EDA Xperience Alberta 2021

PERIENCE ALBERTA THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ALBERTA

2021

ALBERTA’S SAHARA Giant sand dunes are a northern Alberta oasis ROAD TRIP Expansive charging network gives freedom to electric vehicles HIGH INTEREST Financial technology start-ups flourish in Alberta

OPPORTUNITY AWAITS Alberta’s innovative institutions and unique culture provide the perfect environment for exceptional experiences

REIMAGINE REINVENT REPOSITION XPERIENCE ALBERTA 2021 | LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN ALBERTA

POWERING ALBERTA FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST

Building a strong Alberta Together This is a transformative time for our province as we strive to strengthen our established industries, boost emerging sectors and integrate new technologies. Whether through building infrastructure to deliver a safe and reliable system, modernizing our grid to provide real-time restoration, or lighting up a community hockey rink our focus is on the 240 communities we serve across Alberta.

We recognize that the continual development of Alberta is fundamental for building a robust future. In 2020, FortisAlberta invested approximately $320 million in new and existing infrastructure. This infrastructure will benefit all Albertans and contribute to growing a strong Alberta, together.

Our 1,100 employees who live and work in Alberta commit to maintaining a system consisting of more than 124,000 kilometres of power lines, one million power poles, 200,000 transformers and 100,000 street lights in our communities.

As we move forward together, we’re here to support you in this journey to build an economically prosperous, diverse and sustainable Alberta.

Learn more about how we power — and empower — Albertans at fortisalberta.com.

Follow us: facebook.com/fortisab @fortisalberta 2

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

FORTISALBERTA

POWERING ALBERTANS How does FortisAlberta safely power 240 Alberta communities?

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ome high water or high wind, wildfire or worldwide virus, FortisAlberta is ready to keep the power on for Albertans. Not only can you rely on them during times of emergency but the company’s commitment to providing safe and reliable electricity to meet the needs of 520,000 homes, farms and businesses in 240 communities every day, is simply business as usual.

With 1,100 employees providing around-the-clock service, the province’s largest electricity distribution utility is among the most reliable in Canada.

FortisAlberta does that not only with hundreds of power line workers ready to mobilize around the clock for any type of power emergency but also through technology activated through its centralized control centre in Airdrie. This allows FortisAlberta to operate its systems Our goal is to remotely to re-route power, sometimes continue to meet the restoring power in seconds when prior to technological advances it could have taken evolving needs of hours.

Albertans.

FortisAlberta’s 124,000 kilometre network of distribution power lines may at times be at the mercy of Alberta’s weather, but the system is engineered to withstand the elements and equipped with devices that allow quick troubleshooting and automated restoration. Power Line Technicians are trained to conduct ‘hot-line’ work, working on the powerlines while they remain energized, to further reduce service interruptions. The company also invested approximately $320 million in new and existing infrastructure in 2020, in part to help connect new and emerging electricity generation sources such as solar and wind farms, agri-business operations and plant production greenhouses.

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

Keeping the power on is important, but safety is at the core of everything for FortisAlberta employees – both to keep each other safe and also their customers.

“We are an essential service, and that’s why we do everything we can to make ourselves safe, so we can keep the power on for everyone else,” says Mona Bartsoff, spokesperson for FortisAlberta.

Employees at every level of the organization are trained, equipped and measured on their demonstration and commitment to safety under what they call Mission Zero, which is a goal to achieve zero preventable injuries.

“This is a safety mantra you will see and hear everywhere in the company, no matter what job you have,” says Bartsoff.

Every staff meeting opens with safety reminders, while the focus on seasonal issues, identifying new trends and looking at best practices is ongoing. From daily physical exercise micro breaks to help field and office workers prevent bodily injury, to injury prevention plans at each work site and ongoing driver training, nothing is overlooked when it comes to identifying or controlling potential hazards.

In 2020, FortisAlberta was recognized at a national level for its deep commitment to safety as the recipient of two Gold awards through Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine’s 2020 Canada’s Safest Employers Awards.

“We have created a unique safety culture at FortisAlberta, which we are trying to extend to our customers,” Bartsoff adds. “The essence of it is you prepare your body, your mind and your work site before you begin work on anything.

Together, with Alberta’s other regulated electric utilities, FortisAlberta has built a legacy of awareness around tag lines such as “Where’s the Line?”, “Stay 7 Metres Safe” and “Look Locate Live”. Awareness campaigns target those most at risk of contacting either an overhead or underground power lines.

If you are interested in contacting FortisAlberta to discuss safety or a service connection, visit www. fortisalberta.com or call 310-WIRE (9473).

For more information contact: FortisAlberta 310-WIRE (9473) 1-866-717-3113 (TOLL-FREE) fortisalberta.com

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CONTENTS

PERIENCE ALBERTA

2021

T H E O F F I C I A L M AG A Z I N E O F E CO N O M I C D E V E LO P E R S A L B E RTA 6 52

Welcome Message Member Directory

FEATURES 8

Around Alberta

A welcoming atmosphere combined with resilient entrepreneurs creates the perfect recipe for Alberta’s lively hospitality industry

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Fully Charged A network of electric vehicle charging stations provides drivers with the freedom to hit the open road and experience different corners of Alberta

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SECTORS 20

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20 ARTS & CULTURE 21 Star Gazing Catch a glimpse of Alberta’s vibrant film industry as the province plays backdrop to numerous productions while creating benefits for local communities

24 TOURISM 25 Tourism Steeped

in Tradition Alberta’s Indigenous tourism experiences provide a unique combination of history and adventure across the province

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30 OUTDOOR PURSUITS 31 Thinking Outside

the (Sand)box Alberta's Sahara and its giant sand dunes provide outdoor enthusiasts with a sandy playground of epic proportions

36 HIGHER LEARNING 37 Levelling Up Alberta post-secondary institutions focus on developing workers and knowledge necessary to succeed in the future economy

42 FINANCIAL SERVICES 43 Skip the Bank An Alberta-based start-up reimagines spending, saving and rewards furthering the province’s reputation as a leader in financial technology

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ON THE COVER: Inside the Calgary Central Library PHOTO: Chris Amat, Travel Alberta

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

STRATHCONA COUNTY

THE PLACE TO BE Come find out what our residents already know.

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enowned for its peaceful, safe, family-friendly reputation with a business forward attitude, Strathcona County is a community of choice where families and businesses can succeed and grow. The amenities and infrastructure found here have allowed people to flourish and thrive, and with big plans on the horizon, these successes are only going to continue. Come find out what our residents already know: Strathcona County is the place to be.

Access to nature With easy access to nature through the Beaver Hills Biosphere, which includes Elk Island National Park, Strathcona County is the landing spot for compelling experiences and rural adventures. Several parks and trails are located within Sherwood Park, which means big city amenities are never too far away.

Infrastructure State of the art sports facilities and numerous recreation options provide residents and visitors with the opportunity to enjoy leisure and competition at any of the aquatic centers, ice and curling rinks, or indoor gymnasiums found throughout Strathcona County.

Culture Local culture is on display here. From art galleries to locally-owned restaurants to the many small business owners who have set up shop in Strathcona County, it’s easy to get a strong sense of community that can be found here.

Entrepreneurial Strathcona County is a businessfriendly community that is cheering for your success every step of the way.

Strathcona County empowers and enables entrepreneurs by providing advice on

business start-ups, growth, relocation, and much more. This is a municipality where citizens can feel support and encouragement in reaching their highest aspirations through quality infrastructure and efficient services.

Strathcona County is a community of choice with high resident satisfaction.

Our residents already know this is a great place to live, invest, and succeed in; it’s time you discovered it as well.

For more information, contact: Strathcona County Economic Development and Tourism (780) 464-8095 scedt@strathcona.ca strathcona.ca/youcanlive

Come find what our residents already know:

THE PLACE TO BE

©Travel Alberta

strathcona.ca/youcanlive Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

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MESSAGE FROM THE ALBERTA URBAN MUNICIPALITIES ASSOCIATION

BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES 2020 HAS CERTAINLY been a tremendous period of transition and change. Across the globe, we have weathered changing economic conditions and upheaval from a pandemic. In 2020, economic development has required more resilience and perseverance than ever before.

The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) has taken action on many of these challenges on behalf of the municipalities we represent: the summer villages, villages, towns, cities and specialized municipalities where 85 percent of Albertans live.

Alberta municipalities are united in advocating for the need for economic recovery, infrastructure investment and resilient, innovative approaches. Local economic development is, simply put, economic development, and that there can be no economic recovery without strong municipalities and local businesses.

Our advocacy, educational resources and initiatives in response to the problems, challenges and opportunities that are impacting our members are but one piece of the puzzle. Our Economic Resiliency and Recovery Task Force is tackling several ways to increase local economic development capacity, including finding solutions for greater broadband internet coverage in our province and supporting shop local and e-commerce solutions for local businesses.

But we need your collaboration. In the pages of Invest in Alberta / Xperience Alberta, you will see the many strengths of communities in our province.

Whether you are looking for proximity to post-secondary institutions, advanced manufacturing expertise

or access to a highly specialized labour pool, there is a community in Alberta eager to partner with you.

We remain committed to advocating for our members to other orders of government to emphasize how critical local economic development is to the success of our province and country.

If our communities are going to grow and thrive, it is going to mean working together, collaborating with local governments and private industry to achieve common goals. We look forward to sharing in brighter times ahead and building strong communities, and a stronger Alberta.

Barry Morishita AUMA President 6

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

TOWN OF VERMILION

VISIT AND INVEST IN VERMILION New ideas for living, and new ideas for business

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ermilion offers quality parks including the Vermilion Provincial Park, recreational and cultural facilities and programs complemented by well-designed neighbourhoods and crescents, along with a mix of commercial and industrial businesses.

Our Vermilion Provincial Park is within town limits and features camping, trout fishing, a spray park, mini-golf, walking trails, playgrounds, canoeing and more.

You can camp at the park with our historic downtown five minutes away for great shopping. Over the last couple of years, Vermilion has welcomed over 40 new retail businesses to our community and they just keep coming. Downtown and the Lakeland Mall feature some very unique boutiques including our ‘Upper Level Pottery and Art Gallery’ and ‘The Pink Peony’ to our latest addition our ‘Underground Local Treasurers’ – carrying only Alberta Made

products. If you are looking for a cool event to participate unique to northeast Alberta, follow ‘The Good Life Institute’ – www. thegoodlifeinstitute.ca. With five signature events, including ‘The Race of Vermilion’, there is something in Vermilion for everyone!

DOWNLOAD OUR VERMILION APP vermilion.communityapps.ca

For more information contact: Mary Lee Prior, Economic Development 5021 – 49 Ave. Vermilion, AB T9X 1X1 Ph: 780-581-2419 Fx: 780-853-4910 Email: economic@vermilion.ca Twitter: @NewIdeas4Living Facebook: /TownofVermilion Instagram: ExploreVermilion

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

to find Vermilion events, shopping and more at your fingertips!

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FEATURE

AROUND

ALBERTA A welcoming atmosphere combined with resilient entrepreneurs creates the perfect recipe for Alberta’s lively hospitality industry

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BY Maggie Bremski and Dawn Smith

here’s no doubt 2020 was a difficult year for the hospitality industry in Alberta, across Canada and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses in the industry to close (some permanently), events were cancelled, trips were postponed and dinner plans were put on hold.

As the economy began to reopen, food and beverage businesses – a sub-sector of the tourism industry that makes up nearly 45 percent of all tourism-related businesses in Alberta – quickly adapted to new operating guidelines and capacity restrictions. Entrepreneurs around the province

showcased their resiliency by embracing a push to support local businesses and tapped into a strong sense of community with welcoming atmospheres that are embedded among scenic landscapes where adventure awaits — a hallmark of Alberta’s food and beverage, recreation and entertainment, and accommodation sectors.

The hospitality industry is just another aspect of Alberta that makes it a compelling place to work and play. Here we take a look at just a few locations around the province where the region’s businesses are elevating the customer experience to welcome people back safely.

CALGARY Gaming the Restaurant Scene to Support Local Businesses CALGARY BOASTS SOMETHING for everyone: almost 1,000 kilometres of pathways, glittering downtown skyscrapers, trendy eateries and irresistible attractions, all scattered across vibrant neighbourhoods like the Beltline, Inglewood, Marda Loop and Kensington — home to Canada’s first food-focused GPS-enabled mobile app game.

Created by the innovative team at Alberta Food Tours, the Alberta Food Finder game sends food lovers on mobile-based, self-guided interactive quests that lead diners through a tour of restaurants and food specialty shops as well as local history, art and culture stops in the Kensington neighbourhood.

“Discover the history, art and cultural facts of vibrant communities like Kensington,” says Karen

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Calgary's Kensington neighbourhood is known for trendy restaurants, nightlife, art galleries and upscale shops, all popular with locals and tourists.

Anderson, president and CEO of Alberta Food Tours, “all while enjoying samples and exclusive discounts at dozens of Alberta businesses.”

Supporting Alberta businesses and utilizing local ingredients is also something the owners of Marda Loop Brewing – one of Calgary’s 40 craft breweries – takes pride in.

“With some of the best barley in the world growing just outside of Calgary, the craft beer scene has really exploded over the last few years, pushing the limits on taste and flavour, and setting a new bar for quality,” says Mike de Jonge, co-owner and brewer of Marda Loop Brewing.

“It’s all about creating a social space to bring edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

our communities together. Whether you’re a local or in Calgary for the first time, the craft brewers here have created a welcoming, special atmosphere and a unique experience this side of the mountains.”

Calgary at a Glance Population: 1,335,145 Median Family Income: $102,570 Unemployment Rate: 9.5% Residential Vacancy Rate: 4% Life Stress: 20.9% Sense of Belonging: 63.3% Source: Government of Alberta

EDMONTON Rolling Out the Welcome Mat for World-Class Sporting Events

 Edmon­ton was named one of just two hub cities for the NHL playoffs in 2020.

CALGARY PHOTO BY: JEWHYTE • EDMONTON PHOTO BY: ALEX S. (EEDC), TRAVEL ALBERTA • RED DEER PHOTO COURTSEY OF : TOURISM RED DEER

Edmonton at a Glance Population: 1,025,096 Median Family Income: $95,840 Unemployment Rate: 8.8% Residential Vacancy Rate: 4.9% Life Stress: 19.6% Sense of Belonging: 62.2% Source: Government of Alberta

ALBERTA’S CAPITAL CITY has been making a name for itself as the host city for sporting events and, in the summer of 2020, the vibrant urban centre was on full display when Edmonton was named one of just two hub cities for the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs.

“Hosting a sporting event like this had never been done before and we wanted to maximize the opportunity to showcase Edmonton to viewers across the globe,” says Tammy Forbes of Explore Edmonton, the city’s visitor economy and venue management organization. “This was a huge opportunity for us to capture the attention of viewers and entice them to learn more about our city as a destination for leisure and business travellers.”

In collaboration with several organizations, Explore Edmonton was on the cutting-edge of

travel marketing, capturing the character and spirit of Edmonton by sharing their story in innovative and creative ways.

“The visitor economy, that includes the tourism and hospitality sectors, plays a pivotal role in making Edmonton a great place to work, live, visit and play,” says Forbes.

Edmonton serves as a “Gateway to the North.” Locals and tourists alike can find themselves in the wilds of nature, partake in the many exciting festivals and tantalize their taste buds with innovative dishes created by award-winning chefs.

Edmonton scores a hat-trick as a great place to live, work, and explore with a vibrant economy, business-friendly environment, and a commitment to growing the visitor economy in creative new ways.

RED DEER Scenic Adventures and Local Ingredients a Recipe for Success THIS CENTRAL ALBERTA city is surrounded by picturesque farmland and built around the beautiful Red Deer River valley, where more than 110 kilometres of paved pathways allow people to cycle, walk or rollerblade to all quadrants of the city — or even visit small communities outside the city’s borders. Red Deer’s extensive parks and recreation system also features impressive familyfriendly outdoor recreation spaces like Bower Ponds, the Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Discovery Canyon.

“I like to say we are community within the parks,” says René Rondeau, executive director of Tourism Red Deer.

But what really sets Red Deer apart, says Rondeau, is the city’s entrepreneurial spirit and businesses which often think outside the box, looking to fill a niche. For example, instead of taking a simple stroll through the pathway system, individuals can choose a carriage or pony ride thanks to Heritage Ranch.

Red Deer at a Glance Population: 106,024 Median Family Income: $98,320 Unemployment Rate: 10.2% Residential Vacancy Rate: 10% Life Stress: 20.2% Sense of Belonging: 67.8% Source: Government of Alberta  Red Deer’s extensive parks and recreation system features impressive family friendly outdoor recreation, such as stand-up paddle boarding.

Before or after all the outdoor adventures, Red Deer offers a diverse selection of independent dining establishments in the city’s downtown, numerous food trucks and the new, indoor Gasoline Alley Farmer’s Market, which is open on weekends year-round.

“It’s all about capitalizing on our resources and providing great experiences,” says Rondeau.

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

According to Andrew Wiebe, co-owner of Red Hart Brewing, capitalizing on high-quality local ingredients and providing great experiences has been a key to success for craft brewers in Red Deer and the surrounding area.

“You can’t underestimate being so close to the ingredient maker,” says Wiebe. “There is a growing connection between farm and glass.”

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LETHBRIDGE Unique Lodging Connects Visitors with Unique Tourism Experiences

want to do so again and again. Lethbridge has several attractions, such as the world’s tallest and longest railway bridge of its type in the world, museums, art galleries, interpretive centres and spectacular parks and gardens, including the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden.

Beyond the city, the whole surrounding region of southern Alberta offers scenic landscapes coupled with historical sites, such as HeadSmashed-In Buffalo Jump and Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.

“People do need a break, they need to get away, and we are a relatively economical option, with wide open spaces and so much to do,” says Stocker.

MEDICINE HAT Sunny Adventures Await in Southeast Alberta KNOWN AS THE “oasis of the prairies,” Medicine Hat’s landscape is dominated by the South Saskatchewan River Valley with its unique clay cliffs. City planners capitalized on these features  330 days of sunshine means plenty of time to spend participating in outdoor activities in Medicine Hat.

Medicine Hat at a Glance Population: 65,441 Median Family Income: $91,960 Unemployment Rate: 10% Residential Vacancy Rate: 5% Life Stress: 20.2% Sense of Belonging: 72% Source: Government of Alberta

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with a 115-kilometre pathway system that snakes through the valley.

With its 330 days of sunshine annually, Medicine Hat holds the distinction of the

 Hotels in Lethbridge created themed spotlight rooms, functioning as interactive photo studios with playful themes, to attract tourists.

Lethbridge at a Glance Population: 100,323 Median Family Income: $92,490 Unemployment Rate: 6.6% Residential Vacancy Rate: 4.8% Life Stress: 20.2% Sense of Belonging: 71.9% Source: Government of Alberta

sunniest city in Canada and enables people to enjoy the pathway system, as well as a wide range of other outdoor activities.

“People who like those outdoor pursuits, you can begin your season here and stretch the season out at the end,” says Jace Anderson, executive director of Tourism Medicine Hat, adding that motorcycling and golfing are popular activities.

Complementing these outdoor offerings is a thriving food and beverage scene that’s influenced by the surrounding area.

Visitors can choose from a variety of restaurants, which often feature local ingredients from the numerous greenhouses and ranches nearby.

The city’s historic downtown also features several independent coffee shops.

Medicine Hat’s arts and culture scene includes both annual food and music festivals, such as the Medicine Hat JazzFest – a city staple for about 25 years – and Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival, which is Alberta's first winter folk music festival.

“I am confident those who visit Medicine Hat will return,” says Anderson.

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LETHBRIDGE PHOTO COURTESY: VISIT LETHBRIDGE • MEDICINE HAT PHOTO BY: CHRIS ISTACE, COURTESY TOURISM MEDICINE HAT

THE LETHBRIDGE LODGING Association (LLA), a group of 11 accommodation properties in the southern Alberta city, believes its corner of the province has the potential to be a top tourist destination and is working hard to make that happen.

“If you want to escape a bit of reality this is the place you want to come,” says Shilpa Stocker with the LLA. “We have fabulous, diverse dining, boutique shopping and wide-open spaces.”

To help entice visitors, the LLA is turning its readily available resources – hotel rooms – into tourist attractions. For example, in the winter of 2020-2021, the group transformed five hotel rooms into themed spotlight rooms, functioning as interactive photo studios with playful themes, such as “That ‘70s Room” and “Put 2020 in the Dumpster.” Coupling the rooms with a hotel package, the LLA offered not only accommodation, but entertainment for its guests.

Stocker says it’s all about enticing new visitors to the city and she believes those who visit will

WOOD BUFFALO Cultural Diversity Provides Exciting Mix of Dining Experiences

 57 North Kitchen & Brewery created a second menu – PorknBones – available for delivery only.

Wood Buffalo at a Glance Population: 74,149 Median Family Income: $174,621 Unemployment Rate: 7% Residential Vacancy Rate: 22.4% Life Stress: 23.3% Sense of Belonging: 67.6%

GRANDE PRAIRIE PHOTO BY: ZERO CREATIVES • WOOD BUFFALO PHOTO COURTESY: WOOD BUFFALO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Source: Government of Alberta

THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY of Wood Buffalo is the second largest municipality in Alberta by land area and may best be described as resilient. While the municipality’s main urban centre of Fort McMurray often inspires images of the oil and gas sector, expansive forests or the harsh beauty of its winter climate, the northeastern Alberta city has some well-kept secrets—including its diverse restaurant scene.

“Fort McMurray was once very transient, with people flying in and out for work, but as more people are choosing to make the city their home and are raising families, the restaurant scene is growing and changing,” says Michael Sieger, vice-president of tourism with Wood Buffalo Economic Development.

With people from more than 60 countries calling the city home, Fort McMurray’s ethnic food scene has blossomed with Thai, East Indian, Ethiopian and Japanese restaurants, to name a few. In addition to these newer offerings, there are several long-standing establishments with menus that vary from soups and sandwiches to high-end dining, many of which weave regional ingredients like bison and elk into their menus.

The region’s rich entrepreneurial spirit has also made its way into the food business, providing restaurant quality meals for dining at home. For example, Oi Thai Food Inc. works from a unique kitchen and provides delivery only, while 57 North Kitchen & Brewery operates a restaurant, but also offers a second menu – PorknBones – for delivery only.

With all these offerings, foodies can certainly bring their appetites when visiting Fort McMurray.

GRANDE PRAIRIE Northwestern City a Hub for Shopping and Adventure GRANDE PRAIRIE IS a popular shopping destination for residents of northern communities in the neighbouring province of British Columbia, but it’s also drawing shoppers from major metropolitan hubs.

For instance, Grande Prairie’s downtown is home to the popular Sole Addiction, a shoe store that draws shoppers from as far as Edmonton and Calgary.

“We have everything from big box stores to amazing, independent locally owned shops,” says says Terry Dow, executive director of Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association. “We are the shopping hub of the north.”

While Dow says thousands of visitors flock to Grande Prairie every month, there’s more to the northwestern Alberta city than shopping.

Depending on the season, visitors can head out of town for the day to do some hiking, white-water rafting, camping, fishing and motorbiking in the

summer or cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. There’s also the local ski hill that’s open for nighttime tubing.

Year-round, visitors can spend an exciting afternoon at Evergreen Park — a massive exhibition centre that includes a casino and features horse racing in the summer. Rodeos, like Grande Prairie Stompede and Teepee Creek Rodeo, are also popular, drawing thousands annually. “We want people to say, ‘that was a great three-day weekend.

I loved it, and I will be back,’” says Dow. Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

 Grande Prairie's mix of big box stores and locally owned shops has made the northwestern Alberta city a retail hub.

Grande Prairie at a Glance Population: 69,626 Median Family Income: $118,340 Unemployment Rate: 9.7% Residential Vacancy Rate: 5.1% Life Stress: 23.3% Sense of Belonging: 65.8% Source: Government of Alberta

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 Canmore's vibrant arts, culture and dining scene includes a a healthy dose of small town hospitality.

CANMORE-BANFF Two Towns and One Great Adventure CANMORE IS A popular pitstop on the way to Banff National Park and the town is a destination worth stopping for — more than once.

“Canmore has a vibrant arts and culture scene, great dining and world-class craft beers. It might be a small town, but with the year-round influx of tourists and ever-growing amenities, it takes on a big-city feel that makes the robust tourism industry a great place to play, live or work,” says Brian Dunn, owner of the Canmore Brewing Company.

Canmore sits at the base of the Rocky Mountains and just 25 kilometres east of the Banff townsite — the two mountain towns are connected by the Trans-Canada Highway and a bike path. The surrounding Banff National Park was Canada’s first national park and draws more than 3 million visitors annually.

The picturesque mountains of Banff are full of incredible hiking trails and campgrounds, as well as idyllic places to climb, kayak or canoe. In the winter, three world-class ski resorts – Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise – are a beacon to tourists.

No matter the activity, warm hospitality after can also be found at Canmore’s Communitea Café, which is inspired by the wonder of nature that surrounds the town and weaves itself naturally into the outdoor experience.

“Folks come to enjoy the outdoor activities, and healthy eating and fresh food completes the feel-good experience,” explains owner Marnie Dansereau. “We use as many local and organic ingredients as possible, and offer a number of gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options.”

Canmore | Banff at a Glance Population: 14,911 | 8,385 Median Family Income: $113,780 | $96,710 Unemployment Rate: 5.5% | 4.7% Residential Vacancy Rate: 5% | 1.08% Life Stress: 20.9% | 20.9% Sense of Belonging: 74.1% | 75.2% Source: Government of Alberta

 Millions of tourists flock to Jasper National Park every year to partake in outdoor activities, including rafting tours.

Population: 4,664 Median Family Income: $103,630 Unemployment Rate: 5.8% Residential Vacancy Rate: 0% Life Stress: 23.3% Sense of Belonging: 69% Source: Government of Alberta

JASPER A Mountain Escape with Diverse Attractions A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site, Jasper National Park extends over 11,000 sq km of glorious nature and is the largest national park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The natural wonders of this mountain region draw tourists from around the world every year and some never end up leaving.

“I showed up for a weekend and am still here 37 years later,” says Scott Eady, operations manager of Jasper Raft Tours. “The valley, the mountains,

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the rivers, the sky — Jasper captures the majesty of the Rockies like no other. Whether you are camping, rafting down the river, hiking or enjoying the many amenities the town has to offer, you will find yourself reconnecting and relaxing to the speed of nature.”

In fact, tourists destined to experience the adventures and hospitality of this mountain town would be joining the 2.5 million visitors who experienced this gem of nature in 2019. edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

Beyond the outdoor adventures, culinary delights and wellness retreats, the mountain town is also home to the Jasper Planetarium — the world’s largest accessible dark sky preserve and the largest, most powerful telescopes in the Rocky Mountains.

“Staff share Indigenous constellation stories, provide Northern Lights insights and share tips on how to photograph the Milky Way and aurora,” Eady says. “It’s like nothing you’ve experienced before.”

And just outside the townsite sits the luxurious Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge that offers a host of amenities as it sits on the emerald green Lac Beauvert with the mountains as a backdrop and an award-winning 18-hole golf course.

CANMORE PHOTO BY: BRIAN DUNN OF CANMORE BREWING • JASPER PHOTO BY: MIKE GEER PHOTOGRAPHY

Jasper at a Glance

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE

RICH HISTORY, CAPTIVATING COMMUNITY, STRONGER TOGETHER

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ocated along the Rocky Mountain foothills in west central Alberta, Rocky Mountain House is the hub of the beautiful David Thompson Country, home to over 20,000 residents.

Our community is a welcoming place to stay, play and work. We take pride in our multiculturally diverse talent and wonderful down-home neighbours.

We are OPEN FOR BUSINESS. We foster growth and development.

Rocky Mountain House is home to several long-term businesses who can boast success in energy, industrial, commercial, forestry and tourism industries.

We have recently modernized the Town of Rocky Mountain House’s Land Use Bylaw to allow for new opportunities through accommodating guidelines for future development.

The Town of Rocky Mountain House strives to provide excellent amenities and services to its residents and businesses.

Christenson Sports and Wellness Centre along with the Credit Union Co-op Aquatic

Centre provides top-notch recreation programming year-round. Our facilities offer senior-friendly fitness (free access for those aged 75 and over) and family activities in a welcoming environment. Our seasonal outdoor facilities host practices, games and tournaments that draw competitors from throughout western Canada. We have an abundance of parks and trails for outdoor adventures. The Town continues to invest in municipal infrastructure and facilities.

Rocky’s Historic Downtown and recently upgraded Main Street offer many opportunities to shop locally in Rocky Mountain House with a great arrangement of retail offerings including furniture, boutiques, restaurants, pharmacies, clothing, hardware and much more.

Rocky and area is proud to host festivals, events and markets throughout the year. A rich cultural scene means you always have live music, theatre, Indigenous and western events to choose from. Our North Saskatchewan River Park welcomes pro rodeos, chuckwagons, concerts and

derbies. The recent Government of Alberta announcement to twin Highway 11 from Sylvan Lake to Rocky Mountain House means swifter and easier transportation between our province’s major trading centres.

We are a strong community working together. Come grow with us!

For more information contact: Jeff Hartling Economic Development Officer 403 847 5260 Town@rockymtnhouse.com www.rockymtnhouse.com

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FEATURE

CHARGED

A network of electric vehicle charging stations provides drivers with the freedom to hit the open road and experience different corners of Alberta

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PHOTO BY: JUNIORBEEP ATCO PHOTO COURTESY: ATCO

FULLY

ATCO was chosen as the owner/operator of the Peaks to Prairies Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network.

an east-west transcontinental highway that spans approximately 570 kilometres across southern Alberta. Canadian Tire – a national department store chain – is installing 55 level 2 chargers and 240 fast chargers at 90 of its locations by the end of 2020, including several in Alberta.

Then there’s the $2.2 million Peaks to Prairies Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network that has opened southern Alberta up to EV users. The Peaks to Prairies network consists of a combination of 20 level 2 and level 3 charge stations connecting communities south of Calgary, as well as to the province’s western border with British Columbia where it links to a charging station network and to the southern border with the United States where there are future plans for a charging station network in Montana.

In southern Alberta, there has been an awareness of evolution in transportation for some time.

“We’ve been working to promote renewable energy as an industry for a long time, so we’re aware of the pace of change happening in the auto sector. Four years ago, we could see it coming,” says Peter Casurella, executive director of the South Grow “We’ve been working to promote renewable energy as an industry for a long time, so we’re Regional Initiative, a regional aware of the pace of change happening in the economic initiative that comprises 28 communities across auto sector. Four years ago, we could see it south central Alberta. coming.” – Peter Casurella, executive director of the At that time, the CommuSouthGrow Regional Initiative nity Energy Association (CEA) had already started “It’s a remarkable growth and it is because of work on an initiative in British Columbia’s East many things: policies, the wholesale economics Kootenays, a mountainous district in the southof EVs – they get cheaper the more you make – east corner of that province that shares a border and government incentives, to name a few,” says with Alberta, called accelerate Kootenays. That York. “But people have experienced a few whiteproject is deploying 53 charging stations throughknuckle drives in the past because of lack of out the Kootenays, including locations along charging infrastructure.”

Highway 3, which extends into southern Alberta.

To help reduce the number of white-knuckle “We wondered about the possibility of Highway drives from pushing the limits of an EV’s range, 3 becoming an electric highway,” says Bev Thornton, Petro-Canada and Tesla both have charging staexecutive director of the Alberta SouthWest Regiontions set up along the Trans-Canada Highway, al Alliance, a regional economic initiative that much of the province couldn’t be explored in their automobile of choice — until now.

Through a number of initiatives, EV charging stations are being placed in key locations to allow EV owners a chance to hit the open road and experience the uniqueness of the province’s different regions.

“Your typical unit today has 400 kilometres of range so that can make some round daytrips difficult,” says William York, an EV owner and a member of the board of directors for the EV Association of Alberta. “I know of folks who used to be unable to visit family in Pincher Creek in their EVs. It can be hard to get your car there and back from Calgary without an easy network to rely on.”

Even with challenges EV owners have experienced when travelling in rural areas without a lot of EV infrastructure, more and more Albertans are embracing electric vehicles. The EV Association of Alberta’s membership grew from 1,400 in 2018 to more than 2,000 in 2020, and the number of EVs in the province grew from about 400 in 2017 to more than 3,700 in just three years.

A

BY Tricia Radison

lberta has breathtaking views and adventures. Many residents and tourists that have driven the province’s highways can attest to exceptional experiences with world-renowned attractions, vibrant rural communities and one of the most diverse and scenic landscapes in North America. A road trip in the province offers fantastic views of fertile prairies, majestic mountains, rolling foothills and vast forests. But for travellers who embrace electric vehicles (EVs),

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comprises 15 communities in southwest Alberta.

“We didn’t know anything about it, so we got our boards together to learn about what it would take to do this. The more we learned, the more interesting it became.”

Initially, the plan was to focus on Highway 3.

When the City of Calgary heard about the initiative, they asked if the network could extend up Highway 2 – the province’s main north-south throughfare – to connect Calgarians with southern locations. At the time, the city was in the early stages of developing its Climate Resilience Strategy and had identified moving to electric or low-emission vehicles as a major opportunity for reducing emissions in the city.

“The catch for us was that, if people wanted to go to Banff or had a business meeting in Lethbridge, we needed regional charging. Otherwise you’d be more inclined to get a gas-powered vehicle because you need it to do long distance trips,” says Eric MacNaughton, acting leader of business performance and innovation with Calgary’s transportation department.

Ultimately, Alberta SouthWest, SouthGrow and the cities of Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge collaborated to install charging stations connecting 1,400 kilometres along a network of nine highways in southern Alberta. Each organization provided a portion of the initial seed funding, while the Government of Alberta and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities then provided $2 million to take the project from the dream stage into reality.

The Peaks to Prairies Electric Vehicle Charging Station Network includes 20 charging stations that are strategically positioned across 1,400 km of highway in southern Alberta.

trying to achieve with the network and gave them a chance to start thinking about forming partnerships and figure out how they’d respond to a request for proposal.”

In the end, ATCO – a major Alberta corporation with a diverse portfolio of businesses that includes electricity generation and distribution – was chosen as the owner/operator of the charging station network.

Because the CEA had already been working on the accelerate Kootenays project, the association was engaged to help determine the ideal locations for the charging stations and get the network off the ground.

“Prior to a lot of the work that we’ve done, people thought you “Specific siting was based on walkable could just draw a circle on a map access to amenities, attractions or that indicates the range that a vehirecreational facilities — opportunities cle can go,” says Megan Lohman, for drivers to entertain themselves head of community energy manwhile they’re charging or to explore agement with CEA. “But there are the community.” – Megan Lohman, head of many factors that go into appropricommunity energy management with Community ate siting and determining the disEnergy Association tances between stations, so more modelling is required to make sure you’re building a reliable network.”

But was there interest in the private sector Factors that impact how far a vehicle can travel in owning and operating a fast charging network include extreme temperatures as well as terrain — in the province? In the summer of 2017, the colboth major concerns in southern Alberta. If you laboration led an initial expression of interest have to go up a mountain pass, you’re going to to find out. use more energy than on a flat road and the effect “We got a pretty positive response and quite of wind on the amount of energy needed also has a few respondents,” says MacNaughton. “It allowto be considered. ed us to answer questions about what we were

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While the positive impact of EVs on the environment is important to the various stakeholders, providing an enhanced traveller experience has always been the ultimate goal. So after identifying priority general locations, specific locations meeting specific criteria were identified.

“Specific siting was based on walkable access to amenities, attractions or recreational facilities — opportunities for drivers to entertain themselves while they’re charging or to explore the community,” explains Lohman.

And that’s important to EV drivers. While you can top up an EV battery fairly quickly at a charging station, you might also need to charge for an hour or more. According to York of the EV Association of Alberta, very early adopters spent a lot of time hanging around in Peavey Marts, an Alberta-based general retail chain with stores throughout rural communities in Western Canada.

“Peavey Mart put a level 2 charger in every single store and it became common knowledge for Albertans,” he says. “They’d sit there for a couple of hours.”

Now drivers can connect in Pincher Creek – a town of about 3,600 people that’s a little more than 200 kilometres south of Calgary – just off the main street and stroll over to explore its cafes and shops before continuing down to Waterton, or enjoy the antique shops in Nanton – a town of about 2,100 people that’s less than 100 kilometres south of Calgary – before heading into the mountains. Stakeholders have had a lot of feedback from people who have stopped in

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ATCO PHOTO COURTESY: ATCO

 At the Peaks to Prairies project launch event in Lethbridge, attendees at the event took part in EV demonstrations of a Tesla Model 3, a Chevrolet Bolt, a Hyundai Kona and a Tesla Model X.  All 20 of the charging stations that make up the Peaks to Prairies network are powered by solar and wind energy.

communities like Milk River – a town of less than 1,000 people that’s only 22 kilometres from the United States border – for the first time to use the charging station and experenced the pleasure of exploring a new place.

Having EV infrastructure throughout the province will increase the adoption of EVs. “The way infrastructure and EVs work is they happen in lock step. An uptick in infrastructure leads to an uptick in adoption and vice versa,” says York. “With networks in place, your EV becomes more than just your commuter car; it becomes your everything vehicle.”

And with an EV infrastructure like the one that’s continuing to grow in Alberta, it can also be your everywhere vehicle.

POWERED BY RENEWABLE ENERGY In the fall of 2019, Peter Casurella, executive director of the SouthGrow Regional Initiative, conducted a study to determine the value of six solar and three wind energy projects in southwest Alberta. He found they represented an investment of $1.56 billion and, a year later, he estimates the value of projects being built at over $2 billion.

“There are over 90 additional renewable energy projects under application as of October 2020,” he says. “It’s a portrait of an industry on the upward curve of an accelerating slope that has not yet reached its zenith.”

The region’s involvement with renewable energy and knowledge of increasing interest in the sector is a major reason that there was so much interest in building the Peaks to Prairies network. It’s also why stakeholders ensured that all 20 of the charging stations are run using solar and wind energy.

There’s also a new mining opportunity for Albertans. Currently, EV adoption is being held back by the availability of raw materials for batteries. It turns out that Alberta is home to the seventh largest lithium deposit in the world and accessing that lithium only requires tweaking processes already used in oil production.

“I think you’ll see Albertans really adopt EV technology when they start to see it be part of our industry,” says William York of the EV Association of Alberta. “In the same way we love oil and gas, as we see how wealthy we are in other resources like solar, wind and lithium, we will really start to embrace these alternatives.”

“In the same way we love oil and gas, as we see how wealthy we are in other resources like solar, wind and lithium, we will really start to embrace these alternatives.” – William York, board member with the EV Association of Alberta

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

NORTHERN SUNRISE COUNTY

WE’VE ESTABLISHED OURSELF AS A COUNTY OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

N

orthern Sunrise County is renowned in northwest Alberta for a reason, offering a highly desirable quality of life in the countryside. Northern Sunrise County welcomes new partners, investors, and entrepreneurs. Northern Sunrise County is a safe, dynamic, and welcoming community that attracts people of all ages, cultures, and walks-of-life.

Northern Sunrise County’s economy is built on the strongest drivers of Alberta’s economy: oil and gas, forestry, agriculture and tourism. The County is comprised of more than 21,000 square kilometers of Alberta’s finest wilderness and agricultural land over one of the province’s largest oil sands deposits. With an abundance of natural resources, a vibrant cultural heritage and a population of industrious and innovative people, Northern Sunrise County has established itself as a county open for business. In addition, the thriving town of Peace River is nearby offering all the necessary amenities for modern living.

The Sunrise Gateway Business Park is located along Highway 2. The development of the business park has been a focus of Northern Sunrise County for almost 20 years. Over the years the County has streamlined its strategic phased-in plan with successes of bringing Northern Sunrise County is a increasing commercial businesses and light vibrant and dynamic County, industrial into the region. The business park has been recently reflecting strong values expanded into the next phase of and progressive attitudes its development vision which is while balancing nature and opening new opportunities for industrial, retail, and hospitality economic growth in a global industries. Northern Sunrise County has invested in ensuring environment. the lots available are fully serviced with all utilities including fibre optic highspeed internet. Any developer will appreciate the amount of paperwork, permits, finances, and time that these “ready for building” lots save them in their development timelines.

Northern Sunrise County sits in the middle of the most northern agricultural region in the world

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- affectionally referred to as the Peace Country.

Over the decades and generations of collective farming knowledge, the Peace Country has become internationally renowned for its superior agricultural products. Additionally, the region is also home to bison and cattle farmers, community pastures, dairy farms, honey producers and a timothy haying plant. Located in the Village of Nampa is a grain terminal which is one of 12 available in the Peace Country. In addition, Northern Sunrise County has multiple transloading facilities with direct access to CN Rail. There are many opportunities for value-added agricultural industry in Northern Sunrise County.

Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy, and nowhere is that truer than in Northern Alberta. Northern Sunrise County is covered by a dense boreal forest with three rivers running through the county: Peace, Smoky and Heart rivers. Northern Sunrise County invites you to come experience the natural beauty of the Peace region.

With our vast unspoiled wilderness, our wildlife, clean and open waterways and wide-open sky; the prairie skies are lit up by the northern lights in the winter and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.The summer months see nearly 24-hours of daylight; great for camping, fishing, animal and bird watching, hiking, hunting, ATV riding, kayaking or canoeing. With our many cultural events hosted in the communities throughout the year such as the St-Isidore Carnival, Peace River Pow Wow, and many rodeos and fairs, visitors will enjoy the rich culture and variety of natural amenities that Northern Sunrise County has to offer.

Young or old, Northern Sunrise County has sights, sounds, and activities for you to discover.

Contact us to discover all the advantages that Northern Sunrise County offers for achieving success in business with the quality of life expected by the business leaders and entrepreneurs of today.

For more information contact: Lynn Florence Economic Development Officer 780-625-3288 or lflorence@northernsunrise.net Or visit our website at northernsunrise.net

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Vibrant Culture

Here, people can grow, prosper, and belong.

High Quality of Life

Welcoming

NORTHERN

SUNRISE COUNTY

Forward Thinking

Lynn Florence Economic Development Officer 780-625-3288 or lflorence@northernsunrise.net

Service Oriented

Or visit our website at

northernsunrise.net Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

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ARTS &CULTURE THERE’S SOMETHING UNIQUE about Alberta’s culture. So unique, in fact, the provincial government dedicated all of September 2020 for Alberta Culture Days. The celebration provided four weeks for people to discover, experience and celebrate arts and culture through more than 900 events and activities, in person and online across the province.

If you missed the jam-packed schedule of Alberta Culture Days, there’s plenty of other events and festivals throughout the year. SnowDays, a month-long festival in Banff and Lake Louise, celebrates the depths of winter. The mountain towns host ice carving and snow sculpting, special exhibitions and even competitive cardboard sled racing. There are music festivals throughout the year dedicated to nearly every genre, with Edmonton’s Folk Festival providing an epic experience and a series of great performers taking the stage annually during the Calgary Stampede. And for those looking for something a little quieter or something to fit into their own schedule, Alberta has more than 20 provincially owned historic sites, interpretive centres and museums that range from the quaint and charming to the incredible and awe-inspiring.

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PHOTO COURTESY: RAOUL BHATT, INSTAGRAM: @RAOUL

 Even with experience working on productions in Hollywood, Raoul Bhatt was eager to film his TV series pilot in Alberta.  About 200 people from Alberta were hired to work on the set of Pipe Nation.

STAR

GAZING

Catch a glimpse of Alberta’s vibrant film industry as the province plays backdrop to numerous productions while creating benefits for local communities

R

BY Theresa Tayler

aoul Bhatt is used to being behind the scenes of Alberta’s energy sector.

Born and raised in the province’s capital city of Edmonton, he is a tech entrepreneur who has built cutting edge technology for Alberta’s oil and gas industry amongst other business areas across the world, such as law enforcement, defence, aviation and automotive.

But he’s also used to being behind the scenes in the film industry. Bhatt is an accomplished cinematographer, working locally in Alberta and

in Los Angeles on major productions, including a producer for the Daytime Emmy Awards and for Universal Studios. With such experience, Bhatt could have picked nearly anywhere around the globe to write and produce his first television series pilot, but he was eager to showcase the people, stories and culture in his home province of Alberta while also hiring and nurturing local crews.

Pipe Nation tells the story of a single mother working in the oil sands of northern Alberta. The series – which Bhatt plans to shop to one of the “big guys” (think Netflix, Disney, Amazon Prime Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

or the like) – was filmed during the first wave of COVID-19 in the province, a curveball that Bhatt was not expecting to encounter when he was writing and planning for the initial shoot in late-2019.

“We had always planned on keeping this purely Albertan and hiring local crews and cast,” he says.

“When COVID hit, it was a challenge, but we also saw an opportunity because where all other productions stopped, we were able to keep going.”

Bhatt’s team wrapped up shooting the pilot in the summer of 2020 and about 200 individuals were hired on the set of Pipe Nation. The series 2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA

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Filming in central Alberta provided Pipe Nation with an authentic backdrop.

was filmed primarily in Sundre, a town of approximately 2,700 people that’s 100 kilometres northwest of Calgary at the base of the province’s rolling Foothills, while other locations included Edmonton and its neighbouring City of Leduc. Bhatt was determined from the get-go to produce the show in a way that would support not only Alberta’s film and television sector but also communities and individual businesses across the province.

“I had an opportunity to collect royalties as opposed to producing this myself,” he says.

“I could have sold the script to a [British Columbia] crew. That team would have come in, told the story their way and then left, and that wasn’t right for me. I wanted to tell this province’s story with our people and assemble my team.”

Jon Allan, economic development officer with Sundre, says efforts between the town, Alberta’s film development advocacy organizations such as Keep Alberta Rolling and the private sector have been championing bringing a production like Pipe Nation to Sundre for quite some time.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in film and television for locations across Alberta. The natural beauty of our locations is obvious, but also smaller towns and communities allow productions to produce wonderful work that doesn’t break the bank

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because we aren’t charging producers an arm and leg for access to public spaces,” Allan says.

“It’s not just our mountain vistas that are attracting local and international film makers and digital media producers. It’s areas in central Alberta: our vistas and rolling hills, our rural towns, which make beautiful authentic backdrops for storylines,” he adds.

Allan estimates that Sundre and the surrounding community benefitted with over $100,000 in advertising equivalency value just from the publicity that Pipe Nation has offered to date, and the pilot has still not even been picked up by a network for full production.

“Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent in communities in a matter of days of shooting when a film production comes to a community,” Allan says. “These crews need lumber from local hardware stores, they need hotels for cast and crew, they spend money in restaurants and think of all the little shops and businesses who also benefit.”

Allan adds that the community was ecstatic to have the production onsite. Many businesses and individuals sponsored their time and resources for the production in return for the publicity the pilot would bring.

Stout Gloves – based in the nearby central Alberta City of Red Deer and maker of protective wear worn by many energy operators – was one of those businesses that threw their support behind Bhatt’s team. Shelby Hrechuk, president and owner of Stout Gloves, says he sponsored the costume gear on Bhatt’s pilot because he was so impressed with the dedication the story had to Alberta’s energy story and workers.

“It’s a great story about a strong woman working in [oil and gas] and facing a lot of the challenges many women in the industry are faced with.

That’s something that resonates with me as an Albertan raised by a single mother,” says Hrechuk, who has already seen a notable increase in wordof-mouth marketing attention from Stout’s involvement in the pilot.

“We’re getting calls and emails and a lot of callouts on social media. We’ve also had interest from factories around the world that have reached out to do business with us producing our gloves,” he says.

As Bhatt prepares to secure a distribution deal, he is also looking for private investment to produce the full series, which on average is anticipated to cost $2 million an episode.

“These productions are expensive to produce, but the pay-off to investors is tenfold,” he says.

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PHOTO COURTESY: RAOUL BHATT, INSTAGRAM: @RAOUL

“We had always planned on keeping this purely Albertan and hiring local crews and cast.” – Raoul Bhatt, writer and producer of Pipe Nation

At A Glance RENDERING COURTESY: THE GLENBOW MUSEUM

by the numbers

$5.3 billion

Amount contributed to Alberta’s GDP by culture goods and services, the fourth highest total in Canada

13,300

Number of artists living in Alberta, which accounts for 8% of all artists in Canada

375+

Number of movie and television productions that have been filmed in Alberta

53,000+ Jobs attributed to Alberta’s culture sector

Source: Government of Alberta, Statistics Canada, U.S. Census Bureau

The Glenbow Museum in downtown Calgary is set or a $40-million makeover.

Historic Glenbow Museum Ready for Modernization The Glenbow Museum has been a fixture of downtown Calgary for more than 50 years, and now the art and history museum is set to freshen up its appearance with a $40 million investment from the province.

Project plans include new meeting spaces available for rent, a restaurant, enhanced retail experiences and a flexible-use theatre. These additions will provide additional revenue opportunities for the Glenbow and ensure its long-term sustainability. Historically, Glenbow combined a museum, art gallery, library and archives under one roof. Glenbow is currently reframing its mandate to focus primarily on its role as an art museum.

Honouring Alberta’s Artists Top 10 Fastest Growing Regions in North America (Population growth from 2009 - 2019) Alberta's population growth has contributed to its vibrant culture.

19.2%

District of Columbia

18.8%

Alberta

17.7%

Utah Texas

16.9%

Colorado

15.8%

Florida

15.1%

British Columbia

15%

Idaho

15%

Arizona

14.7%

Nevada

14.7%

Alberta’s artists are storytellers, innovators, entrepreneurs, community builders, teachers and mentors – which is worth celebrating – and Alberta continues to be the only province in Canada with a dedicated Month of the Artist celebration in September.

The annual celebration of artists highlights the value they bring to the province, both socially and economically, and encourages people to take part in as many events as possible and support Alberta artists. Artists’ work enriches lives, promotes creativity and innovation, and contributes to a more diversified economy. When the arts thrive, Alberta is a better place to live, invest and do business.

Fringe Festival Takes 5 (But Vows to Return) The iconic Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival took a hiatus in 2020 due to the global pandemic, but quickly put together some online options for its most dedicated fans and is hopeful to return in 2021 for the 40th anniversary of the theatre festival.

The Edmonton Fringe Festival was established in 1982 by Brian Paisley, who at the time was the Artistic Director of Chinook Theatre. Paisley wanted to develop a fringe festival in North America after visiting the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Edinburgh Fringe started in 1947 when eight theatre companies were denied admittance to an international festival.

The companies teamed up and performed their shows on the fringes of the festival, hence the fringe was born. More than 200 fringe festivals take place each year across the globe – with Edmonton’s 10-day event being the oldest and largest in North America.

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TOURISM ALBERTA HAS SIX UNESCO World Heritage Sites, more than 470 provincial parks, 18 provincial historic sites and 5 national parks. When these remarkable parks and natural spaces are combined with the province’s friendly people, appealing cities and events it all adds up to an endless list of exceptional tourism experiences and adventures for residents and visitors alike.

And the visitors come by the millions. In 2017, there were more than 2.3 million nights booked at accommodations throughout the province and more than 160,000 direct flights that arrived in Alberta. While travellers from other parts of Canada are the most frequent visitors, millions of tourists from all over the world flock to Alberta yearround for an eclectic mix of activities and events right across the province, from the picturesque mountains and rolling hills to the charming rural prairies and majestic forests.

While 2020 saw a marked decrease in tourism activity due to the global pandemic, businesses supporting Alberta’s visitor economy quickly adapted to new ways of operating and are prepared to safely continue showcasing the iconic and diverse attractions awaiting tourists.

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PHOTO COURTESY: INDIGENOUS TOURISM ALBERTA

Many Indigenous tourism businesses blend the rich histo­ry of Indigenous people with modern elements to provide unique products and services.

TOURISM STEEPED IN

TRADITION Alberta’s Indigenous tourism experiences provide a unique combination of history and adventure across the province

I

BY Jessica Barratt

t’s been said that adventure lies in your own backyard and it’s a sentiment that’s been embraced by Indigenous outdoor adventure company Painted Warriors.

Nestled in the rolling hills at the base of

the Rocky Mountains about 100 kilometres northwest of Calgary, Tracey Klettl and Tim Mearns are co-owners of the 82-acre ranch that provides visitors with an immersive experience based on the traditional and modern day lifestyle of the Cree and Saulteaux people.

“We created our company with the intent to preserve some land-based skills that are being lost,” says Klettl.

From numerous tour packages to retreats and survival weekends hosted at the rustic facility, there’s a long list of activities to experience at the Painted Warriors ranch, including horseback riding, survival skills, animal tracking and archery.

Overnight stays can be booked in Metis-style trapper tents and Painted Warriors offers year-round activities, for anyone brave enough to test themselves against the elements.

As a 100 percent Indigenous-owned business, Painted Warriors also shares close ties to the surrounding community and Klettl is proud of the partnerships her business has formed with local Indigenous operators from Morley, Siksika and Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

the Blood Reserve (Kainai), as well as with other Indigenous tourism organizations.

“We really try and build the understanding that we are stronger when we work together,” says Klettl. “We have had some amazing interactions with our guests ... reaching the bridge of understanding and realization that deep down we are all missing that connection to not only the natural world, but the human connection as well.”

There’s no shortage of Indigenous tourism experiences in Alberta that offer that connection.

From outdoor adventure activities like hiking, fishing, archery, rock climbing and horseback riding to hotels, bed and breakfast suites, campsites, 2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA

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PAYING IT FORWARD

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A diverse and rich history of Indigenous cultures and tourism allows residents to get out and explore activities within their own commu­nity.

“We’re fortunate to have a diverse and rich history of Indigenous cultures and tourism that allows residents to get out and explore Indigenous businesses and activities within their own community, as well as across Alberta.” – Shae Bird, executive director with Indigenous Tourism Alberta restaurants and casinos, there are Indigenousowned businesses in nearly every facet of tourism in Alberta. Many experiences blend the rich history of Indigenous people with modern elements to provide unique products and services.

“There is an increased appetite amongst Albertans to expand their understanding of the history and cultures of this province,” affirms Shae Bird, executive director with Indigenous Tourism Alberta, an organization committed to the vitality of Indigenous tourism businesses across the province. “We’re fortunate to have a diverse and rich history of Indigenous cultures and tourism that allows residents to get out and explore Indigenous businesses and activities within their own community, as well as across Alberta.”

Any Albertan who has visited Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, one of five such Indigenous-owned casino destinations in the province, certainly knows this is true. There, visitors benefit from a robust selection of casino games, dining and other entertainment amenities, all against an authentic backdrop of thoughtful Indigenous cultural experiences that is tied closely to the surrounding Tsuut’ina Nation.

The casino sits to the southwest of Calgary on Tsuut’ina land, and includes a 4.5-star hotel and the world-renowned Little Chief Restaurant. The site’s event centre has hosted top comedians and bands, as well as events during the Calgary Stampede.

In addition to the modern-day activities, Grey Eagle Resort and Casino also prides itself as an

Indigenous-owned business that tells its own story and partners with other businesses on the Nation.

“All guests’ experiences are unique, and their takeaway is always positive, whether they are listening to an elder storyteller in our Grey Eagle tipi, or attending a corporate event where singers and dancers welcome them to Treaty 7 Territory,” says Tamara Littlelight, sales manager with the resort’s hotel. “Community is always at the forefront of our mandate. It is an honour to work for Grey Eagle Resort knowing that what we do here allows the Tsuut’ina community to flourish and grow.”

Indeed, the casino partners with Tsuut’ina community organizations to redistribute a share of their proceeds with locals.

“The Grey Eagle casino, hotel and event centre are all world class facilities, and provide important revenue and employment for the Nation,” confirms Chief Roy Whitney of Tsuut’ina Nation. “They generate funds which support our social well-being programs, language and culture, community services and public safety programs including the Tsuut’ina Nation Police and Fire Department.”

Bearing not only the promise of unparalleled cultural experience, but also providing a steady, direct stream of revenue for Indigenous businesses and communities, Alberta’s Indigenous tourism sector exemplifies the true essence of what the province’s one-of-a-kind heritage and landscape has to offer.

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PHOTO COURTESY: INDIGENOUS TOURISM ALBERTA

The reciprocal nature of Alberta’s Indigenous tourism businesses showcases the importance of tourism to the overall vitality of the province’s economy. Indigenous tourism in Alberta was valued at $166 million of the province’s total GDP in 2019 and most, if not all, of the profits were invested back into local businesses.

During 2020, Indigenous Tourism Alberta committed up to $7,500 to any of their 70 member businesses to offset costs associated with the shutdown of the global tourism industry due to the pandemic.

“Our goal at ITA is to help these businesses, and our industry as a whole, remain competitive to accelerate our recovery and contribute to the diversification of our provincial economy,” says Shae Bird, executive director with Indigenous Tourism Alberta.

“Indigenous tourism has the power to change perspectives, preserve culture, language and traditions, all while increasing economic viability through the province of Alberta.”

By late-2020, ITA had supported 37 Indigenous-owned businesses with a total of $200,000, including Painted Warriors. The company was able to bring back Indigenous staff members and carry on with programming over the summer thanks to the stimulus funding from ITA. “We are lucky and blessed to be a part of Indigenous Tourism Alberta,” says Tracey Klettl, co-owner of Painted Warriors.

Southwest Alberta a Crown Jewel AlbertaSouthwest (AlbertaSW) – a regional partnership of 15 communities to promote economic development – has earned its place among top global destinations that strive to be more sustainable to preserve, enhance and celebrate an iconic character of place.

AlbertaSW, as part of the “crown of the continent” region, finished in third place in the Best of the Americas category during the annual Sustainable 100 Destination Awards in March 2020, behind Vail, Colorado, and Guyana. ‘’This global recognition is a reflection of international, provincial and municipal level commitment to grow prosperous communities that celebrate the important connection to our landscapes, history and culture,’’ says Bev Thornton, executive director of AlbertaSW. AlbertaSW had previously been named as a Global Top 100 Sustainable Destination in October 2019. The region sits in the northeast corner of the “crown of the continent,” which is a larger transboundary region encompassing the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and the surrounding areas of Alberta, British Columbia and Montana.

Want to Reward Tourists? There’s An App for That Alberta communities have a new resource designed to shine a spotlight on local businesses and encourage people to explore their community.

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) has launched the Xperience Alberta app providing a platform that allows communities and regions within the province to create their own branded mobile app to help drive traffic to local attractions and generate sales for local businesses. The app includes the ability to create and manage a rewards program. Users of the app can earn points for visiting identified locations in the community and redeem points when making purchases. EDA has made the app available to both members and non-members to help increase adoption and reach.

“For our province's economy to thrive, local economies must also thrive. That means supporting local businesses,” says Leann Hackman-Carty, CEO of EDA. “This platform is a powerful tool for engaging community residents and visitors in a way that drives people into local businesses.”

by the numbers

$8.9 billion Total annual expenditures by tourists in Alberta

72,500 Number of full-time jobs generated by Alberta’s tourism sector

23,000+

Number of businesses in Alberta dedicated to supporting the province’s tourism industry

$7.3 billion

Amount contributed to Alberta’s GDP annually by the province’s tourism industry Source: Government of Alberta, Statistics Canada

Percentage of International Visitors Approximately 2.1 million people visited Alberta in 2017 from around the world 44.8%

At A Glance

2.8%

2.0%

1%

The Netherlands

Mexico

Other

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Japan

South Korea

4.5% Australia

3.5%

4.7% Germany

6.7% China

7.5% United Kingdom

United States

It’s estimated that of Alberta’s 23,000 tourism-related businesses, a little more than half are run by self-employed operators. Amid the pandemic in 2020, these businesses – along with other small tourism businesses in Alberta – have quickly adapted their environments to meet provincial health requirements, ensuring guests have safe and positive experiences.

“That tourism businesses are always attuned to the ever-changing needs of the visitor has positioned the industry to respond quickly during the pandemic crisis,” says Darren Reeder, board advisor with the Tourism Industry Association of Alberta.

Previously, local residents represented 83 percent of all person visits in Alberta and 54 percent of tourism expenditures.

“In the absence of U.S. and international visitors spending money in our communities at this time, Albertans need to spend generously, and often, to help ensure the businesses that sell the products and services they appreciate are there tomorrow,” says Reeder.

“Tourism businesses are many of the businesses that drive the spirit of our communities and provide meaningful employment opportunities for friends, and family.”

22.5%

Local Tourists Key to Supporting Small Businesses

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

MD OF GREENVIEW

WHERE THE LANDSCAPE IS AS DIVERSE AS THE ADVENTURE THAT AWAITS...

E

xperience spectacular panoramic vistas of the Canadian Rockies and endless prairie views in Alberta’s southern Peace region. Our extraordinary range of landscapes and untamed wilderness promises an abundance of year-round adventures for outdoor and recreational enthusiasts.

Within Greenview’s boundaries are 2,700 kilometers of trails to hike and bike, from short treks to extreme multi-day backpacking adventures.

Are you a foodie? Greenview is home to numerous culinary offerings, including the Crooked Creek General Store and/or Scotty’s Burger Shack along the way. They offer local products, and are famous for the best donuts and hamburgers around! Visit the Crabby Goat in the Valleyview region for unique distilled spirits and eats or Wheelers in Little Smoky, offering a refreshing stop on your journey.

Our extraordinary range Grande Cache offers a variety of landscapes and untamed of dining experiences to excite guests of the mountain destination. wilderness promises an Greenview’s Grande Cache abundance of year-round region is your raw and rugged adventures for outdoor and neighbour offering outstanding adventures. Travel a two-hour recreational enthusiasts drive south from Grande Prairie or north from Jasper along Hwy 40 are spectacular panoramic vistas of the Canadian Rockies. This quiet yet amazing place offers endless opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast to enjoy mountain peaks, whitewater and lakes, horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking. Journey on a true backcountry horseback riding excursion with a commercial operator or on your own. The area boasts staging areas with corrals for your convenience, giving you access to the pristine Willmore Wilderness Park.

Find spectacular sites including Kakwa Falls where the water cascades over 30 meters forming Alberta’s

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XPERIENCE ALBERTA 2 0 2 1

largest waterfall. Smaller waterfalls, including the popular Eaton Falls, Muskeg Falls, and Twin Falls, are located in the Grande Cache area. While you are in the area check out Sulphur Gates, the confluence of the Smoky and Sulphur rivers, showcasing dramatic cliff edges and amazing mountain views.

Greenview’s vast area boasts amazing fishing and hunting opportunities. Catch walleye, whitefish, northern pike, and rainbow trout. Catch and release bull trout, Arctic grayling, walleye, pike, and Rocky Mountain whitefish.

The Grande Cache Tourism & Interpretive Centre displays the history of the area through exhibits featuring ice age artifacts, dinosaur tracks, Indigenous heritage and fur trading history of the area. The centre’s staff can support guests in locating their next outdoor “bucket-list” adventure.

The Nitehawk Adventure Park, just a short drive from Grande Prairie, has an impressive ski hill, luge track, and tube park in the winter and is a challenging mountain bike park in warmer months for the downhill speed seekers!

This year try somewhere new! Look beyond the norm, Expand Your Vision and find your new outdoor adventure in Greenview.

For more information contact: Kevin Keller 780-524-7623 invest@mdgreenview.ab.ca www.Expandyourvision.ca www.mdgreenview.ab.ca

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photo credit: Ian Daisley

photo credit: Hamlet of Grande Cache

photo credit: Nitehawk Adventure Park

photo credit: Margaret Abraham

Where the Landscape is as Diverse as the Adventure that Awaits...

Neighbouring Grande Prairie to the south and east, Greenview spans more than 32,000 square kilometres and offers an array of rivers, lakes, mountain peaks, and prairie meadows that are waiting to be explored. Its extraordinary range of landscape and untamed wilderness promises an abundance of year-round adventures for outdoor and recreational enthusiasts.

With the spectacular panoramic vistas of the Canadian Rockies only two short hours south and endless tourism and recreation opportunities in between, you will find unique experiences wherever your travels take you.

GRANDE CACHE TOURISM & INTERPRETIVE CENTRE 1-800-827-3790

ExpandYourVision.ca

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

find us on social media: @tourismgreenview 2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA 29 @GCTourismCentre

PHOTO COURTESY: WOOD BUFFALO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sand dunes reaching 50 to 60 ft high in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo provide a sandy playground of epic proportions.

THINKING OUTSIDE

THE (SAND)BOX

Alberta's Sahara and its giant sand dunes provide outdoor enthusiasts with a sandy playground of epic proportions

BY Kelley Stark

A

bout 100 kilometres north of Fort McMurray in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in northeast Alberta is one of the province’s most spectacular sights — giant sand dunes.

And it’s not a mirage.

“When we talk about sand dunes, I think people from Edmonton and from Calgary don’t realize just how big the sand dunes are,” says Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

Michael Sieger, vice-president of tourism for Wood Buffalo Economic Development. “You drive your ATV to the staging area, get off, and walk to the top of a 50 to 60 foot dune. That dune goes on for as long as your eye can see.”

In fact, there are two sand dune ranges in the region north of Wood Buffalo: the Athabasca Dunes Ecological Reserve and the Richardson River Dunes Wildland Park.

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The Athabasca Sand Dunes are ideal for the ecological tourist. This protected area lies mostly in the neighbouring province of Saskatchewan, but a section that’s approximately 8 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide spills over into Alberta. This stretch of sand features 12-metre high dunes and 60-metre high kames (a mound of sand deposited by a melting ice sheet).

While the protected area is off limits to ATV riders, backcountry hikers can enjoy a landscape rich in flora and fauna, some of which are not widely distributed in other parts of Canada. Some of the plants include felt-leaved willow, floccose tansy and bladderwort; while animals such as lynx, red fox, river otters, mink, black bear, wolf and moose make their home in the dunes.

The Richardson River Dunes, on the other hand, are an oasis for ATV enthusiasts. At the staging area, about 1 hour north of Fort McMurray in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo – a district with a population of more than 71,000 people that sits about 500 kilometres northeast of Edmonton – there’s a simple gate that opens up to an incredible outdoor adventure: an expansive 320-kilometre area of sand and sky that can transport riders to a seemingly different world.

“That’s just it: the blue skies and sand,” says Sieger. “That feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. On a warm day, you could easily think you’re somewhere in Africa; you really start to forget that you’re on the Canadian shield, that you’re in northern Canada.”

Currently, the opportunity to ATV on the sand dunes is accessible only for people who bring their own equipment, but Sieger says his organization is actively looking for entrepreneurs to create, develop and activate tourism opportunities where people can rent the equipment and be taken on tours.

During the winter, amid ATV off-season, the tourism team with Wood Buffalo Economic Devel-

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 The Richardson River Dunes provide a 320-kilometre area of sand that gives ATVers ample room to roam.  The sand dunes in northeast Alberta feature flora and fauna that are not widely distributed in Canada, making hikes and picnics even more picturesque.  Wood Buffalo Economic Development is working with other agencies to provide unique tourism experiences in the sand dunes, including flying tours.

“On a warm day, you could easily think you’re somewhere in Africa; you really start to forget that you’re on the Canadian shield, that you’re in northern Canada.” – Michael Sieger, vice-president of tourism for Wood Buffalo Economic Development

opment is working with Alberta Environment and Parks, and Parks Canada to increase usability of the dunes once the snow melts in 2021. Plans are being discussed to add directional signage to routes that’s similar to what’s used at a ski resort.

“You’d look at the board and you’d see a red line (for example) and that would be the two-hour tour,” explains Sieger. “So, you set off with your family and follow the red sticks or the red signage.”

Other colours would mark four hours or six hours and, potentially, overnight adventures.

Another initiative Sieger’s team is working on is flying tours over the sand dunes in a float plane.

“From the air you get a very different idea of how vast the sand dunes are,” says Sieger, before describing an experience of landing in a plane on a lake near the Athabasca Sand Dunes where tourists could climb to the top of a dune and spend time learning with a guide. “How the sand dune changes every year with the wind, how it’s

been growing, and some of the unique flora and fauna. Then get back into the float plane and fly back to the airport here in Fort McMurray.”

Both sets of dunes are accessed by what Sieger has dubbed “the Sand Dunes Highway.” The route transforms into an ice road in the winter to connect the communities of Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan to the north. When the winter road disappears and the long-haul trucks along with it, the quads, ATVs and side-by-side vehicles are free to roam the wilderness uninterrupted.

“You’re driving about 130 kilometres on the road to get to the sand dunes,” says Sieger, “but the reality is that the fun starts the minute you get on the sand road. You can take some side trips to visit some beautiful lakes and maybe even witness a bear or two along the way. It’s more than enough to make people feel like they had a really great adventure; it’s adventure tourism at its best.”

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ATHABASCA DUNES PHOTOS COURTESY: WOOD BUFFALO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • SKI HILL PHOTO BY: ELENATHEWISE

At A Glance by the numbers

Downhill skiing is one of the outdoor activities that makes Banff one of the most-visited national parks in Canada.

$10 million

Amount spent by the provincial government since 2019 conserving more than 22,000 acres of land

14.9% Amount of Alberta’s land and fresh water that is protected

2.8 million

Hectares of land that make up the Provincial Parks System

16,000+

Reservations made online for stays at provincial campgrounds in 2019 Source: Government of Alberta

Alberta’s National Park Attendance Nearly 7.5 million visits were made to Alberta’s five national parks in 2019 Banff 56%

Jasper 33%

Let It Snow An early blast of winter in October 2020 allowed two of Alberta’s most well-known ski resorts to open their trails at the earliest date in their histories. The snow arrived early in Banff with a measured 27 cm of snow on the ground by Oct. 14, which allowed Mt. Norquay to open on Oct. 24 and Lake Louise Ski Resort opened five days later on Oct. 29.

The two ski hills combine to provide nearly 4,400 acres of skiing and 220 runs, accessible through 16 chair lifts.

While the big resorts of the Rocky Mountains – Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Resort, Sunshine Village, Nakiska and Marmot Basin-Jasper – capture a lot of tourist attention, there are more than 30 ski resorts scattered around the province, making up more than 600 kilometres of skiable slopes.

Funding for Outdoor Renovations Alberta’s parks are a key part of the economy, supporting opportunities and jobs in tourism, hospitality and services, and the provincial government gave this sector of the economy a boost in 2020 with $43 million.

The funding is anticipated to create more than 290 jobs for projects to enhance, repair and protect Alberta’s provincial parks. Some of the identified projects include: improving motorized and non-motorized recreation activities in parks and public lands, site modernization, maintenance and utility improvements.

In addition, the provincial government provided a nearly $500,000 grant to the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society to help the group continue its conservation and ecology work while upgrading education and visitor information at the park, further strengthening ties with non-profits and conservation societies.

Curating a WILD Adventure Waterton Elk 6% Island 5%

Wood Buffalo <1%

GROWTH Alberta is an economic development alliance of communities in a region north of Edmonton that boasts unique outdoor adventures and a genuine connection with nature. Seeking to capitalize on the region’s location, the organization created a regional tourism brand – WILD Alberta – and created a website to help visitors plan expeditions in the area.

For the adventurous outdoor people, experiences include extensive ATV and motocross trails, tubing down the McLeod River, horseback riding, fishing, hunting or soaring through the air as a skydiver. The area has two skydiving academies that provide both tandem and solo skydiving trips.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

CITY OF GRANDE PRAIRIE

A WELCOMING CITY WITH MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO GET AND STAY CONNECTED.

A

rriving in Grande Prairie, you quickly realize there are far more opportunities than you’d expect in a city with a population just over 69,000. The city offers the perfect mix of big city amenities and smalltown vibes, with something for everyone.

The abundance of jobs, diversified economy, and Grande Prairie’s status as the most entrepreneurial community in Canada for three consecutive years has made it the perfect place for young people to start their careers and families. As one of the youngest cities in Canada, Grande Prairie boasts more children entering kindergarten than adults heading into retirement. To allow this population to thrive, the city has developed a wide range of activities and amenities for residents of all ages, from children to seniors.

As the largest commercial centre north of Edmonton, Grande Prairie draws people from all over the world to live and work. The city is the main retail and service hub for outlying rural drawing residents from The city’s impressive trading areas, northeastern British Columbia and area of nearly 290,000 northwestern Alberta to as far away as Yukon and Northwest Territories, people allows residents creating a total trade area of and visitors alike to enjoy a nearly 290,000 people. Grande wide variety of shopping and Prairie’s impressive draw from the surrounding area allows residents recreation opportunities. and visitors alike to enjoy a wide variety of shopping and recreation.

For lovers of art and culture, it’s easy to find venues and events that fulfill your needs while keeping everyone safe. Revolution Place hosts world-class events like Brad Paisley, PBR Canadian Finals, Thank You Canada Tour, and Scotties Tournament of Hearts curling, while the Grande Prairie Live Theatre regularly showcases local talent and produces plays, concerts, and film festivals. An abundance of community events caters to all ages, including the Children’s Festival and the Break Creek Folk Fest. Those looking for inspiration can visit the

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Art Gallery of Grande Prairie, which houses the largest public art collection in the region, or the Grant Berg Gallery – an art gallery built from the ground up by a local artist. For a hands-on experience, the Centre for Creative Arts offers a range of classes to hone-in new skills. along with other local businesses that host a variety of paint and DIY nights.

Indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities are also bountiful in the community, making recreation easily accessible year-round. The state-of-the art Eastlink Centre features a fitness facility, squash courts, surf machine, lazy river, waterslides, and children’s waterpark for an adrenaline fix for all ages.

If you prefer to get outdoors, Muskoseepi Park runs from the north to south end of the city with yearround access to 15 km of paved trail, an-all ages bike skills park in South Bear Creek, and during winter months outdoor rinks and skating ovals can be found throughout the city.

Just beyond the city boundaries are countless more opportunities, including the world-renowned Philip J Currie Dinosaur Museum which houses the work of local paleontologists and is built near one of the world’s most-dense dinosaur bonebeds. A short drive in any direct leads you to an abundance of provincial parks and vast, varying landscapes for endless recreational opportunities – rolling hills and golden prairies to the north and east, and lush boreal forest and towering Rockies to the south and west.

Grande Prairie’s strategic location makes it easily accessible by ground or air. Highway 43, 40 and 2 connect the city to Edmonton, Jasper, British Columbia, Northwest Territories and the Alaska Highway. The Grande Prairie Airport makes coming and going easy with direct flights to Calgary and Edmonton which connect you to the world.

With the perfect blend or recreation, arts, culture, community, and business, Grande Prairie has it all.

Rebecca Leigh Manager, Economic Development rleigh@cityofgp.com 780-357-4969 www.investgrandeprairie.com

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

Economic Development | ecdevinfo@cityofgp.com | investgrandeprairie.com Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

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HIGHER LEARNING A COMPANY’S MOST important resource is its people and with the most educated workforce in the country, Alberta’s people are a valuable resource. Workers in the province can amplify this advantage and prepare for the future economy at the province’s post-secondary institutions, which includes 25 publicly funded institutions and more than 50 private career colleges.

Three initiatives outlined in the Alberta Recovery Plan – a long-term strategy to build, diversify and create jobs that was initiated during the reopening phases amid the pandemic in mid-2020 – highlight how the province’s education system will ensure workers have the education, skills and training needed to meet labour market demands. First, a “Skills for Jobs Taskforce” was established to identify ways to expand and strengthen apprenticeship education, seek opportunities for skilled trades professions and enhance public perception about the value of an apprenticeship education.

Second, a new vision for the future of post-secondary education – Alberta 2030 – aims to ensure graduates are equipped with the skills, knowledge and competencies they need to succeed. And third, changes will be implemented to remove barriers preventing licensed Canadians from across the country to work in Alberta by recognizing their credentials.

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PHOTO BY: ERIN BROOKE PHOTOGRAPHY

Jamie Webb's involvement in the EDGE UP program helped her pivot to a tech career.

LEVELLING Alberta post-secondary institutions focus on developing workers and knowledge necessary to succeed in the future economy

BY Katie Alton

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

UP W

hen Jamie Webb went on maternity leave in 2019, she knew she might not return to her job. Working at a small energy consulting company, the geochemistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future was uncertain amid a downturn in the oil and gas sector.

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“Our moral obligation is that we try to help as many people [in Calgary] transition into tech as possible.” – Mary Moran, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development

“I felt pretty trepidatious,” she says. “I knew there probably wasn’t going to be a job for me when I came back.”

That uncertainty was soon replaced with optimism thanks to an innovative program that helped Webb pivot to a career in technology.

She enrolled in a pilot project facilitated by Calgary Economic Development called EDGE UP (which stands for Energy to Digital Growth Education and Upskilling Project) that was created to aid displaced energy workers by using a skills mapping process to match engineers and geoscientists with in-demand technology roles.

“For a lot of jobs right now, you need to have a four-year degree and that’s just not something you can commit to if you need to have a job and support your family,” says Webb, who recently accepted a data analyst position at a Calgarybased midstream energy company.

EDGE UP programs include IT Project Management, Data Analysis and Full Stack/Software Development. With funding from the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Centre, EDGE UP is a collaboration between Calgary Economic

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Development, University of Calgary, Bow Valley College, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, the Information and Communications Technology Council and Riipen — a tech company that collaborates with post-secondary institutions to create coursework that addresses real-world challenges.

Mary Moran, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, says its critical highly skilled workers in Calgary are transitioned to fill technology roles. By 2022, Alberta companies will spend $18.4 billion digitizing their businesses, according to a study commissioned by Calgary Economic Development and conducted by International Data Corporation Canada.

“Our moral obligation is that we try to help as many people [in Calgary] transition into tech as possible,” says Moran. “It is going to require us to ensure post-secondaries are pumping out talent, that people are staying here and that we attract people.”

It’s a requirement the provincial government also recognized and in October 2020 announced $6.3 million in funding for the University of Alberta in Edmonton to support leading-edge

research in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), health science, seniors care and advanced laser technology.

Positioning Alberta as a world leader in advanced AI technologies, $4.5 million of the funding will support AI research at the university’s Centre for Autonomous Systems in automated transportation, medical robots and manufacturing. The remaining funds are earmarked for strategic investments, including development of a world-class facility that studies the use of lasers in potential treatments for skin diseases and cancer, and in remote sensing solutions for the oil sands.

While university research funding will help the province continue to graduate world-class experts in their respective fields, for transitioning workers like Webb, it was the short-term nature of the EDGE UP program that made it especially attractive.

“It gives people the opportunity to stay,” Webb says about why the pilot project makes Calgary a compelling place to live and work.

“I grew up here. I want to stay here.”

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

BOW VALLEY COLLEGE PHOTO BY: JEWHYTE

Bow Valley College is one of the post-secondary institutions that partnered with Calgary Economic Development to deliver EDGE UP.

At A Glance by the numbers

65.4%

Amount of workers in Alberta with post-secondary education, the highest percentage in Canada

37.1 years

Median age of Albertans, making it the youngest province in Canada

$78.20 / hour Real GDP per hour worked for Alberta’s workforce in 2018, making it the third most productive province in Canada

50,000+

Number of registered apprentices training in Alberta in 2017 at approximately 13,300 workplaces around the province

Source: Government of Alberta, Statistics Canada

Growth in Selected Indicators Percent increase from 2008 – 2018

Alberta University Launches Innovative New Gaming Program Calgary’s Mount Royal University (MRU) launched a new Esports Management Certificate to provide students with a way to plug into this $1 billion business.

Esports – video games played at a professional and organized level – involves competitors, individuals or teams competing for prizes and championship titles. Fans around the world attend live events or watch events streamed online and on television.

Offered through the university’s Faculty of Continuing Education and Extension – in partnership with the University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education – the program began in September 2020. The MRU certificate will offer practical communications and project management skills for planning and executing an esport event, explore the structures of an esports organization and provide an in-depth understanding of the industry and its operations.

“As esports grows in Alberta, it is creating opportunities to establish a proactive and sustainable ecosystem of businesses and communities to meet the growing demands,” says Victor Ly, instructor with the MRU esports program and co-founder of the Alberta Esports Association.

New Funding Supports Thousands of Internships Alberta has supported internships through the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program for several years, attracting top international undergraduate students to the province — and now that partnership is set to expand.

Mitacs is a Canada-wide not-for-profit organization that fosters growth and innovation by working with 70 universities, 6,000 companies and different levels of government to support industrial and social innovation.

Funding of $5 million per year over the next three years is being provided by the Alberta government through a partnership with Mitacs, post-secondary institutions and employers to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students, researchers and industry partners.

It’s expected 1,275 new internship opportunities will be created annually.

“This funding will help Alberta businesses solve their innovation challenges by connecting them to top post-secondary talent so they can expand their companies, create jobs and grow the provincial economy,” says John Hepburn, CEO of Mitacs. “At the same time, these opportunities provide Alberta students with invaluable practical skills, applied research experience and business contacts that will help them get jobs.”

Alberta Leading the Way in Online Learning Population Alberta 19.6% Canada.........11.5% Employment Alberta 13.5% Canada..........9.7% GDP Alberta 22.5% Canada........ 19.5%

As teachers and students around the world transitioned to online learning in 2020 due to the global pandemic, Alberta’s education system was uniquely positioned to handle the change.

School authorities in the province had been developing online learning programs and creating best practices during the previous 15 years. In Alberta, student enrolments in online learning programs have increased by 225 percent in the past 10 years and a total of 8.7 percent of students were involved in online learning — the second highest percentage in Canada. Across Alberta, different types of online programming are offered by different school authorities, including: online learning, print-based distance education and blended learning (part face-to-face in a classroom and part online away from teacher).

All this experience led to two extensive guides – one for educators and one for students – that were published in January 2019.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

RINSA

INNOVATION IS ALL AROUND … JUST ASK US! The Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta

T

he Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA) is here to provide resources and programs to small and mid-sized businesses to accelerate company growth, technical creativity, and innovation.

RINSA brings together the expertise and energy spectrum of local, regional, and provincial agencies and organizations to take creative new ideas to commercialization. RINSA includes the collaborative efforts of Economic Development Lethbridge, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge College, Community Futures Lethbridge, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, Alberta SouthWest, SouthGrow, Piikani Resource RINSA, the Regional Innovation Development, Blood Tribe Network of Southern Alberta, Economic Development, Alberta Innovates, is an entrepreneur-centric, National Research Council community-based network that IRAP, and Okotoks provides programs and services to Economic Development.

RINSA then further accelerate growth of technology connects and guides and knowledge-based businesses entrepreneurs and innovators to provincial in southwest Alberta. and federal government people, programs, and resources, such as Western Economic Diversification and Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. RINSA has grown its capability to cater to entrepreneurs and companies all over southwest Alberta, including under-represented stakeholders such as immigrants, Indigenous-led businesses, women in STEM, and those in remote and rural areas. It is evident by the growing activity that small business growth rooted in technology and innovation is changing southwest Alberta’s dynamic landscape.

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New programming builds skills for the future. Exciting examples include: EDL/ Tecconnect’s Women in STEM, Blockchain in Agriculture, and Supply Chain Automation; Lethbridge College’s AgENT (Ag Entrepreneur) program, AR/VR Department, and Integrated Agriculture and Technology Centre; U of L’s new Science Commons building, Agility Innovation Zone, and Trailblazing programs. This partnership provides direct service to entrepreneurs and, in the process, builds a strong bridge between post-secondary research and business applications. Connecting research capability and innovative commercialization also offers inspiration to student entrepreneurs.

The RINSA partners are most proud of the cooperative and collaborative relationship that has formed between the diverse partners. The RINSA support system is a unique forum for organizations where new ideas can be created. RINSA partners all learn from each other and are aligned with a shared vision of the outstanding potential in Agriculture and Ag Tech, AI and IoT, Renewables, and Clean Energy.

Alberta is a province of innovators, producers, and change-makers and many of them are living and working in southern Alberta! For more information about RINSA or to contact a partner directly, visit www.rinsa.ca We share the excitement of innovating together!

For more information contact: Eyren Uggenti RINSA Entrepreneur Program Manager info@RINSA.ca www.rinsa.ca

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

Innovation is all around... just ask us!

Learn more and ďŹ nd support at rinsa.ca Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

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PHOTO COURTESY: NEO FINANCIAL

Neo Financial's digital-first banking is supported by a credit card that's issued through MasterCard.

SKIP THE

BANK

An Alberta-based start-up reimagines spending, saving and rewards furthering the province’s reputation as a leader in financial technology

BY Theresa Tayler

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

I

magine a bank with no physical branches, overhead costs, clunky legacy technology or arbitrary fees. Sounds pretty good, right?

Three tech entrepreneurs from the prairies think so too and they’ve launched a new

financial technology (FinTech) company to help Albertans – and other Canadians too – keep more of their hard earned money through a new app-serviced banking and credit card model called Neo Financial.

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PHOTO BY: STURTI • PHONE PHOTO COURTESY: NEO FINANCIAL

More than 15,000 businesses have signed up for Neo Financial's rewards program.

in the hopes of revolutionizing banking the same way SkipTheDishes did with food delivery.

“We think Canadians deserve to expect more from their bank and a digital experience,” says Chau. “They want their bank to look and feel like the user-friendly apps they love — think Spotify, Netflix and the like.”

FinTech companies are everything from mobile apps and crowdfunding platforms to cryptocurrency exchanges, and a niche “Our start-ups play a significant role in of the tech community Calgary’s continuing shift towards a digital that’s rapidly growing in economy as we empower smart people with Alberta. The provincial government estimates that big ideas that solve some of the world’s $1.1 billion will be spent in greatest challenges as well as new ways Alberta on the digital transto finance them.” - Mary Moran, president formation of financial serand CEO of Calgary Economic Development vices by 2022 and there are several FinTech start-ups that are already proving it will be money well spent. partnerships; and Kris Read, head of engineer“Calgary has long been one of the big four fining. Chau and Adamson were co-founders of the ancial centres in Canada and it is a city with a conever-popular SkipTheDishes app that provides centration of capital-intensive companies where online restaurant ordering and delivery, and large deals are made. It makes sense that FinTech Read is a seasoned tech and software expert would flourish and that the start-up community who has long been embedded in the Calgary would embrace ground-breaking advances like tech ecosystem. The three co-founders came blockchain and cryptocurrency,” says Mary Moran, together to put their innovative brains to work Neo operates a credit card (through MasterCard) with no annual fees and a plethora of cashback rewards that apply to local businesses across Canada. There’s also a savings account with no monthly fees and a high-interest rate at 1.7 percent (in late-2020, most big banks offered a rate closer to 0.05 per cent).

The new FinTech company is the brainchild of Andrew Chau, CEO; Jeff Adamson, head of

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president and chief executive officer of Calgary Economic Development.

Calgary's already home to companies such as Celero, a provider of integration and payments solutions to credit unions and financial institutions across Canada; Helcim, a company providing payment solutions for businesses; and Symend, a debt recovery service that combines behavioral science and advanced analytics for dealing with at-risk customers.

“Our start-ups play a significant role in Calgary’s continuing shift towards a digital economy as we empower smart people with big ideas that solve some of the world’s greatest challenges as well as new ways to finance them,” Moran adds.

Digital banking platforms differentiate themselves to customers through higher than usual earn-back interest rates and low or zero fee programs. With Neo, the reward system is another differentiator, which allows Canadians to earn credit with local businesses, such as restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores.

“We have over 15,000 businesses signed up, and we are growing by a few hundred every month. For our partners, what they get is the ability to compete with the large incumbents,” Chau says. “Think about existing programs like Starbucks Rewards or PC Optimum — these are huge and expensive rewards programs to operate, and that is not an option for a small business to provide.”

“With Neo,” he adds, “we are democratizing technology and giving that to small businesses and customers of those businesses.”

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

by the numbers

39% & 34%

Average percentage of household income required to cover ownership costs in Calgary and Edmonton, respectively, which are lowest of Canada’s five largest cities

8%

The corporate tax rate in Alberta, which is the lowest in Canada, and Alberta also has no payroll taxes, sales taxes or capital taxes

75%

Number of the top 20 global investment banks with branches in Alberta

38%

Increase in Alberta’s financial services sector GDP between 2008 and 2018, the highest of all provinces in Canada Source: Government of Alberta, Alberta Treasury Board and Finance

Alberta’s Low Tax Collection

Newfoundland and Labrador 25.5

Prince Edward Island 25.3

Nova Scotia 24.1

Quebec 22.9

Manitoba 21.5

New Brunswick 21.1

British Columbia 17.5

Saskatchewan 15.1

Ontario 14.4

Alberta tax advantage compared to other provinces in Canada for 2020 - 2021 ($ in billions)

At A Glance ATB Financial Goes Digital with New Banking App ATB Financial introduced a free app – called Brightside – in 2020 that offers customers a way to save more of their money without switching banks since it connects directly to wherever Albertans already do their day-to-day banking.

“At a time when people are doing more of their business remotely on their phones and online, ATB is supporting them by rolling out this new app, giving them more convenience and control over their money,” says John Tarnowski, executive vice-president at ATB Financial, an Alberta-based bank and Crown Corporation wholly owned by the provincial government, serving more than 770,000 Alberta residents and businesses in 245 communities.

The Brightside app also includes a spend card, which enables customers to earn cash back rewards and, in the future, additional savings for using the card at select local businesses.

FinTech Company Boosts Board and Secures Funding Calgary-based ZayZoon – a startup focused on developing employee financial health services technology – bolstered its board of directors by adding two FinTech veterans and subsequently raised capital to fund growth.

Marcos Lopez, managing director and head of Shareworks by Morgan Stanley (and former CEO of Calgary-based Solium Capital, where Lopez was the original architect of the technology and a member of the executive team for almost two decades), and Ryan King, co-founder and CTO of Chime, a San Francisco-based challenger bank with more than 8 million accounts, joined the company’s independent board of directors.

The $3.5 million private placement is earmarked to help ZayZoon continue its mission of improving employee health through products that give employees access to their wages as they earn them, rather than regularly scheduled paydays.

Credit Union Continues Award Streak Connect First Credit Union (Connect First) was named to a list of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2020, marking 21 consecutive years the Calgary-based institution has achieved this status.

“For Connect First to be named a Best Managed Company for over two decades truly is a testament to our amazing employees who show up every day with a commitment to deliver on the highest standard of business performance and corporate success,” says Paul Kelly, CEO of Connect First.

Connect First is one of Canada’s largest credit unions with over $6 billion in assets under administration, and employs over 700 Albertans that serve 125,000 members through more than 40 locations in central and southern Alberta under the regional brands and divisions: Chinook Financial, First Calgary Financial, Mountain View Financial and Legacy Financial.

2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA

45

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

LAC LA BICHE REGION

SPACE TO SHARE, ROOM FOR MORE

L

ac La Biche Region prides itself on having space to share and room to breathe during the COVID-19 pandemic – and that includes room for new experience providers to join those already taking advantage of the region’s limitless potential.

From authentic adventures to relaxing getaways, Lac La Biche Region has natural, cultural and heritage advantages to attract visitors from around the world.

NATURALLY IMPRESSIVE: Lac La Biche Region contains hundreds of lakes and thousands of square kilometres of boreal forest, most of which is opportunity-rich and developable Crown land. With a variety of boat launches, campgrounds, trails and more already built, the region is primed for further tourism development.

As the driving force behind Lac La Biche Region’s tourism development, Lac La Biche County is committed to working with tourism investors to take advantage of available opportunities. Lac La Biche County’s Economic Development Strategy has recognized tourism as an area of focus for economic growth.

With COVID-19 diverting many domestic travellers, Lac La Biche Region is no longer one of Alberta’s best kept secrets – it’s Alberta’s next rising tourism destination.

Lac La Biche Region is committed to working with tourism investors to take advantage of available opportunities.

HISTORIC AND MULTICULTURAL: Home to First Nations, Métis, Lebanese, Russian, French and many other cultures, Lac La Biche Region’s diversity and history are unique attractors for visitors.

The region contains three First Nations and two Métis Settlements. Strong Indigenous roots, and experiences like Portage College’s Museum of Aboriginal Peoples’ Art & Artifacts, attract international visitation.

AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY: The Lac La Biche Regional Tourism Strategy & Product Development Plan completed in 2019 identified seven major areas of opportunity for tourism growth, based on the region’s strengths and target markets: 1. Outdoor Experiences 2. Cultural Tourism 3. Winter Tourism 4. Festivals and Events 5. Dark Sky and Northern Lights Viewing 6. Culinary Tourism 7. Sport Tourism

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For more information: Jana Rowe, Economic Development Officer Lac La Biche County 780-623-6737 ecdev@laclabichecounty.com laclabichecounty.com

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

. COM ING SOON

Fibre-op tic Internet

and enhancements to wireless _ coverage, in pa tners h tp wit h TELUS, to help your �usiness and visitors stay connected.

EX

ESCAPE EXP RIENCE

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

.i . �" 'LacLa_B.LChe County • � welcoming by nature.

�� 2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

COOPERATIVES FIRST

FIND YOUR HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE The Station Arts Centre in Rosthern is a beautifully renovated old train station transformed into a home for the arts, and attracts visitors from the region and beyond.

The innovation has made the town a destination and a fantastic place to raise a family.

E

very town needs to stand out – to find something that helps cut through the clutter and shows its hometown advantage.

Besides large statues of a local product or animal, communities across the prairies often leverage the co-op model. From live theatre to highspeed internet and grain terminal to short-line rail, entrepreneurs throughout western Canada have adapted the model to capture and share their communities’ unique attributes.

Let’s explore a few examples.

RURAL INTERNET Hamiota looks like many other small, southern prairie towns. Under an hour’s drive away from Brandon, the town is a bustling, agricultural borough.

What makes them a bit different is that beneath the town runs fibre optic cable bringing some of Canada’s fastest internet speeds.

Fast internet is critical to economic well-being.

Having slow or no internet means being left behind, and community leaders in Every small town is Hamiota don’t intend to come up short.

With the independence typical of prairie unique. Sometimes people, they figured out a way to bring it just takes a bit of fast internet to their region by forming work to see it. Visit a co-op.

With the fibre optic connection, HomeTownAdvantage.ca residents can achieve 1 gbps (1000 to learn more. mbps) download speeds. And that kind of advantage is significant.

TOURISM For the last couple of decades, Rockin’ the Fields of Minnedosa music festival lights up the town for one weekend each year.

The economic benefits a small town reaps from an influx of 10,000 visitors over a weekend are significant. Beyond the immediate financial benefits for local businesses are the town’s brand exposure and reputation – an enviable advantage for any small town.

Likewise, when people look for ‘culture,’ they often look to cities — but one small town in Saskatchewan challenges that norm.

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RETAINING INFRASTRUCTURE It’s hard to overemphasize the importance of quality infrastructure for robust economic activity.

When CN threatened to close the short line railway between Camrose and Alliance Alberta, farmers in the region worried.

Luckily, CN had to put the line up for sale before closing it, and locals saw an opportunity. Thanks to investment from 180 shareholders, a group of farmers and business leaders raised almost $5 million, purchased the rail line, and created The Battle River Railway.

With a locomotive, 50 rail cars, and permanent operating approval from Alberta transport, this unique co-op runs cars of locally produced crops to market using the rail line.

Locals also created a spin-off organization that promotes tourism. Friends of the Battle River Railway takes people on train excursions up and down the line to see the local sights and learn a bit of history.

The mix of retained infrastructure and tourism is a powerful combination for the local economy.

Like the Alliance-Kelsey region, which formed Battle River Rail co-op, farmers in the Westlock region rose to the occasion when faced with losing vital infrastructure.

When Agricore announced they intended to close the local terminal, community leaders sought out a private investor, but the upgrades required deterred potential buyers. In the end, farmers and business leaders formed a co-op allowing them to invest in and form Westlock Terminals.

HOMETOWN ADVANTAGE Of course, starting a co-op doesn’t just happen.

It takes vision, a lot of work, and people - people like you. You are your hometown advantage, but only if you choose to be it.

For more information contact: Heather Hallgrimson Business Development Lead Co-operatives First 306-382-4410 heather@cooperativesfirst.com CooperativesFirst.com

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

SMALL TOWN, BIG OPPORTUNITY. Every small town is unique and full of opportunity.

Sometimes it just takes a bit of work to see it. To stand out, we western Canadians often make a giant statue of something. (Dinosaur, moose, or oil can, anyone?) But what REALLY makes a town different are its people. YOU are your hometown advantage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but only if you choose to be it.

Visit HomeTownAdvantage.ca to learn more.

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA

49

SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE BATTLE RIVER REGION

BETTER TOGETHER – Regional Collaboration for Economic Prosperit,

T

he counties of Flagstaff and Paintearth; the towns of Castor and Coronation; and the villages of Forestburg, Heisler, and Halkirk form The Battle River Economic Opportunities Committee (BREOC).

Recognizing that there is strength in unity, they are collaboratively tapping into their individual strengths and competitive advantages to become the place to do business.

The Battle River Region’s history is entrenched in the energy sector. From Alberta’s oil confluence with the Hardisty Tank Farm to their mining sector, the Region is a global player. But while deep roots provide stability, growth requires innovation and diversification, and the Region’s energy sector has embraced this.

The Battle River Region is also deeply rooted in agriculture, with the Region contributing much to the success of Alberta’s agriculture industry. The area boasts strong crop production, significant livestock capacity “BREOC’s support allowed and is being explored for significant value-added production me to elevate my business opportunities. This sector provides and adapt my model. long-term growth, stability and job Entrepreneurs are happy to opportunities, particularly through many supporting businesses have access to the support the and industries that continue to BREOC provides!” thrive and innovate.

The Region is as accessible – Leanne Lougheed Owner, as it is beautiful. Located in Quality Fitness Studio eastern Alberta, Canada, Battle River is situated on several key transportation corridors providing easy access to major markets. Highways 12 and 36 form part of the Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor and the Ports-toPlains Alliance network connecting Canada, USA and Mexico. Highways 53 and 13 provide an east/west trade corridor and the Region is serviced by two rail lines: the Battle River Railway Short-Line and the Canadian Pacific Railway, coast-to-coast. Finally, the Edmonton

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XPERIENCE ALBERTA 2 0 2 1

International Airport is only 150 km away and the Region has two of its own Municipal Airports.

The Region boasts all of the assets you would expect to find in a thriving business community, such as two state-of-the-art innovation centres with highspeed internet and premiere technologies. It offers proximity to a large affluent market, competitive business costs; a skilled workforce with an innovative, pioneer spirit and a strong economic growth plan focused on facilitating inbound investment, local business success, and entrepreneurship. With BREOC in place, investors and local businesses are welcomed with a suite of professional supports to help start, grow, and expand businesses in the region.

“BREOC has been extremely supportive of my new business, Zorbsmore. As the sole distributor in Western Canada for all Zorbsmore products, BREOC’s programs and hands-on experts supported me in developing new strategies to identify new customers and extend my products reach. BREOC truly is invested in the growth and success of the regions businesses!”

- Sven Bernard, Owner, ZorbMore Canada To top it all off, the Battle River Region is a great place to live! Boasting an impressive array of amenities including pools, ice rinks, soccer pitches, and golf courses, the Region is a comfortable and safe place to call home.

Schools 11 Health Care Facilities 26 Libraries 10 Ice rinks 13 Pools/Aquatic Centres 5 Soccer/Baseball Fields 16 Golf Courses 9 The Battle River Region is moving forward. In an era of decline, the Region is capitalizing on change and finding prosperity.

So, come Grow with us!

For more information contact: ww.growbattleriver.com Flagstaff Economic Development (780) 384-4121 Paintearth Economic Partnership Society (403) 882-3211 Acknowledgements: Grow Battle River wishes to recognize support from:

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

Grow

Battle River County of Paintearth

Flagstaff County

Town of Castor

Town of Coronation

Village of Forestburg

2 INNOVATION CENTRES offering state-of-the-art technology

Village of Heisler

7

Village of Halkirk

Communities Band together for GROWTH

Investors enjoy a COMPLETE SUITE of supports.

Region INVESTS IN ITS OWN & offers unprecedented supports to 60+ LOCAL BUSINESSES Balancing economic opportunity with quality of life

These stories and more! growbattleriver.com Flagstaff Economic Development

Paintearth Economic Partnership Society

(780) 384-4121

(403) 882-3211

Acknowledgements Grow Battle River wishes to recognize support from: Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA

51

MEMBERS George Addai Montana Cree Nation Box 186 Maskwacis, AB T0C 1N0 Omobolanle Akpan Buyer Customer Support Tophatter Inc. Dennis Otiotio Estate, R.K Wodu Avenue, Opolo Yenagoa Bayelsa Nigeria 560214 P: 806-223-3468 C: 806-223-3468 akpan.omobolanle@gmail.com Etienne Alary Executive Director Conseil de dĂŠveloppement ĂŠconomique de l'AB #140, 8627 - 91 Street Edmonton, AB T6C 3N1 P: 780-414-6125 etienne.alary@lecdea.ca www.lecdea.ca Jon Allan Economic Development Officer Town of Sundre 717 Main Avenue W, P.O. Box 420 Sundre, AB T0M 1X0 P: 403-638-3551 x111 C: 403-485-1339 jon.a@sundre.com www.sundre.com Dawna Allard Manager, South Central Region Alberta Jobs, Economy and Innovation #201, 4920 - 51 Street Red Deer, AB T4N 6K8 P: 403-340-5302 C: 403-392-5311 dawna.allard@gov.ab.ca Dianne Allen Manager, Planning & Economic Development Town of Bon Accord P.O. Box 779 Bon Accord, AB T0A 0K0 P: 780-921-3550 dallen@bonaccord.ca Mehdi Amoui Chief Technology Officer Localintel Calgary, AB P: 403-401-4656 mehdi@localintel.co

52

Lee Anderson Product Manager Localintel Calgary, AB P: 403-888-0035 lee@localintel.ca Josh Anderson Town of Vermilion Vermilion, AB goodlife@vermilion.ca Michael Ansara Export Development Canada mansara@edc.ca Allison Arbic FortisAlberta Inc. allison.arbic@fortisAB.com Maggie Armstrong Past President EDA 54 Thorndale Close Airdrie, AB T4A 2C1 P: 403-948-4471 C: 403-617-3253 maggiearmstrong@shaw.ca Rita Arsenault Branch Administrator, Regional Development Branch Alberta Economic Development and Trade Edmonton, AB P: 780-427-6291 rita.arsenault@gov.ab.ca Holly Atjecoutay Team Lead, Indigenous Services The Business Link Alberta holly@businesslink.ca Sandra Badry Economic Development Officer Red Deer County 38106 Rge Rd 275 Red Deer County, AB T4S 2L9 P: 403-357-2395 sbadry@rdcounty.ca www.growrdcounty.ca Chris Bandak MDB Insight cbandak@mdbinsight.com Sarah Barcelo Repsol Oil & Gas sbarcelo@repsol.com

John Andersen Economic Development Officer Town of Mayerthorpe P.O. Box 420, 4911 - 52 Street Mayerthorpe, AB T0E 1N0 P: 780-786-2416 edo@mayerthorpe.com

Jim Barr President & Founder Seekers Media Inc Unit C - 4539 Marine Avenue Powell River, BC V8A 1A9 P: 780-983-9913 C: 780-983-9913 jim@seekers-media.com www.seekers-media.com

Sacha Anderson Marketing & C.E.D. Coordinator Community Futures Crowsnest Pass P.O. Box 818 Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0 P: 403-562-8858 sanderson@ABcf.com

Rick Bastow Regional Economic Development Specialist Alberta Economic Development and Trade 10155 - 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 4L6 P: 780-644-9822

XPERIENCE ALBERTA 2 0 2 1

C: 780-614-5717 rick.bastow@gov.ab.ca

sbohaichuk@auma.ca www.auma.ca

Mark Baxter President Outlook Market Research & Consulting Ltd. 1455 Toshack Road West St. Paul, MB R4A 8A6 P: 204-229-8190 mark@outlookmarketresearch.com www.outlookmarketresearch.com

Matthew Boscariol General Manager of Community and Development Services Wheatland County 242006 Rge Rd 243 Highway 1 R.R.#1 Strathmore, AB T1P 1J6 P: 403-361-2005 C: 780-898-8177 matthew.boscariol@gmail.com www.wheatlandcounty.ca

Reade Beaudoin Economic Development Officer City of Fort Saskatchewan 10005 - 102 Street Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 2C5 P: 780-912-2167 rbeaudoin@fortsask.ca www.investfortsask.ca Stacey Benjamin Executive Director Stettler Regional Board of Trade & Community Development 6606 - 50 Avenue Stettler, AB T0C 2L2 P: 403-742-3181 s.benjamin@stettlerboardoftrade.com www.stettlerboardoftrade.com Bob Bezpalko Executive Director Regional Economic Development Northeast Alberta Information HUB 5015 - 49 Avenue St. Paul, AB T0A 3A4 P: 780-645-1155 C: 780-614-3715 bobbezpalko@ABhub.com www.ABhub.com Paul Blais Executive Vice-President MDB Insight 993 Princess Street, Suite 201 Kingston, ON K7L 1H3 P: 855-367-3535 x241 C: 613-331-4228 pblais@mdbinsight.com www.mdbinsight.com Sean Blewett Manager Community Futures Chinook 5324 - 48 Avenue Taber, AB T1G 1S2 P: 403-388-2923 sblewett@ABcf.com www.chinook.ABcf.com Hugh Bodmer Past President EDA 6102 - 46 Street Olds, AB T4H 1M5 P: 403-556-3006 C: 403-556-0262 hugh@hughbodmer.com Sue Bohaichuk Chief Executive Officer AUMA Alberta Municipal Place, #300, 8616 - 51 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 6E6 P: 780-433-4431

Phil Boucher Economic Development Officer Town of Didsbury 1606 - 14 Street Didsbury, AB T0M 0W0 P: 403-335-7733 C: 403-335-7733 pboucher@didsbury.ca www.didsbury.ca Jenny Bruns Economic Development Officer County of Barrhead 5306 - 49 Street Barrhead, AB T7N 1N5 P: 780-674-3331 jbruns@countybarrhead.ab.ca www.countybarrhead.ab.ca Elan Buan Senior Consultant Schollie Research & Consulting 4819C - 48 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 1Z9 P: 403-346-9849 elan@schollie.com www.schollie.com Jacqueline Buchanan Economic Development Officer Kneehill County P.O. Box 400 Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0 P: 403-443-5822 C: 403-443-9347 Jacqueline.Buchanan@kneehillcounty.com www.kneehillcounty.com Robert Buckle Tourism-Economic Development Change Collaborative #501, 8728 Gateway Boulevard Edmonton, AB T6E 6K3 P: 780-893-6371 C: 780-893-6371 rbrtbuckle@gmail.com Rick Burden FortisAlberta Inc. rick.burden@fortisAB.com Elizabeth Calahaison CANDO elizabeth.calahaison@edo.ca Deanna Cameron Dubuque U.S. Consulate General-Calgary dubuquedc@state.gov

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Vincent Campbell FortisAlberta Inc. vincent.campbell@fortisAB.com Danielle Carter, EcD Economic Development Officer Town of Morinville 10125 - 100 Avenue Morinville, AB T8R 1L6 P: 780-939-7859 danielle.carter@morinville.ca Peter Casurella Manager SouthGrow Regional Initiative P.O. Box 27068 Lethbridge, AB T1K 6Z8 P: 403-394-0615 C: 403-394-0615 peter.casurella@southgrow.com Sara Chamberlain, EcD Team Leader Airdrie Economic Development 400 Main Street SE Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3 P: 403-948-8800 x8455 C: 403-470-6849 sara.chamberlain@airdrie.ca www.airdrie.ca Lisa Christensen Business Centre Manager Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Calgary, AB T2P 0X8 P: 403-292-6834 C: 403-990-9502 lisa.christensen@bdc.ca Cyril Cooper Strathcona County (Economic Development) 160 Festival Way, County Annex Building Sherwood Park, AB T8A 5Z2 cyril.cooper@strathcona.ca Matthew Cornall Technology Development Advisor Alberta Innovates #120, 5009 - 50 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 4B2 P: 403-342-3475 C: 587-876-3490 matthewd.cornall@ABinnovates.ca www.ABinnovates.ca Kim Costa Municipal World 42860 Sparta Line Union, ON N0L 2L0 kim@municipalworld.com Erin Crane Director, Investment Attraction Economic Development Lethbridge 308 Stafford Drive S Lethbridge, AB T1J 2L1 P: 403-331-0022 C: 403-315-1725 erin@chooselethbridge.ca www.chooselethbridge.ca

MEMBERS CONTINUED Tanya Croft FortisAlberta Inc. tanya.croft@fortisAB.com Kamie Currie Regional Economic Development Specialist, North West Region Alberta Jobs, Economy and Innovation 3rd Floor, 10320 - 99 Street Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4 P: 780-296-4986 C: 780-296-4986 kamie.currie@gov.ab.ca www.communityeconomicdevelopment.AB.ca Lindsay Daniller Director Community Initiatives and Development REACH Edmonton Edmonton, AB lindsay.daniller@reachedmonton.ca Larry Davidson Town Manager Town of Redwater 4924 - 47 Street, P.O. Box 397 Redwater, AB T0A 2W0 P: 780-942-3519 C: 403-892-1061 cao@redwater.ca Trevor Davison Managing Principal O2 Planning + Design #510, 255 - 17 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2S 2T8 P: 403-228-1336 C: 403-966-3154 trevor.davison@o2design.com www.o2design.com Jodi Dawson Manager, Economic Development Town of High River 309B Macleod Trail SW High River, AB T1V 1Z5 P: 403-603-3431 jdawson@highriver.ca Tara de Munnik Small Business & Tourism Specialist Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Drive Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3W7 P: 780-231-0782 tara.demunnik@strathcona.ca www.strathcona.ca Todd Dettling FortisAlberta Inc. todd.dettling@fortisAB.com Wanda Diakow Economic Development Officer Special Areas Board P.O. Box 220 Consort, AB T0C 1B0 P: 403-577-3523 C: 403-664-9533 wanda.diakow@specialareas.ab.ca www.specialareas.ab.ca

Eiblis Doherty Business Development and Tourism Assistant Strathcona County (Economic Development and Tourism) Eiblis.doherty@strathcona.ca Connor Doyle Manager, Regulatory Affairs Olympia Trust Company #2300, 125 - 9 Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2P 0P6 P: 403-770-4092 C: 403-827-6883 doylec@olympiatrust.com www.olympiatrust.com Rachael Dragun Tourism and Economic Development Officer Athabasca County 3602 - 48 Avenue Athabasca, AB T9S 1M8 P: 780-675-2273 C: 780-327-9760 rachaelhemmons@yahoo.com www.athabascacounty.com Gary Duffett Economic Development Officer Town of Provost P.O. Box 449 Provost, AB T0B 3S0 P: 780-753-2261 C: 587-280-2599 edo@townofprovost.ca townofprovost.ca Maureen Easton Business Development Manager Catapult Entrepreneurs #120, 5009 - 50 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 4B2 P: 780-603-4859 C: 780-603-4859 maureeneaston210@gmail.com www.catapultentrepreneurs.ca Martin Ebel Economic Development Officer Lethbridge County #100, 905 - 4 Avenue S Lethbridge, AB T1J 4E4 P: 403-317-6052 mebel@lethcounty.ca www.lethcounty.ca Suzanne Ebelher Partner Mission Ignite Management Consulting Inc. Calgary, AB P: 403-988-4121 suzanne@missionignite.ca Jodie Eckert C.E.D. Coordinator Community Futures Centre West #3209, 101 Sunset Drive Cochrane, AB T4C 0W7 P: 403-464-5734 jeckert@ABcf.com www.centrewest.ABcf.com

Linda Erickson Regional Manager Alberta Jobs, Economy and Innovation 105, 200 - 5 Avenue S Lethbridge, AB T1J 4L1 P: 403-393-2614 linda.erickson@gov.ab.ca www.southgrow.com

Lynn Florence Economic Development Officer Northern Sunrise County P.O. Bag 1300 Peace River, AB T8S 1Y9 P: 780-624-0013 C: 780-837-0389 lflorence@northernsunrise.net www.northernsunrise.net

Mike Erickson Economic Development Officer City of Fort Saskatchewan 10005 - 102 Street Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 2C5 P: 780-992-6278 merickson@fortsask.ca www.fortsask.ca

Lisa Ford General Manager Community Futures Lakeland 5010 - 50 Avenue Bonnyville, AB T9N 2J4 P: 780-826-3858 C: 780-201-6563 lford@ABcf.com www.lakeland.ABcf.com

Marie Everts Events, Marketing & Economic Development Officer Town of Pincher Creek P.O. Box 159 Pincher Creek, AB T0K 1W0 P: 403-627-3156 C: 403-627-0754 economic@pinchercreek.ca www.pinchercreek.ca David Fairbanks Plains Midstream P: 587-233-7624 david.fairbanks@plainsmidstream.com Yoyin Familusi Director, Small Business Strategist The Business Link P: 403-710-2759 yoyin@businesslink.ca www.businesslink.ca Robert Fernandez Director Economic Diversification Parkland County 53109A Hwy 779 Parkland County, AB T7Z 1R1 P: 780-910-4050 C: 780-910-4050 robert.fernandez@parklandcounty.com www.parklandcounty.com Sabrina Feula Director, Client Development AUMA 8616 - 51 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 6E6 P: 780-499-0244 C: 780-499-0244 sfeula@auma.ca Jeff Finkle President & Chief Executive Officer IEDC # 900, 735 - 15 Street NW Washington DC USA 20005 P: 202-223-7800 jfinkle@iedconline.org www.iedconline.org Bre Fitzpatrick Economic Development Officer City of Red Deer #1, 5000 - 51 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 4H5 P: 403-505-7307 bre.fitzpatrick@reddeer.ca

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

Jennifer Fossen Marketing and Communications Advisor Wild Rose Co-operative Association 4818 - 51 Street Camrose, AB T4V 2R8 P: 780-679-7516 C: 780-781-0148 j.fossen@wildrosecoop.ca Stuart Fullarton Manager of Economic Development & Communications Town of Innisfail 4943 - 53 Street Innisfail, AB T4G 1A1 P: 403-227-3376 stuart.fullarton@innisfail.ca www.innisfail.ca Alex Fuller Economic Development Coordinator Lac La Biche County P.O. Box 1679 Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 P: 780-623-6817 alex.fuller@laclabichecounty.com www.laclabichecounty.com Mark Gallant Manager of Economic Development Leduc County 2nd floor, 1101 -5 Street Nisku, AB T9E 2X3 P: 780-770-9278 C: 780-720-5998 mark@leduc-county.com www.leduc-county.com Lorena Garcia Castro Repsol Oil & Gas lgarciac@repsol.com Penny Gardiner Chief Executive Officer EDAC # 205, 1100 South Service Road Stoney Creek, ON L8E 0C5 P: 289-649-1771 gardiner@edac.ca www.edac.ca

P: 780-632-2082

dgegolick@minburncounty.ab.ca www.minburncounty.ab.ca Wendy Gerbrandt Community Economic Development Coordinator Community Futures Wild Rose #101, 331 - 3 Avenue Strathmore, AB T1P 1K2 P: 403-934-8888 wendy@cfwildrose.ca Natalie Gibson President InnoVisions & Associates #115, 203 - 304 Main Street Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3 P: 403-948-2110 natalie@innovisionsandassociates.com www.innovisionsandassociates.com Peter Gingrich Market Development Director eSolutionsGroup Ltd. #400, 179 Colonnade Road Ottawa, ON K2E 7J4 P: 613-219-7067 pgingrich@esolutionsgroup.ca www.esolutionsgroup.ca Kevin Girard FortisAlberta Inc. kevin.girard@fortisAB.com Joan Goldhawk Past President EDA 439 - 50 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2S 1H4 P: 403-389-6392 C: 403-389-6392 joan.goldhawk@gmail.com Karla Gould Economic Development Specialist The City of Spruce Grove 315 Jespersen Avenue Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3E8 P: 780-962-7634 x293 C: 780-722-2154 kgould@sprucegrove.org Cathy Goulet President Killick Leadership Group 5528 - 43 Street, P.O. Box 405 Lamont, AB T0B 2R0 P: 780-618-4967 cathy.goulet@killickleadership.com www.killickleadership.com Lori-Jo Graham Program Lead - Senior Development Officer Alberta Agriculture and Forestry 2nd Floor, 5030 - 50 Street Olds, AB T4H 1S1 P: 403-556-4244 C: 403-586-1034 lori-jo.graham@gov.ab.ca www.agriculture.AB.ca/bio-industrial

Davin Gegolick Planning & Development Officer County of Minburn No. 27 P.O. Box 550 Vegreville, AB T9C 1R6

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MEMBERS Carley Graham Economic Development Officer City of Leduc #1 Alexandra Park Leduc, AB T9E 4C4 P: 780-980-1555 cgraham@leduc.ca Janice Grant Administrative Assistant Economic Developers Alberta Suite 127, #406 917 - 85 Street SW Calgary, AB T3H 5Z9 P: 866-671-8182 C: 587-834-3647 janice@edaAB.ca www.edaAB.ca Angela Groeneveld Emerge Agency P: 403-938-8052 angela@angelagroeneveld.com Shelley Grollmuss Vice President, Destination Development Travel Alberta #400, 1601 - 9 Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2G 0H4 P: 403-648-1014 C: 587-894-2326 shelley.grollmuss@travelAB.com www.industry.travelAB.com Anika Gutowski Economic Development Coordinator City of Spruce Grove (Economic & Business Development) 315 Jespersen Avenue Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3E8 P: 780-962-7634 x266 C: 780-200-8890 agutowski@sprucegrove.org Leann Hackman-Carty Chief Executive Officer Economic Developers Alberta Suite 127, #406 917 - 85 Street SW Calgary, AB T3H 5Z9 P: 403-214-0224 C: 403-807-7746 leann@edaAB.ca www.edaAB.ca Debbie Hagman Community Development Officer Alberta Culture and Tourism P.O. Box 1209 Mayerthorpe, AB T0E 1N0 P: 780-554-0725 C: 780-674-0952 debbie.hagman@gov.ab.ca www.culture.AB.ca Deana Haley Vice President, Operations & Corporate Projects Calgary Economic Development 731 - 1 Street SE Calgary, AB T2G 2G9 P: 403- 221-7888 C: 403-826-5208 dhaley@calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com

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Ann Hall Economic Development Officer Town of Redwater P.O. Box 397 Redwater, AB T0A 2W0 P: 780-942-3519 x330 C: 780-289-7502 ecdev@redwater.ca www.redwater.ca Thomas Hansen Partner Courage Bird Consulting Ltd. 10 Hutton Crescent SW Calgary, AB T2V 3B7 P: 403-200-2568 C: 403-200-2568 thomas.hansenyyc@gmail.com www.couragebird.com/couragebird-consulting Jennifer Hartigh Economic Development Officer Town of Blackfalds P.O. Box 220 5018 Waghorn Street Blackfalds, AB T0M 0J0 P: 403-885-6246 C: 403-318-9211 jhartigh@blackfalds.com www.blackfalds.com Steve Hartley FortisAlberta Inc. steve.hartley@fortisAB.com Jeff Hartling Economic Development Officer Town of Rocky Mountain House P.O. Box 1509, 5116 - 50 Avenue Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1B2 P: 403-846-4260 C: 403-895-1275 jhartling@rockymtnhouse.com www.rockymtnhouse.com Malcolm Harvey Past President EDA Cobble Hill, BC mehassociates@shaw.ca Carley Herbert Economic Development Officer Town of Wainwright 1018 - 2 Avenue Wainwright, AB T9W 1R1 P: 780-842-3381 cherbert@wainwright.ca www.wainwright.ca Matt Hill The Business Link matt@businesslink.ca Ron Hoffmann Chief Operating Officer Invest Alberta Corporation 2325 Enbridge Centre, 10175 - 101 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 0H3 C: 780-203-6794 ron.hoffman@investAB.ca www.investAB.ca

Ken Holmes Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) P: 403-340-4209 ken.holmes@bdc.ca Larry Horncastle, EcD Strategy Builder Keystone Strategies Inc. 109 Keystone Crescent Leduc, AB T9E 0J4 P: 780-217-5995 C: 780-217-5995 larry@keystonestrategies.ca www.keystonestrategies.ca Rhonda Hough Economic Development Officer Town of Whitecourt 5004 - 52 Avenue, P.O. Box 509 Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N6 P: 780-778-2273 rhondahough@whitecourt.ca www.whitecourt.ca Lisa Houle Manager, Calgary Region; Regional Economic Development Services Alberta Jobs, Economy and Innovation 3rd Floor, 639 - 5 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 0M9 P: 587-297-5729 C: 587-297-5729 lisa.houle@gov.ab.ca Brent Hoyland Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Flagstaff County Sedgewick, AB P: 780-384-4104 bhoyland@flagstaff.ab.ca Don Hughes FortisAlberta Inc. don.hughes@fortisAB.com Hetti Huls Economic Development Coordinator County of Grande Prairie 11101 - 84 Avenue Clairmont, AB T0H 0W0 P: 780-532-9722 C: 780-831-8864 hhuls@countygp.ab.ca Dave Hunka Manager, Key Accounts and Municipalities North FortisAlberta Inc. 100 Chippewa Road Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4H4 P: 780-464-8311 dave.hunka@fortisAB.com www.FortisAB.com Angel Isaac Economic Development Officer Town of Cardston 67 - 3 Avenue W Cardston, AB T0K 0K0 P: 403-653-3366 angel@cardston.ca www.cardston.ca

Kristy Jackson Economic Development Officer Flagstaff County P.O. Box 358 Sedgewick, AB T0B 4C0 P: 780-384-4121 C: 780-390-0363 kjackson@flagstaff.ab.ca www.flagstaff.ab.ca Diane Jenkinson Marketing and Communications Manager Municipal District of Bonnyville 4905 - 50 Avenue, Bag 1010 Bonnyville, AB T9N 2J7 P: 780-826-3171 djenkinson@md.bonnyville.ab.ca Leanna Josue Plains Midstream P: 403-451-1015 leanna.josue@plainsmidstream.com www.plainsmidstream.com David Kalinchuk Economic Development Manager Rocky View County 262075 Rocky View Point Rocky View, AB T4A 0X2 P: 403-520-8195 dkalinchuk@rockyview.ca www.thinkingAB.com Robert Kalinovich Economic Development Officer Cochrane, AB P: 403-851-2285 rkalinovich@gmail.com Azar Kamran Chief Executive Officer Horse Lake First Nation Hythe, AB T0H 2C0 P: 780-356-2248 x103 C: 780-399-5150 azar@horselakefn.ca Elvin Karpovich Director IBI Group #300, 227 - 11 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2R 1R9 P: 403-470-9920 ekarpovich@ibigroup.com Tim Keating President Keating Business Strategies Ltd. #101, 4 Cuendet Industrial Way Sylvan Lake, AB T4S 2J7 P: 403-864-6369 tkeating@kbsl.ca www.kbsl.ca Melissa Keeley Junior Economic Development Officer Brazeau County P.O. Box 77, 7401 - Twp Rd 494 Drayton Valley, AB T7A 1R1 P: 780-542-7777 mkeeley@brazeau.ab.ca

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Kevin Keller Manager, Economic Development & Tourism Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 4806 -36 Avenue, P.O. Box 1079 Valleyview, AB T0H 3N0 P: 780-524-7623 C: 780-524-7623 kevin.keller@mdgreenview.ab.ca www.mdgreenview.ab.ca Christopher King Economic Development Manager County of Grande Prairie 11101 - 84 Avenue Clairmont, AB T0H 0W0 P: 780-532-9722 x1156 C: 780-814-2014 cking@countygp.ab.ca www.countygp.ab.ca Perry Kinkaide Founder, Past President and CEO Alberta Council of Technologies Society 45 Windermere Crescent St. Albert, AB T8N 3P1 P: 780-990-5874 C: 780-990-5874 pkinkaide@shaw.ca www.ABCtech.ca Steve Kirby Localintel P: 206-326-9319 steve@localinel.co Jesse Kirillo Repsol Oil & Gas jkirillo@repsol.com Pat Klak Past President EDA Edmonton, AB epklak@telus.net Kevin Koe Surface Landman Repsol Oil & Gas #2000, 888 - 3 Street SW Calgary, AB T2P 5C5 kkoe@repsol.com Scott Korbett Councillor Town of Pincher Creek P.O. Box 159 Pincher Creek, AB T0B 0V0 P: 403-627-3156 tax@pinchercreek.ca Mike Korman Economic Development Manager Town of Cochrane (Economic Development) 101 RancheHouse Rd Cochrane, AB T4C 2K8 P: 403-851-2502 mike.korman@cochrane.ca Paula Kot FortisAlberta Inc. paula.kot@fortisAB.com

MEMBERS CONTINUED Roger Kramers Executive Director, Tourism and Economic Capacity Alberta Jobs, Economy and Innovation 6th Floor, 10155 - 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 4L6 P: 780-643-1368 roger.kramers@gov.ab.ca www.AB.ca Neil Krell Export Development Corporation nkrell@edc.ca Greg Krischke KrisKEY Ventures 4601 - 43 Street Leduc, AB T9E 5T8 P: 780-719-4701 C: 780-719-4701 gkrischke1@shaw.ca Audra Krueger Executive Director Co-operatives First #4, 1810 - 8 Street E Saskatoon, SK S7H 0T6 P: 306-382-4410 audra@cooperativesfirst.com www.cooperativesfirst.com Steven Kwasny Director of Partnerships and Engagement Invest Alberta Corporation 2325 Enbridge Centre, 10175 - 101 Street Edmonton, AB T5J 0H3 C: 403 701-0350 Steve.Kwasny@investAB.ca www.investAB.ca

P.O. Box 500, 1005 Ross Street Crossfield, AB T0M 0S0 P: 403-946-5565 C: 403-921-0303 norma@crossfieldAB.com www.crossfieldAB.com Guy Lapointe Community Economic Development Manager City of Lacombe 5432 - 56 Avenue Lacombe, AB T4L 1E9 P: 403-782-1263 glapointe@lacombe.ca www.lacombe.ecdev.org Kayla Law Stakeholder Relations Advisor FortisAlberta Inc. 100 Chippewa Road Sherwood Park, AB T8A 4H4 P: 780-464-8816 kayla.law@fortisAB.com Shawna Lawson Managing Director Lawson Consulting Inc 121 Crystal Green Bay Okotoks, AB T1S 2N4 P: 587-890-8828 C: 587-890-8828 shawna@lawsoned.com Art Lawson Principal Lawson Consulting Inc. 121 Crystal Green Bay Okotoks, AB T1S 2N4 P: 587-718-6168 C: 587-718-6168 art@lawsoned.com

Caylee LaBranche Economic Development Coordinator Town of Canmore Canmore, AB clabranche@canmore.ca

Monique LeBlanc Community Services and Business Development Manager Town of Turner Valley P.O. Box 330, 514 Windsor Avenue Turner Valley, AB T0L 2A0 P: 403-933-6206 C: 403-660-5311 moniquel@turnervalley.ca www.turnervalley.ca

Lindsay Lahey Senior Associate Alberta Counsel #800, 9707 - 110 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5K 2L9 P: 780-652-2519 C: 780-214-0757 ll@ABcounsel.com www.ABCounsel.com

Rebecca Leigh Manager, Economic Development City of Grande Prairie 10205 - 98 Street Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6V3 P: 780-357-4969 C: 780-518-7898 rleigh@cityofgp.com www.investgrandeprairie.com

Heather Lalonde Chief Executive Officer EDCO 24 Barry Street E Long Sault, ON K0C 1P0 P: 613-362-3722 edco@edco.on.ca www.edco.on.ca

Sandra Lemmon Indigenous, Local and Regional Inclusion Lead WorleyParsonsCord #200, 8516 - 51 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T6E 6A8 P: 780-377-1254 C: 587-899-6470 sandra.lemmon@worleyparsons.com www.worleyparsonscord.com

Stephane Labonne Town of Morinville P: 780-939-7878 stephane.labonne@morinville.ca

Norma Lang Economic Development / Projects Manager Town of Crossfield

Michelle Levasseur Economic Development Officer Town of Calmar 4901 - 50 Avenue Calmar, AB T0C 0V0 P: 780-863-5466 C: 780-863-5466 mlevasseur@calmar.ca www.calmar.ca Tara Levick Economic Development Officer City of Airdrie Economic Development 400 Main Street SE Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3 P: 403-948-8844 tara.levick@airdrie.ca www.airdrie.ca Trevor Lewington Chief Executive Officer Economic Development Lethbridge 308 Stafford Drive S Lethbridge, AB T1J 2L1 P: 403-331-0022 C: 403-330-3701 trevor@chooselethbridge.ca www.chooselethbridge.ca Dora L'Heureux FortisAlberta Inc. dora.lheureux@fortisAB.com Rob Litzenberger FortisAlberta Inc. rob.litzenberger@fortisAB.com Mark Livingston Regional Vice-President, Western Export Development Corporation #2403, 308 - 4 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 0H7 P: 403-817-6700 mlivingston@edc.ca Richard MacDonald Design and Media Specialist Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Drive Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3W7 P: 780-850-7148 C: 780-850-7148 richard.macdonald@strathcona.ca www.strathcona.ca Paul Macedo CANDO paul.macedo@edo.ca Gordon MacIvor Past President EDA gordonmacivor@gmail.com Rob Mackin Director - Economic Development City of Beaumont 5600 - 49 Street Beaumont, AB T4X 1A1 P: 780-616-4647 C: 780-616-4647 rob.mackin@beaumont.ab.ca www.beaumont.ab.ca

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

Patricia MacQuarrie General Manager, Community Development City of Camrose 5204 - 50 Avenue Camrose, AB T4V 0S8 P: 780-878-8273 C: 780-878-8273 pmacquarrie@camrose.ca www.camrose.ca Phyllis Maki Executive Director Community Futures Network of AB P.O. Box 753 Cochrane, AB T4C 1A9 P: 403-851-9995 C: 780-994-1014 pmaki@ABcf.com www.ABcf.com Adena Malyk Economic Development Officer Airdrie Economic Development 400 Main Street SE Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3 P: 403-948-8800 x8248 adena.malyk@airdrie.ca www.airdrienow.ca Tara March Business Development Officer Red Deer County 38106 Rge Rd 275 Red Deer County, AB T4S 2L9 P: 403-350-2170 tmarch@rdcounty.ca www.rdcounty.ca Aasa Marshall Co-operatives First P: 306-382-4410 aasa@cooperativesfirst.com Stephanie Martin FortisAlberta Inc. stephanie.martin@fortisAB.com Patrick Mattern Executive Director - Policy, Business Development & Research Alberta Culture and Tourism Suite 300, 639 - 5 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 0M9 P: 403-297-8900 patrick.mattern@gov.ab.ca Dan Matthews Manager, Strategy and Communications Co-operatives First 1810 - 8 Street E Saskatoon, SK S7H 0T6 P: 306-382-4422 C: 306-380-9239 dan@cooperativesfirst.com www.cooperativesfirst.com Caroline McAuley Mayor Town of Vermilion 5021 - 49 Avenue Vermilion, AB T9X 1X1 P: 780-581-1028 cmcauley@vermillion.ca www.vermilion.ca

Leanne McBean Economic Development Coordinator Sturgeon County 9613 - 100 Street Morinville, AB T8R 1L9 P: 780-939-8296 lmcbean@sturgeoncounty.ca www.sturgeoncountybounty.ca Shawn McCauley Economic Development Officer Town of Stony Plain 4905 - 51 Avenue Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1Y1 C: 587-340-3598 s.mccauley@stonyplain.com www.choosestonyplain.com Peter McGee Economic Development Officer The City of Red Deer P.O. Box 5008 #1, 5000 - 51 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 3T4 P: 403-356-8981 peter.mcgee@reddeer.ca www.reddeer.ca Anita McGillis Client Relations Manager, Custom Publishing Redpoint Media Group Inc. #100, 1900 - 11 Street SE Calgary, AB T2G 3G2 C: 403-909-9839 amcgillis@redpointmedia.ca www.redpointmedia.ca Corinne McGirr General Manager Community Futures Lloydminster & Region #5, 4010 - 50 Avenue Lloydminster, AB T9V 1B2 P: 780-875-5458 cmcgirr@ABcf.com www.lloydminsterandregion.ABcf.com Sandra McIntosh Economic Development Officer Brazeau County P.O. Box 77, 7401 - Twp Rd 494 Drayton Valley, AB T7A 1R1 P: 780-542-7777 C: 780-297-7266 smcintosh@brazeau.ab.ca www.brazeau.ab.ca Barbara McKenzie Chief Executive Officer The Business Link #500, 10150 - 100 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 0P6 P: 780-422-7774 barbara@businesslink.ca Joanne McKinnon Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Drive Sherwood Park, AB P: 587-340-6210 joanne.mckinnon@strathcona.ca

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MEMBERS Melody McKnight Research Specialist City of Red Deer Red Deer, AB P: 403-342-8105 melody.mcknight@reddeer.ca Selena McLean-Moore Manager, SE Region, Regional Economic Development Services Alberta Jobs, Economy and Innovation Medicine Hat Provincial Building, 109, 346 - 3 Street SE Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0G7 P: 403-977-5227 selena.mclean-moore@gov.ab.ca Don McLeod Chief Administrative Officer Town of Viking P.O. Box 369 Viking, AB T0B 4N0 P: 780-336-3466 C: 587-256-0132 don.mcleod@viking.ca Kent McMullin Senior Business Strategist - Industrial Development City of Edmonton 9th Floor, Edmonton Tower, 10111 - 104 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T5J 0J4 P: 780-442-7150 C: 587-930-8631 kent.mcmullin@edmonton.ca Sean McRitchie Director Economic Development City of St. Albert 29 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue St. Albert, AB T8N 0G3 P: 780-459-1653 C: 780-902-2680 smcritchie@stalbert.ca www.stalbert.ca Kelly McTaggart Community Engagement Advisor Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) #2100, 350 - 7 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 3N9 P: 403-267-1116 C: 403-831-7788 kelly.mctaggart@capp.ca Amanda Mercer Economic Development Officer Town of Sylvan Lake 5012 - 48 Avenue Sylvan Lake, AB T4S 1G8 P: 403-887-1185 x226 C: 905-269-5600 amercer@sylvanlake.ca Eleanor Miclette Manager of Economic Development Town of Canmore 902 - 7 Avenue Canmore, AB T1W 3K1 P: 403-678-1505 C: 403-707-6369 eleanor.miclette@canmore.ca www.canmore.ca

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Megan Miller Director of Sales & Marketing Cocoflo Innovations Inc #1205, 207 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7 P: 403-861-2935 C: 403-861-2935 megan@cocoflo.tech www.cocoflo.tech Joan Miller Director of Economic Development Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) P.O. Box 6357 Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 2G1 P: 780-361-6231 C: 780-335-5334 jmiller@jediAB.com www.jediAB.com Cameron Mills Community Development Manager Town of Coaldale 1920 - 17 Street Lethbridge, AB T1M 1M1 P: 403-593-0999 C: 403-593-0999 cameron.mills@coaldale.ca www.coaldale.ca Kayla Mina eSolutionsGroup Ltd. P: 519-340-3739 jnuba@esolutionsgroup.ca Shirley Moerman Director of Planning and Economic Development Athabasca County 3602 - 48 Avenue Athabasca, AB T9S 1M8 P: 780-675-2273 planning@athabascacounty.com www.athabascacounty.com Chris Montgomery Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) Calgary, AB chris.montgomery@capp.ca Mary Moran President & Chief Executive Officer Calgary Economic Development 731 - 1 Street SE Calgary, AB T2G 2G9 P: 403-221-7831 mmoran@calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com Mark Morrissey Director of Economic Development City of Fort Saskatchewan 10005 - 102 Street Fort Saskatchewan, AB T8L 2S5 P: 780-992-6231 C: 780-974-1038 mmorrissey@fortsask.ca www.fortsask.ca

Alexis Nelson Tourism Development Officer Alberta Culture and Tourism 6th Floor, 10155 - 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 4G8 P: 780-427-6677 alexis.nelson@gov.ab.ca www.AB.ca Carmelle Nepoose Certification Coordinator (Western Region) CANDO 9635 - 45 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 5Z8 P: 780-990-0303 x237 carmelle.nepoose@edo.ca Rick Neumann Development Officer County of Barrhead No. 11 5306 - 49 Street Barrhead, AB T7N 1N5 P: 780-674-3331 rneumann@countybarrhead.ab.ca Jim Newman Manager, Economic Development Lamont County 5303 - 50 Avenue Lamont, AB T0B 2R0 P: 780-895-2233 x216 C: 780-203-3423 jim.n@lamontcounty.ca Yvette Ng Executive Director, Destination Development and Visitor Services Branch, Tourism Division Ministry of Culture and Tourism Edmonton, AB P: 780-643-1368 yvette.ng@gov.ab.ca Patricia Nicol Economic Development Officer Town of Devon 1 Columbia Avenue W Devon, AB T9G 1A1 P: 780-987-8306 C: 780-920-6383 pnicol@devon.ca www.devon.ca Rebecca Nielsen Economic Development Officer City of Airdrie 400 Main Street SE Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3 P: 403-948-8800 x5505 rebecca.nielsen@airdrie.ca www.airdrie.ca Nathan Olson Economic Development Coordinator Saddle Hills County Junction of Highway 49 and Highway 725 RR 1 Spirit River, AB T0H 3G0 P: 780-864-3760 C: 780-500-8113 nolson@saddlehills.ab.ca www.saddlehills.ab.ca

Shane Olson Manager, Commercial Development Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Drive Sherwood Park, AB T8A 3W7 P: 780-464-8259 C: 780-242-6373 shane.olson@strathcona.ca www.strathcona.ca Maureen O'Neil Senior Director, Business Development and Innovation Alberta Urban Municipalities Association #300, 8616 - 51 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 6E6 P: 780-989-7439 moneil@auma.ca Stan Orlesky FortisAlberta Inc. stan.orlesky@fortisAB.com Andrew O'Rourke Manager & Business Analyst Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) & Community Futures Northwest Alberta P.O. Box 210 High Level, AB T0H 1Z0 P: 780-926-0738 C: 780-926-0738 orourke@cfnwa.ab.ca www.rediregion.ca Amy Oshanyk Economic Development Coordinator Sturgeon County 9613 - 100 Street Morinville, AB T8R 1L9 aoshanyk@sturgeoncounty.ca Patti Palmer Business Licensing Town of Cochrane 101 Ranchehouse Road Cochrane, AB T4C 2K8 P: 403-851-2573 patti.palmer@cochrane.ca Andrew Palmiere 02 Planning and Design #510, 255 - 17 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2S 2T8 andrew.palmiere@o2design.com Luke Pantin Tourism and Economic Development Officer Athabasca County 3602 - 48 Avenue Athabasca, AB T9S 1M8 P: 780-675-2273 tedadmin@athabascacounty.com www.athabascacounty.com Jake Papineau Research Officer Alberta Economic Development and Trade 5 Floor Commerce Place, 10155 - 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB P: 780-422-0241 jake.papineau@gov.ab.ca

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Dave Parsell Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer Localintel #501, 237 - 8 Avenue SE Calgary, AB T2G 5C3 P: 403-554-0982 dave@localintel.co Nisarg Patel Business Development Manager #301, 466 MacEwan Road SW Edmonton, AB T6W 1W2 C: 587-991-3100 nisarg@uAB.ca Cindy Paton Business Retention & Expansion Coordinator City of Grande Prairie 10205 - 98 Street Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6V3 P: 780-513-5240 C: 780-978-7662 cpaton@cityofgp.com Richard Pauls Vice President, Service Delivery Integral Strategy Network Inc. #153 - 1581H Hillside Avenue Victoria, BC V8T 2C1 P: 403-874-4943 C: 403-874-4943 richard.pauls@integralstrategy.net Todd Pawsey Director of Community Services County of Paintearth No. 18 P.O. Box 509 Castor, AB T0C 0X0 P: 403-882-3211 C: 403-740-3527 tpawsey@countypaintearth.ca www.countypaintearth.ca Darryl Pederson FortisAlberta Inc. darryl.pederson@fortisAB.com Jeff Penney Manager of External Relations Shell Albian Sands Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4 C: 780-881-9622 jeff_penney@hotmail.com Trista Pewapisconias Co-operatives First P: 306-382-4410 trista@cooperativesfirst.com Dan Plantinga FortisAlberta Inc. daniel.plantinga@fortisAB.com Tammy Powell Senior Director, Regional Economic Development Services Alberta Economic Development, Trade and Tourism 5th Floor Commerce Place, 10155 - 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 4L6 P: 780-712-1601 C: 780-712-1601 tammy.powell@gov.ab.ca

MEMBERS CONTINUED Ronnie Prasad Business Centre Manager Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) #250, 28 Quarry Park Blvd SE Calgary, AB T2C 5P9 P: 403-292-4030 ronnie.prasad@bdc.ca Jereld Pratt Economic Development Officer Clearwater County 5016 - 54 Street Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1E7 P: 403-845-4444 jereldpratt@gmail.com www.clearwatercounty.ca Alyshia Pretulac Communications & Stakeholder Relations Specialist Plains Midstream #1400, 607 - 8 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 0A7 P: 587-293-8392 alyshia.pretulac@plainsmidstream. com www.plainsmidstream.com Shannon Preus Regional Partnerships Manager, Prairies Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) #1310, 150 - 9 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 3H9 P: 403-407-9170 C: 403-472-8279 shannon.preus@bdc.ca www.bdc.ca Margo Price Repsol Oil & Gas mprice@repsol.com Mary Lee Prior Community Economic Development Officer Town of Vermilion 5021 - 49 Avenue Vermilion, AB T9X 1X1 P: 780-581-2419 C: 780-853-7747 mlprior@vermilion.ca www.vermilion.ca Pamela Ramrup Executive Director Community Futures Wood Buffalo #105, 9912 Franklin Avenue Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K5 P: 780-791-0330 C: 587-644-5180 cfwbmanager@ABcf.com www.woodbuffalo@ABcf.com Stephen Rausch Strathcona County 2001 Sherwood Drive Sherwood Park, AB stephen.rausch@strathcona.ca

P: 780-558-9039 C: 780-558-9039

kyle.reiling@mdgreenview.ab.ca www.greenviewindustrial.ca Cliff Reiling Ec.D(F) Past President EDA P.O. Box 1435 Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0 P: 403-563-5572 cliff.reiling@shaw.ca Michael Richard Investment Attraction Lead Sturgeon County 9613 - 100 Street Morinville, AB T8R 1L9 P: 780-939-8356 C: 780-868-9484 mrichard@sturgeoncounty.ca www.startinsturgeon.ca James Richardson MNP John Richter Volunteer Member Village of Beiseker (Economic Development Committee) P.O. Box 267 Beiseker, AB T0M 0G0 P: 403-947-3814 C: 403-371-6226 richterjohn014@gmail.com Brandy Rimney Senior Surface Land Coordinator Repsol Oil & Gas #2000, 888 - 3 Street SW Calgary, AB T2P 5C5 P: 403-693-2262 C: 587-228-2864 brimney@repsol.com Bert Roach Economic Development Officer Woodlands County #1 Woodlands Lane Whitecourt, AB T7S 1N3 P: 780-286-5774 C: 780-286-5774 bert.roach@woodlands.ab.ca www.woodlands.ab.ca Nancy Robbins Manager Community Futures West Yellowhead 221 Pembina Avenue Hinton, AB T7V 2B3 P: 780-864-1224 nrobbins@ABcf.com Greg Robinson Director of Community & Economic Development Town of Raymond 15 Broadway S Raymond, AB T0K 2S0 P: 403-752-3322 C: 403-317-4144 robinson@raymond.ca www.raymond.ca

Alexandra Ross Principal Streamlined Vision 34 Ranchers Place Okotoks, AB T1S 0G5 P: 604-905-8672 C: 403-899-9476 edc.alex@telus.net www.streamlinedvision.com Katrina Rossol Economic Development Officer City of St. Albert 29 Sir Winston Churchill Avenue St. Albert, AB T8N 0G3 P: 780-459-1724 krossol@stalbert.ca Jana Rowe Tourism & Economic Development Lac La Biche County P.O. Box 1679 Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 P: 780-623-6750 C: 780-520-7419 jana.rowe@laclabichecounty.com www.laclabichecounty.com Dan Rude Chief Executive Officer Alberta Urban Municipalities Association #300, 8616 - 51 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 6E6 P: 780-433-4431 drude@auma.ca Christen Rumbles Edmonton Chamber of Commerce Edmonton, AB P: 780-409-2610 crumbles@edmontonchamber.com Kent Rupert Owner Rupert Strategies 6 Elston Place SE Airdrie, AB T4B 2Z6 P: 403-614-3201 C: 403-614-3201 contactkentrupert@gmail.com Donavon Saltvold FortisAlberta Inc. donavon.saltvold@fortisAB.com Paul Salvatore Chief Executive Officer Municipal Experts Inc. 403 - 15 Street E Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y5 P: 403-334-4922 C: 403-334-4922 psalvatore@municipalexperts.ca www.municipalexperts.ca Christa Sanders Economic Development Officer Airdrie Economic Development 400 Main Street SE Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3 P: 403-671-5166 christa.sanders@airdrie.ca

Kyle Reiling Executive Director Municipal District of Greenview P.O. Box 1079 Valleyview, AB T0H 3N0

Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

Bryan Saunders Hole's Greenhouses 101 Riel Drive St. Albert, AB T8N 3X4 P: 780-419-6806 bsaunders@holesonline.com Kristina Schmidt Planner & Development Officer Town of Penhold P.O. Box 10 Penhold, AB T0M 1R0 P: 403-886-3283 kschmidt@townofpenhold.ca www.townofpenhold.ca Brady Schnell Economic Development Officer Town of Claresholm P.O. Box 1000 Claresholm, AB T0L 0T0 P: 403-489-0762 C: 403-489-0762 edo@claresholm.ca www.townofclaresholm.com Dean Schweder Director of Planning and Community Development Town of Rocky Mountain House P.O. Box 1509 Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1B2 P: 403-847-5260 dschweder@rockymtnhouse.com www.rockymtnhouse.com Jamie-Lynn Scobie Economic Development Specialist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Commercial City of Spruce Grove 315 Jespersen Avenue Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3E8 P: 780-962-7634 x139 jlscobie@sprucegrove.org John Sennema Manager, Land & Economic Development The City of Red Deer P.O. Box 5008 Red Deer, AB T4N 3T4 P: 403-342-8106 john.sennema@reddeer.ca Juliana Serje McSweeney & Associates Ottawa, ON juliana@mcsweeney.ca Chad Sheldon Economic Development Officer City of Grande Prairie P.O. Bag 4000, 10205 - 98 Street Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6V3 P: 780-830-7449 csheldon@cityofgrandeprairie.com www.cityofgp.com Harry Shnider Senior Planner IBI Group #300, 227 - 11 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2R 1R9 P: 403-270-5600 C: 780-660-2375 harry.shnider@ibigroup.com www.ibigroup.com

Darlene Sinclair General Manager Community Futures Lethbridge Region 2626 South Parkside Drive Lethbridge, AB T1K 0C4 P: 587-800-8431 C: 403-308-0553 dsinclair@ABcf.com www.lethbridgeregion.ABcf.com Ellen Skinner R.R. #1 Wembley, AB T0H 3S0 P: 780-518-3947 ellenskinner@live.com Alissa Sklar Ph.D Vice-President, Marketing GIS Planning Inc. 730 Avenue Upper Roslyn Westmount, QC H4W 1V1 P: 514-560-8559 C: 514-560-8559 asklar@gisplanning.com www.gisplanning.com Kayla Smith City of Red Deer Red Deer, AB P: 403-342-8105 kayla.smith@reddeer.ca Nicole Smith FortisAlberta Inc. nicole.smith@fortisAB.com Cam Sorenson Communications Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) #2100, 350 - 7 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 3N9 cam.sorenson@capp.ca Holly Sorgen General Manager Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region #325, 9909 - 102 Street Grande Prairie, AB T8V2V4 P: 780-814-5340 C: 780-518-3586 holly.sorgen@ABcf.com www.grandeprairie.ABcf.com Danielle Stanley Special Projects Coordinator CANDO 9635 - 45 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 5Z8 P: 780-990-0303 x233 danielle.stanley@edo.ca Tony Stolz Community Futures Network of AB P.O. Box 753 Cochrane, AB T4C 1A9 P: 587-433-6060 tstolz@ABcf.com Terri Ellen Sudnik Nauticol Energy tsudnik@nauticolenergy.com

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MEMBERS Jessica Surgenor Economic Development Officer Brooks Region 201 - 1 Avenue West Brooks, AB T1R 1B7 P: 403-362-3333 C: 403-363-6008 jsurgenor@brooks.ca www.brooksregion.ca Cindy Suter Economic Development Lac Ste Anne County P.O. Box 219 Sangudo, AB T0E 2AO P: 780-785-3411 csuter@lsac.ca Michelle Sware City of St. Albert P: 780-459-1631 msware@stalbert.ca Bruce Tannas Director, Business Development & Investment Attraction Alberta Economic Development, Trade and Tourism 10155 - 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 4L6 P: 780-427-6485 bruce.tannas@gov.ab.ca www.investAB.ca/industry-profiles/ tourism Kerrie Taylor Economic Development Coordinator Municipal District of Greenview P.O. Box 404 Grovedale, AB T0H 1X0 P: 780-228-2165 kerrie.taylor@mdgreenview.ab.ca James Tessier Manager, NE Region, Regional Economic Development Services Alberta Economic Development and Trade P.O. Box 8074, Bonnyville Provincial Bldg, #207, 4904 - 50 Street Bonnyville, AB T9N 2J6 P: 780-815-4036 C: 587-784-3144 james.tessier@gov.ab.ca Kelsey Then Plains Midstream #1400, 607 - 8 Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 0A7 P: 403-298-2100 community.investment@plainsmidstream.com Verona Thibault Executive Director Saskatchewan Economic Development Association P.O. Box 113 Saskatoon, SK S7K 3K1 P: 306-384-5817 C: 306-381-3900 verona.thibault@seda.sk.ca www.seda.sk.ca

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Colleen Thome Economic Development Manager Town of Okotoks P.O. Box 20, 5 Elizabeth Street Okotoks, AB T1S 1K1 P: 403-938-8907 cthome@okotoks.ca www.okotoks.ca Logan Thomson FortisAlberta Inc. logan.thomson@fortisAB.com Mitch Thomson Executive Director Olds Institute for Community & Regional Development P.O. Box 4210 Olds, AB T4H 1P8 P: 403-556-1105 C: 403-559-4900 mthomson@oldsinstitute.com www.oldsinstitute.com Carol Thomson Economic Development Officer Paintearth Economic Partnership Society P.O. Box 509 Castor, AB T0C 0X0 P: 403-882-3211 cthomson@countypaintearth.ca www.paintearth.ab.ca Bev Thornton Executive Director Alberta SouthWest REDA P.O. Box 1041 Pincher Creek, AB T0K 1W0 P: 403-627-0244 C: 403-627-0244 bev@ABsouthwest.com www.ABsouthwest.com Lori Todd Controller The Business Link Business Service Centre #500, 10150 - 100 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 0P6 P: 780-415-2582 C: 780-940-5960 lori@businesslink.ca www.businesslink.ca Nancy Toombs Marketing / Communications Economic Developers Alberta Suite 127, #406 917 - 85 Street SW Calgary, AB T3H 5Z9 P: 866-671-8182 nancy.toombs@edaAB.ca www.edaAB.ca Caroline Toppazzini Economic Development Officer County of Vermilion River P.O. Box 69, 4912 - 50 Avenue Kitscoty, AB T0B 2P0 P: 780-846-2244 C: 403-819-0385 ctoppazzini@county24.com Tanya Tourangeau First Nation - Municipal CEDI Program Coordinator CANDO Edmonton, AB

P: 780-504-1537 C: 780-504-1537

tanya.tourangeau@edo.ca www.edo.ca/cedi Kevin Turner Regional Director Office of Small and Medium Enterprises 5th Floor, 10025 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 1S6 P: 587-783-9099 kevin.turner@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca Barry Turner Mayor Town of Morinville Morinville, AB b.turner@morinville.ca Peter Vana Director of Planning and Development Town of Hinton 131 Civic Centre Road Hinton, AB T7V 2E5 P: 780-865-6077 C: 780-740-3119 pvana@hinton.ca www.hinton.ca Mark Vandenberghe Manager, North Central Region, Regional Economic Development Services Alberta Jobs, Economy and Innovation 5th Floor, Commerce Place, 10155 - 102 Street NW Edmonton, AB T5J 4L6 P: 780-427-6450 mark.vandenberghe@gov.ab.ca Glen Vanstone Vice-President, Research & Strategy Edmonton Economic Development Corporation World Trade Centre, 9990 Jasper Avenue Edmonton, AB T5J 1P7 P: 780-917-7634 C: 780-904-6290 gvanstone@edmonton.com Kendra Verheul GIS Technician/ PE&D Assistant Town of Morinville 10125 - 100 Avenue Morinville, AB T8R 1L6 kendra.verheul@morinville.ca Brad Wagner Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) P: 403-382-3147 brad.wagner@bdc.ca Wendy Wagner Land Sales & Economic Development Coordinator City of Lloydminster 4420 - 50 Avenue Lloydminster, AB T9V 0W2 P: 780-871-8334 C: 306-821-7866 wwagner@lloydminster.ca

Lee Ann Waines National Marketing Manager MNP 4922 - 53 Street Red Deer, AB T4N 2E9 P: 403-346-8878 leeann.waines@mnp.ca Dave Walker Manager, Economic & Business Development City of Spruce Grove 315 Jespersen Avenue Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3E8 P: 780-962-7608 dwalker@sprucegrove.org www.sprucegrove.org Tony Walker General Manager Community Futures AB Southwest P.O. Box 1270, 436 Col. Macleod Blvd.

Fort Macleod, AB T0L 0Z0 P: 403-553-0264 C: 403-627-9129 tony@cfabsw.com www.southwest.ABcf.com Ray Wanuch Executive Director CANDO 9635 - 45 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 5Z8 P: 780-990-0303 C: 780-964-1219 ray.wanuch@edo.ca Jenalee Waring Economic Development Officer Flagstaff County Sedgewick, AB T0B 4C0 P: 780-384-4152 jwaring@flagstaff.ab.ca Leslie Warren Community/Business Builder P.O. Box 24 Champion, AB T0L 0R0 P: 403-897-2335 C: 403-485-5694 leswarren78@gmail.com Deanna Weder Town of Okotoks P.O. Box 20, Station Main Okotoks, AB T1S 1K1 P: 403-938-8907 dweder@okotoks.ca Josh Welz Economic Development Specialist Town of Okotoks 5 Elizabeth Street , P.O. Box 20 Station Main Okotoks, AB T1S 1K1 P: 403-995-6336 C: 587-585-4119 jwelz@okotoks.ca www.okotoks.ca Gene Wesley General Manager Community Futures Lac La Biche P.O. Box 2188, 10106 - 102 Avenue Lac La Biche, AB T0A 2C0 P: 780-623-2662 x1 C: 780-520-5466

edaalberta.ca | invest-in-alberta.ca

manager@cfllb.com www.cfllb.com Tyler Westover Economic Development Manager Sturgeon County 9613 - 100 Street Morinville, AB T8R 1L9 P: 780-939-8358 twestover@sturgeoncounty.ca www.startinsturgeon.ca Dale Wheeldon President & Chief Executive Officer British Columbia Economic Development Association #102, 9300 Nowell Street Chilliwack, BC V2P 4V7 P: 604-795-7119 dwheeldon@bceda.ca www.bceda.ca Kyle White Education and Engagement Lead Co-operatives First 15, 95 - 115 Street E Saskatoon, SK S7N 2E1 P: 306-203-4484 kyle@cooperativesfirst.com www.cooperativesfirst.com Brad White Director Planning and Economic Development Town of Morinville Morinville, AB P: 780-939-7622 brad.white@morinville.ca Bill Williams Executive Director Nunavut Economic Developers Association P.O. Box 1990 Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0 P: 867-979-4620 C: 867-222-3620 exdir@nunavuteda.com www.nunavuteda.com Jessica Williamson Economic Development Officer Airdrie Economic Development 400 Main Street SE Airdrie, AB T4B 3C3 P: 403-671-5166 jessica.williamson@airdrie.ca www.airdrie.ca Harold Wilson Manager, Economic Development City of Leduc #1 Alexandra Park Leduc, AB T9E 4C4 P: 780-980-8438 hwilson@leduc.ca www.leduc.ca Korrie-Mae Wiszniak Chief Executive Officer Kids@ Churchill Park 3311 Centre Street NW Calgary, AB T2E 2X7 P: 403-606-1514 C: 403-606-1514 Kwiszniak@churchillpark.ca www.churchillpark.ca

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS....... PAGE 468 Communications.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Alberta Innovates.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Calgary Economic Development Ltd... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 CAPP Canada's Oil & Natural Gas Producers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 City of Airdrie: Economic Development.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 City of Camrose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 City of Grande Prairie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 City of Leduc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 City of Lloydminster.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 City of Spruce Grove.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Cooperatives First.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 County of Grande Prairie.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 & 39 County of Paintearth c/o BREOC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Economic Development Lethbridge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Fortis Alberta.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Invest Alberta Corporation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI).. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Lac La Biche County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Lac La Biche County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Lethbridge County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Municipal District of Greenview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Municipal District of Greenview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Northern Sunrise County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Parkland County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Peaks to Prairies EV Project Partnership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Red Deer County.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA).. . 40 Rocky View County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Saddle Hills County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Strathcona County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Strathcona County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Sturgeon County (Economic Development). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Thorhild County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Town of Calmar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Town of Fort Macleod.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Town of Mayerthorpe.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Town of Okotoks.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Town of Rocky Mountain House.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Town of Stony Plain.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Town of Sylvan Lake.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 & 45 Town of Vermilion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Town of Vermilion.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Town of Whitecourt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Woodlands County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Kimberley Worthington Executive Director Central AB Economic Partnership 5013 - 49 Avenue Red Deer, AB T4N 3X1 P: 403-357-2237 C: 587-447-2237 kimberley@caepAB.com www.caepAB.com Larry Wright Strategy & Technology Officer (Chairman Olds Economic Development Secretariat) Town of Olds 4512 - 46 Street Olds, AB T4H 1R5 P: 403-507-4803 C: 403-559-4651 larry.wright@olds.ca www.olds.ca Ben Young Economic Development Officer Town of Taber (Economic Development) A, 4900 - 50 Street Taber, AB T1G 1T1 P: 403-308-5877 C: 403-308-5877 ben.young@taber.ca www.growingintaber.ca Tara Zeller P.O. Box 2087 Grande Cache, AB T0E 0Y0 P: 780-827-1778 C: 780-827-1778 tarajane@telus.net Vivian Zittlaw Economic Development Officer Town of Westlock 10003 - 106 Street Westlock, AB T7P 2K3 P: 780-350-2109 vzittlaw@westlock.ca www.westlock.ca

WIN THEM BACK

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Reimagine. Reinvent. Reposition.

2 0 2 1 XPERIENCE ALBERTA

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