More and more local businesses are shutting down across Wood Buffalo.
Earlier this month, the Oil Sands Community Alliance released their Sustainable Community Indicators report which measures how the community has evolved over the past few years.
They note from 2015 to 2018 the number of active local businesses has dropped by 20 per cent.
The report suggests the downturn in the economy and the Horse River wildfire are the biggest reason for the downward trend.
Multiple businesses have also shut down in 2019, most notably Dunvegan Gardens.
Wood Buffalo isn’t the only community experiencing this as OSCA adds places like Edmonton and Medicine Hat have also seen more businesses closing their doors.
However, the 20 per cent drop for the RMWB is nearly double the average for the entire province.