images edmonton, ab canada: 2007-08

It’s Official: City NamedCanada’s Cultural Capital

COSMOPOLITAN CAMPUSES

Thousands of international students have enrolled

here since the late 1990s

HOME, SWIFT HOMESelling points for robust housing market include short commute times – everywhere

OF EDMONTON, ALBERTA

2007-08 | IMAGESEDMONTON.COM | VIDEO VIGNETTES

SPONSORED BY EDMONTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

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2007-08 EDITION | VOLUME 2


CONTENTS

FEATURES

12 IT’S OFFICIAL: CITY NAMED CANADA’S CULTURAL CAPITALEdmonton won that designation for good reason: It is absolutely bursting at the seams with arts and culture.

16 HEAD FOR THE GREATER OUTDOORSThere’s no place like Greater Edmonton for people who love recreation.

20 COSMOPOLITAN CAMPUSESThousands of international students are enrolled in Edmonton’s array of colleges and universities.

24 SEIZING OPPORTUNITIESEdmonton’s high per capita disposable income and low taxes attract thousands of newcomers each year.

27 HOME, SWIFT HOMEShort commutes are just one selling point in Edmonton’s robust housing market.

44 PARLEZ-VOUS FRANÇAIS? (OR GERMAN? OR CHINESE?)In the Edmonton Public Schools, students must study a foreign language for a minimum of six years.

47 IT’S ALL DOWNHILL FROM HEREOlympic gold medalist Jennifer Heil will try to repeat at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

51 NEW NAME, FRESH FACEWhen it opens in 2009, the Art Gallery of Alberta will be an artistic creation itself.

ON THE COVER Alberta Legislature Building Photo by Jeffrey S. Otto

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ACTION! ADVENTURE!

AT IMAGESEDMONTON.COM

THE MOVIEImages of Edmonton

STARTS TODAY!

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SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT ANY RESEMBLANCE TO PLACES, EVENTS OR QUALITY OF LIFE IN EDMONTON IS PURELY INTENTIONAL!

“EDMONTON LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”

“IT KEPT ME ON THE EDGE OF MY LAPTOP!”

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DEPARTMENTS

8 Almanac: a colourful sampling of Edmonton culture

29 Portfolio: people, places and events that help defi ne Edmonton

40 Image Gallery

49 Health & Wellness

52 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

EDMONTON BUSINESS 34 Rolling Out the Red Carpet

As the area’s economy continues to boom, the city and local businesses are extending a warm welcome to incoming workers.

36 Biz Briefs

38 Economic Profi le

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“Find the good – and praise it.”– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

jnlcom.com

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MOVING PICTURES Take a video tour of Edmonton at imagesedmonton.com.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

Images of Edmonton is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is sponsored by Edmonton Economic Development Corp. In print and online, Images gives readers a taste of what makes Edmonton tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME Search for a new home, plus get moving tips and more at www.mls.ca.

OF EDMONTON

MANAGING EDITOR MAURICE FLIESS

COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS

ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SUSAN CHAPPELL, KIM MADLOM ANITA WADHWANI

ASSISTANT EDITOR REBECCA DENTON

STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN, JESSICA MOZO

DIRECTORIES EDITORS AMANDA KING, KRISTY WISE

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAM GEORGE, ANNE GILLEM, JOHN MCBRYDE, VALERIE PASCOE

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER TODD POTTER

SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR SARA SARTIN

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS WES ALDRIDGE,ANTONY BOSHIER, MICHAEL W. BUNCH,

IAN CURCIO, BRIAN MCCORD

PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY

CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS

WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR SHAWN DANIEL

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS

ASST. PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN

PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER

SENIOR PRODUCTION PROJECT MGR. TADARA SMITH

PRODUCTION PROJECT MGRS. MELISSA HOOVER, JILL WYATT

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS

LEAD DESIGNER LINDA MOREIRAS

GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, CANDICE HULSEY, DEREK MURRAY, AMY NELSON

WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP

WEB PRODUCTION JILL TOWNSEND

DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER ALISON HUNTER

COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN CORY MITCHELL

AD TRAFFIC SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN

SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER

SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN

SR. V.P./PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER

V.P./SALES HERB HARPER

V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER

V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART

EXECUTIVE EDITOR TEREE CARUTHERS

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO

CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY

ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS, JACKIE YATES

RECRUITING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP

DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH

IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE

IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR NICOLE WILLIAMS

CLIENT & SALES SERVICES MANAGER/CUSTOM MAGAZINES PATTI CORNELIUS

Images of Edmonton is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is

distributed through Edmonton Economic Development Corp. and its partners.

For advertising information or to direct questionsor comments about the magazine,

contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080or by e-mail at [email protected].

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Edmonton Economic Development Corp.

3rd Floor, World Trade Centre, 9990 Jasper Ave.Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 1P7

(780) 424-9191 • Fax: (780) 426-0535E-mail: [email protected]

www.edmonton.com

VISIT IMAGES OF EDMONTON ONLINE AT IMAGESEDMONTON.COM

©Copyright 2007 Journal Communications Inc.361 Mallory Station Road, Ste. 102, Franklin, TN 37067

(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.No portion of this magazine may be reproduced

in whole or in part without written consent.

Member Magazine Publishers of America

Member Custom Publishing Council

Member Edmonton Economic Development Corp.

ONLINE CONTENTS More lists, links and tips for newcomers

WHAT DO THE LOCALS EAT? Discover what makes cuisine in Alberta so deliciously different.

GET SMART ABOUT LOCAL SCHOOLS Find listings and links to schools, colleges and universities.

SEE HOW THE GARDENS GROW Get the dirt on growing seasons, soils and common challenges.


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Life After DarkOld Strathcona exudes energy every day –

and night – of the week.

The thriving entertainment district, near the

University of Alberta, features nearly 40 bars,

lounges and live-music venues. Among them are

the Yardbird Café that is celebrating 50 years of

jazz, and the Cook County Saloon that has been

voted Canada’s best nightclub 10 times.

Old Strathcona also includes a number of locally

owned shops and a farmers’ market. About 100

restaurants serve many different kinds of cuisine.

An ‘A’ for AccessTally ho. Airline passengers can fly nonstop any day from Edmonton to London Heathrow Airport.

Air Canada began three-days-a-week service in October 2006 and expanded to daily flights in April 2007.

Besides service to many locations within Canada, Edmonton

International Airport also offers nonstop flights to the

Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico and numerous U.S. cities

including Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis,

Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle. The airport is

undergoing a $200 million expansion to accommodate a

projected 7.5 million passengers by 2015.

Further proof that Edmonton is blessed with excellent

transportation options is the fact that VIA Rail’s internationally

renowned The Canadian travels six days a week east to Toronto

and west to Vancouver. And for those who like the open road,

Edmonton is situated on the Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway.

Room to VroomThe plane truth is that City Centre Airport has

hosted a big-time car race every July since 2005.

The Rexall Grand Prix of Edmonton draws about

50,000 race fans to the airport grounds to witness

top Formula One drivers compete in the Champ Car

Series. Those drivers include Paul Tracy, Roberto

Moreno and Bruno Junqueira.

The temporary road course track measures 3.15

kilometres (1.97 miles). More than 80 per cent of the

track can be seen from anywhere in the stands, and

speeds on the straightaway can exceed 320 km/h.

Besides the Champ Car event, the three-day speed

fest features races in the Atlantic Championship

division and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN J. GAVRILOFF

8 IMAGESEDMONTON.COM EDMONTON

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Big Lake

Pigeon Lake

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Calmar

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Fort Saskatchewan

New Sarepta

Bruderheim

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Alberta

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British Columbia

Yukon Territory

Northwest Territories Nunavut

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Quebec

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

Newfoundlandand Labrador

Welcome to EdmontonEdmonton is proud of its many visitor sites – and

that includes the Gateway Park Boulevard Visitor

Information Centre.

The centre received a 2007 RV West magazine

Reader’s Choice Award, where readers submitted

e-mails on what they liked best about North American

“RV-ing.” Edmonton was chosen No. 1 in the category

of favourite visitor information centre.

The centre, at the entrance to Gateway Boulevard,

recently passed a 20-year milestone, having opened

in 1987. Approximately 1.7 million people have gone

through its doors, and the staff has answered nearly

315,000 phone calls and mailed more than 135,000

information packets.


Edmonton | At A GlancePOPULATION (2006 ESTIMATES)Edmonton: 730,372, Greater Edmonton: 1,034,945

LOCATIONEdmonton is in central Alberta, with British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains to

the west, Saskatchewan to the east and the U.S. state of Montana to the south.

BEGINNINGSIn 1795, Fort Edmonton was established as a major trading post

for the Hudson’s Bay Co. Edmonton, named after a town

in England, was incorporated as a city in 1904

and became Alberta’s capital in 1905.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONEdmonton Economic

Development Corp.

3rd Floor, World Trade Centre

9990 Jasper Ave.

Edmonton, AB, Canada T5J 1P7

(780) 424-9191

or, in North America,

(800) 661-6965

Fax: (780) 426-0535

www.edmonton.com

Almanac

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Move Over, Hollywood

Patrick Swayze, Tim Curry, Carmen Electra

and Chris Kattan acted up in Edmonton

during 2007.

The four actors were in town for Christmas in Wonderland, a motion picture filmed at

West Edmonton Mall that is scheduled for

release in late 2007 or early 2008. The mall

was chosen because it is widely recognized

as the world’s largest and brands itself as

“The Greatest Indoor Show on Earth.”

The city has hosted several major film

productions in recent times, including The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford starring Brad Pitt. The Edmonton

Film Commission receives a steady flow of

inquiries from movie companies interested in

the city’s scenic settings and availability of

professional film production crews.

Fast Facts More than 50

ethnic groups are represented in Greater Edmonton, with nearly 500 various places of worship.

West Edmonton Mall, billed as the world’s largest entertainment and shopping centre and Alberta’s No. 1 tourist attraction, covers the equivalent of 48 city blocks.

Edmonton is a global leader in recycling. Eighty-eight per cent of households recycle, sending more than 48,500 tonnes of material to recycling centres in 2006.

Nate Gartke, 13, of Spruce Grove, finished in second place at the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. About 10 million youngsters ages 10-15 competed in the event, and the Greater Edmonton resident won $12,500 (U.S.) for being the contest’s runner-up.

Edmonton’s Muttart Conservatory has floral displays of the jungle, desert and temperate forest within glass pyramids.

Sidewalk Globetrotting Have you purchased an authentic Ukrainian

matrioshka nesting doll lately?

Avenue of Nations is an area just northwest

of downtown Edmonton that features shops,

restaurants and services representing many

different nationalities. The shops and restaurants

reflect the cultures of countries and regions that

include China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Latin

zAmerica, Poland, Ukraine and Vietnam.

Avenue of Nations is located along 107th

Avenue from 95th Street to 116th Street.

Nearby are several ethnic neighbourhoods,

including Chinatown.

A Perfect Place To PartyMark your calendar for VisualEyez – as well as the

Accordion Extravaganza, A Taste of Edmonton, and

on and on.

Edmonton is known as Canada’s Festival City, for

good reason. It hosts more than 30 themed events

each year, with art, theatre, music, dance, sports,

film and food celebrations. They include everything

from the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the

International Fringe Theatre Festival (pictured), to

the River City Shakespeare Festival and Capital Ex

(formerly Klondike Days).

Most festivals occur during the summer, but there

are also winter events such as Silver Skate Fest and

Ice on Whyte.


SEE MORE ONLINE | For more Fast Facts about Edmonton, visit imagesedmonton.com.

Almanac

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more about Canada’s Festival City, visit imagesedmonton.com/06.

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EDMONTON LEADS THE NATION IN ARTS AND CULTURAL

It’s Official: City

The acoustically acclaimed Francis Winspear Centre for Music in the heart of downtown is the home of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Canada’s Cul


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W hen Edmonton was designated a Cultural Capital of Canada by the Canadian

government in December 2006, the whole world learned something Edmonton citizens have understood for ages: This city is bursting at the seams with arts and culture.

“All of us who partake of the arts have known how strong and vibrant our culture and arts are in Edmonton, and now everyone else is seeing Edmonton has something very special,” says Linda Huffman, executive producer of the Edmonton Cultural Capital Project. “There’s incredible depth within our cultural activities. Our theaters are respected around the world, our festivals

have a terrific profile, and Edmonton is an excellent place for artists to live because they feel appreciated and valued here.”

The federal government created the Cultural Capitals of Canada program in 2002 to recognize and support municipalities that demonstrate sup-port for arts, culture and heritage. The Cultural Capital designation is awarded to cities with a population of more than 125,000 that have compiled a solid record of achievement and demonstrated the ability to build a legacy for arts and culture. Past recipients include Toronto and Vancouver.

Cities vying for the title also must submit plans for future arts- and culture-related projects. Along with the

STORY BY JESSICA MOZOPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO

OFFERINGS

Named

The legendary Eartha Kitt is one of the guest artists who have performed with the symphony in the three-tiered, 1,716-seat Winspear Centre.

tural Capital



Sculptor Ashevak Tunnillie’s work is among the pieces on display at Bearclaw Gallery, one of the 60-plus private galleries clustered in an arts district on Edmonton’s west side.



2007 Cultural Capital title, Edmonton received $2 million from the federal government (supplemented by $600,000 from the City of Edmonton) to fund six arts and culture projects outlined in its application. They include a Poetry Festival in September, a Symposia and Speakers Series, and a Nightworks community fireworks celebration on New Year’s Eve.

“We hope to finish the bulk of our projects by early 2008,” Huffman says.

It’s easy even for first-time visitors to see why Edmonton was proclaimed a Cultural Capital.

The city has more live theatre per capita than any other large Canadian city, a gallery district west of downtown with more than 60 privately owned galleries, the Art Gallery of Alberta (see story, page 51), the Royal Alberta Museum and numerous performance venues. They include the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, home of the Edmonton Opera, and the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, home of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as well as the Davis Concert Organ, the largest organ in Canada.

“The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

serves as a respected and popular provider of orchestral performances of all kinds,” says Dave Baker, com-munications and publications manager. “From classical masterpieces to its legendary collaborations with artists as diverse as Procol Harum, k.d. lang, Michael W. Smith and more, the ESO is this city’s orchestra.”

Nearly all of the symphony’s 56 core musicians teach music in the community, from private lessons to professorships in the University of Alberta’s Department of Music.

As individuals and as a group, the orchestra members play “a vital role in fostering a love of music and arts throughout the community,” Baker says.

The Edmonton Arts Council also helps foster an appreciation for the arts. Comprised of Edmonton artists, the council was created to ensure that an arts voice is heard at all civic forums.

“This enlightened initiative has brought a creative and colourful perspective to many aspects of civic government and community develop-ment,” says John Mahon, executive director of the Edmonton Arts Council.

Mahon says Edmonton fully deserved

the Cultural Capital designation because “the plans and energy for a glorious cultural future are everywhere.”

“I am a classical musician, and I love the sound of Edmonton’s fine coterie of classical musicians in the Winspear Centre, a fabulous concert hall. Edmonton is full of live theatre, and I know many of the playwrights, actors and directors. I wouldn’t miss the productions they bring us,” he says. “I read books by Edmonton writers, including nationally recognized authors and poets. And the summer festivals celebrating community, art and the long, light-filled days of a northern sum-mer are priceless. But that’s just a start. … Have you ever seen the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers defy gravity?”

Baker echoes that sentiment. “Edmonton boasts one of the most active festival seasons in North America,” he says. “Edmonton’s theatre community is thriving, and its musical life features enthusiastic audiences for every kind of music there is. Edmonton is justifiably proud of its reputation as a supporter of the arts.”

For more information, visit www.edmontonculturalcapital.com.

Visitors are drawn to the exhibits in the Royal Alberta Museum’s Natural History Gallery. Among the intriguing geologic specimens displayed there is a naturally occurring concretion that is riddled with holes caused by erosion.



Head for

Designated pathways make it easy for cyclists and others to move around many parts of the city.


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W ith endless recre-ational opportunities to enjoy in the magnificent North

Saskatchewan River Valley and elsewhere, there’s no place like Greater Edmonton for people who love the great outdoors.

Being active comes naturally to local residents, whether they enjoy hiking, walking, running, biking, skiing, fishing, horseback riding, golf, tennis, hunting or just soaking in the spectacular surroundings.

“I travel extensively in North America, and I can tell you Edmonton is blessed – the river valley is probably our best-kept secret and our most attractive thing about living here,” says John Stanton, who founded Running Room Ltd. here more than 20 years ago. Stanton says heading to the trails to walk or run is different in every season.

“We have four distinct seasons in Edmonton: In the springtime, it’s an awakening with nature coming to life again; in the summer, it’s a way to

the GreaterOutdoors

EDMONTONIANS ENJOY RECREATION RIGHT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD

STORY BY ANNE GILLEMPHOTOGRAPHY BY

JEFFREY S. OTTO



Still Glorious, Still Popular,at Age 100JASPER NATIONAL PARK DRAWS NEARLY 2 MILLION ANNUALLY

Happy 100th birthday,

Jasper National Park!

On Sept. 14, 1907, 13,000

square kilometres of land were

set aside as Jasper Forest Park.

When Canada’s National Park

Act became law in 1930, the

name was changed to Jasper

National Park, with 10,878

square kilometres (about

4,200 square miles) of

protected beauty.

Now, as then, this national

treasure, which showcases the

breathtaking Rocky Mountains

and valleys, clear skies, and

abundant wildlife, draws tourists

and locals alike. The park, with

nearly 2 million visitors annually,

is within several hours’ drive

of Edmonton.

The town of Jasper, with a

population of 4,700 that swells

to 20,000 to 25,000 in summer,

lies within the park.

“People who love the

outdoors just love Jasper,”

says Helen Kelleher-Empey,

general manager of Jasper

Tourism & Commerce, who

emigrated from Ireland and

has lived in Jasper since 1992.

“We have a lot of return visitors

once people come here and

find out about the lakes, the

hiking, the back-country trails,

the mountain climbing, rock

climbing and canoeing.

“Our brand is ‘Jasper.

Wonderful. By Nature,’ because

Jasper is surrounded by the

rugged peaks, the beautiful

trees, the animals.

“But because we live in

Jasper National Park,” Kelleher-

Empey adds, “our town print

never gets any bigger. We’re

just unique.”

escape the heat …; in the fall, there’s the smell of leaves that can be very inspirational; and in the winter, skiers and runners share the trails.

“The beauty is we can do this without having to travel a couple of hours. It’s right here,” says Stanton, an avid runner whose stores sell shoes and apparel across North America.

Shelley Bindon, outdoors writer for the Edmonton Journal, agrees.

Bindon, who returned to her native Edmonton after working several years in the United States, says there’s so much going on every weekend – bike races, running races, fishing contests, water-skiing competitions – she simply can’t cover it all. And those are just the organized events.

“Edmonton is incredible,” she says. “We’ve got the North Saskatchewan River that comes direct from the glaciers in the Rocky Mountains. It’s a gorgeous river. Because of the geography of the area, we’ve got these incredible ravines and the river valley.”

When Edmonton was beginning to grow, city leaders decided to not develop

the river valley for anything other than recreation, Bindon says. As a result, its 7,400 hectares (about 18,200 acres) represent the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America, including 22 major parks and more than 150 kilometres (93 miles) of trails.

For golfers, the region offers more than 70 courses.

Farther afield, but still easily accessible, are Elk Island National Park, which is home to 40 species of mammals, Strathcona Wilderness Centre, Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreational Area, Devonian Botanic Garden, and Kalyna Country ecomuseum. World-famous Jasper National Park (see story at right) is just a few hours away by car.

“I love the idea that you can drive 20 minutes and be in the wilderness,” says Erica Thomas, chair of the Edmonton Regional Tourism Group. “You get away from the city life, and you get into nature. You drive 20 minutes in any direction and you’re outside of the rush of the city, and I just love that. It helps people gain perspective on what’s really important.”

Relaxing at a tranquil lake in William Hawrelak Park is another way to enjoy Edmonton’s 7,400 hectares (18,200 acres) of open space in the river valley.

Left: It’s a hop, skip and an occasional bump for 22-year-old cyclist Ray Juffermans as he navigates stepping stones near the Alberta Legislature Building. Inset: Downtown buildings provide a dramatic backdrop for the Victoria Golf Club & Driving Range in the North Saskatchewan River Valley.



Grant MacEwan College’s student body includes about 600 people from 52 countries around the world.

COSMOP


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A nna Kuranicheva arrived in Edmonton from Ukraine in 1998, ready to study anthropology on the master’s level at the University of Alberta.

She graduated in 2002 and today is employed in Edmonton as a program liaison for foreign-trained professionals at the Bredin Institute-Centre for Learning. She primarily works with international medical graduates who are trying to establish their medical practice in Canada.

Kuranicheva is one of thousands of international students who have enrolled in Edmonton’s increasingly cosmopolitan colleges and universities since the late 1990s. Today, the University of Alberta is home to about 2,300 international students, while NorQuest College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology and Grant MacEwan College have roughly 4,000, 1,000 and 600, respectively.

That means of the nearly 150,000 students enrolled in Edmonton’s 10 institutions of higher education, well over five per cent are from countries other than Canada.

The past 10 years here have been an exciting adventure for Kuranicheva, and her life got even more exciting on May 30, 2007, when she became a Canadian citizen.

“The swearing-in ceremony is a special moment, and I am

proud to be a citizen and resident of Canada,” she says. “I will stay in Edmonton because it is the right size for me, since I come from a big urban city in the Ukraine. I also like the colder winter temperatures because I enjoy downhill skiing, cross country skiing and ice skating. I have a Nordic spirit in me.”

Her success story and those of many other foreign-born students resonate well at colleges and universities across the

EDMONTON ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – AND MANY

STAY HERE AS VALUED EMPLOYEES

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN

Anna Kuranicheva came to Edmonton from Ukraine for graduate studies at the University of Alberta. She stayed

on to work at the Bredin Institute-Centre for Learning.

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city – and at companies that are recruiting well-educated people to fill job openings.

“Our college is actively engaged in recruiting international students, and we target a lot of our efforts toward China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Mexico and Latin America,” says David McLeod, director of international education at Grant MacEwan College. “We currently have 600 students enrolled from 52 different countries, and we welcome every one of them. International students bring new and challenging perspectives to the classroom, and they enliven the academic climate.”

McLeod says international students also are determined to achieve their educational goals in a foreign country. And perhaps most importantly, many of these students ultimately will fill jobs within Edmonton’s booming economy.

“It’s a fact that there is a labour shortage in Edmonton, and our students can help fill that void,” he says. “Employers need employees, and many of those trained workers can be found in the international pool of student graduates that is increasing more and more throughout Edmonton.”

NorQuest College, which welcomes more than 4,000 immigrant students each year, has a teaching situation that is different from those at other institutions of higher learning in Edmonton.

“We provide education to adult immigrants, with the average age of those adults being in their mid-30s,” says Anna DeLuca, dean of language training and adult literacy at NorQuest College. “We have students who might arrive here with little education from war-torn countries, or highly skilled immigrants who can easily transition into a professional workplace. At NorQuest College, 60 per cent of our students were born outside of Canada.”

DeLuca says a student at NorQuest might simply take one course like English as a second language, or a full load of classes that eventually will connect a student to a highly technical and well-paying career.

“A student might need a certificate or two-year diploma program, or simply a short intervention like a communications course that will help them successfully integrate into the Canadian workplace,” she says. “On that note, we also offer intercultural training to leading Edmonton businesses to assist them in developing effective communication strategies to successfully manage a multicultural workforce. Our goal is to train immigrants so that they can adjust to the Canadian workforce. We want them to become contributing citizens to the overall well-being of this country.”

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more about higher education in Edmonton, visit imagesedmonton.com/06.

Left: More than 4,000 immigrant students attend NorQuest College in Edmonton, roughly 60 percent of enrollment. Below left: About 2,300 international students make the U of A their academic home.

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More than 250,000

permanent immigrants

arrive in Canada each year, with a

majority of them going to the

country’s three biggest cities –

Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Edmonton wants more of

those immigrants.

“Edmonton has huge labour

shortages due to its booming

economy,” says Randy Gurlock,

area director for Citizenship and

Immigration Canada in Edmonton,

Northern Alberta and the

Northwest Territories. “A big goal

in Edmonton is to have foreign

students enroll in a college or

university here, then graduate

and get a work permit to remain

in this community.”

Citizenship and Immigration

Canada is a federal department

that oversees work opportunities

for international students.

Programs the department

administers allow these students

to work while in school as well

as following graduation, with

certain stipulations.

“If a foreign student wants to

work at a job on campus while in

school, they don’t need a work

permit at all from our federal

department,” Gurlock says.

“They can do anything, from

flipping burgers at a campus

mall to working in a computer

lab. But any other situation needs

to be approved by Citizenship

and Immigration Canada.”

Those situations include

obtaining a permit to work at a

part-time job off campus. Such

a permit allows international

students to work up to 20

hours a week and then

full-time during summer

months and winter break.

“The other program that

we offer is that once a student

graduates, he or she can obtain a

permit to work in a job in Canada

for two years, as long as the job is

related to the course of studies,”

Gurlock says. “After that time,

they have the option to apply for

permanent residence.”

A work permit costs $150 per

student and can be obtained by

mail through Citizenship and

Immigration Canada. Students

usually receive the permit within

12 calendar days.

“Foreign students need to

apply for a social insurance

number to work in Canada, and

they must also initially enter the

country with enough money to

live and pay their bills while they

are studying,” Gurlock says.

“Working simply helps them earn

extra money and gain Canadian

work experience.”

For more information,

visit www.cic.gc.ca.

Immigration official Randy Gurlock says former students can seek permanent residence when work permits expire.

Canada Reaches Out to Job Seekers IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ADMINISTERS PROGRAMS THAT ALLOW

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO WORK DURING COLLEGE AND AFTERWARD

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A summer sunrise casts an inviting glow on downtown Edmonton and the North Saskatchewan River.


715 F5 Opportunities.indd 24 8/22/07 10:53:29 AM

A s a welding instructor in Germany, Karsten Czulay provided a good life for his family, but he often

craved a change of scenery and better long-term employment prospects.

So he jumped at the opportunity when a former student, who worked for one of the world’s leading manufacturers of heavy equipment attachments and cranes for the mining and forestry industry, offered him a position in Edmonton.

“When I visited Edmonton for the first time in December 2005, it was

WELL-PAYING JOBS, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE ENTICE WORKERS TO EDMONTON

Seizing

STORY BY VALERIE PASCOE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO

Karsten Czulay says the hot job market in Edmonton lured him and his family from Germany.

Opportunities



obvious that the economy was very strong here because so many people were hiring,” Czulay says. “I made the move in March 2006, and my family followed three months later. It’s a decision we are glad we made.”

Since relocating to the area, the Czulays have enjoyed Edmonton’s 2,300 hours of annual sunlight by snowboarding and skiing during the winter, biking during the summer, and visiting attractions such as the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. They’ve also made a variety of friends.

“Canada is such a multicultural place, and in Edmonton we have met people from all over the world, including Germany,” Czulay says. “For my children, the opportunity to learn a new language has been priceless. That is something they will always take with them in life.”

With a per-capita disposable income that is 10 per cent higher than the national average and the lowest personal

tax burden in Canada, including low municipal property taxes and no provincial sales tax, Edmonton attracts thousands of newcomers like the Czulay family each year.

According to Myron Borys, vice president of economic development for Edmonton Economic Development Corp., the area’s booming economy remains strong as a growing number of companies continue to invest locally.

“There aren’t many other areas in the world where you can say that you have $130 billion in announced projects under way over the next 10 years,” Borys says. “Northern Alberta has one of the most exciting economies in the world right now.”

He also points to Edmonton’s acclaimed health-care system, award-winning schools, abundance of housing options and short daily commutes as factors contributing to the area’s superior quality of life. (See story at right.)

Mary Pat Barry, the city’s branch

manager for corporate communications, says Edmonton’s big-city cultural offerings combined with its small-town relaxed attitude are helping draw young professionals in search of a comfortable lifestyle.

“Edmonton is unique in that we still have a degree of small-town outlook, but at the same time we are shifting into the ‘big leagues’ in terms of Canadian cities of note,” Barry says. “We’re seeing more young families moving to Edmonton not just for the quality of life but also because future prospects are so bright. They can have more sooner here.”

Edmonton provides opportunities for people of different cultures to mingle, such as Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market.


SEE VIDEO ONLINE | Join Edmontonians as they shop for fresh produce, handmade crafts and other goods at the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. www.imagesedmonton.com.


Each day during his morning commute,

Bob Vergidis pauses to get geared up for

another busy day at work – but only briefly.

He lives in a modern loft apartment, which

was once warehouse space, just a block

from his downtown Edmonton office.

“For people looking to raise a family, Edmonton is

a great place to be. With our home downtown, we

enjoy close access to work, entertainment and the

farmers’ market. It’s a great quality of life,” says

Vergidis, who is president and chief executive officer

of DevStudios, a global information technology

education and consulting firm based here.

Even with prices on the upswing, homes in

Greater Edmonton remain more affordable than

those in other Canadian major metropolitan areas

and in many international cities. According to

Richard Goatcher, a senior market analyst for the

Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corp., Edmonton’s

once-undervalued real estate market now is keeping

pace with the area’s rapidly growing economy.

“I would say this is probably the hottest real

estate market in North America right now because

of all the capital investment tied to the oil sands and

oil companies putting money into the region. Home

prices are going up from where they were 10 years

ago,” Goatcher says. “With so many people

immigrating to the area, the rental market is also

very tight. Finding a place to stay in advance is

becoming a priority for those moving here.”

Housing choices here include loft apartments

such as the one Vergidis purchased, starter homes,

rental units, older dwellings in leafy in-town

neighbourhoods, modest dwellings in need of

tender-loving care, suburban subdivisions, high-rise

condos, multimillion-dollar mansions and outlying

acreages. Stress-free commutes are common.

CMHC, which is Canada’s national housing

agency, provides a number of resources to help

newcomers navigate the market. The organization

offers the Newcomers Guide to Canadian Housing, a

52-page manual available online at www.cmhc.ca

that provides detailed information on how to buy or

rent a place to live. CMHC also publishes detailed

housing market reports for Edmonton that are

updated monthly.

“There’s a lot of effort going on throughout the

community to try to bring people into the province

and make them feel at home,” Goatcher says.

– Valerie Pascoe

Ahhhh – Home, Swift HomeSHORT COMMUTES CAN BE SELLING POINTS IN THE HOUSING MARKET HERE

Ride or walk? Some fortunate commuters here have the option of taking the light-rail line or the pathway below it.

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A.L.L. Stars Realty Ltd. (Since 1989)

The #1 Century 21 Office in Western CanadaWith numerous recognitions, our agents are among the top real estate professionals in the

industry. Century 21 agents take pride in their level of professionalism and service, and

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the highest degree of performance. Whether buying or selling a home, purchasing or

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our industry-leading team can provide you with the value-added service you deserve.

For all your real estate needs, please contact one of our professional agents by visiting us at

312 Saddleback Rd., Edmonton, Alberta.

(780) 434-4700 • Fax: (780) 436-9902 • [email protected] • www.allstarsrealty.ca


715 Portfolio.indd 28 8/22/07 10:54:28 AM

If there’s a large convention in Edmonton, you can bet it’s happening

at the Shaw Conference Centre.“The Shaw Conference Centre is the

largest purpose-built convention facility in Alberta,” says Mike Fitzpatrick, gen-eral manager. “Our first priority is to make it possible for a convention planner to bring their event to Edmonton know-ing that meeting space, exhibition halls, and food and beverage services are available as their program may require.”

Situated on the rim of the North Saskatchewan River Valley and a five-minute walk from the downtown entertainment district, the Shaw Conference Centre boasts award-winning architecture and world-champion chefs. And it keeps getting better.

Many of the meeting rooms are freshly renovated with new ceilings, lighting, sound systems, and wall and floor finishes.

Shaw’s latest addition, Hall D, which opened in March 2006, offers unmatched views of the river valley. “The Canadian Society of Association Executives, which represents many of Canada’s national associations, experienced Hall D for their national meeting [in September 2006],” Fitzpatrick says. “The panoramic view was augmented with a spectacular fireworks display in the river valley as part of their gala dinner at the close of the convention. By all accounts, they left Edmonton with a very favourable impression of what is now possible for their events when they return to Edmonton.”

Shaw Conference Centre also is making strides in environmental friendliness. It has implemented numerous measures for reducing power, water and natural gas usage as well as recycling waste. Centre officials

are seeking “Go Green” certification by the end of 2007.

“Our clients and employees expect that a public facility will recycle, and they also expect to see some evidence of that,” Fitzpatrick says. “An added benefit is that reduced usage continues to result in reduced costs.”

Right: Edmonton’s Shaw Conference Centre can accommodate banquets, trade shows and other kinds of events. Top: The expansive glass of the

building’s Hall D (centre right) affords spectacular views of the river valley.

The Centre of AttentionASSOCIATION EXECUTIVES FROM ACROSS CANADA EXPERIENCE SHAW AT ITS BEST


Portfolio


Grooming the Next Generation

Edmonton’s Next Gen Task Force is working to close the generation gap

in the area’s workforce.Currently, people over age 40 manage

many departments, boards and agencies in Edmonton. In the years ahead, members of today’s younger generation will be needed to fill key openings.

“Next Gen was created in 2005, and it’s designed to support the attraction of the 18-to-40 age bracket,” says Ian Howatt, chair of the Next Gen Task Force communications committee. “Baby boomers are beginning to retire, and we’re losing (some) leaders in the 18-to-40 age group. Instead, we want young people to establish roots in Edmonton.”

The Next Gen Task Force was the brainchild of Mayor Stephen Mandel, who took office in 2004 with the realization that no city can thrive if its young talent seeks opportunity elsewhere. The task force struck a responsive chord with Edmontonians.

“We had over 1,000 people interested,” Howatt says. “They participate in surveys we do, and we invite them to networking events.”

The task force advisory committee meets monthly, and five subcommittees report to it.

“We have a Wi-Fi group looking at putting free Wi-Fi in Edmonton and a special projects group looking at recommendations made by City Council,” Howatt says. “We have a special events group that puts on networking events. Networking is a key aspect of what we’re doing, and we’ve brought in famous guest speakers.”

The City of Edmonton and the private sector have embraced the Next Gen Task Force and its initiatives.

“We’ve had people come to us offering to host events,” he says. “People realize this is a real opportunity to market to the 18-to-40 age group. We want this group to have a voice in local culture and every aspect related to growth. We want them to feel engaged in the community and energize the city.”

For more information, visit www.edmontonnextgen.ca.

Ian Howatt says the Next Gen Task Force is working to offer 18-to-40-year-olds new opportunities to become more engaged in Edmonton’s civic life.

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Portfolio


The Win-Win of Volunteering

With more than 1,500 registered charities and 8,000 not-for-

profit organizations in Edmonton, it’s no surprise that volunteering is a deep-seated tradition here.

“We have a lot of festivals that rely on volunteers, and they always get a good response,” says Janice Bell, director of Volunteer Edmonton.

Her organization has three main goals: to promote the value of volun-teerism to the community, to advocate good standards of practice for volunteer involvement and to network with organizations that support volunteerism.

“I believe volunteering is one of the pillars of a civil society,” Bell says. “Volunteers always tell you they get more than they give out of the experience. You get a feeling of doing good, but it’s not just about that – you also get new skills and gain new contacts.”

Studies have shown that volunteering is good for the volunteer in other ways, too. According to Health Canada, it improves one’s well being by enhancing social support networks and improving employability, self-esteem and coping skills, among other benefits.

“Volunteering helps you make connections, understand the needs of your community and not be isolated,” Bell says. “It’s a win-win situation all around.”

With so many choices, finding a satisfying volunteer opportunity here is a snap. Greater Edmonton is home to large, well-known charities such as United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and to small, lesser-known organizations such as the Seniors Volunteer Driving Network, through which people drive senior citizens to medical appointments and grocery shopping.

“A lot of the smaller groups don’t have a paid staff and are completely run by volunteers,” Bell says.

Visit www.volunteeredmonton.com for information on volunteer opportunities in the area.

Volunteering to work with kids is one option. Helping seniors is another.



Women aspiring to work as tradespeople can get a foot in

the door with the help of Women Building Futures in Edmonton.

The not-for-profit organization, led by Executive Director JudyLynn Archer, works to help women build better lives and move toward prosperity by training them in areas such as construction, welding, ironwork, carpentry and automotive service.

The program incorporates train-ing, apprenticeships, mentoring and

career placement. Jenn Siegel graduated from WBF

two years ago and then specialized in pipefitting.

“You learn the basics about almost every trade, so you can figure out what you want to be,” she says. “It’s a great place to start and a great support network. You get a lot of hands-on training – we built a garden shed, laid tiles and shingles, and did some welding.”

One could say a career in the trades

JudyLynn Archer leads Women Building Futures, which trains women for jobs in various trades.

was in Siegel’s blood.“I was born and raised on a farm,

so all I knew was hard work,” she says. “And both my brothers are electricians.”

WBF applicants go through a vigorous screening process before being admitted to the program.

“You have to have the drive and really be there because you want to be in the trades. It’s not an easy program,” Siegel says. “If you’re not serious about it, they won’t accept you because a boss wouldn’t accept you either.”

Women Building Futures has helped more than 170 women enter jobs in Alberta’s construction trades. And whenever graduates need guidance, they know they can count on the organization.

“Every time I need to talk, they’re there,” Siegel says. “It’s a support network. All the girls who were in my class are still very much in contact.”

Siegel is on her way to completing a five-year apprenticeship in less than four years. Her goal is to eventually become an instructor at Women Building Futures.

For more information about the organization and its various training and mentoring opportunities, visit www.womenbuildingfutures.com.

Trading for Success Among Women


Portfolio


Retail Revolution

Forget Paris and New York City – Edmonton may well be the greatest

shopping destination on earth. The city is home to West Edmonton

Mall, the world’s largest entertainment and shopping complex, as well as a plethora of more personal, intimate shopping areas such as Old Strathcona and 124th Street.

“Edmonton offers so many choices for shopping,” says Sibeal McCourt-Bincoletto, chief executive officer of Retail Alberta. “Whether you are strolling through a large shopping centre, checking out the exclusive shops on Whyte Avenue or wandering through a farmers’ market, Edmonton is a great place to shop.”

And it’s poised to become even greater. New stores and retail developments are following the influx of people into prosperous Greater Edmonton.

West Edmonton Mall has added a number of big names to its lineup of 800-plus stores, including Sweden-based H&M clothing, Italian fashion luggage maker Mandarina Duck – its first location in North America – and France-based Sephora cosmetics.

Southgate Centre is in the midst of a $108 million expansion that will add significant retail square footage to its

existing 130 stores.Other places in Edmonton are

beneficiaries of retail growth, too.“The majority of activity is on the

outskirts of the city where newly planned neighbourhoods are under way,” McCourt-Bincoletto says. “The most talked about new development is Windermere, one of the most exciting projects to come to Edmonton in some time.” Windermere bills itself as “a masterfully planned commercial and retail environment inspired by the great meeting places of the world.”

Another notable new development is taking shape at 17th Street and Whitemud Drive. “It’s going to be a new home for Home Depot, Staples, Superstore and more national retail tenants,” McCourt-Bincoletto says. “South Edmonton Common, Ellerslie Road and Southwest Edmonton are also gearing up for more retail.”

Vacancy rates in the retail market are continuing to drop, while rental rates and consumer spending are increasing.

“The current vacancy of 3.62 per cent is at a historic low,” he says. “The city of Edmonton certainly has some areas in which there is no vacancy.”

– Stories by Jessica Mozo

West Edmonton Mall’s 800-plus stores include some that line fashionable Europa Boulevard. Within its 570,000 square metres (5.4 million square feet) of space, the mall also contains such attractions as a gigantic wave pool, an amusement park with roller coasters, a skating rink and a saltwater lagoon.



T he list of amenities at 7008 Roper Road, just southeast of downtown Edmonton, is impressive.

However, the scenic 10-acre site’s 24-hour fitness centre, jogging trail, state-of-the-art game room and cafeteria run by a gourmet chef aren’t part of a posh new residential community. These are just a few of the benefits designed to draw the tech industry’s best and brightest workers to Intuit Canada’s headquarters in Edmonton.

According to Jane Sillberg, the company’s director of human resources for Canada and the United Kingdom, the perk-laden work environment was one reason why the company was

INCOMING WORKERS RECEIVE WARM WELCOME FROM COMPANIES, SUPPORT FROM ORGANIZATIONS

STORY BY VALERIE PASCOE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO

Employee benefits at Intuit Canada’s Edmonton headquarters include exercise classes during lunch hour.

CarpetRed theRolling out


715 Business.indd 34 8/22/07 10:51:20 AM

Chris Ferguson works out at the Intuit Canada fitness center, which is open around the clock. To attract and retain employees, the company also offers a jogging trail, game room and gourmet-style cafeteria at its headquarters.

selected as one of Canada’s 50 best employers and named the top-ranked technology company in Hewitt Associates’ annual study of the 50 Best Employers in Canada.

“Our approach is to take care of the entire employee, and we do everything we can to help relocating workers adjust to the area,” says Sillberg, who relocated to Edmonton from London, Ontario, in 2006. “As someone who moved here recently, I can say that the city itself also offers a very welcoming atmosphere for newcomers.”

As the area’s economy continues to boom, the city and the local business community are rolling out the red carpet for families and individuals attracted to Greater Edmonton. Employment growth in the region has skyrocketed, with the addition of nearly 25,000 jobs anticipated locally in 2007 and more than 400,000 new jobs expected in all of Alberta by 2015.

“What we’re seeing are the good

effects of Edmonton’s economic boom trickling down to the employee level and benefiting individuals in the workplace,” says Karen Link, manager of Edmonton Workforce Connection. “Companies are not just competing from a salary standpoint, they’re also working hard to provide a very high-quality work environment.”

Edmonton Workforce Connection, a program of the Edmonton Economic Development Corp., collaborates with businesses, educational institutions, governments and other community stakeholders to develop initiatives to address the region’s labour needs.

In 2006, EWC launched www.movetoedmonton.com, a compre-hensive web portal that provides multilingual and interactive resources for potential newcomers to the area.

“We’re looking to attract people from across Canada and around the world to Edmonton for the wide variety of career prospects and the quality of life here,”

Link says. In September 2007, EWC is teaming

with the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers to form the Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council, a multi-stakeholder organi-zation that will further address the need for workers.

Jim Gurnett, executive director of the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers, says his organization already serves 10,000 people each year by providing settlement and integration support such as helping newcomers find housing and jobs. The centre also offers classes for immigrants to learn or improve English skills.

“The best thing about immigration in Edmonton is there are a lot of people coming in with tremendous qualifications and skills who can add to the quality of life here,” Gurnett says. “We provide the information and resources they need to get here and get on with a good life.”


Business | Edmonton

715 Business.indd 35 8/22/07 10:51:22 AM

FOOD WITH FLAIRAs fresh and delectable as the meals

are, they’re not the only attraction at the Hardware Grill in downtown Edmonton.

“The building itself is historic,” says Larry Stewart, owner and executive chef of the restaurant located in the refurbished Goodridge Block. “Just about everybody who eats here has a story, whether they bought their fishing license here or their dad bought them their first pair of skates.”

Stewart and his wife, Melinda, opened the Hardware Grill in 1996 in what was once the W.W. Arcade hardware store. It features seasonally inspired Canadian Prairie cooking and includes a wine list of more than 700 selections.

“It’s a very hands-on, artisan-style kitchen,” says Stewart, who was introduced to cooking growing up on a

farm in Ontario. “We make everything in-house. We bake our own bread, smoke our own fish, make our own sausage. There isn’t anything we serve that we don’t make on the premises.”

The restaurant has won eight consecutive Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence, seven consecutive listings in Anne Hardy’s Where to Eat in Canada, and inclusion in enRoute magazine’s list of the 100 best restaurants in Canada.

THIS TRAINING IS RIGGEDWhen it comes to being trained for

working in the oil-service-rig industry, there’s nothing like the real thing. And that’s precisely the effect of a new program developed by Terris-Hill Productions Inc., a software training company in Edmonton Research Park.

Terris-Hill spent two years and invested $3 million to create the computer training program known as

Rig Skills SimuLynx, which provides new service-rig employees a virtual experience of the work they’ll be doing.

“It’s very, very detailed,” says Kevin McNulty, a partner at Terris-Hill who oversees e-learning. “We used nine subject-matter experts over a period of two years doing task analysis and risk assessment.”

SimuLynx is designed to help lessen the number of service rig accidents, as well as to cut down on turnover in the industry.

“Anyone that’s looked at it has had nothing but positive things to say,” McNulty says.

RECRUITING WITH A HUMMER

To help address an increase in hiring needs, Finning Canada could have advertised in the newspaper or participated in a job fair.

But “we wanted to do something different,” says Greg McNeill, director of human resources for the Edmonton company that sells, services and finances Caterpillar equipment. “We had to recruit a lot of people, so we created an image, a marketing plan, around the whole idea of recruiting for Finning.”

The result may be coming to a location near you. Known as The Wanted Tour, it involves traveling to cities throughout Canada in an attention-grabbing H2 Hummer painted in camouflage.

“It’s sort of a military thing,” McNeill says. “Our strategy was go to the people, not wait for them to come to us.”

The program began in February 2006, and by the end of that year Finning had hired 1,016 new employees and received around 15,000 resumés.

WASTE NOT, WANT NOTAt Kitchen Partners Ltd., less is more.Since the Edmonton company

adopted the “lean” process in its manufacturing and production, waste has been virtually eliminated.

“It’s a pretty straightforward process, but it has yielded pretty substantial

Bison carpaccio is one of the entrees on the menu at downtown Edmonton’s Hardware Grill, acclaimed as one of the 100 best restaurants in Canada.

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Business | Biz Briefs

715 Business.indd 36 8/22/07 10:51:26 AM

rewards for us,” says Jeff Clark, president of Kitchen Partners. “[The lean process] looks at ways to eliminate waste from the system.”

Perhaps the best result is the degree to which it engages the employees.

“We have BIG (business improvement groups) meetings every month that are very meaningful,” Clark says. “Employees meet with their managers and basically identify opportunities to make it easier to get the job done. They’re quite enthusiastic about it.”

Kitchen Partners, founded as Floron Foods in 1984, specializes in the food manufacturing and distribution business. It distributes products to Boston Pizza franchises in northern Alberta and is the exclusive manu-facturer of meat sauce for all Boston Pizza franchises across Canada.

THE REAL McCOYThe way Jim Rakevich sees it, there is

no secret formula to explain the success of McCoy Corp. The company’s president and chief executive officer says it’s fairly simple, actually.

“We’ve been successful because of our commitment to satisfying our customers and meeting and exceeding their expectations,” says Rakevich, who has been in his current position since October 2002. “We help them make their businesses successful.”

McCoy Corp. started as a blacksmith shop in 1914 in downtown Edmonton. Now with about 800 employees in Alberta and British Columbia, it provides products and services for trucks and trailers, manufactures trailers, and is involved in energy products and services.

The company has experienced particularly impressive growth in the past few years, increasing revenue from $27 million in 2002 to nearly $150 million in 2006.

McCoy was awarded Edmonton Economic Development Corp.’s 2007 Business Achievement Award for its commitment to best practices and its 90-plus years of business achievements.

– John McBryde

Kitchen Partners Ltd. is the exclusive manufacturer of meat sauce and a distributor of other products for Boston Pizza franchises in Canada.


715 Business.indd 37 8/22/07 10:51:29 AM

EDMONTON

BUSINESS CLIMATEGreater Edmonton is an economic powerhouse where businesses

and careers thrive. Its sizzling growth is fed by the lowest cost

of doing business and one of the hottest investment climates

in Canada.

FACTS/STATISTICS

Edmonton was ranked as the

best Canadian city to do

business by Canadian Business

magazine in September 2006.

As Alberta’s capital city,

Edmonton is the focal point

for a province with the

strongest period of growth

of any province in Canadian

history. Its GDP exceeded

average Canadian growth

during eight of the past 10

years. Moreover, Alberta is

poised to be one of the

hottest economies for

years to come.

Edmonton was ranked as having the best economic potential in North America by

Foreign Direct Investment magazine in April 2007. It is

also the only Canadian city in

the top-10 Cities of the Future

ranking.

The Edmonton service area

has the second-largest oil reserves in the world – second

only to those of Saudi Arabia.

More than $100 billion is

expected to be invested in the

region over the next decade.

Edmonton is debt free,

enabling the city to allocate

more spending on infra-

structure – 2.5 times per

capita more than the average

of other provinces.

Business costs are the lowest of any city of its size in the

North American Midwest

and rated among the top 10

globally, according to the

KPMG Competitive

Alternatives Report for 2006.

Edmonton has the lowest-cost

class-A office space among

major Canadian cities. It also

offers an ideal corporate tax

structure, with no provincial sales tax, capital tax or payroll tax.

Edmonton boasts a lot more

than energy. The city has

one of the most diverse economies among Canadian

cities of comparable size.

Edmonton reaps more than $1 billion in annual economic activity because of its

strategic location for

companies that support,

supply and service the forest

and wood-products industry.

Edmonton is a hotbed of

research and innovation,

thanks to 10 universities and colleges, including the

University of Alberta – one

of the best-funded research

universities in Canada.

A strong entrepreneurial spirit has made Edmonton

third in the country for

small businesses.

Edmonton is strategically located between one of the largest oil supplies and the world’s largest energy consumer – the United States.

As the largest urban centre

closest to the oil sands, it also

serves as the transportation

and logistics hub for the oil,

gas and mining sector.

Given its strategic location as

the first major centre on the CN rail line from the Port of Prince Rupert, Edmonton

is in a position to be a key

transportation hub for

the continent.

Edmontonians enjoy higher per capita incomes than the

national average, and above

that of Canada’s largest

city – Toronto.

HOUSING/REAL ESTATE

Residents of Greater

Edmonton have quality,

affordable housing with a

broad range of desirable

neighbourhoods. Average home prices are among the lowest of any major Canadian city.

Canadian Mortgage and

Housing Corp. (CMHC)

(780) 423-8700

www.cmhc.ca

Multiple Listing System (MLS)

www.mls.ca

Edmonton Real Estate Board

(780) 451-6666, www.ereb.com

Landlord and Tenant

Government Services Alberta

www.gov.ab.ca/gs/

information/landlord

TRANSPORTATION

Air

Edmonton International

Airport connects the region

to the world, with daily

nonstop flights to 10 key U.S.

destinations and London’s

Heathrow Airport.

(780) 890-8382

www.edmontonairports.com

Drive

Shortest daily commute time

of Canada’s largest cities.

Public Transportation System

The Edmonton Transit System

offers more than 140 bus


Business | Economic Profile

715 Econ. profile.indd 38 8/22/07 10:51:58 AM

routes throughout the city.

The 11-station light-rail transit

(LRT) system stretches 12.7

kilometres from Clareview in

the north through downtown

south to the University of

Alberta. (780) 496-1611

www.takeETS.com

Local Streets

City maps are available from

www.edmonton.ca and the

Edmonton Transit System.

Pedway System

An extensive system of

pedways (above- and below-

ground) connects most

major downtown buildings

with the LRT.

Taxis

Taxi fare from the airport

to the city centre is

approximately $50.

LABOUR FORCE

The labour pool consists of

more than 610,000 people.

Alberta has the highest

net population in-migration

in Canada.

There is a positive and

productive union/

management environment,

with one of the best labour

records and fewest workdays

lost due to strikes.

GOVERNMENT

City of Edmonton(780) 496-8200

www.edmonton.ca

Province of Alberta

(780) 310-0000

(toll-free within Canada)

www.gov.ab.ca

Canada

800 O-CANADA

(780) 622-6232

www.canada.gc.ca

LICENSE & REGISTRY SERVICES

Alberta’s motor vehicle license

and registration system is

privatized, with many vehicle

registry offices available

throughout Edmonton.

Refer to the Yellow

SuperPages under License

& Registry Services for the

nearest location.

TAXES

Alberta is the only province

that does not impose a

Provincial Sales Tax on top

of the national Goods and

Services Tax of 6%.

WORKING IN EDMONTON

Edmonton offers some of

the best employment

prospects in Canada in a

variety of industry sectors

because of its booming,

sustainable economy.

About 66,000 new jobs

are expected to be created

by 2010.

To search for opportunities

in Edmonton, visit www.

movetoedmonton.com and

check out the job banks.

SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER

One of the requirements to

work in Canada is a Social

Insurance Number (SIN).

This nine-digit number is

used in the administration

of government programs, to

receive government benefits

such as Employ ment

Insurance or the Canada

Pension Plan, and as

identification. Apply for a card

at Social Development Canada

at www.sdc.gc.ca.

MAJOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS

PCL Construction Group,

5,400 employees

Flint Field Services, 4,500

TELUS, 3,700

CN, 3,000

EPCOR Utilities Inc.*, 1,940

Alberta Treasury

Branches*, 1,700

The Brick*, 1,500

Dell, 1,300

Finning, 1,000

* Headquartered in Edmonton

Source:www.edmonton.com

DISTANCE TO OTHER CITIES

Calgary 294 kilometres (184 miles)

Jasper 362 kilometres (226 miles)

Banff 404 kilometres (252 miles)

Vancouver 1,159 kilometres (720 miles)

Seattle 1,263 kilometres (785 miles)

Salt Lake City 1,727 kilometres (1,073 miles)

Denver 2,057 kilometres (1,278 miles)

Minneapolis-St. Paul 2,037 kilometres (1,266 miles)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Edmonton Economic Development Corp.3rd Floor

World Trade Centre

9990 Jasper Ave.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

T5J 1P7

Phone: (780) 424-9191

Toll-free: (800) 661-6965

www.edmonton.com www.movetoedmonton.com


715 Econ. profile.indd 39 8/22/07 10:52:00 AM

Alberta Legislature Building and grounds


Image Gallery

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO


715 Gallery.indd 41 8/22/07 10:54:06 AM

Cycling on the High Level Bridge


Image Gallery

715 Gallery.indd 42 8/22/07 10:54:10 AM

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY S. OTTO


715 Gallery.indd 43 8/22/07 10:54:16 AM

Language classes are common offerings in most school districts. In the Edmonton Public Schools,

for instance, students must study a foreign language for a minimum of six years.

But educators here also have taken learning a language to another level, offering what Stuart Wachowicz, director of curriculum services, calls “the most comprehensive language plan in North America.”

French Immersion is aptly named. Participating students are immersed in the French language between 70 percent and 100 percent of the school day, during which they learn subjects in French.

Students can start in kindergarten and first grade, or they can enroll in the Late French Immersion program that begins in seventh grade. It is assumed that the students accepted into the program – and their parents – do not speak French.

“By the time students are finished ninth grade, they are functionally bilingual,” Wachowicz says.

Because the district is an inter-national language testing center, it has

received a licence from the French Ministry of Education to conduct formal proficiency testing, and the diploma is recognized in 162 countries.

Of the district’s 82,000 students, about 3,000 are in the French Immersion program.

The district also offers bilingual programs. Up to 50 per cent of the school day involves courses studied in a target language, such as Arabic, German, Hebrew, Mandarin, Spanish, Ukrainian and American Sign Language.

The Chinese language program, which encompasses about 2,000 students, is the best outside of China, Wachowicz says.

As with the French Immersion program, students can take officially sanctioned international exams to determine their proficiency. The rewards of passing the tests are evident.

Students taking the German exam, for instance, often qualify for four years of free university in Germany. “They’re quite competent; they do very well over there,” he says.

Languages are selected based on public demand. “If a student wants a

language that we don’t provide and there is enough interest, we will make every effort to enable that program to exist,” he says.

In the third language-study format, students can choose from courses in 10 languages.

Because the district calibrates its program according to international standards, schools can easily identify students’ proficiency, whether they take six years of Spanish or are enrolled in the French Immersion program.

“This is very attractive for business,” Wachowicz says. “Many industries that locate here can do business globally with our student population. It’s also attractive to people who come to Edmonton and want their child to receive an education at a high inter-national standard.”

– Pam George

SEE MORE ONLINE | For more about innovative programs of Edmonton Public Schools, visit imagesedmonton.com/06.

Stewart Wachowicz says Edmonton’s schools offer “the most comprehensive language plan in North America.”

Parlez-vous Français? (Or German? Or Chinese?)IN EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE ANSWER LIKELY IS ‘OUI’ OR ITS EQUIVALENT


715 Education.indd 44 8/22/07 10:52:02 AM

Artistic Endeavours Applauded at ‘Vic’ EDMONTON SCHOOL NURTURES THE CREATIVE AND SCHOLASTIC MINDS

F ew would find it surprising

that creative students want

to attend the Victoria School

of the Performing and Visual

Arts. But the Edmonton

school, affectionately

nicknamed “Vic,” also holds

strong appeal for students

seeking rigorous academics.

Consider that eighth-grader

Nate Gartke placed second at

the Scripps National Spelling

Bee in June 2007 in

Washington, D.C.

Vic, a K-12 school, owes part

of its academic success to its

participation in the International

Baccalaureate program. “It’s

a worldwide philosophy in

teaching, a methodology in

teaching – and in high school, it

is curricular,” says John Beaton,

the school’s principal. “You get

the same curriculum, content

and good-quality teaching

anywhere in the world.”

The IB program has special

appeal for relocating families. “If

a child moves from an IB school

in Egypt to Edmonton, they will

still have the same outstanding

education,” Beaton says.

Clearly, matriculating

students also will enjoy the

school’s strong performing and

visual arts offerings. Spelling

whiz Gartke, for instance, plays

cello and bass guitar.

The school has pioneered the

concept of starting arts-

oriented programs as early as

kindergarten. “It’s embedded in

everything we do,” Beaton says.

“I have physics teachers

incorporating the performing

and visual arts in physics class,

and my dance teachers use

physics in dance class. When

you layer on the IB with it, it’s a

rich program.”

The majority of students

select a specialty between

grades seven and 12. Subjects

include dance, new media and

art. Or, they can remain in a

general program.

Courses range from ceramics

and social studies to world

literature and tap.

No matter whether a student

chooses dance or acting, parents

can rest assured that it will

involve exercising mind as well

as body. – Pam George

Victoria School salutes eighth-grader and spelling whiz Nate Gartke.

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Education

715 Education.indd 45 8/22/07 10:52:11 AM

Catholic Social ServicesServing and employing people of ALL faiths and cultures

Be part of our world through volunteer or employment opportunities

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (780) 432-1137 • www.catholicsocialservices.ab.ca

Providing service for ‘at risk’ children and youth

Individuals with developmental disabilities

Men and women dealing with addictions

Families in crisis

Celebrating diversityBuilding community

People on parole

Immigrants and refugees

Men and women living with HIV/AIDS

Seniors experiencing abuse or neglect


715 Sports.indd 46 8/22/07 10:54:58 AM

Oh, Canada: Get ready once again for Jennifer Heil.

The Greater Edmonton native will be on the Canadian national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, competing in women’s freestyle moguls skiing. In fact, Heil will be the defending champion, having won the gold medal in the event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Freestyle moguls features com-petitors on two skis who maneuver down a snow-packed, 250-metre straight course that is lined with large bumps and two large hills. Skiers speed over the bumps and then do freestyle twists and turns in the air after cresting the two hills.

The sport debuted at the 1988 Winter Olympics, and in 2006 it earned the third-highest TV ratings of all events.

“Moguls is an exciting sport that’s great for spectators because the course is short enough to see everything that takes place during an entire run,” Heil says. “The sport is scored 75 per cent by judges looking at the flips and twists on the jumps, and the other 25 per cent is the speed at which a competitor completes the course.”

Besides being the defending Winter Olympics champion, Heil is a four-time women’s moguls World Cup winner as well as the reigning eight-time Canadian champion. By the narrowest of margins, she missed being the bronze medalist as a teenager at the 2002 games in Salt Lake City.

“Representing Canada in Vancouver will be thrilling,” says Heil, who will be two months shy of her 27th birthday when the games commence on Feb. 12, 2010. “It will be my final Olympics, so winning a gold medal in my own country is my ultimate goal going into those games.” Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver will be the venue for all of the freestyle skiing and snow-boarding events.

Heil grew up in Spruce Grove outside of Edmonton but spent much of her free time as a teenager near downtown Edmonton, skiing on Connors Hill.

“Connors Hill was actually a good

spot to practice, so my sister and I would go there three times a week and all day on Saturdays,” she says. “I’ve always been into sports such as swimming, volleyball, badminton and gymnastics. But nowadays my entire focus is on training in moguls.”

Heil also is studying for a business degree at McGill University in Montreal and trains for her sport there by waterskiing in warm-weather months. She skis on downhill slopes in Quebec City during the winter.

“I have competed in many beautiful cities in Japan, Korea, Switzerland, France, Germany, Norway and Australia,

and traveling to vibrant cities has given me a perspective of how wonderful Edmonton is,” she says. “It is on par with all the other world-class cities I have been to.”

Heil adds that some of her fondest Edmonton memories include being with her friends at West Edmonton Mall or on Whyte Avenue and attending some of the many festivals the city offers.

“This is a fantastic community where people still take the time to say hello,” she says. “Wherever I travel, I am always proud to tell everyone that I am from Edmonton.” – Kevin Litwin

It’s All Downhill From HereGOLD MEDALIST JENNIFER HEIL PREPARES FOR THE VANCOUVER OLYMPICS IN 2010

Freestyle mogul skier Jennifer Heil, who won the gold at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, is hoping home-country advantage will help her repeat.


Sports & Recreation

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715 Health.indd 48 8/22/07 10:54:21 AM

Everyone is pumped up about Capital Health’s new Mazankowski Alberta Heart

Institute on the University of Alberta campus.

Construction of the $200 million facility is scheduled to be completed in early 2008. The 18-storey structure – with the space of four football fields – is the product of a collaboration between Capital Health and the U of A.

“The Heart Institute will be a centre for complex cardiac disease care, education and research,” says Dr. Arvind Koshal, director of development and external affairs for Manzankowski Alberta Health Institute. Koshal, who is also the chief of cardiovascular surgery for Capital Health in Edmonton, adds, “It will be one of the most technologically advanced heart institutes in North America and one of few equipped to accommodate both pediatric and adult heart patients. It is the first institute of its kind in Western Canada.”

To see a world-class heart institute in

Edmonton has been a longtime dream of Koshal, who formerly worked at a similar facility in Ottawa.

“Canada has two major heart institutes – in Ottawa and Montreal – and I thought it was time to establish one in Edmonton to serve all of western Canada and beyond,” he says. “There are many people who made this dream a reality, and the Heart Institute will serve everyone from pediatrics to the elderly. All cardiac services imaginable will be here under one roof.”

The institute is named for Don Manzankowski, a retired member of Parliament from Alberta who also served as a cabinet minister and deputy prime minister.

Another joint venture by Capital Health and the University of Alberta is the $909 million health facility called The Edmonton Clinic. It is scheduled to open in 2011 across from the Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre, with a mission to provide all medical services a patient might need – in one day.

“For example, if a patient is in need of clinical services, we will have a system in place to provide all diagnoses and treatments in one day so that the patient won’t need to make three or four different trips to the institute,” says Michele Lahey, Capital Health executive vice president. “The clinic will have the space and equipment to provide the absolute ultimate care and comfort to patients, which is what we are here for.”

Lahey says both the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and The Edmonton Clinic will contribute to Edmonton’s emerging reputation as “Mayo North,” a reference to the storied Mayo Clinic in the United States.

“We are committed to establishing Edmonton as Canada’s health capital, and calling us Mayo North is obviously a f lattering reference,” she says. “Our job is to keep advancing and improving what we do in medicine, and continuing to provide services to patients literally before they are born and then throughout their entire lives.” – Kevin Litwin

Tugging at the HeartstringsMAZANKOWSKI INSTITUTE WILL BRING WORLD-CLASS CARDIAC CARE TO REGION

Construction of the $200 million Manzankowski Alberta Heart Institute is nearing completion on the U of A campus.


Health & Wellness

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715 Arts.indd 50 8/22/07 10:51:13 AM

A masterpiece is taking shape on Sir Winston Churchill Square in Edmonton.

The Art Gallery of Alberta, scheduled to open in 2009, will be an artistic creation itself, as well as a showcase for works of noteworthy artists from around the world.

The $88 million project is the result of 10 years of planning. It involves renovating, expanding and improving the 1968 structure housing the former Edmonton Art Gallery; establishing a temporary gallery to function during construction; and building a storage facility for AGA’s permanent collection.

“We’ve been trying for years here – probably 10 years before I got here,” to determine the gallery’s future course, says Tony Luppino, executive director since 2003.

“We had someone on the board who was an architect – who looked at the existing structure and looked at what would be possible for doing a

major overhaul.“It’s almost like a new building,”

Luppino says of the renovation and expansion program. “It’s such a drastic remodeling – we’re using the skeleton and foundation of the old building.”

Architect Randall Stout of Los Angeles was selected in an international competition to design the new AGA. Stout has said he drew inspiration from the aurora borealis (northern lights) and Inuit stone sculptures called inukshuks. His design features expanses of glass and swooping curves of patinaed zinc and stainless steel.

The new facility will add 27,000 square feet of public areas and new galleries for a total of nearly 84,000 square feet. In addition to streamlining traffic f low and improving current exhibition space, the project will have improved “backstage” features for moving temporary exhibits in and out.

The gallery’s New Vision capital campaign had commitments totaling

close to $70 million as of May 2007 from the City of Edmonton, the Alberta government, the Canadian government and private partners.

While construction is under way, AGA’s home is at Enterprise Square on Jasper Avenue, with 11,000 square feet of gallery space and classrooms. The Collection Services Facility, also located downtown, was completed in 2006 and features 18,000 square feet of museum-quality, climate-controlled storage space, Luppino says.

“We want a world-class building – and we want to remain connected to the community,” he adds. “We want to be a meeting place for the city, not just a static art museum. The project has kind of become a catalyst for re-evaluating architecture in Edmonton – what it means and how we go forward.

“The city’s taken this to heart,” Luppino says. “Art is important, and architecture is important.”

– Anne Gillem

New Name, Fresh FaceEXPANDED AND IMPROVED ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN 2009

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Randall Stout says his design (shown in a rendering) was inspired by the northern lights and Inuit stone sculptures.


Arts & Culture

715 Arts.indd 51 8/22/07 10:51:16 AM

EDMONTON

SNAPSHOTGreater Edmonton’s 23 municipalities provide a diversity of

living options, from loft to acreage, all within a short commute.

For a map of the region with links to each municipality, go to

www.edmonton.com/region.

(800) 661-6490

www.lakelandc.ab.ca

Grant MacEwan College

(780) 497-5040

or (888) 497-4622

www.gmcc.ab.ca

NorQuest College

(780) 644-6000

or (866) 534-7218

www.norquest.ca

Northern Alberta

Institute of Technology

(780) 471-7400

or (800) 661-4077

www.nait.ca

Taylor University

College and Seminary

(780) 431-5200

www.taylor-edu.ca

University of Alberta

(780) 492-3111

www.ualberta.ca

University of Lethbridge

(780) 424-0425

www.uleth.ca

CLIMATE

Edmonton is one of the

sunniest cities in Canada and

experiences four distinct

seasons. Winter generally

occurs from November to

February. Summers are

between mid-May and August,

with up to 17 hours of daylight

per day in June.

Temperatures

Average January high

-7.3 C, 18.9 F

Average January low

-16 C, 3.2 F

Average July high

22.8 C, 73 F

Average July low

12.1 C, 53.8 F

Precipitation

Annual rainfall

365.7 mm, 14.40 inches

Annual snowfall

123.5 mm, 48.62 inches

MUNICIPALITIES

Town of Beaumont

Beaumont, located on a

“beautiful hill,” maintains

strong ties to its French

heritage. Its expanding

residential component

provides a great selection of

homes – for example, adjacent

to a park or overlooking a golf

course.

www.town.beaumont.ab.ca

Town of Bon Accord

The translation of Bon Accord,

“Happy to meet, sorry to part,

happy to meet again,” reminds

visitors and residents of the

town’s Scottish roots. The

town is set among a lush

landscape that includes a

wetlands conservation area.

www.town.bonaccord.ab.ca

Town of Bruderheim

Bruderheim was first settled in

1894 by a colony of German

Moravians. They organized the

first congregation of the

Moravian Church in western

Canada, naming it Bruderheim

– home of the brethen.

www.bruderheim.ca

Town of Calmar

Calmar is built around

Highway 39. The Main Street

atmosphere is enhanced by

antique lighting, flared curbs

with park benches and trees,

and quiet recreation areas.

www.town.calmar.ab.ca

EDUCATION

Greater Edmonton boasts

notable education systems.

“Edmonton Public Schools is

recognized as the best-

managed and most innovative

school board on the

continent.” (Source: Time

magazine, October 2003)

Alberta Learning

(780) 427-7219

www.learning.gov.ab.ca

Edmonton Catholic Schools

(780) 441-6000

www.ecsd.net

Edmonton Public Schools

(780) 429-8000

www.epsb.ca

Higher Education

The University of Alberta is

the top-ranked university in

the province. The Northern

Alberta Institute of

Technology is Alberta’s largest

technical school. Grant

MacEwan College is Alberta’s

largest college.

Athabasca University

(780) 421-8700

(800) 788-9041

www.athabascau.ca

Concordia University

College of Alberta

(780) 479-8481

or (866) 479-5200

www.concordia.ab.ca

King’s University College

(780) 465-3500

(800) 661-8582

www.kingsu.ca

Lakeland College

(780) 416-8844


Community Profile

715 Comm Profile.indd 52 8/22/07 10:51:46 AM

Town of Devon

Devon lies adjacent to the

North Saskatchewan River and

provides residents and visitors

with ample parkland and

numerous recreation/tourism

opportunities. www.devon.ca

City of Edmonton

Edmonton, the capital city of

Alberta, is the largest city in

central and northern Alberta.

With more than 30 festivals a

year, access to the best health

care in the country and superb

education, Edmonton offers a

diverse and satisfying quality

of life. www.edmonton.com

City of Fort Saskatchewan

Its 16,000+ residents enjoy

safe, clean and friendly

neighbourhoods on the banks

of the North Saskatchewan

River. The city has spacious

and well-maintained parks,

with a 30-km trail system and

excellent recreational/cultural

facilities, including the Dow

Centennial Centre.

www.fortsask.ca

Town of Gibbons

Gibbons offers a beautiful

natural setting along the

Sturgeon River, with a

selection of homes and

amenities of a large city only

minutes away. Its numerous

community organizations

provide activities for all age

groups. www.gibbons.ca

City of Leduc

Leduc is a vibrant and active

community with modern

residential developments

complemented by playgrounds

in attractive lake settings. It was

named for a Roman Catholic

priest. www.leduc-nisku.ab.ca

Leduc County

Leduc County, home to

Edmonton International

Airport, is a dynamic

municipality. It provides the

opportunity for acreage living

in many of its subdivisions or a

farm lifestyle.

www.leduc-county.com

Town of Legal

Legal offers fully serviced lots,

which is a great incentive for

young families wanting to own

their own home and have

peace of mind knowing they

are raising their families in a

safe, quiet, friendly

community.

www.town.legal.ab.ca

Town of Morinville

Morinville is a vibrant

suburban community, which

has been carefully developed

on the foundations of English,

French and German heritage.

With all the contemporary

conveniences of a much larger

town, it retains the spirit of a

smaller community.

www.town.morinville.ab.ca

Village of New Sarepta

New Sarepta is moments away

from Joseph Lake, Centennial

Park and Miquelon Lake

Provincial Park. The

community offers the peaceful

setting of a park and picnic

area. www.newsarepta.com

Parkland County

Parkland County is a diverse

and dynamic municipality,

with amenities suited to every

lifestyle. Numerous natural

areas combined with

exceptional recreation

facilities make it a

community of choice.

www.parklandcounty.com

Town of Redwater

Visitors can view the

equipment and activity of one

of Canada’s largest oil fields.

Redwater is a farming

community first settled

by Ukrainians, then

the English and French.

www.town.redwater.ab.ca

City of Spruce Grove

Friendly, affordable and full of

green spaces that invite you

outdoors, Spruce Grove is a

fresh-air city 15 minutes west

of Edmonton. Residents have

access to a growing menu of

commercial shops and

services, from big retail to

unique independent

businesses.

www.sprucegrove.org

City of St. Albert

St. Albert has a reputation of

being an attractive, family-

oriented community where

homes retain their value over

time. The city celebrates its

rich past while embracing its

outstanding quality of life and

welcoming the challenges of

the future. www.stalbert.ca

Town of Stony Plain

Residents of Stony Plain enjoy

modern recreational facilities,

three school jurisdictions, an

extensive trail system, arts and

cultural amenities, and a

vibrant, historic downtown

core featuring 27 outdoor

murals. www.stonyplain.com

Strathcona County

Strathcona County is a

specialized municipality with

both urban and rural lifestyles.

Along with its the excellent

quality of life and amazing

recreational opportunities,

Strathcona County has more

than $15 billion worth of

projected construction

projects over the next

five to seven years.

www.strathconacounty.com

Sturgeon County

Family values here are

pleasingly integrated with

agriculture, commerce and

industry. Sturgeon County, a

vibrant community of nearly

19,000 residents, offers the

lowest tax rates in the

Alberta Capital Region.

www.sturgeoncounty.ab.ca

Village of Thorsby

A large farming community

surrounds Thorsby. Residents

enjoy diverse recreational

activities at the village’s

extensive recreation complex.

Rodeos, livestock shows and

other events are held at the

The area code for Edmonton is 780. IMAGESEDMONTON.COM 53


Providing personalized relocation support, including:

• Introductions to the City

• Temporary Accommodation

• Pre and Post Arrival Support

• Lifestyle/Community Tours

• Community Selection

• School Selection

• Child Care

• Elder Care

• Spousal Employment

• Detailed Information Packages

• Objective Research

• Meetings with Local Experts

• Moving Logistics

• Accommodation Rental Search

Helping Clients Discover Edmonton

(780) 974-1429inquiry@community

compassinc.comwww.communitycompassinc.com

Community Compass Inc.



Haymaker Centre.

www.village.thorsby.ab.ca

Village of Wabamun

Wabamun, which translates to

“looking glass” from Cree, is

also the name of the local lake

known for the recreational

activities it offers, such as

fishing, boating, water skiing,

wind surfing and swimming.

www.wabamun.ca

Village of Warburg

Warburg is a progressive

community with a strong

desire to grow with the times

yet still retain its small-town

atmosphere. Residents

maintain communication with

the German community of

Warburg on the Rhine River.

www.villageofwarburg.ab.ca

UTILITIES

ElectricityATCO Electric (Direct Energy)

(800) 668-2248

or (888) 420-3181

Electricity, Water and Drainage Services

EPCOR, (780) 412-4000

Gas

ATCO Gas (Direct Energy)

(780) 424-5222

or (866) 420-3174

Phone, Internet and TV

TELUS, (780) 310-2255

Shaw Cable Service

(780) 490-3555

LIFESTYLE

MoneySense magazine in

2006 ranked Edmonton as

Canada’s second-most livable

major city.

The average price of a single-

family residence in Edmonton

as of July 2007 was $417,150,

about 50% less than in

Vancouver and 30% less than

in Toronto and Calgary.

Residents of Greater Edmonton

enjoy low personal taxes, no

provincial sales tax and high

disposable incomes.

Numerous government-

regulated child-care options

are available to Albertans.

These include day-care

centres, drop-in centres,

nursery schools and out-of-

school care. Contact

Edmonton and Area

Child and Family Services at

(780) 427-2250 or visit

www.edmontonandareacfsa.

gov.ab.ca.

Edmonton has independent,

volunteer-based community

leagues providing a number of

social and recreational

activities for all ages. Contact

Edmonton Federation of

Community Leagues at

(780) 437-2913 or visit

www.efcl.org.

There are numerous

municipally operated parks,

recreational facilities and

programs offering a range of

recreational opportunities

year-round. Contact City of

Edmonton Community

Services at (780) 496-4999 or

visit www.edmonton.ca.

The North Saskatchewan River

Valley, the longest stretch of

urban parkland in North

America, has more than 150

kilometres of trails designated

for biking, hiking, jogging and

cross country skiing.

Edmonton is the gateway to

Jasper National Park, the

largest of Alberta’s world-

famous mountain parks.

HEALTH CARE

Residents of Greater Edmonton

enjoy excellent government-

funded health care.

www.health.gov.ab.ca/ahcip

Sources:www.edmonton.com www.edmontonchamber.com

Considering a move to Edmonton? www.movetoedmonton.com

A.L.L. Stars Realty Ltd. www.allstarsrealty.ca

Canadian Western Bank Group www.cwbank.com

Capital Health www.capitalhealth.ca

Catholic Charities www.catholicsocialservices.ab.ca

City of Fort Saskatchewan www.fortsask.ca

City of Leduc www.leduc.ca

City of Spruce Grove www.sprucegrove.org

City of St. Albert www.stalbert.ca

Colt Engineering www.colteng.com

Community Compass Inc. www.communitycompassinc.com

Dell Edmonton www.dell.ca/edmonton

Edmonton Economic Development Corp. www.edmonton.com/eedc

Edmonton Eskimos Football Club www.esks.com

Edmonton International Airport www.edmontonairports.com

Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club www.edmontonoilers.com

Edmonton Public Library www.epl.ca

Enbridge Pipelines, Inc. www.enbridge.com

Grant MacEwan College www.macewan.ca

Greater Edmonton Growth Team www.edmonton.com

King’s University College www.kingsu.ca

NAIT www.nait.ca

NorQuest College www.norquest.ca

Re/Max River City www.rivercityhomes.ca

Royal LePage Noralta Real Estate www.royallepage.ca

Spherion Staffing Solutions www.spherion.ca

Stuart Olson Construction www.stuartolson.com

University of Alberta www.ualberta.ca

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