More than 200 vendors and 12,000 visitors attended the fall Fort McMurray Trade Show and Artisan Market last weekend, in a three-day event hosted by the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce. Exhibitors and artisans filled tables and booths measuring 8 inches by 10 inches, while the smell of deep-fried doughnuts drifted through the halls. Shoppers came Friday through Sunday to seek out local favourites, browse displays and sample food.

Diana De Sousa, president and chief executive officer of the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce, described the show to Postmedia as a snapshot of the local economy. She said supporting small and local businesses is a significant part of the chamber’s work, including support for the region’s many businesses making goods at home.

“A large part of what the FMCC does is support small and local businesses,” De Sousa said. She explained that a number of homemade businesses in the region need that support. The trade show welcomed entrepreneurs, Indigenous artisans, home-based businesses and small businesses from across the country, with most vendors coming from Alberta.

De Sousa said the event benefited both sellers and the community. Local businesses could promote and sell their work directly to a larger market, while visitors staying in Fort McMurray over the weekend brought business to the hospitality sector. Products on display ranged from barbecue sauce to winter clothing made with lynx fur.

Among the exhibitors was My Friend Ollie, a set of children’s storybooks about mental health. The stories follow a red panda experiencing “big emotions” and finding playful ways to manage them. The project grew out of a drawing hobby and aims to help children recognize and discuss feelings.

Jasper Brown, the author and owner, began illustrating at 16. After losing a job as a graphic designer, Brown saw My Friend Ollie as a step forward in their career. Brown wrote that “Ollie transforms big, abstract emotion into something children can see, name and talk about without fear or shame… A bad day becomes a puddle, support becomes an umbrella,” describing how the stories can make difficult conversations possible for a growing mind.

Billy-Joes BBQ Sauce was another Alberta-made product at the market. Billy McGregor has been making his signature barbecue sauce by hand for more than 40 years. The name Billy-Joe combines his first name with that of his wife, Joanne.

“My wife said to me, you can’t keep giving these out for free!” McGregor told Postmedia. Four years later, he was juggling markets around the province, including in Edmonton, Sherwood Park and Calgary. He calls his product “The Best Damn BBQ Sauce. Ever!” A drizzle on grilled ribs, the source suggested, might help confirm the claim.

The event also featured Discover Fort McMurray, a community hub app launched by real estate agent turned technology entrepreneur Melanie Galea. The app, described as a one-stop shop, lists hundreds of local businesses, events, discounts and family-friendly activities. It is available at no cost beyond downloading it.

Galea said she launched Discover Fort McMurray in May 2026 because she felt there was not enough conversation about shopping locally. The app itself launched in August 2026. She said the goal was to give local business owners a free way to promote their businesses without putting extensive time and revenue into advertising.

Stacey Skypran, who runs Wolf and Fox Designs in Lac La Biche, brought fur garments and other handmade goods. Skypran works as a one-woman operation and often sews the garments by hand. The fur is sourced, she says, from her family’s traplines and hunts, as well as from local hunters and vendors.

“Being trappers and hunters ourselves, we see the value of not letting anything go to waste, all the while making use of our natural resources. All of our fur and hides are from trappers, hunters and vendors with the same belief and code of conduct,” the Wolf and Fox Designs website says. The shop’s wares include mitts and hats made with Pendleton wool and fur, along with leather boot wallets, bucket bags and fishing rod wraps.

Fort McMurray’s Sprinkled Whisk brought baked goods to the show, including cupcakes, cookies, cakes and other sweets. The bakeshop describes its treats as “Made with love and a whole lot of sprinkles.” Owners Sharon-Kay Grenier and Sarah Dyke said the fall market was the shop’s first appearance at the trade show and that the weekend was filled with immeasurable excitement.

The event’s mix of regional makers and businesses from elsewhere in Canada gave visitors a chance to browse handmade goods, food and local services in one place. The chamber’s stated focus on supporting small and local businesses was reflected in the varied exhibitors, from children’s mental health books and a community app to fur clothing and baked treats.

Based on reporting by Edmonton Journal.