Jingsamichty

The camps aren't outside Edmonton. Edmonton workers are expected to find their own accmmodation in town.

The camps are used by the projects up around Fort McMurray to support the construction workers on those projects. There are numerous camps, ranging from a few hundred rooms to over 5,000 rooms. They are mostly very professionally run, and facilities range from functional to pretty comfortable - think Travelodge no-frills accommodation.

Trade workers typically share 'jack & jill' bathroom between two single rooms, management have larger en-suite rooms. Food is hit and miss, personally I don't like it but then I'm spoiled at home. It's industrial.

Workers are usually bussed to/from the worksites from the camps, typically leaving at 5-6am and returning around 6pm, opposite if on nightshift.

Some camps have bars, some don't. Some projects are "dry", some aren't.

If you're on a project that requires you to say in camp, you'll most likely be flown in/out by the company, either to Fort Mac airport or to a project airstrip.

Nothing stops in winter, just put more clothes on. The coldest I've experienced up here was -53C, but I'm in a cushy manager's trailer.