Vincent McDermott is a journalist covering the oil industry, the environment, Indigenous issues and politics in Fort McMurray. He has contributed to VICE, the National Post and Venture Publishing. Here are some photos he has taken in the last few years in Alberta and Ontario.
Downtown Fort McMurray, as viewed from the corner of Main Street and Franklin Avenue. January 2016
A volunteer firefighter from one of Wood Buffalo's rural hamlets watches the office of an abandoned campground burn during a training exercise. May 2014
The sun rises over frozen Lake Athabasca on the shores of Fort Chipewyan. December 2014.
I (Heart) Oil Sands sweaters, t-shirts, mugs and stickers on sale at the Oil Sands Trade Show at MacDonald Island Park. September 2015
Runners throw coloured powder into the air at the end of Hues for Humanity, a five-kilometre run through the Birchwood Trails raising money for educational programs in Africa.
A firefighter waves to a young boy during Fort McMurray's Canada Day parade on July 1, 2016.
One man shows off his love for Pilsner during an April Wine concert at MacDonald Island Park. July 2015.
A member of the Tar Sand Betties, a roller derby team in Fort McMurray, does a cool down lap after competing against a team from Red Deer. September 2015
Scott Berry, who ran as a Libertarian candidate during the 2015 federal election in Fort McMurray-Cold Lake, takes a break from shooting his M1 Garand. If you're wondering if a Libertarian smokes Cuban cigars, this cigar is Nicaraguan. October 2015
Yvonne Ormson, a program facilitator with the Wood Buffalo Food Bank, gathers items to prepare a food basket for a client. November 2015
Two kids play ice hockey on the frozen Clearwater River. February 2015
The abandoned Penhorwood Estates, which would be torn down in January 2015. The apartments were evacuated in the middle of the night several years ago, after inspectors declared them unsafe. A lawsuit is ongoing. July 2014
Two Metis fishermen proudly show off the fish they caught with an illegal net underneath Gregoire Lake. The men were trying to provoke Fish and Wildlife officers into charging them so they could bring grievances regarding the status of Metis trapping rights to court. The fish were confiscated, but the men weren't charged. February 2015
Cecilia Fitzpatrick cooks moose meat and bannock at the Fort McKay First Nation's Treaty Day celebrations on Saturday, June 24, 2017.
The Asham Stompers jig during Fort McMurray's Métis Fest. May 2014
Bill Loutitt, vice president of the McMurray Métis, and Clem Chartier, president of the Métis National Council, in Fort McKay. July 2014
Members of First Nations based throughout Wood Buffalo plant sedge at the opening of Suncor’s Nikanotee (Cree for future) Fen. August 2013.
Eriel Deranger, the outspoken and candid spokesperson of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, during the 2014 Tar Sands Healing Walk.
Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak begins a smudging ceremony during what would be the final Tar Sands Healing Walk. July 2014
Manitoba Grand Chief Derek Nepinak marches during what would be the final Tar Sands Healing Walk. July 2014
Lori Nicotine of the Poundmaker First Nation wipes away tears as she walks past a Syncrude upgrader during the Tar Sands Healing Walk. July 2014
Chris Hill of the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Ontario holds the flags of the Mohawk Nation and Six Nations during the 2013 Healing Walk north of Fort McMurray, Alta. on Saturday, July 6, 2013.
Approximately 90 kilometres north of Fort McMurray is Bitumount, where two of the first oil sands extraction plants operated periodically between 1935 and 1956. The plant heated bitumen in hot water, and workers would skim off the oily gunk that rose to the surface. Oil production in Alberta's south and Bitumount's remoteness discouraged investors, and it was completely abandoned in 1958. Bitumount was serenely quiet when I first visited in 2013. But, construction at Suncor's nearby Fort Hills project could be heard when I took these photos in October 2015.
This tree planter at a Syncrude mine north of Fort McMurray makes $0.12 per tree. The vegetation specialist on our tour said he has to plant about 2,000 of them daily. July 2012
A worker walks past a Caterpillar 797 heavy hauler at a Syncrude Canada machine shop north of Fort McMurray on Tuesday August 15, 2017.
Suncor Energy's base plant with upgraders north of Fort McMurray, Alta. on Wednesday September 27, 2017.
Traffic at Suncor's base plant, located north of Fort McMurray, Alta., on Wednesday September 27, 2017. Vince Mcdermott/Fort McMurray Today/Postmedia Network
Syncrude Canada's base plant is seen from the Sandhills Fen, which was once the site of an open-pit mine and then a tailings pond, located north of Fort McMurray, Alta. on Tuesday, August 15, 2017. Vincent McDermott/Fort McMurray Today/Postmedia Network
Syncrude Canada's base plant, located north of Fort McMurray, Alta., on Tuesday August 15, 2017.
A garage at a Suncor site north of Fort McMurray. July 2014
In and out of a Suncor mine north of Fort McMurray. July 2014
A former tailings pond, with a Syncrude upgrader in the background. July 2015
Syncrude workers in a recovery boat north of Fort McMurray. July 2015
Aaron Cook of Aetos Group Inc. shows off a drone to clients at the Oil Sands Trade Show. September 2015
Spotted at Syncrude's Beaver Creek Wood Bison Ranch. The ranch is built on a reclaimed open pit mine north of Fort McMurray and near an active upgrader. August 2015
Crosses dot Highway 63, the 240-kilometre stretch linking Fort McMurray to the rest of the province. As the population swelled, governments struggled to keep pace. The highway remains a monument to bad government planning and foresight. July 2014
A worker at Nexen's Long Lake project rests near a plastic eagle at the site of a pipeline spill. The plastic eagle acts like a scarecrow, scaring birds and smaller animals away from the spill site. July 2015
Crews work to clean and contain a pipeline spill at Nexen's Long Lake project. July 2015
A protester adjusts his mask during the Tar Sands Healing Walk. A former tailings pond is in the background. July 2014
Flashing the peace sign near Syncrude, north of Fort McMurray, during the Tar Sands Healing Walk. July 2014
Before and after shots of a former Syncrude open pit mine. July 2012
Oil workers at Cenovus' Christina Lake facility, south of Fort McMurray. July 2012
Workers walk past gravity separators at Cenovus' Christina Lake facility. July 2012
Life goes on at Christina Lake. July 2012
Honest Ed's iconically garish 23,000-bulb marquee was still shining when I took this photo in November 2014. But The Globe and Mail describes the future of Bloor and Bathurst as featuring "mixed-use development," or as I understand the definition, "lack character."
Ice skating at Nathan Phillip's Square. November 2014
The Toronto Reference Library. November 2014
Chalk Chick. July 2013
This was a slow hour during Black Friday at the Eaton Centre. As a Spanish saint once said, "Thank you God for the things I do not own." December 2013
Late-night shopping at a Metro near Yonge and Finch. June 2013
Jellyfish at the aquarium. November 2013
November 2014
A man rows his kayak back to shore as the sun sets over Hamilton. June 2013
Boats docked at a marina in Hamilton. June 2013
Chess in downtown Hamilton. June 2013
