Alberta Towns Built on Oil Face Uncertain Future

In the heart of Alberta's oil country, towns like Swan Hills and Fox Creek are facing an uncertain future as their primary industry declines. Built in the 1950s to support oil extraction, these communities were designed with a finite lifespan. The town of Swan Hills was established in 1957 after oil was discovered nearby, and its population peaked at 2,473 in 1981. However, as the major oil players exited the housing business in the 1980s, workers were no longer required to live in these towns.

Today, Swan Hills' councillors Liz Krawiec and Jeff Goebel attribute the town's declining population to this change in philosophy. The highway from Swan Hills to Whitecourt, built in the same era, allowed people to commute while still working on the oil fields. With little maintenance work required for the seasoned wells, there is limited job opportunities.

Swan Hills' situation is a microcosm of the larger issue facing these communities. As Canada's energy industry evolves, towns like Swan Hills are struggling to find new sources of income and redefine their purpose. The balance between present survival and future viability is a delicate one, as local, provincial, and federal interests converge.