right there. Number one. Fordable um, so in Fort McMurray, it's about the family income about average family income. According to the mayor is about 200, 4,000, depending on what the, you know, there's different ways to look at that, but, uh, average price is about four 30 or even less now. So, uh, that's about two to one ratio. Edmund in Calgary is five or six to one ratio. Toronto is 10 and actually substantially more now with the prices have gone through the roof and Vancouver is 20 times family income to buy a house. Right, right. It's crazy. And so we are the most affordable and we need candidates to know that, and that will then attract people here and get our community back on track. Cause, um, as you know, it's, it's, it's been a tough one. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:10:48 That's phenomenal information to share. And a number of guests have said it as well here, myself included Fort MacMurray gives you every opportunity in the world. You can literally come here and do whatever you want. If I wanted to be a firefighter tomorrow, I could go down to the hall and they would be able to explain how I could become a firefighter. Um, it's not guaranteed, but I have the shot to do it. If I want to decide to be a truck driver, there's a path for me to be a truck driver at any point in time for goodness sakes. My background is human resources, and I did that for many years and I loved it. And now I'm doing a podcast. So Fort McMurray definitely is a, an amazing community that allows you to really kind of go after your dream and achieve whatever you want.
Speaker 2 00:11:31 So it's cool. Know, it's wonderful to hear you say that because you've talked to a lot of people and from your circles and exposure, because that's also my experience, right. You know, for 39 years at St. Crude, I've seen people come and go, but I've seen young people being put into positions that, uh, that other places wouldn't my daughter is she's 24. She's a journey person, electrician working on 400 ton haul trucks out at site for a contractor and a, you know, in Prince Edward Island where my wife is from. Um, there's just so few jobs at, um, women in all probability wouldn't even get into the trade. Right. And here she is working on 400 ton haul trucks. My son's out at the Firebag, um, he's working on high voltage power systems, but so many people that I've seen come and get put into positions that, um, you know, w you know, what are you doing? And then they get mentored. And, uh, I mean, even in, um, the trades with the career in co-op, we brought people into the shops that, uh, shouldn't have been there. There's lots of people in the world that, um, that would love to have those jobs. We brought kids into our shop and we mentored them and we protected them and we teased them and we invited them into the family and, uh, yeah.
Speaker 0 00:12:51 Opportunity. So it's not just the incomes. No, it is opportunity opportunity. And I've seen it. And I'm glad to hear you say that. Yeah. Well, the majority of my friends I'm, I grew up here and the majority of my friends actually joined the rap program. Right. Um, out of father mercury high school. And like you just explained, like started working their co-op jobs at the ages of 16 and 17 years old, but talk about an opportunity to propel them, um, for their futures in regards to becoming a ticketed journeymen by the age of 21 ish. And because of that, like, they were able to literally start at the ground up. And most of them no longer work on the tools they've found themselves in managerial roles, but what an opportunity when you're a kid to go out to sites and I had the opportunity, I did it one year. I worked at Syncrude for a summer to see what your parents are doing to be involved in that industry. Um, even if you're like myself and choose not to work in it, um, the opportunity immense
Speaker 2 00:13:50 And the experience. Um, um, yeah.
Speaker 0 00:13:54 Yeah. So we're at the part of the show where we're going to put you a little bit on the hotspot. If you're not already there, it's called the Mac city minute. Uh, this is where Tanner is going to ask you five questions. I have no idea what he's going to ask you. Um, but I'm always curious of how and what he asks. So Tanner hit him with the Mac city minute question. Number one. What is your favorite change you've seen in Fort McMurray? There's a lot of changes that have happened since 1977. I can assure you that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:14:27 Oh my goodness. Um, my favorite chain, I don't really know how to answer that because there's just been so many changes. Um,
Speaker 3 00:14:43 We
Speaker 2 00:14:46 Seem to be, uh, no, I, I don't, I mean, we've, we've had people come go we've, uh, had, um, higher oil prices and low oil prices. I guess my favorite change now is higher oil prices and, uh, and the anticipation that, uh, that we have a good strong future ahead.
Speaker 4 00:15:05 Here we go. Question number two. What is your favorite thing that you've seen built in Fort McMurray?
Speaker 2 00:15:12 My favorite thing that I've seen built is wood Buffalo housing. Um, so I was a director of wood, Buffalo housing for seven years. I was chair of planning and development for three years. And, uh, it used to be with Buffalo housing and development corporation and the model of, um, development. Um, so we developed tagging over for example, and the profits from that went back into more affordable housing. And there was, I think we got about, they have about 1300 families that they support now. So in the oil sands, you have, um, some very high incomes, but then the service sector typically is not high income. And even, uh, the, like the police, it's a formula across the federal government formula. And, um, so we needed, uh, we need those services. So, um, when Buffalo housing development corporation was able to, um, to supply housing for, for that sector.
Speaker 2 00:16:11 And, uh, you know, as far as our standard of living in Fort McMurray and it's a, it was a great opportunity. Unfortunately, there's no development now. So now it's just called wood Buffalo housing and the vacancy has gone up and the vacancy all over Fort McMurray has gone up, uh, for houses and rentals and apartments and, um, you know, hotels and, and we're really hurting. Um, so, um, again, uh, with higher oil prices and with some things that we're seeing recently, I think there's, that's going to change, but anyways, yeah, that's my favorite development is with Buffalo housing. And, you know, maybe down the road they'll get back into development because the model was, um, it was shared across the country and people were interested in our model and, uh, in a normal market, it made a lot of sense. And, um, you know, I'm in Toronto house prices are through the roof. Vancouver house prices are through the roof. It's it's um, yeah. Anyways, so long story, but, uh, yes, we're Buffalo housing is my favorite bill.
Speaker 4 00:17:12 It helps a lot of people. Question number three. What is your best memory from spending so much time informing Marie?
Speaker 2 00:17:21 My best memory is, uh, I think, uh, downhill skiing, uh, and a ski Hill progress, um, Vista Ridge, um, you know, we've, we had a little Hill North of town and then, uh, um, and then, uh, out at Vista Ridge, but, um, my, my son was a ski racer and the kids were since they were real little, uh, on the Hill. And, uh, and, um, my son was part of the ski team and, uh, I ended up being president of the ski team, um, and being involved with, uh, all the, um, all of the, uh, the races and, uh, the work that needs to be done. And, uh, they're traveling all over Alberta and getting people to come to Fort McMurray for an amazing art amazing Hill. So, um, yeah, that's, that's, that's my favorite
Speaker 4 00:18:15 Question. Number four, what is one draw you had to being a farmer?
Speaker 2 00:18:22 I wanted to help feed the world and, uh, and, um, I was looking forward to subsistence and, uh, self helping and, um, it, uh, back then we were in the hippie days. So, uh, so it was kind of a hippie dream, but, uh, I studied hard was top 15% of my class and, uh, look forward to getting into farming operations and management and, um, but, uh, got into other things, a whole bunch of different things and, um, and, um, yeah, no regrets and love what I do. You find a job you love, you never have to work again.
Speaker 4 00:19:03 And your final question, what is one thing you love about Fort McMurray that you haven't experienced anywhere else?
Speaker 2 00:19:12 Wow. Um, for me, it's, uh, it's diversity with, um, without, um, without even knowing, um, and, uh, hugely, uh, indigenous understanding. Um, so I was involved with the taste of Fort McMurray and the food fast, and I was, there's a great team doing a lot of different things. Um, I had pretty strong position on, on, uh, um, logistics and support, but, uh, I learned so much with our, uh, well with the, the, um, indigenous cultural event that we held down at the Sinai. Um, and I learned a lot. That was absolutely amazing. Those have been your five questions.
Speaker 0 00:19:58 There we go. I like your answer in regards to the farming. Um, as long as I known you, it's funny, you say you wanted to get, get into farming because you wanted to feed the world. He wanted to give back basically, and since I've known you, you just always give back. You're always volunteering. You're always spending time in the community outside of like getting paid for doing something. So it's interesting to hear that in regards to, you might not have been a farmer, but, uh, your overall goal has been achieved in your life in regards to giving back in one way, shape or form.
Speaker 2 00:20:27 And I like to work. I like to, I like to stay busy and, uh, and, uh, dive in. So, um, yeah, that's, that's exciting.
Speaker 0 00:20:34 That's really cool. Okay. That's really cool. So one last thing before we let you go, I want to hear a little bit about what you did at site. Thank you.
Speaker 2 00:20:44 Uh, I started as, um, um, moving equipment around and, um, mobile equipment department then, uh, fuel and lube. And then I got a, a ticket. So opportunity, again, I got into, um, I got into, uh, uh, trade, heavy duty mechanics, and then I was in support equipment. Then I was a crane mechanic for 18 years, a mobile crane. And they sent me to Germany, trained me in Germany and, uh, again, more opportunity, uh, the Liebherr cranes the best in the world. And then I got into supervision, uh, planning and scheduling and, uh, software implementation SAP. I was on the SAP team and, um, and then major projects last five years, or a major projects on operational support and absolutely loved what I was doing and, um, amazing company. And, uh, I would've stayed, but, uh, the, all the projects right up with the price of oil. Right.
Speaker 0 00:21:40 So, yeah, you're the one for a long time too.
Speaker 2 00:21:42 Yeah. 39 years there, but, uh, a real quick point on opportunity up here and the oil sands and synchro, well, basically working in the oil sands, typically my career was 12 hour shifts. So basically what that meant is I worked five months of the year. So it's like six on six off it's really six months, but you get a month's holiday. So that allowed me to have a construction company. I own a countertop business, uh, built houses. Um, and so people across Canada need to better understand or need to understand the opportunity here,
Speaker 0 00:22:13 High incomes, lots
Speaker 2 00:22:15 Of time off to do recreational, get out the six lakes, get out on skidoos or do things, businesses, all kinds of opportunity.
Speaker 0 00:22:25 Oh, it is. And, uh, your story is just, it's a story of Fort McMurray. In regards to you had a career, he started at one thing and throughout your life, you are able to be granted opportunity and chances to do so many more things. You weren't a lube tech for the rest of your life. You work your way, not only up, but in different roles at piqued your curiosity at the time
Speaker 2 00:22:49 Opportunity. So I was, um, I was president of, uh, PC, uh, local constituency association. I was on the provincial board of PCs. Um, just, you know, the opportunity came. So I jumped in, I was a president of the existing MLA, uh, Tanny's CA I'm on his board. I was campaign manager for Layla, for Anna. I had never done that. Right. She had, she needed somebody thought I could do it. And, uh, so I jumped in and, and I did it to my mind. I'm on Layla's board, I'm on David. Your dig is board, the MP I'm on, I'm the delegate, one of the delegates for the upcoming, uh, uh, policy conference, um, all this opportunity grab on and, uh, and dive in and, um, and do it.
Speaker 0 00:23:36 Yeah. So there you go. When people think about Fort McMurray, the key word is opportunity. I agree. There we go. All right. Now, before we cut you loose today, everybody gets the plug. Um, please, one more time before we let you go tell everybody at home, um, about one of the things that you're working on and how they can get involved in how they can get in contact.
Speaker 2 00:23:57 We, uh, uh, I'm looking forward to, uh, getting through COVID and then, I mean, the whole world is the pandemic, but, uh, um, the food fast tastes Fort McMurray, uh, the indigenous cultural events. When we get back on track, we need lots of volunteers for those, right. And, uh, it's a wonderful way to meet people. And also it's, those are amazing events, you know, the patio party at the, on the Clearwater, the boots brews at the heritage village, um, um, concert. So those are the wonderful things. And then also with Bellewood Buffalo, um, w we, any, any land developer, any, um, home builders or renovators, uh, getting back on track, uh, we really are doing a lot for those that are not members, and I really wish they would become part of our team and then, and then help. And, uh, and then, you know, they get the benefits of,
Speaker 0 00:24:51 There you go. Awesome. Well, on that note, everybody watching at home today, thank you very much for tuning in. It's been a fun one. There's no doubt about that. Once again, it blows my mind how many people are watching day after day, week after week. So thank you very much, and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 1 00:25:09 <inaudible> talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
