Christina Gordon was the first non-aboriginal woman to permanently settle in the area, emigrating from Scotland in the 1890s. By 1906, Christina and her brother were operating a successful trading post, store and post office in Fort McMurray.
In an era when women were expected to be solely mothers and wives, she was a successful business woman and even owned land near the area where Keyano College now stands. Here she grew her large garden of fruits, vegetables and herbs and prepared food and medicines for the ill and poor.
She was a resident of Fort McMurray until her death in 1949. She was highly respected by the community for her kindness and generosity, so much that she was awarded one of the highest honours of the Aboriginal people: a Lob Stick, a tree that has all of its branches removed except for the tuff at the very top.