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After Saudi Arabia, the oil sands in Alberta are the second largest in the world. The rich oil in Alberta transformed Canada into a petro superpower. Canada's abundant oil has undoubtedly had a drastic positive impact on the economy. Important consideration has to be given to the labourers who allow Canada to utilize its natural resources. Angela Angell, a graduate student in rural sociology wrote her master's degree thesis paper on the trials and tribulations of the oil-patch labourers. Fort McMurray is where the majority of oil projects occur. In the region, there are approximately 25,000 mobile workers who live in remote clusters of modular trailers. The cluster is almost as large as a small city. While many of the workers enjoy big paycheques between $100,000 and $200,000, they do spend long periods of time isolated from family and friends. They also don't get the opportunity to enjoy the vibrant Fort McMurray community; a recent study showed that the majority of mobile workers who resided in camp lodgings rarely ventured into Fort McMurray more than once a month. The lives of mobile oil workers can be difficult, especially during winters where temperatures can be as low as those in Siberia. The work conditions can vary by location, but overall, it is similar to living on a camp. Angell notes in an interview: "We just assume workers are doing well because they're making lots of money. And we assume that because someone has a cocaine addiction that it's because of a personal defect. We don't often look at the larger sphere in which these people work." In Angell's study she divides the mobile workers into two groups: one of the groups is thriving and the other is struggling. The group that thrives have built a profound camaraderie with the other oil workers, while the other group suffers from addiction, alienation, and uncontrollable frustration. There is counselling support available for oil workers that need it, however, 60% of workers with addiction issues don't seek support. In Angell's study, she notes that the "rural masculinity" is the cause for this. Rural masculinity are the ideals that "big boys don't cry." Instead of seeking support, male oil workers bottle up their feelings of isolation, loneliness, and disempowerment, and instead release these feelings through hard drugs, alcohol, and long, fast stints on the highway. When you look out of the window of your Fort McMurray apartment, you might see oil workers driving obscenely fast on Highway 63 in their pickup trucks. Support workers refer to these long, fast excursions as "time-outs." It's not uncommon for oil workers to take out their stress by driving 160 km/hour in search of an adrenaline rush. The difference between the group of oil workers that thrive, and those that struggle, is the maintenance of a strong family connection and participation in positive activities. The group of mobile oil workers that thrive seek support when necessary, and use their downtime for barbeques with their friends, connecting with family, and playing hockey or other group sports. We're delivering a series of articles focused on providing useful information on lifestyle, employment, accommodations and housing for those moving to Fort McMurray. For more information on furnished apartments in Fort McMurray, please visit us.
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