Northern Exposure

Approximately 12 hours round trip including daily flights between Edmonton and Fort McMurray. Tours occur daily,July 1 to August 31 (Note: Children must be 12 years of age to participate on mine tours)

See the world's largest oil sands mines and experience the energy of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Explore the history, technology and future of the oil sands all in one day!

Did you know?
-The largest known oil sand formation in the world contains oil reserves that could yield five times more barrels of oil than the Middle East!
-Currently Syncrude Canada and Suncor Energy supply over 17 per cent of Canada's energy.
-Suncor developed the world's first commercially successful oil sands plant.
-A young city with a population of 40,000, Fort McMurray is located 435 km northeast of Edmonton in the heart of the boreal forest.

Discover Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on a short sightseeing tour with a stop for refreshments.

10 - 11:30
Tour the Oil Sands Discovery Centre (OSDC) and experience the big-screen film presentation "Quest for Energy." Discover how the oil was formed millions of years ago. See how bitumen is extracted and changed into the synthetic crude oil that fuels Canada. Outside, you can walk beside a seven-storey high bucketwheel excavator and tour other massive mine equipment in the Industrial Garden.

11:45 - 12:45
Lunch at the Sawridge Hotel, across the street from the Oil Sands Discovery Centre.

1 pm - 4 pm
Depart from the Oil Sands Discovery Centre for a bus tour to either Syncrude Canada or Suncor Energy plants. Behold the vast production facilities: draglines the length of football fields and miles of conveyor belts in two of the largest mines in the world. See gigantic earthmovers ­ 80-ton-per-scoop shovels! Stay overnight or take the return flight to Edmonton (1 hour, 10 minutes).

Contact: Fort McMurray Visitors Bureau Tel (780) 791-4336 Fax (780) 790-9509

For more information on flight times call:
Capital City Air(1-877-935-9222),
Air Mikisew (1-800-268-7112),
Canadian Airlines(1-888-247-2262),
WestJet (1-800-538-5696)
Corporate Express(1-800-661-8151).

FORT McMURRAY BY RAIL

Aurora, Capital City Sites and Romance by Rail in the Rockies

For travellers arriving from Vancouver who want to visit Fort McMurray before experiencing the majesty of the Rocky Mountain rail loop from Edmonton back to West Coast, the following is a sample itinerary. Edmonton (1 night), Fort McMurray (3 nights), VIA Rail "The Canadian" through the Rockies to Vancouver (1 night).

Day 1 Tuesday
-Daytime flight from Vancouver to Edmonton, connecting to Fort McMurray. Welcome dinner and aurora viewing at night. Overnight in Fort McMurray.

Day 2 Wednesday
-Optional tour A (Oil Sands tour) in the morning.
-Optional tour B (City tour of Fort McMurray and shopping) in the afternoon.
-Overnight in Fort McMurray.

Day 3 Thursday
-Optional tour C (Aboriginal Experience) in the morning.
-Optional tour D (Wilderness Experience) in the afternoon.
-Aurora viewing in the evening. Overnight in Fort McMurray.

Day 4 Friday
-Morning flight from Fort McMurray to Edmonton (1 hour, 10 minutes).
-Early check-in at Edmonton hotel followed by lunch and rest period.
-Opional tour E (city tour and West Edmonton Mall) in the afternoon.
-Optional tour F (Provincial Museum of Alberta) in the afternoon.
-Visit one of Edmontonšs gourmet restaurants for dinner. Overnight in Edmonton.

Day 5 Saturday
-Breakfast at hotel, followed by check-out.
-8:40 am depart on VIA Rail's "The Canadian" for Jasper. Lunch on train.
-2 pm arrive Jasper: short shopping break.
-3:30 pm depart Jasper on VIA Rail for Vancouver. Dinner and overnight aboard train (bedrooms and showers available).

Day 6 Sunday
-Continental breakfast on train.
-7:51 am arrive Pacific Central Station, Vancouver.
-Sightseeing in Vancouver.
-Depart, Vancouver International Airport.

Š 2001 Copyright Tanner Young Marketing Ltd. This article can not be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed written permission.