February 10, RMWB Council Meeting
FORT McMURRAY — Prominent residents of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo are being honoured with their names attached to regional landmarks following unanimous votes at a council meeting.
The municipality’s Community Identification Committee presented three naming motions to council.
Councillors approved renaming the Anzac recreation centre the Jane Stroud Recreation Centre, a proposal submitted by Anzac Community Support Services and supported by the Regional Recreation Corporation.
Stroud served as a councillor from 2010 until her death in 2024 and was known as an advocate for rural and Indigenous communities. She strongly supported development of the Anzac recreation facility.
Former councillor Sheldon Germain, who served alongside Stroud, called the decision a fitting tribute.
“There is no bigger advocate for the Anzac rec centre than the late Jane Stroud, and I am glad she is being honoured as the namesake of the facility,” Germain said.
Council also approved naming the Anzac baseball diamond the William and Betty Woodward Ballpark.
In addition, the winter road connecting Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan will be named the Michael Cardinal Winter Road.
The committee received two proposals in 2024 to name the seasonal road and, after community engagement, identified a preference for honouring Cardinal.
The late Michael Cardinal, a Fort Chipewyan resident and member of the Delta Rough Riders, is credited with leading construction of the winter road in 1986. The route provides a key link between the two communities.
Melanie Antoine spoke in favour of the motion.
“Cardinal was a leader whose presence shaped the heart of Fort Chipewyan and beyond,” Antoine said. “He devoted his life to shaping the community he loved.”
All motions were carried unanimously.
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