The Wood Buffalo Artists Forum is partnering with MacDonald Island Park to set up a permanent art gallery in Fort McMurray. The idea came up at last year's WinterPlay. The proposed gallery woudl be in a 120-foot long hallway on the second floor by the aquatic centre.

MacDonald Island Park Corporation plans to request funding from council for next year.

The 5th annual Justin Slade Memorial Gold Tournament, Dinner and Silent Auction will be happening on Thursday, August 12 and Friday, August 13. This organization is detrimental to the community to empower young people to make better life choices and express themselves in a positive way. The McMurray Newfoundlanders Golf Tournament has merged with them this year to make the event even bigger and better than any other year so far! They are looking for golfers to support this honorable cause and participate in all of the excitement! Registration is $150 per person or $600 for an entire team! These fess include 18 holes of golf at Miskanaw Golf Course, a golf shirt for each player, a golf cart AND dinner!!
Starting the night of the 12th at 8:00pm will be the Silent Auction, Team Designation and Hole Assignment which will take place at Newfie Club. Carrying on until Friday, morning at 8:00am when the golf tournament will commence followed by dinner and distribution of prizes!
To participate and help out the local organization dedicated to helping the future of our community, contact Mike Flett at 780-713-2538.

Construction of the aquatic facility at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre at MacDonald Island Park is nearing completion and is scheduled to open with the “First 250” swim on September 22, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and MacDonald Island Park Corporation announced today.

Preliminary commissioning and testing of the aquatic centre has commenced, as there is now water in the pool areas. The primary contractor working on the project, Stuart Olson Construction, is scheduled to turnover the aquatics facility to the Operator, MacDonald Island Park Corporation, over the long weekend. MacDonald Island Park Corporation will then undertake final commissioning and training of staff prior to the facility being opened for public use.

Beginning August 6, MacDonald Island Park will implement a See You at the Beach campaign that will include the distribution of 3,000 mini-beach balls into the community for the “First 250” Beach Bash.

“The ‘First 250’ Beach Bash will allow us all to join together as a community and take the first step into the future,” said Tim Reid, Chief Operating Officer at MacDonald Island Park Corporation. “History is being made at MacDonald Island. We’ll see you at the beach, here on Your Island.”

Each beach ball will qualify five people for entrance into the MacDonald Island “First 250” Beach Bash draw. Taking place September 13, the draw will feature a lazy river race initiated by Olympic swimmer Jennifer Button, who was recently inducted into the Wood Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. The first 50 beach balls to cross the finish line will win entrance to the “First 250” Beach Bash on September 22.


The facility will open to the public on September 23 with a limited number of users. Capacity will increase daily until the full opening on September 27, with approximately 1,000 swimmers.

“This truly is an exciting time as we move closer to opening this world-class facility for the residents of Wood Buffalo,” said Mayor Melissa Blake. “"I really look forward to our residents and visitors having a chance to swim, slide and make a splash at the Aquatic Centre very soon."


Centennial Pool will continue to be open to the public until September 18. The pool will be reduced to limited hours effective August 29, in order for aquatics staff to be trained at the MacDonald Island Aquatic Centre.

MacDonald Island Park Corporation has already lined up exciting events and competitions for the aquatics facility at the Suncor Community Leisure Centre, including the 2011 Speedo Age Group/Senior Provincial Long Course Championships brought to the community by the Manta Swim Club.

This just released by Paul McWilliams, Director of Advancement of MacDonald Island Park

Fort McMurray, AB., May 25, 2010 – A wide range of aquatic programming was launched with the reopening
of Centennial Pool Saturday morning, following a scheduled maintenance shutdown. Now open to the
public, Centennial Pool offers everything from parent and tot swim lessons to leisure and lap swimming. The
spring season has officially started with a splash!
“The MacDonald Island Aquatic Leadership Team, in partnership with Centennial Pool employees, has
worked incredibly hard to prepare for the beginning of our spring and summer programming,” said Michele
Taylor, Director of Programs and Services at MacDonald Island Park. “They have created a schedule that will
provide Aquatic Programs for all age levels while allowing more opportunity for public to enjoy leisure swim
times.”
In early May, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) announced collaboration with MacDonald
Island Park for the management of Centennial Pool. The partnership will allow community members access
to aquatic programming throughout the spring and summer, until the opening of the Aquatic Centre at
MacDonald Island Park in Fall 2010. Current members at MacDonald Island Park will have access to
Centennial Pool at no additional cost.
“The success of spring registration at Centennial Pool has demonstrated the huge need for aquatic
programming within our community,” said Tim Reid, Chief Operating Officer at MacDonald Island Park.
“MacDonald Island’s partnership with the RMWB has allowed us to ensure community access to fun,
enjoyable aquatic programs and has also given our Aquatic Leadership Team the chance to get their feet wet
in preparation for our Fall 2010 opening.”
Registration for summer programming will begin on Sunday, May 23, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Community
members are invited to register in‐person at MacDonald Island Park. Phone registration will be available
starting May 24th, by calling 780.791.0070. Program information is available online at
www.macdonaldisland.ca.
The Suncor Community Leisure Centre at MacDonald Island Park is the largest facility of its kind in Western
Canada. Since opening in October 2009, this premier recreation centre has sold more than 10,000
memberships and features an NHL‐sized arena, eight curling sheets, two field houses, a running track, a
state‐of‐the‐art fitness centre and a children’s playground.

MacDonald Island Park will be taking over the operations at Centennial Pool starting on May 22nd. The Director of Advancement for Mac Island Paul McWilliams says it will not affect services. It's also an opportunity to make sure that the staff and the Suncor Community Leisure Centre is fully trained, and help them be more familiar with the community.