Recreation, Culture & Social Support Services
Social Services
Reinalie Jorolan
When Reinalie Jorolan’s sister urged her to move from the Philippines to Fort McMurray in 2004 she couldn’t say no. “She was alone in Canada,” she says. “I wanted to be with her.”
Her sister had a plan to help her gain residency through the Live-in Caregiver Program but not long after she arrived she hit her first roadblock. Her employer in Fort McMurray didn’t work out and she had to find a new one. “I found a new employer but then I had to wait for a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) which takes three months,” she says. “I had to stay with friends while I waited.”
To fill in her time she used her previous skills in the non-profit sector to volunteer her time helping newcomers to Fort McMurray. She even started an award-winning association called the Foreign WINGSE Resource Centre to help live-in caregivers in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB). The resource centre focuses on the social inclusion of live-in caregivers through volunteerism, community and cultural advocacy.
Reinalie loves her city and the sense of community she has found in Fort McMurray. “I never expected the powerful sense of community here! And the diversity, I love it.”
Angie Peralta
Angie Peralta left the Philippines in 2008 on the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program when her friend recommended she come to Canada. The Podollan Inn and Suites hired her to work in housekeeping and made the necessary arrangements. “They received the Labour Market Opinion (LMO) and the work permit for me,” Angie says. She has since moved on to work for Mary Browns who also made arrangements for Angie as a TFW. Angie believes that Canada offers her many opportunities and hopes to one day stay here as a permanent resident. “There are many opportunities here. The salary is better, the health care is better and it is a very desirable place to live.”
Wood Buffalo offers many social services, including family and community support services, support for seniors, homeless shelters, alcohol and drug addiction services and immigrant services.
The recent high growth in the population, and the high cost of living in Wood Buffalo have made it challenging to keep up with the demands for social services in the region. During periods of high growth when many workers come to the region, social services in the community are often heavily used, making it difficult for agencies to help all the people that need their services.If you are receiving social assistance elsewhere and move to Fort McMurray, you will need to re-apply for social assistance. You are not guaranteed support here just because you received support elsewhere.
- Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) helps people, families and communities become more independent.
- Alberta Senior Support Services
helps address problems with seniors.
- HUB Family Resource Centre offers many programs for families.
Settling in Canada: Services in Fort McMurray
There are services in Fort McMurray for newcomers to Canada who want support settling in to their new country.
- YMCA Immigrant Settlement Services helps integrate and support newcomers
- Government of Alberta services to new immigrants
- Job Opportunities for Newcomers
- The Foreign WINGSE Resource is a group that advocates for live-in caregivers in the Wood Buffalo region.
Moving to Canada
For newcomers to Canada there is information on immigrating to Alberta.
- Immigrating to Alberta
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
- Immigration Checklist for Alberta
Homeless Shelters
The high population growth in Wood Buffalo has led to an increase in the number of homeless people in the area. There are two homeless shelters to serve homeless population; however there are not enough beds. Before moving here try to find housing before you arrive – it is not recommended to rely on a shelter to sleep in because shelters may not have room.The municipality is working on providing more solutions to help the homeless and near homeless people in Wood Buffalo. For more information on homelessness and what the municipality is doing to help the problem, visit the Homelessness page.
The Wood Buffalo Housing Development Corporation is also trying to help people find affordable housing in Wood Buffalo. Visit the Wood Buffalo Housing Development Corporation
website or see our Cost of Living section for more information.- The Salvation Army is a homeless shelter in Fort McMurray that also offers many social services.
- The Marshall House is another homeless shelter in Fort McMurray. Call (780) 715-1870 for more information.
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services
- Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission is a drug and alcohol rehabilitation service that is part of the province's health care system.
- Pastew Place Detox Centre is a detoxification and rehabilitation centre in Fort McMurray.
- Mark Amy Treatment Centre is an addiction healing centre in Wood Buffalo.
Cultural Organizations
- Multicultural Association of Fort McMurray offers many programs for Newcomers.
- L'Association Canadienne Francaise de l'Alberta Wood Buffalo is the French community association in the region.
- Le Centre d'acceuil et d'etablissement also helps French speaking people settle into Wood Buffalo.
- Family Christian Centre helps Christian newcomers.
- Nigerian Canadian Association of Fort McMurray is an association for people from Nigeria.
- Fort McMurray Association for Community Living Immigrant Services has many programs and services to support newcomers.
- Filipino-Canada Association of Fort McMurray is an association for people from the Philippines.
- Fort McMurray Gujarati Cultural Society
