Community members celebrated the grand opening of the new Fort McKay Fire Hall.
Representatives from the RMWB joined members of the Fort McKay First Nation and Métis Nation for a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 11, 2022.
The event also featured a barbecue, tours of the facility, and equipment demonstrations including the Jaws of Life.
Chief Mel Grandjamb of the Fort McKay First Nation said their volunteer fire department will have a first-class fire hall to assist in keeping townspeople safe.
“This is an excellent example of what can be accomplished when Fort McKay First Nation, the McKay Métis Nation, and the RMWB work collaboratively to benefit our community.”
Construction of the began in 2020 with work largely completed by the end of 2021.
Fort McKay Métis Nation President Ron Quintal said the new fire hall will serve as a signal of community safety across both Nations.
“The building is staffed with an experienced team of men and women who have faced many forest fires, car accidents, bear attacks and even The Beast. With this new fire hall, our members have an additional layer of safety and that brings peace of mind.”
READ MORE: Construction underway at Fort McKay Fire Hall
Clark Builders constructed the fire hall with S2 Architecture as the prime consultant.
The facility houses several amenities, including training areas, a fitness room, and large interior bays for firefighting equipment.
“The Fort McKay Fire Hall is not just a building.” Said Jody Butz, RES Fire Chief. “From this fire hall, the volunteers of the Fort McKay Fire Department will proudly protect their community and the region. This is a community landmark and will be a symbol of strength for many years to come.”
The Alberta government’s initial estimate of the cost of construction was $15-million.
