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THE PRESIDENT & CEO OF ATB FINANCIAL HAS A UNIQUE OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND HIS ROLE AS A LEADER
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Fostering small business growth and a strong private market through intelligent regulation
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Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 11 | Number 12
REGULAR COLUMNS
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Tackling Alberta’s Skilled Labour Shortage By Catherine Brownlee
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BOMA Edmonton News Winter 2023 Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
CONTENTS COVER FEATURE
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urtis Stange and the C Power of Possibility The President & CEO of ATB Financial has a unique outlook on life and his role as a leader By Nerissa McNaughton
ON OUR COVER: ABOVE: CURTIS STANGE, PRESIDENT & CEO OF ATB FINANCIAL. PHOTO SOURCE: RIVERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
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STORY TITLE // SECTION
Supporting the visions of entrepreneurs one story at a time. Volume 11 | Number 12
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CONTENTS THIS MONTH’S FEATURES
COMPANY PROFILES
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T appCONNECT Inc. Celebrates 70 Years
S ureway Construction Group Celebrates 50 Years
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usiness in Edmonon Leaders B Gala 2023 ontinuing Education and Other C Trade Secrets Reducing the trades crunch By John Hardy
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DECEMBER 2023 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM
Fintech: Evolution or Revolution? Following up on the disruptors By John Hardy
Edmonton’s New Look Limitless options and possibilities By John Hardy
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TACKLING ALBERTA’S SKILLED LABOUR SHORTAGE // CATHERINE BROWNLEE
Tackling Alberta’s Skilled Labour Shortage BY CATHERINE BROWNLEE, PRESIDENT OF ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP (AEG), CALGARY AND EDMONTON CHAPTERS
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lberta may still be Canada’s economic engine, but it needs to do a better job of matching skills with the needs of the economy if it hopes to remain at the front of the pack. The province’s future prosperity is under threat from a lack of skilled tradespeople. The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum predicts Alberta will need 26,000 new journeypersons and 51,000 new apprentices in the top 15 Red Seal Trades by 2026 to meet industry demand. According to a new BuildForce Canada report, the province will need 20,000 skilled workers to support $22 billion worth of resource value-added projects between now and 2030. Fortunately, Alberta has two advantages over most provinces: a fast-growing, younger-than-average population and a government willing to tackle the challenge head on. In 2021, the provincial government released a 10-year strategy to advance the skills and training needed to grow Alberta’s economy. Part of the plan is to build the labour force we need in the trades. Without these skilled trades, Alberta’s economic growth will suffer. Thanks to the prospect of good paying jobs and successful initiatives like the Alberta is Calling campaign, the province has the youngest population in the country. Now is the time to convince these newcomers – as well as the young Albertans already here – to pursue careers in the skilled trades. Alberta is home to some of the best polytechnic and applied sciences institutes in not just Canada, but the world. Here in Edmonton, for instance, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) has empowered more than 218,000 graduates with economy-building skills since it opened its doors in 1962. NAIT offers practical, hands-on education through instructors with real-world experience and its impact is evident across the province, from the Industrial Heartland
region to our diversifying energy industry to our burgeoning innovation and tech sector. A renowned innovator, NAIT has always evolved its educational offerings to meet the shifting needs of the economy. In October, for instance, NAIT and Rogers announced they’re partnering on two 5G-enabled test environments with the aim of fuelling innovation of 5G-enabled technologies, which are expected to create 22 million jobs and contribute $12.3 trillion to GDP globally by 2035. With its eyes on the horizon, NAIT is looking beyond what it teaches to how it teaches. As skilled trades and technologies change at home and around the globe, NAIT wants to break down silos and encourage collaboration and integrated instruction to achieve better ways of thinking, learning and training. One of the ways it hopes to do so is through an advanced skills centre designed in partnership with industry. The goal will be to provide students and industry with a shared space to imagine, explore and develop the latest technologies and industrychanging innovations together. Through the centre, NAIT also seeks to encourage more women and under-represented students to pursue skilled trades and technology careers. NAIT’s trailblazing approach holds great promise for Alberta’s labour market. The opportunity to learn and collaborate with industry leaders – and the potential to secure a good-paying job in an in-demand field – will entice many Albertans looking for rewarding employment in an increasingly tumultuous economy. By following NAIT’s lead and embracing innovation in education and training, Alberta can build the skilled, vibrant workforce needed to diversify and grow our economy. It’s a sound blueprint; we just need to follow it. ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP (AEG) PUTS ALBERTA BUSINESSES FIRST BY SHARING INFORMATION, ADVOCACY AND BUILDING BRIDGES TO NEW MARKETS. AEG MEMBERS ARE BUSINESS OWNERS, SENIOR EXECUTIVES, INVESTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS REPRESENTING FIRMS IN EVERY MAJOR ALBERTA INDUSTRY. AEG MEMBERS EMPLOY OVER 100,000 ALBERTANS AND GENERATE BILLIONS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EACH YEAR.
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // DECEMBER 2023
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LEADERS GALA 2023 // LEADERS 2023
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EDMONTON LEADERS 2023 GALA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023
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LEADERS GALA 2023 // LEADERS 2023
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CONTINUING EDUCATION AND OTHER TRADE SECRETS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
CONTINUING EDUCATION AND OTHER TRADE SECRETS R E DU C ING T H E TRADES CRUNCH BY JOHN HARDY
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he Alberta labour market is tight. Some sectors suggest it is a crunch and it’s getting worse. Ironically, the same cliché and stereotype – the perception of blue collar vs. tech and white collar – which originally caused the problem, may now be turning into the solution. Edmonton’s Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and NorQuest College are just two examples of the new interest and the potential of skilled labour and trades. According to a recent report from the Alberta Chamber of Commerce, a majority (60 per cent) of Alberta businesses continue to experience staffing shortages of a significant (24 per cent) or a moderate (36 per cent) nature. Twothirds report a significant impact on production and/or sales opportunities. Although Alberta businesses anticipate seeing an increase in the size of their workforce needs in 2024, they continue to report that hiring at all positions above entry level requires skills, apprenticeships and up-to-date qualifications, particularly in the construction sector. A recent CIBC report showed that the job vacancy rate in construction is at a record high with around 800,000 vacancies and will soon cause delays and spikes in building costs. Developers, builders and contractors warn that crew sizes on construction jobs are dwindling and the skilled trades labour shortage is getting worse. Aggravated by the ominous forecast that 21 per cent of the labour force is readying to retire by 2030, upgrading and apprenticeship training, like Alberta’s Trade Secrets Program, is essential and urgent. It underscores the need for people to
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ALTHOUGH ALBERTA BUSINESSES ANTICIPATE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THEIR WORKFORCE NEEDS IN 2024, THEY CONTINUE TO REPORT THAT HIRING AT ALL POSITIONS ABOVE ENTRY LEVEL REQUIRES SKILLS, APPRENTICESHIPS AND UP-TO-DATE QUALIFICATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR. discard the white collar vs. blue collar hang ups and consider careers in skilled trades. “The traditional distinction between blue collar and office work is becoming increasingly blurred, especially as soft skills become more critical in trades professions,” says Kassie Burkholder, NAIT’s executive director of corporate and continuing education. “While there is renewed interest in trades courses, there is also a growing awareness that being successful in the trades today requires more than just technical proficiency. Skills like communication, project management and problem solving are becoming just as vital. They are reasons why NAIT is integrating more soft skills training into our trades courses, to ensure that students are well-rounded and prepared for the multifaceted challenges of modern work environments.”
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CONTINUING EDUCATION AND OTHER TRADE SECRETS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
She emphasizes that NAIT’s evolution in curriculum, programs and courses reflects the changing dynamics and expectations in both blue collar and white collar sectors. NorQuest College is also noticing a surge in trades-related education. “We are definitely seeing a growing interest across many of our programs, including our foundational programs and apprenticeship prep programs,” explains Jadine Sherman, NorQuest’s academic upgrading program manager. “Apprenticeship prep is designed to assist learners in filling gaps as they proceed along an apprenticeship pathway. We regularly review and update our curriculum and strive to remain current with technology and best practices in teaching and learning. We have an active Program Advisory Committee to help ensure we remain workforce relevant and have representation from many sectors that employ tradespeople, including construction, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality and cosmetology.” She adds that NorQuest is noticing more learners combining coursework and training across multiple disciplines, including business, entrepreneurship and trades-focused training. The upsurge in the demand for skills training and apprenticeship options at NAIT is a strong reflection of contemporary worker wants, needs and expectations. “Courses related to sectors facing a skilled labour shortage, such as construction trades, welding and electrical trades, continue to see robust enrolment numbers,” Burkholder says. “Additionally, there is a growing demand for technical training in emerging fields like AI education and health care. On the other hand, courses in industries that are either oversaturated or undergoing technological automation have experienced a decrease in enrolment.” NAIT is recognizing the shifting patterns and stays proactive and relevant in aligning its course offerings with current market demands and workforce needs. The province is also focused on the crunch and is investing to make an effective and time sensitive difference. This summer, the government announced $12.2 million in funding for an additional 2,000 apprenticeships in high-demand skilled trades, bringing the provincial
“WE ARE DEFINITELY SEEING A GROWING INTEREST ACROSS MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUR FOUNDATIONAL PROGRAMS AND APPRENTICESHIP PREP PROGRAMS,” EXPLAINS SHERMAN. investment in apprenticeship this year to $54 million. Since employers across the province are finding it difficult to hire people with the right combination of competencies needed to do jobs well, the Alberta apprenticeship and training emphasis is proving to be a positive. This is particularly true for skilled jobs that do not require a diploma or degree. Even some graduates of post-secondary institutions require additional training and on-the-job learning before they can be certified as competent in their jobs. Trending indicates that apprenticeship-style education could be the answer for many employers, if they are willing to be part of the training ecosystem and help to build their own workforce. The province recognized this when it brought in legislation and boosted support for apprenticeship-style learning in occupations beyond those in the designated skilled trades,
BOTTOM: JADINE SHERMAN, NORQUEST’S ACADEMIC UPGRADING PROGRAM MANAGER.
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CONTINUING EDUCATION AND OTHER TRADE SECRETS // CONTINUING EDUCATION
like Alberta’s Trade Secrets Program, which dynamically helps people exploring a new career in the trades, embarking on an apprenticeship journey or just looking for recognition of skills in a designated trade. Employers and industry insiders agree. The more skills training and apprenticeship opportunities, the faster Alberta’s labour shortage problems will stabilize. The perceptions, attitudes and trends are definitely shifting. While traditionally, apprentices were those interested in entering the skilled trades like construction, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and car mechanics and carpenters, today’s apprenticing possibilities include many contemporary disciplines like cybersecurity, financial services, software development and others. Management consultants urge companies to step up and establish alternative pathways for historically excluded, early and mid-career talent to support building in-demand skills. Apprenticeships can be a low-risk, high-reward option, because, for business in general, apprenticeship programs also have a strong return on investment. Research shows the employees hired for skills (like apprentices) vs. those with degrees, stay in their jobs 34 per cent longer, which leads to less turnover and increased loyalty from this untapped talent pool, which reduces the cost of hiring over time. “While the pandemic initially led to a decline in enrolments for trades courses at NAIT, we are now seeing numbers rebound to pre-pandemic levels. Interestingly, the current trends go beyond just a resurgence in traditional trades courses,” Burkholder points out. “We’re also witnessing an increase in demand for soft skills training alongside technical training, suggesting that individuals and employers alike are recognizing the importance of a balanced skill set, especially as the job market becomes more competitive in the face of a trades crunch.” She explains that technology is a factor in how training and apprenticeship courses and programs are delivered. “While the core of NAIT’s trades courses remains hands-on, technology has enabled us to introduce more flexible delivery
“WHILE THE PANDEMIC INITIALLY LED TO A DECLINE IN ENROLMENTS FOR TRADES COURSES AT NAIT, WE ARE NOW SEEING NUMBERS REBOUND TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. INTERESTINGLY, THE CURRENT TRENDS GO BEYOND JUST A RESURGENCE IN TRADITIONAL TRADES COURSES,” BURKHOLDER POINTS OUT. models. The use of digital platforms for course materials and assessments also streamlines the learning process, making it easier for students to access resources and for instructors to gauge student progress.” Corporate and Continuing Education at NAIT is especially responsive to the specific needs of industry partners, by often tailoring courses to meet industry needs. NAIT’s approach aims to prepare students for the real-world technological environments they will encounter in their fields, making them more competitive in the job market and aligning closely with the demands of industry.
TOP: KASSIE BURKHOLDER, NAIT’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE & CONTINUING EDUCATION.
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CURTIS STANGE AND THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY // COVER
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CURTIS STANGE AND THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY // COVER
CURTIS STANGE AND THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY THE PRESIDENT & CEO OF ATB FINANCIAL HAS A UNIQUE OUTLOOK ON LIFE AND HIS ROLE AS A LEADER
BY NERISSA MCNAUGHTON
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t’s a familiar story. The high school years are coming to a close and it’s time to think about the future. For Curtis Stange, CEO and president of ATB Financial, that future was open to many possibilities.
“I REMEMBER PULLING INTO THE
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” says Stange. “So, I worked a lot of jobs from selling clothes to selling tires. One thing did stand out for me. Despite being a city kid, I knew I had a strong leaning towards agriculture.”
CROWDED AROUND ME CLAPPING
So off he headed to the University of Saskatchewan to pursue his degree. As his studies were coming to an end, he was introduced to the idea of banking at a career day event. “I connected with an individual who said, ‘If you don’t want to directly operate a farm, why not lend the money and support the farmers instead?’ he reminisces. “That was the start for me in one of the big banks. I stayed with the same bank for 23 years and made financial connections with farmers, farms and the agricultural industry.” In 2009, he received a call that married his desire to return to the Prairies and continue helping the farming community through purposeful financing. “ATB Financial reached out in July 2009,” says Stange. “As soon as I met the CEO and board chair, I knew they were aligned with how an institution should be run. They deeply believed in creating success for clients and stakeholders. I knew that this was a regional bank where I could make a difference in people’s lives.”
PARKING LOT AND WALKING UP THE STAIRS. TEAM MEMBERS WERE AND SMILING. THERE WERE ABOUT 100 PEOPLE THERE GREETING ME IN A WAY THAT WAS SO REMARKABLE – I WILL NEVER FORGET IT.” Fast forward to 2018 and he was celebrating another first day at ATB Financial – this time as its president and CEO. He remembers that day fondly. “I remember pulling into the parking lot and walking up the stairs. Team members were crowded around me clapping and smiling. There were about 100 people there greeting me in a way that was so remarkable – I will never forget it.” Such is the culture at ATB Financial. It celebrates its people, clients and communities. Stange is committed to the institution’s continued growth and success. “We really have transformed and rebuilt the company from the ground up while still retaining its roots and fundamentals,” he says. “This transformation includes a bold
LEFT: CURTIS STANGE, PRESIDENT & CEO OF ATB FINANCIAL. PHOTO SOURCE: RIVERWOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
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CURTIS STANGE AND THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY // COVER
10-year strategy that will take us from 2020 to 2030. The strategy is brought to life by our ‘why.’ This is our purpose as a company, to make things possible for those around us. It guides and inspires us every day.” Stange is also proud of ATB Financial’s continued presence on the Great Place to Work® Canada list; a position the company has retained for eight consecutive years, even during the pandemic. Although he’s humble about it, Stange’s leadership is making a clear difference. “I look at my banking career in two separate ways,” he notes. “First there was 23 years with a national bank serving diverse geographic markets. Now I am with ATB Financial, and for the last five years, being the CEO. No matter my role, I lean into everything I do with an inquisitive nature and I work hard to be accessible and transparent in all my interactions. I always try to lead by example, to be a courageous leader, help develop people around me and commit myself as a lifelong learner. During the last decade, I have learned the important skill of being vulnerable. I don’t have the right answers all the time and I am empowered by a great team and highly capable people around me.
ATB FINANCIAL AT A GLANCE
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TB Financial is a leading financial institution headquartered in Western Canada that is consistently named as one of the best workplaces in Canada and one of the top financial institutions in the country when it comes to differentiating on client experience through its people. ATB Financial provides tailored solutions and advice to 800,000+ clients in Alberta across its Personal and Business Banking, ATB Wealth Management and ATB Capital Markets businesses. ATB Financial offers expert advice, services and products through its many branches and agencies, 24-hour Client Care Centre, four entrepreneur centres and digital banking options. ATB Financial wrapped up its most recent fiscal year with record results, which is a sign of positive momentum returning to Alberta’s economy.
I am so proud of the role our team members have played in helping people to thrive and businesses to grow and prosper throughout a challenging environment. I believe that by using the skills and capabilities that we have as a financial institution and by partnering with others, we can power possibilities for our clients, our team members and our communities in meaningful ways moving forward.” That great team helped Stange keep things going during one of the greatest challenges ATB Financial faced in its 85-year history – the pandemic. It wasn’t something the company could anticipate or prepare for and it came on suddenly; shutdowns, mandates and a flood of uncertainty. As an essential service, banks like ATB Financial remained open. “Early in the pandemic I received a lot of direct calls from team members and even families of team members across all the branches,” says Stange. “They wanted assurances as to how we were going to keep our people safe. We reacted in a very efficient, effective and proactive way.”
ABOVE: ATB FINANCIAL MEDIA ROOM. PHOTO SOURCE: ATB FINANCIAL
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CURTIS STANGE AND THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY // COVER
The mechanism for addressing this pressing challenge was the same applied to the other external factors that affect ATB Financial: economic volatility, geopolitical events, social unrest and rapidly changing times. “As the CEO, you are trying to move the company forward at the right pace and with the right volume of change to make sure you stay a step ahead of the competition,” explains Stange. “I am always looking forward to seeing how ATB can be sustainable in the long-term while making the right decisions in this fast-paced, volatile, complex world. Everything we do is focused on how we can provide client experiences in the most remarkable way possible to Albertans and their businesses.” That commitment extends past banking. ATB Financial is very well known for its philanthropy, which includes sponsoring events; making donations and creating partnerships in areas like mental health, financial well-being and supporting Indigenous relations. Stange is particularly passionate about ATB Financial’s focus on mental health. “My wife and I are big advocates of mental health initiatives. We sit on boards and donate funds. A year before I became CEO, I was looking for a community I TOP: ATB TEAM MEMBERS AT ATB PIVOTAL LEADERSHIP. BOTTOM: ATB TEAM MEMBERS AT GLENORA BRANCH OPENING NOVEMBER 2019. PHOTO SOURCE: ATB FINANCIAL
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CURTIS STANGE AND THE POWER OF POSSIBILITY // COVER
could really lean into. A colleague introduced me to mental health. When I started to do more research, the impact of mental illness on organizations and communities was a thread I kept on pulling. I realized it is an element in our life that isn’t talked about a lot. How could I bring it to the forefront in our own company? What was the role I could play as CEO that could make an impact on Albertans? I wanted to help reduce the stigma.” From leading through unpreceded times to helping change the stigma of mental health in Alberta, Stange is making a difference – and he is far from done. “I still have a lot of work to do to position ATB Financial as a competitive organization for the future. Through our Path to 2030, our focus is on bringing our purpose and strategy to life. We want to help raise the well-being of Albertans broadly. With highly passionate people, through and beyond banking, we can make an incredible difference in the lives around us. That means, I have a lot of work to do personally and professionally.” He knows it is worth the time and effort. “The Alberta advantage is that we are entrepreneurial, hardworking, passionate, risk-taking people. The new advantage is the increase of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. That is powerful for the province. Another growing advantage is the economic diversity Alberta is leveraging. When I first became CEO, there was talk of the need for diversifying. Now Alberta is more technically advanced, working towards cleaner energy and making great strides in aerospace, transportation, logistics, value-added agriculture, life sciences, bio-tech, medical… the list goes on and on. These are formidable industries.” He continues, “Alberta is clearly in a growth phase, accelerated by an abundance of skillful people moving into the province. Over the short-term, economics, interest rates and combating inflation will create volatile conditions, but in the long-term, we are in a growth phase. ATB Financial will be there as it has been there for 85 years. No bank can compete with us when it comes to truly understanding the Alberta economic and business landscape.”
CURTIS STANGE SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP
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ounter Volatility with Vision: We need to accept and embrace change as a constant, while being clear about the kind of city, business and organization we want to be. Meet Uncertainty with Understanding: Our communities are filled with diverse people with diverse ideas and experiences. Landed immigrants comprised a record 29.3% (or 776,000) of Alberta’s labour force in September 2023. If we pause to listen and look around, we can understand and develop new ways of thinking and acting. React to Complexity with Clarity: We need to communicate clearly to help those around us understand how to react and what to do when the world moves quickly. Fight Ambiguity with Adaptability: As leaders, we need to promote flexibility, adaptability and agility. Plan ahead but build in contingency time and be prepared to alter your plans as events unfold.
in the business community. My wife Shannon has been incredibly supportive through my whole career, and so has my leadership team and the Board of Directors. I’ve been surrounded by a village in my time as CEO.” Stange smiles as he draws a final conclusion about his life, his work, and his mission at ATB Financial. “I know that purpose is powerful. Find your purpose and align yourself with organizations that are purpose driven. Leaders will be remembered for how they treat their teams and look after communities. Profit will follow from that.” Learn more about atb.com, and on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.
As he looks back on his career, Stange points out, “I’ve been surrounded by incredible people at home, at work and
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bomaedm.ca
LIGHT THE PEDWAYS By Cailynn Klingbeil
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new initiative to light up Edmonton’s above ground pedways aims to create a more vibrant downtown experience for all. Steven Knight is behind Light the Pedways, a collaborative project that involves his company, Five Star Holiday Decor, property owners and managers who oversee pedways. Similar to Edmonton’s Light the Bridge, involving 60,000 LED bulbs and a programmable system to celebrate holidays and events, Light the Pedways uses programmable and colourful lights to brighten and beautify pedways year-round, ultimately enlivening downtown Edmonton. “The vision for our downtown is for pedestrians and for folks in vehicles driving through to be able to look at any above ground pedway 12 months a year
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and see a decorative curtain of lights that goes from end to end, top to bottom, in the windows of that pedway,” Knight says. The idea for the project came to Knight after a day downtown with his young daughter. “I found myself thinking about what I wanted our downtown to look like for her,” he recalls. “I started to think about how I can contribute to a vibrant place where she wants to come and spend time and live and work.” Those thoughts, combined with his company Five Star Holiday Decor’s expertise in supplying, installing, and maintaining decorative lighting solutions, led him to reimagine Edmonton’s pedways. Colour changing LED lights will brighten and beautify the spaces and simultaneously increase the use and safety of Edmonton’s pedway network.
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“It’s that one next step to help people really enjoy our downtown in a walkable way, because our pedway network is great and it’s just trying to help property managers get people into those pedways,” Knight says. The decorative lighting could be coordinated across the entire downtown, say red and pink for Valentine’s Day, or blue and orange for the Oilers on game days, Knight says. Or it could be unique to the pedway, such as a property manager using specific colours to celebrate a tenant’s event. Knight has been working with property managers and building owners to determine what lighting up their pedways entails. Infrastructure upgrades — such as power and WiFi — are necessary in some walkways, while for others it’s as simple as measuring the space and estimating the cost of installing an LED light curtain. Building owners submitting eligible projects can apply for up to 50 per cent of project costs from the City of Edmonton’s Downtown Vibrancy Fund, with the applicant being responsible for the remainder. “The City of Edmonton’s Downtown Vibrancy Fund supports projects led by businesses and organizations that increase the number of people downtown to live, work, play and visit,” says Tom
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Girvan, the director of Downtown Vibrancy with the City of Edmonton. “Any lighting project led by any business or organization that involves a publicly accessible pedway is eligible to apply for funding from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund, with the understanding that funding is not guaranteed and decisions are made by an evaluation committee.” Five Star Holiday Decor will supply and install the colour changing LED light curtains, coordinate colour schemes and event schedules and maintain the lighting over a three-year period. Knight is excited to see the project come to life, with a few building managers and property owners on board and more expressing interest. “Imagine you’re standing outside the pedway, and instead of looking up and just seeing glass and possibly some pedestrians walking through, you’re going to see a big curtain of lighting,” he says. “Or imagine you’re standing inside that pedway, in a tunnel of light, where you see this really cool, fun, bright animated curtain of lighting. You want to go and maybe stop and take a selfie or use the pedways to get from building to building because it’s a fun experience now.” Building owners and property managers who are interested in joining the Light the Pedways project or learning more can reach out to Knight directly at sknight@fivestarholidaydecor.com or 780-902-3202.
• • • • •
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bomaedm.ca
MACEWAN UNIVERSITY PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MINOR A
By Cailynn Klingbeil
MacEwan University program focused on commercial and residential property management is poised for growth. MacEwan’s property management minor is the only academic program of its kind in Western Canada. Bachelor of Commerce students enrolled in the minor learn about property from all aspects, including relationships between property managers, owners and tenants, legal issues and revenue management. “Program graduates are well-positioned to respond to the real estate industry’s staffing shortfall and competency requirements,” says Mike Annett, who oversees the minor as department chair in MacEwan’s department of management and organizations. “The need for people is there, as well as the need for professional capabilities.” At the same time, the minor enables business grads to embark on a rewarding and interesting career in an area of real estate that many people overlook.
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“Students have told me they had little awareness of the behind-the-scenes operations of commercial buildings and they became really enthused by what is involved and the career potential,” Annett says. “Students have also told me that they hadn’t expected the interpersonal relations you get when engaging with residential or commercial tenants, and they like that it involves working with people as well as money and facilities.” “Even for students who may not ultimately pursue a career in property management, the benefits are plentiful. Students who plan to start their own businesses understand the intricacies of leases,” Annett continues. “This is knowledge that can help them to negotiate and ultimately improve their bottom lines.” MacEwan first offered the minor in the 201819 school year. The program came about after industry members voiced a need for more formal
bomaedm.ca for property managers, and employers like graduates of our programs because of the quality education we provide.” Plus, the program will soon be housed in MacEwan’s new downtown business building, which has a proposed completion date of 2027. This new building will accommodate 7,500 students, supporting MacEwan’s growth to a target of 30,000 students by 2030. A longer-term plan involves raising awareness of MacEwan’s introduction to the property management course, so more students are exposed to this side of real estate and are aware of the minor they can pursue at MacEwan. One way to do that, Annett says, is to embed property management examples and assignments in other courses. Looking at building management as an industry itself, “One of my a-ha moments once becoming involved in the property management minor was how many buildings around campus and around my home were professionally managed: business complexes, residential towers and government spaces,” he says. “I more clearly saw the industry needs and opportunities for property managers, and that our students were being prepared for interesting and impactful careers.” academic training for people working in property management. An approval process followed at MacEwan, then a substantial gift from Weidner Investment Services helped to establish the program. Another boost came from Yardi, a leading enterprise software for the industry. Yardi provides educational access to their software so students can learn how to use the platform. Building on the program’s strong foundation, Annett is focused on an ambitious plan to grow the program. That includes raising awareness to potential students, such as through high schools and career fairs and expanding what the program offers to existing students. To that end, a work placement pilot took place last winter with BOMA Edmonton, in which a student received academic credit and more than 80 hours of work experience. The pilot’s success has paved the way for more student placements with property management companies. MacEwan also hired Barry Williams, an experienced senior property manager, as an assistant professor dedicated to the property management minor. The hiring demonstrates MacEwan’s commitment to the program, while Williams’ strong industry connections help to build job pathways and awareness of the program. “This is an exciting time to minor in property management at MacEwan,” says Richard Perlow, dean of the School of Business. “There is demand
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FINTECH: EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION? // FINANCIAL PLANNING
FINTECH:
EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION? FOLLOWING UP ON THE DISRUPTORS
I
BY JOHN HARDY
n the technology tsunami that is redefining life and business, fintech is just one of many game-changing waves.
Of course, sophisticated digital phones have almost completely phased out analog phones, digital cameras have mostly replaced analog cameras and TV and music streaming are transforming conventional media. Zoom is a basic of business meetings and fintech continues as disruptors, competing with banks with a constantly emerging arsenal of innovative products and services. In just two short decades, fintech – an amalgam of finance and technology – has exploded onto the scene, revolutionizing the financial services industry as we know it. Although it is difficult to adequately measure the growth and impact on specifically the Canadian economy, the worldwide fintech sector currently holds about a 2 per cent share of global financial services revenues and is estimated to reach $1.5 trillion in annual revenue by 2030, almost 25 per cent of all banking valuations, worldwide. In Edmonton and throughout Alberta and North America, fintech has become a popular buzzword for new ways of doing things in the financial sector. Fintech refers to the integration of technology into offerings by financial services companies to improve their use and delivery to consumers. Without conventional bank-speak or tech jargon, fintech companies unbundle financial offerings and services and create new markets for them. Many companies in the finance industry use fintech to expand financial inclusion and use technology to cut down on operational costs.
“There’s no doubt about it,” says Invest Alberta’s CEO, Rick Christiaanse. “Alberta’s fintech sector is growing and we expect that growth to continue. Alberta has the talent, the ecosystem, and the market for this sector to succeed. We can leverage tools like the fintech sandbox to promote these benefits abroad and solidify the province as an international hub for fintech companies.” The facts, figures and trends not only confirm the strength of Alberta’s financial sector, but a definite shift toward digitalization, spurring the growth of numerous fintech companies. The province’s fintech firms specialize in blockchain, cryptocurrency, insurtech, paytech, capital markets and investments, wealthtech, software and more. Christiaanse points out that, with five fintech unicorns, Alberta is not only developing innovative products but effectively connecting with the capital needed to grow. Although often portrayed as disruptors and banking competition, fintech companies often point out that they are also an effective tool for the banking sector. Many fintech companies cooperate and work hand in hand with banks, providing solutions to make processes easier, more efficient and more secure. According to Invest Alberta, the fintech sandbox makes the province a very attractive landing place for foreign fintech companies who are looking to expand to North America. It is a protected space where, for two years, companies can test their products and services, meet the ecosystem and gain market traction before fully going out into the market in Alberta, Canada, and eventually the U.S., if that is in their plans.
RIGHT: INVEST ALBERTA CEO, RICK CHRISTIAANSE.
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FINTECH: EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION? // FINANCIAL PLANNING
Neo Financial™ is one of Canada’s most dynamic and innovation fintech disruptors. The company’s branding boldly boasts that, “Neo is driven by the vision of building a better financial future for all Canadians, by helping businesses deliver best-in-class financial products and experiences,” explaining that Neo’s focus is to bridge the loyalty gap between consumers and the brands they love. “We’re enthusiastically proud of the contribution that fintech companies, including Neo, make to Alberta’s economy, but we’re just getting started,” admits Andrew Chau, CEO of Neo.
“THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT,” SAYS CHRISTIAANSE. “ALBERTA’S FINTECH SECTOR IS GROWING AND WE EXPECT THAT GROWTH TO CONTINUE. ALBERTA HAS THE TALENT, THE ECOSYSTEM, AND THE MARKET FOR THIS SECTOR TO SUCCEED.
“Alberta is already home to more than 3,000 tech businesses employing over 50,000 people. But think about the impact of the traditional banks on employment and the economy, just in Toronto alone. That is the scale we are trying to accomplish as we plan for future growth here in Alberta; helping to power Alberta’s economy for the next generation and beyond.” Fintech boosters and IT insiders emphasize that technology in the financial sector is not only a natural evolution whose time has come, but it continues to be a contemporary new normal about how financial matters are managed. Examples of fintech applications include robo-advisors, payment apps, peer-to-peer (P2P) lending apps, investment apps and crypto apps, among others. Financial sector analysts caution that, despite fintech being an exciting and innovative disruptor and going head-to-
TEC Canada is proud to honour Andrew Reif with the 2023 Robert Nourse Award, our highest Chair award.
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FINTECH: EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION? // FINANCIAL PLANNING
head with the strictly regulated banking industry, some transformational growing pains do exist. Fintech funding is surging, but regulatory problems exist. Chau points out, “We live in a time where Canadians can use their cell phone to order food, hail a ride and organize their lives. They deserve to access financial services without going to a bank branch or struggling with an often clunky, online banking website.” The focus and mission of contemporary fintech disruptors is to create and offer new ways to help Canadians get the most value out of every dollar, like the trend of personalized insights powered by AI. As the impact of fintech on the financial sector grows, Alberta is ready. Invest Alberta recently signed an MOU with Fintech District, the international community of reference for the Fintech ecosystem in Italy. With more than 250 companies in its network, the organization creates the best conditions so that all partners from startups to financial institutions to corporate companies and investors can work together to find opportunities for local and international growth and engage with Italian and European fintech companies looking to grow outside Europe, by offering Alberta as a natural steppingstone in their expansion plans. With Chau’s sophisticated expertise about the role and potential of technology in the financial sector, he is adamant that fintech can be a compliment, not competition, for banks. “People are deeply familiar with traditional banks, and that is a big reason why they still have the biggest share of the market. We believe we can earn that same kind of trust by delivering an innovative, rewarding and contemporary experience in the financial sector. There’s a huge opportunity to raise the bar for financial services in Canada and it’s the customer who will benefit the most.” Analysts, economists and other financial forecasters agree on the significant impact of fintech. By next year, the financial sector expects greater use of blockchain, AI and IoT in financial transactions. Automation and integration will grow more sophisticated. As a result, consumers will have access to more tailored services that better suit their individual needs.
“FINTECH BENEFITS THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AS A WHOLE,” CHAU NOTES, “BECAUSE COMPETITION DRIVES ALL THE PLAYERS TO PERFORM AT THEIR BEST. IT IS A WIN FOR ALBERTA, AS WE BUILD A GLOBAL REPUTATION FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.” “Fintech benefits the financial sector as a whole,” Chau notes, “because competition drives all the players to perform at their best. It is a win for Alberta, as we build a global reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship.” There’s a cautionary consensus about fintech. As technological innovation continues to shape finance, companies must stay ahead of the curve or risk being left behind. Chau is upbeat and positive about the future of fintech. “At a time when Canadians are struggling with affordability and suffering from the high cost of living, fintech is focused on helping people save more money, get more value from every dollar they earn and make big purchases like a first home. “The next few years will be fintech’s opportunity to prove that it can help build a better financial future for all Canadians, with innovations to provide rewarding products, services and customer experiences in the financial sector. We are very excited about the challenge.”
ABOVE: ANDREW CHAU, CEO OF NEO.
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EDMONTON’S NEW LOOK // ARCHITECTURE
EDMONTON’S NEW LOOK LIMITLESS OPTIONS AND POSSIBILITIES
BY JOHN HARDY
B
it by bit, Edmonton is gradually but quickly becoming a leader in innovative, sustainable architecture, design and construction.
So many renewed vintage houses, meticulously planned and designed new residential communities and striking buildings are enhancing the city’s look and feel. Is it a trend? An evolution? An expression of Edmonton’s growth and lifestyles? Or all three? We have beautiful renos in the Westmount and Garneau areas; master planned new homes in the communities of Glenridding Ravine, Rosewood and Edgemont; bold, stunning, cutting-edge architecture displayed by the Art Gallery of Alberta, CX Tower, Jasper Place Library, Rogers Place, City Hall Plaza, University Commons and even the classic Federal Building, one of the few classic Art Deco buildings in the city. For Peter Osborne, the respected and much in-demand architect and partner at GEC Architecture, residential,
commercial and institutional design and construction in Edmonton is an evolution. “We are part of a new era of rethinking inclusion, sustainability and accessibility in our homes, our buildings and our urban public spaces. These are key aspects of contemporary cities and are critical to how architects need to be designing our built environment and thinking about the way we live. Our public spaces need to be welcoming to all people, providing equal access and opportunity.” For Nicole Branton, architectural technologist and designer with Elevation Drafting and Design, residential design and construction are also an evolution of lifestyles. “When I think of the key aspects of contemporary, ‘real world’ architecture and design, I think lived-in and homey. I think the key to any design is to think about how you want the space to feel. A space can have an instant feeling when you walk in, if it is thoughtfully designed.
ABOVE: CITY HALL PLAZA (CIVIC PRECINCT). PHOTO SOURCE: GEC ARCHITECTURE / LATITUDE PHOTOGRAPHY
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // DECEMBER 2023
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EDMONTON’S NEW LOOK // ARCHITECTURE
“The key driving factors for getting the right design can depend on several things,” Branton adds. “The layout of a house, what the exterior looks like, how the person wants the space to look and feel, what rooms are most used and the sizes and functionality of the rooms. The most important aspect is how my client wants to feel once they are living in the space.” Architects and designers echo the impact of online browsing, especially when it comes to residential home design and layout options. It’s routine where prospective new home buyers browse online long before actually making a purchase. Aside from the types of designs and long lists of features, architects and designers suggest that the subtle transformation is based on an updated, new perspective about quality of life.
“DESIGN STYLES WILL BE FOREVER CHANGING. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE COME UP WITH AND HOW DIFFERENT STYLES CAN INSPIRE TO CREATE NEW STYLES OF DESIGN,” BRANTON ADDS. “Design styles will be forever changing. It is amazing to see what people come up with and how different styles can inspire to create new styles of design. People have hung on to traditional styles in the past few years. It is now an exciting time, because more and more people are taking pride in their homes and want to personalize them more.” When it comes to the personalised, lifestyle wants and needs of new and renovated homes, there is a new focus and demand in layouts and design, new ways of thinking about interior design and clever optimizing of spaces. The trends are toward dedicated spaces for personal lifestyles. Open spaces. Floor plans with sprawling kitchens and great rooms. Decadent ensuites. Home gyms. Flex-room options that allow for main floor bedroom suites and extra bedrooms for multi-generational families. And – especially since the remote work trend triggered by the pandemic commotion – home offices; not just a re-purposed spare bedroom but a purpose-built space.
“Contemporary multi-family housing is seeing a marked increase in the quantity and the quality of amenities provided to residents in new developments and master-planned communities,” Osborne explains. “People are looking for a real sense of community and a place outside of their individual unit or home to socialize and be with other people. Amenities must have a unique character that speaks to the residents, the demographic and the target market. Design and the quality of public spaces within developments are now must-haves. It is no longer just about what is inside of your individual space but what kind of community you are a part of.” While GEC Architecture is acclaimed for many high-profile Edmonton achievements, like University Commons, the CX Tower, Paul Kane Park, MacEwan University School of Business, 100 West Block and others, Osborne points out, “The key driver for our designs is the people that are going to live, use and visit our buildings. Ultimately, people determine the kind of spaces we design and the experiences we are trying to create. Understanding who we are designing for influences everything. Families, millennials, Gen Z or empty nesters – they are all looking for different things in the places they want to call home.” Particularly, the world of residential interior design is limitless and exciting but notoriously fickle with shifting trends and changing styles and preferences. HGTV influencers and interior experts currently predict a drastic shift away from the stark white or grey interiors of
ABOVE: NICOLE BRANTON, ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST AND DESIGNER WITH EDMONTON’S ELEVATION DRAFTING AND DESIGN.
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EDMONTON’S NEW LOOK // ARCHITECTURE
the past 10 years or so, and again opting for brown, taupe and other soft but darker tones. According to interior designers, homeowners are choosing darker countertops paired with darker natural wood cabinetry, even combined with an Art Deco vibe with gold or black hardware. Technology is also a vital factor in the design and features of public spaces and suburbia. “Technology has come so far in not a lot of time!” Branton says. “It’s crazy how detailed 3D renderings can be and how they can make someone feel like they are in their own home through the renders. Systems have gotten faster and more accurate. Technology has changed the game and has made it easier and faster for us to show our clients the designs that we see in our minds.” As design trends continually evolve, technology is also bringing warp speed changes, particularly for residential designs. Smart home technology now offers automating devices and appliances for seamless and scheduled functioning and it’s no longer just for high-end homes. Technological advancements are now routine and mainstream, with
affordable apps and smart gadgets that are way beyond luxury creature comforts. Smart home future trends include a mind-boggling array of devices, sometimes integrated with AI and constantly evolving technology to impact homeowner lifestyles. Today’s interior design choices routinely include smart security systems and thermostats, smart kitchens, smart lighting solutions, smart home entertainment and more. Osborne concludes by noting how technology is a dynamic factor for new home features as well as a vital factor for architecture and construction. “Technology has and will continue to impact how we live and design buildings. Our homes are more connected and controllable than ever, with smart features through internet connections. I predict that the increased use of AI will not just provide more connected environments, but the systems will actually learn how we want to live. Technology will help streamline operations, predict behaviors and drive efficiency in our infrastructure.”
ABOVE: GEC OFFICE AT 300 WEST BLOCK. PHOTO SOURCE: GEC ARCHITECTURE / ADRIEN WILLIAMS
BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // DECEMBER 2023
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2023 Board of Directors
The Future of the Edmonton Chamber
Board Executive Doug Griffiths President and CEO
Chair: Haydar Al Dahhan Design Works Engineering Vice-Chair: Aziz Bootwala Managing Principal, Edmonton, Vice President, Business Development, Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. Secretary-Treasurer: Jason Pincock CEO, DynaLIFE Medical Labs Past Chair: Dennis R. Schmidt Principal, ALTURA Legal Advisory
Board Directors Nicole Bird Owner, Rsvp Design Inc.
Nathan Carter Vice President, Projects and Construction, ATCO Energy Solutions Jonathan Gallo Managing Partner, Gallo LLP Chartered Professional Accountants Sandy Jacobson Vice President, Richardson Executive Search Sam Kemble Chief Operating Officer, Workforce Delivery Inc. Annemarie Petrov President and CEO, Francis Winspear Centre for Music Amir Shami President and CEO, Rotaflow Randy Allaire Chief Risk Officer, Servus Credit Union
Edmonton Chamber Executive Cadence Bergman Director, Policy
Amin Samji Director, Member Services Melissa Johnson Director, Events Drew Sveinson Director Finance and Operations
Contact
Edmonton Chamber of Commerce #600 World Trade Centre 9990 Jasper Ave, Edmonton, AB T5J 1P7 T: 780.426.4620 | F: 780.424.7946 edmontonchamber.com
Doug Griffiths, President & CEO
A
s we approach the conclusion of 2023, I want to emphasize my commitment to the Edmonton Chamber and the vibrant business community it serves. The Chamber is more than an organization; it’s a cornerstone of support for businesses in our city and the surrounding region, and an important partner in contributing to the success of our entire region. I firmly believe that by working together, we can foster an environment in which businesses can not only thrive, but also lead the way in shaping a brighter future for our community. My experience in working with chambers, municipalities, and organizations across Alberta and Canada has given me the know-how to drive change. I am excited to bring my entrepreneurial spirit to the table. I know from experience that forging deep relationships built upon trust and confidence is the secret to business success. So, bear with us as we transition; we’re looking forward to touching base with each and every one of you. The Edmonton Chamber’s mission is clear: adapt to the ever-evolving needs of our members by fostering connections and advocating for policies that empower our city, region, and province. To make this happen, we need to be open to innovation, embrace collaboration, and navigate the ever-shifting landscape of today’s business world. We will re-establish ourselves as your exceptional partner in building your business, your community, and your prosperity for generations to come. Edmonton must work to earn the title of greatest city in North America, and your Chamber has a pivotal role to play in achieving this recognition. My commitment is to work closely with our clients and partners to develop programs, services and connections that go beyond just reacting to situations. We’re going to be proactive in tackling challenges and seizing the opportunities that come our way. Success is all about teamwork and partnership, not just within our organization but also in our interactions with all three levels of government. When we collaborate, we can create an environment that sets the stage for growth and prosperity throughout our business community. In the days and months to come, my goal is to lead the Edmonton Chamber into an exciting new phase of growth. We’ll build on the strengths of our dedicated team, ensuring that the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce remains a powerful advocate and a valuable resource for all our members. Last month I shared that I was endeavoring to meet with 1,000 people in the next 200 days. Let’s work in partnership to create a business environment that not only benefits our members but also elevates our city to new heights of success and recognition. Together, we can make Edmonton shine even brighter on the North American stage. Would you like to book a meeting? Scan the QR code to request a meeting with President & CEO, Doug Griffiths.
Share your thoughts on business issues with the Edmonton Chamber at policy@edmontonchamber.com
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It’s All CONNECTED TappCONNECT Inc. is a new name but the legacy behind it spans more than 70 years By Nerissa McNaughton
P
hil Strong, President of TappCONNECT Inc., has always been an entrepreneur.
“I’ve had an eye for business ever since the age of 17 when I came to Canada,” he smiles. “I was born in Italy. Dad was a Canadian civil servant so that meant we got to move around Europe and Africa. When I became of age for university, we moved to Canada. My first job was delivering newspapers. That was self employment at its best!” He continues, “I always had a small side business, even when I had a salaried job. To be honest, I never kept a salaried job for very long. I always preferred having my own business.” His own business turned into businesses. “At one point,” Strong explains, “one of my past mentors took me out of accounting and put me into a management role at Laidlaw, which was part of Yellow Cab. That was serendipitous because I had driven cabs when I was in university. Later, I
bought Yellow Cab. Then we started buying other companies and things took off. It was great!” Today, the businesses under the TappCONNECT umbrella include Edmonton Greater Taxi Service, of which the two main brands are Yellow Cab and Barrel Taxi; J&P Auto; Prestige Limousine; Prestige Contracted Transportation and Cliffs Towing. Cliffs Towing has been in operation for more than 70 years and Yellow Cab has operated since 1945. Strong has continued to expand and improve on two essential legacy businesses in Edmonton while using his entrepreneurial drive to change lives in and outside of his brands. “We have 134 direct employees, but I like to say that we provide a living for over 965 families,” smiles Strong. “Most of our 831 drivers are owners/ operators. The executive team, management team and the drivers are why TappCONNECT stands out from the competition. I can’t do all this work, obviously! I must have great people around me. My philosophy is, you must empower people to let
TappCONNECT Inc. • Celebrating 70 Years
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Congratulations TA PP CONNEC T - Y E LLOW C A B & CLIFF S on 70 years of service to Edmontonians! We’re proud to be your legal services provider and wish you continued success in years to come.
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them grow and become what they are. Then, we will produce some excellent ideas. We need those ideas. If you don’t innovate, you get left behind.” Innovation was absolutely key during several points of TappCONNECT’s growth, but especially so when Uber took North America by proverbial storm. Strong recounts, “Uber? That scared us like crazy. Scared us for six months. I’m not easily scared but I got scared when Uber came to town.”
TappCONNECT Inc. • Celebrating 70 Years • 2
Out of all the places in Canada to test drive Uber, Edmonton was the city of choice. Strong watched several of his friends who also owned taxi and chauffeur businesses shut down. After watching the carnage unfold, Strong took a step back and asked himself, “Okay. What are we going to do about this?” What he and his team did was outmanoeuver the juggernaut at their own game. Uber was based on an app, so Strong’s supplier developed the Yellow Cab and Barrel Taxi app that was better than Uber’s. Although it is still gaining traction, more and more likeminded companies across Canada are engaging with their own apps. The app is designed for seamless, efficient taxi booking within the city. With this app, users can book a taxi in under 10 seconds, ensuring exclusive priority service from one of the most reputable cab services in Edmonton. The app features a passwordless registration flow, meaning you can get started quickly and effortlessly. For business users, it allows you to log in with your business account, automating expenses for ease of tracking and reimbursement. One of the standout features of the app is its price estimator, which provides users with an average cost for their planned trip. Payment is also a breeze with the in-app credit card payment option, although traditional “in taxi” payment is still available. Users have access to their driver’s and vehicle details and can track the taxi’s arrival on a real-time map. Additionally, it allows users to schedule future trips, making it a reliable tool for planning your transportation in advance. As with many businesses in the city right now, Strong is struggling with the tight labour market. “We have a good crew now, but we need more staff,” he admits. “We have tried to be proactive; we applied for, and got permission to hire foreign workers as mechanics and Cliffs’ drivers. We supply them with the tools they need to get started.” Hiring with diversity and inclusion has always been a big part of Strong’s philosophy. He is very well known for hiring new Canadians and providing them with training and resources to get ahead.
Congratulations to one of our valued partners on 70+ years! It has been a pleasure for us to be your IT support provider of choice.
4511 Roper Road NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 3S5
780-800-5528 • www.treo.solutions
Congratulations
TappCONNECT Inc. on 70 years in business.
We wish you continued success.
“I have always said, and I continue to say, the joy of seeing people use TappCONNECT as a stepping stone to move ahead in life is my biggest joy. We have people who started as cab drivers and now are lawyers, own butcher shops, run hotels and more. Even one of Edmonton’s mayors first drove cab when he came to Canada. It’s a beautiful thing to see people move ahead. One of my drivers put three kids through university by driving cab – two doctors and a dentist! And he is still driving! He TappCONNECT Inc. • Celebrating 70 Years • 3
Edmonton’s local, independent brokerage
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says he’s too young to retire. That is the personal joy I get out of the business.”
the same challenges but we all help each other. It’s really great to see how we rely on each other to move forward.”
He also loves that the business never stands still. There is always something to do. Sometimes you have issues. Other times you have ‘aha!’ moments. The joy is you come to work knowing no two days are the same.” How could they be the same when the breath and depth of TappCONNECT stretches so broadly? “People don’t understand just how many services we provide,” Strong says with pride. “We can transport any person, package, part or even equipment within Western Canada, 24/7. Our iconic brands are always on the road. If there is one thing I could tell everyone, it is about the depth of our service. We are always striving to give worldclass customer service. That is one of the strategic pillars of our brands and our corporate culture.” Strong couldn’t be happier to have built this transportation empire in Edmonton and with the help of Edmontonians.
TappCONNECT, and Strong, personally, also believe in helping non-profit and charitable organizations. In addition to wrapping tow trucks to help raise awareness for local causes, TappCONNECT enjoys supporting Dreams Take Flight. The Edmonton Dreams Take Flight Association, a provincially registered non-profit society, has been dedicated since 1993 to providing unforgettable experiences for deserving children with special needs from Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. Their mission involves organizing trips to Disneyland or Universal Studios, creating magical memories for children. This wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of donors and sponsors. “We believe in helping at the local, ground level,” says Strong. “We have also supported the Terry Fox Run, Mustard Seed, Edmonton Humane Society, the Fork it Over Gala and more. Our staff get involved in collecting non-perishable products for the food bank and the company supports their efforts.”
“There is such tremendous resilience here,” he says of the capital city. “All the business owners have
Strong thanks the many mentors and organizations that have helped him, including TEC Canada and the Edmonton Executive Association.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CLIFFS TOWING ON 70+ YEARS!
As for the future? TappCONNECT was transporting people and goods before GPS technology. Before apps. Before Uber. The world changed and Strong’s brands changed with it. Now his plan is to lead the change, ensuring that passengers and products arrive at their destinations on time, affordably and in the safest way possible.
Exceeding Industry standards for Fast, Reliable Service Hydraulic Cylinder Repair | Industrial Hard Chroming Machining Services
1-888-949-9990 | www.empirehydraulics.com 23004-112 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta
“We want to aggressively keep on growing. I’m proud that I have the right staff along with innovative technologies. We have also developed long lasting relationships with existing and new customers. AI is the next big frontier. How will we make that work in our business? Watch and find out!” TappCONNECT drives change now and into the future. Learn more by connecting with the individual brands on social media as the story of Edmonton’s biggest taxi, limousine and towing fleets continue to unfold.
TappCONNECT Inc. • Celebrating 70 Years • 4
BUILDING ALBERTA:
The Transformative Impact of Sureway Construction S u r e w a y C o n s t r u c t i o n G r o u p C e l e b r a t e s 5 0 Ye a r s By Nerissa McNaughton
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS
41
Sureway Construction Headquarters - 1978
F
ifty years. Millions of man hours. Building and connecting the communities Albertans work in and call home. Countless projects spanning earthworks, underground infrastructure, mining and more. Since it began in 1973, Sureway™ Construction Group has changed the landscape and become a trusted legacy in Alberta. “I met a gentleman in a bar and he asked me if I ever thought of doing this for myself,” says Dennis O’Rourke, chairman. “I replied that I had not. I was a superintendent for a large company but his offer to give me half of his company to work for him got me thinking. Another guy was in the bar at the same time and heard the offer. Later that night on the way out he said to me, ‘I know your brother from Olds. He is a good guy so you must be alright too.’ In that moment he offered, ‘If you ever do go out on your own, I will take a piece of the action.’” The second “guy in the bar” was Jack Richardson.
Dennis O’Rourke
Jack was from Olds, had his own business and was a WWII veteran with seven kids. “I wound up quitting a very good job at Whissel Enterprises to start Sureway with Jack. Initially, Jack owned 30 per cent while I owned 70.” O’Rourke reminisces. “When I joined Jack, I brought two fellows on my crew with me from Whissel, Ron Kunellis and Marv Gunderson. The four of us were the heart of the new company. We took on all the hard work, the work no
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 2
1976
one wanted. One particular job near 17th Street in Edmonton was being run by a certain inspector who was the most difficult person I had ever dealt with. We finished the work but I never forgot that inspector! From there we had some good jobs in Lethbridge and constructed the 34 Street tunnel sanitary under the Sherwood Park Freeway. As time went on, we learned from our mistakes, bid smarter and started making good money. “After a strong winter in 1975, I took on a real tough job in Stony Plain with no bonding. We had a good bank account at the time but Jack saw some of the jobs as too risky and wanted out, so we parted ways. Marv had left us after the Lethbridge job. So, with just the two of us left, Ron took Jack’s 30 per cent and we kept going. Ron stayed with us until 1991 when he sold his portion to me and moved on. “We still needed quality people and I never forgot that difficult inspector, so I went out and hired him. We talked, looked each other in the eye, made a deal, shook hands and that was that. That is how, in 1975, Bruce Hagstrom came to work for Sureway. Bruce and I have been together ever since. No paper, no contract – just complete trust and faith in each other to get it done… and the rest is history.”
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 4
“We have had so many ups and downs in Alberta; it has been amazing,” laughs O’Rourke. “When we started, we had about five guys. We now have around 900 employees, but the most we have ever had is 1,400.”
That history spans half a century. At first, things went very well. “From 1975 to 1981 things were very good in Alberta,” says O’Rourke. “Things also opened up in Fort McMurray; we had some really good years. Then the National Energy Program came along and things went downhill.” (See Sidebar on next page: What Was the National Energy Program and How Did it Affect Alberta?) That was far from the only hurdle Sureway faced over its 50 years of growth. From changing politics to shifting economics, from a pandemic to the impact of wars, every decade was marked with highs and lows. Sureway rode out the waves every time. “We have had so many ups and downs in Alberta; it has been amazing,” laughs O’Rourke. “When we started, we had about five guys. We now have around 900 employees, but the most we have ever had is 1,400.” Being able to ride the waves was not luck. O’Rourke and his management team were visionaries with sound business sense. One thing they did early on, which had a profound impact on the subsequent years, was to pay off its corporate debt. O’Rourke explains, “When interest rates were high in the late 70s and 80s, we paid off our debt. So, when interest rates went crazy later on, we didn’t have any debt. Sureway was not in a desperate position to
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 6
PROUD PARTNERS OF
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. CONGRATULATIONS ON 50 YEARS. Here’s to 50 more of building our community together.
What Was the National Energy Program and How Did it Affect Alberta?
T
he National Energy Program (NEP) was a policy enacted by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s Liberal government in October 1980. Its goals were to ensure the supply and price stability of Canadian natural gas and oil, increase Canadian ownership and control of the petroleum industry, and secure a larger share of energy revenues for Canada. Under the NEP, a two-price system was implemented, with lower rates for Canadian consumers and higher rates for others. Additionally, taxes on operating revenues of oil and gas companies were increased, and export taxes were added. The NEP’s Petroleum Incentives Program (PIP) aimed to redirect exploration efforts towards Canadian-owned companies operating in the Canadian North and offshore territories, diverting attention away from western Canada and Alberta. One of the major effects of the NEP was a strain on relations between the West (particularly Alberta) and the East. Alberta responded to the NEP by reducing the flow of oil to the rest of the country and challenging the federal government’s legal authority. This led to conflicts over energy resource revenues and a sense of dissatisfaction among Albertans who felt unfairly treated by the policies. The NEP was officially eliminated in June 1985 by the Western Accord of Brian Mulroney’s Progressive Conservative government. This accord removed oil price controls, abolished federal taxes, and encouraged foreign investment and exploration. The elimination of the NEP, along with subsequent market-oriented policies, brought about significant changes in the energy industry in Canada.
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 8
You help make amazing things happen!
Happy 50th Anniversary Sureway Construction! Congratulations to Sureway Construction for reaching an incredible 50-year milestone of excellence! Your unwavering commitment and innovation have left a significant mark on the construction industry.
Cantiro is proud to have Sureway as a key partner on many of our projects and we look forward to many more.
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 9
“We do very good work. We complete on time, we always finish our work and we don’t like to fight and argue. We just like to complete what we start!” says O’Rourke.
underbid for jobs. We simply parked a lot of our equipment in 1982 and waited for things to get better.” They were not idle as they waited. O’Rourke and his team took the downtime to improve on processes and diversify the company. Once things improved economically, a stronger, larger Sureway was ready to take advantage of the project landscape. While O’Rourke cites the “ups and downs of Alberta’s economy” as the most challenging aspect of his career, he is also quick to cite the most rewarding. “What I have enjoyed the most is contributing to the places where people live, work, commute and thrive.” Sureway Construction, over the past half-century, has been pivotal in shaping the infrastructure and landscape of Edmonton, the surrounding communities and the province of Alberta as a whole. The company’s vast contributions have left an indelible mark on the region, extending from Calgary to High Level and from Hinton to Fort McMurray – and beyond. “We do very good work. We complete on time, we always finish our work and we don’t like to fight and argue. We just like to complete what we start!” says O’Rourke.
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 10
CONGRATS SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION ON 50 YEARS!
PROVIDING CONCRETE SERVICES TO ALBERTA SINCE 1976 NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL • SLAB SAW • CORE DRILLING
• WALL SAW • WIRE SAW
• CONSTRUCTION • DEMOLITION
780-436-7934 | WWW.DERRICKCONCRETE.COM
Sureway’s dedication does not stop when developments are complete. With support for infrastructure emergencies, snow removal and fire response, Edmonton and area can rely on Sureway to respond to community needs.
O’Rourke has seen the company grow to include an impressive fleet of production, support and maintenance equipment, with the heavy equipment fleet currently numbering over 700 units. This fleet supports projects in underground utilities, earthworks, mining, mechanical services, environmental services, trucking, aggregates and inspections. In 2014, Sureway replaced its existing facility with a brand new 110,000 square foot shop focusing on repairs and maintenance to this substantial fleet. The sheer volume of Sureway’s work is staggering. They’ve installed thousands of kilometres of water, sewer and storm systems and moved millions of cubic metres of earth to build out the Edmonton area. Since Sureway commenced operations, Edmonton’s developed area has nearly tripled as the population more than doubled. Sureway has contributed to a significant portion of this growth. However, their reach extends far beyond Edmonton. Sureway’s projects have spanned across numerous communities and cities, reflecting their extensive influence and commitment to development. Sureway’s dedication does not stop when developments are complete. With support for infrastructure emergencies, snow removal and fire response, Edmonton and area can rely on Sureway to respond to community needs.
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Congratulations! To our valued customer Sureway Construction on your 50th Anniversary. We are proud to be on this road together.
FTN_SurewayConsHalfPg_2023.indd 1
2023-10-16 5:12 PM
Professional Concrete Conctractors In The Greater Edmonton Area
CONGRATULATIONS SUREWAY ON 50 YEARS!
7 8 0 - 4 6 9 - 93 3 3 | 4 7 2 0 8 2 Ave N W, E d m o n to n , A B T 6 B 0 E 4 | www. c h a m p i o n - co n c re te . co m
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EDMONTON
LEGEND Light Green: Edmonton 1970 Dark Green: Edmonton 2023 Red: Land & Industrial Development Blue: Major Road Development
PROJECT HISTORY, EDMONTON Since 1973 Sureway has installed thousands of kilometres of water, sewer and storm and moved millions of cubic metres of earth for the Edmonton area to grow over the past 50 years. Many of these projects could not have succeeded without the collaborative effort and partnerships with our many clients, developers, engineers and subcontractors that we have worked with over the years. The map above only covers a portion of the areas and communities that Sureway has helped develop. Project highlights include: • In North Edmonton, Crystallina, McConachie, Marquis and Cy Becker neighbourhoods • In NW Edmonton, Hawks Ridge, Trumpeter, Big Lake and Starling neighbourhoods • In West Edmonton, Hamptons, Rosenthal, Secord neighbourhoods • In South Edmonton, Ellerslie, Allard, Chappelle, Heritage Valley neighbourhoods • In SE Edmonton, Sakaw, Greenview, Tamarack, Laurel and Aster neighbourhoods • In SW Edmonton, Riverbend, Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick and Glenridding neighbourhoods
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 14
Shell is proud to be a partner of Sureway Construction.
Congratulations to the Sureway group on 50 years of excellence!
To learn more about how Shell Lubricant Solutions can help improve your equipment reliability, visit: www.shell.ca/lubricants
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 15
In 2013 Sureway widened it’s scope to include the Industrial and Mining sectors in Edmonton and area. Highlights include: • Enbridge SET (South Edmonton Terminal) 2013-2016 o Sureway performed the scopes of all earthworks and underground utility installation for a new 5 tank terminal expansion. o 700,000 m3 Earthworks o 3.1 km drainage pipe o 3 km firewater pipe o 750,000 tonnes of gravel for tank pads o 1,200 m3 of concrete structures o 10 lift stations • Enbridge Hardisty o Earthworks, firewater and mechanical services o Three new product tank foundations, new containment area, manifold containment, above ground and below ground piping and structural • Enbridge Cheechham o Earthworks, shear wall and containment system for water management facility upgrades • Gibson Energy 2021-2023 o Rail loading area expansion, tank foundation and containment liner systems • Imperial Oil o Civil Maintenance contractor 2019 to present o Southlands Rail Terminal o Earthworks, drainage systems and demolition for rail yard – 2022 to present • Interpipeline 2020-2022 o Bypass piping, new containment area • TC Energy o Fabrication Services • Dow o Earthwork and mechanical for new and retrofit pipe below and above ground • Nutrien o Earthworks, sub-drain systems and containment systems for new gypsum stacks – multiple projects o Earthworks and drain system for plant reclamation • Shell Scotsford o Earthworks and drainage installations for expansion • Cenovus (Canexus Rail Terminal) o Earthworks, drainage, tank foundations for new rail yard and product transfer station • Capital Power – Generating Station o Earthworks and mechanical for new gas feed to plant. Firewater upgrades • Transalta Highvale Mine o Earthworks and utility construction for mine expansion, ash dike raise, process water • Westmoreland Coal Valley Mine o Earthworks for mine reclamation
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 16
Congratulations Sureway Construction on your 50th Anniversary!
7224 50th Street NW Phone: (780) 466-5832
www.jatec.ca SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 17
8200041 237-1962 10479343 50MT 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8200072 8200072 38MT 8/10 - 12 Tooth 268-4295 8200072 38MT 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8200098 8201093 6/8 - 11 Tooth 269-2757 8201093 50MT 6/8 - 11 Tooth 50MT Hydraulic Cylinder Repair 8200224 8201092 8/10 - 13 Tooth 2873K116 8200072 38MT 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8200269 8200072 38MT 8/10 - 12 Tooth 290-6527 8201092 8/10 - 13 Tooth 8200284 338-3454 8201091 8200410 338-3456 10479342 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8200330 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8200412 352-9766 8201094 39MT Hardchrome Plating 50MT 8200430 STARTER CROSS REFERENCES 363-9839 STARTER 8201092CROSS REFERENCES8/10 - 13 Tooth 8200447 6V-0885 10479343 8200435 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8200449 6V-0889 10479342 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8200456 8201091 6V-0927 10479343 8200480 10479342 50MT 6/8 - 11 Tooth CH12405 8200330 6/8 - 11 Tooth Sureway 8200574 Congratulations 8201094 M105702 Construction! 8200709 M105703 8200435 39MT 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8200724 8200330 6/8 - 11 Tooth M105705 8200725 39MT M105R3502SE 8200330 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8200726 M105R3503SE 8200435 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8200435 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8200727
Reference #
Replacement #
1993802 1993805 1993980 2871252 2871256 2871257 3102763 3102767 3103914 3103916 3103952 3965282 3965284 5256414 5256416 5284083 5284084 5284086 5284105 5284106 8200034 8200039 8200041 8200072 8200098 8200224 8200269 8200284 8200410 8200412 8200430 8200447 8200449 8200456 8200480 8200574 8200709 8200724 8200725 8200726 8200727
10479010
Model 42MT
Pinion Pitch/Teeth
6/8 - 11 Tooth
8200957
8/10 - 12 Tooth
8200330
6/8 - 11 Tooth
8200435
39MT
8200330
8200078 8200072
8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth
38MT
8/10 - 10 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth
8200435
8/10 - 12 Tooth
8200330
6/8 - 11 Tooth
39MT
8200435
8/10 - 12 Tooth
8200330 8200072 8201093 8201092 8200072
6/8 - 11 Tooth
38MT
50MT 38MT
8200330
8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 13 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth
39MT 8200435 8201091 10479342 8201094 8200330 8200435
8/10 - 12 Tooth 50MT
6/8 - 11 Tooth
Reference #
Replacement #
8200812 10478859 10478863 10478866 10478937 10478942 10478943 10478948 10478961 10479372 19011511 19011512 19026030 19026032 207-1517 207-1541 207-1549 207-1551 207-1556 207-1560 207-1562 207-1564 237-1962 268-4295 269-2757 2873K116 290-6527 338-3454 338-3456 352-9766 363-9839 6V-0885 6V-0889 6V-0927 CH12405 M105702 M105703 M105705 M105R3502SE M105R3503SE
8201092 10479342 10479343 10479343 10479010 10479009 10479010 8200957 10479013 10479343 8200435
8200072 8200078 10479013 8200957 10479010 8200957 10479010 10479009
Model
50MT
42MT
41MT 50MT
6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth
38MT
8/10 - 10 Tooth
41MT
8/10 - 12 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth
42MT
6/8 - 11 Tooth
50MT 38MT 50MT 38MT
6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 8/10 - 13 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth
50MT
8/10 - 13 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth
8200330
11221 224 St Edmonton, AB 8200435 39MT 6/8 - 11 Tooth 39MT 8200330 587-341-2091 | hchhydraulics.com 8200435 8/10 - 12 Tooth
6/8 - 11 Tooth
39MT
10479010
10479343 8200072 8201093 8200072 8201092 8201091 10479342 8201094 8201092 10479343 10479342 10479343
Pinion Pitch/Teeth
8/10 - 13 Tooth
6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth
Sureway’s work isn’t limited to residential and municipal projects. They’ve also been instrumental in industrial developments, working with major corporations such as Enbridge, Gibson Energy, Imperial Oil, Nutrien, TransAlta, Shell, Capital Power and Lafarge, among others.
Congratulations on 50 years! Proud to be doing business with Sureway since 2001.
8200430 8200447 8200449 8200456 8200480 8200574 8200709 8200724 8200725 8200726 8200727
8200435
8/10 - 12 Tooth 39MT
8200330 8201091 10479342 8201094 8200435
6/8 - 11 Tooth
363-9839 6V-0885 6V-0889 6V-0927 CH12405 M105702 M105703 M105705 M105R3502SE M105R3503SE
8200330 8200435 8200435
8009-39 St Leduc, AB T9E 0B3 780 955 8805 | info@otsautoelectric.com www.otsautoelectric.com
Sureway provides full life-cycle services, from breaking new ground to reclaiming the land. Whether it is developing new residential, commercial, rail or industrial facilities or reclaiming to natural land or farmland, Sureway is always committed to project delivery. Their contribution to the transportation sector is equally impressive, having constructed major roads in the Edmonton area, including half of the 78-kilometre Anthony Henday ring road and highways stretching from Milk River to Spirit River and Fort McMurray.
50MT
6/8 - 11 Tooth
8/10 - 12 Tooth
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 18
8200330
8201092 10479343 10479342 10479343
6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 12 Tooth 39MT
8/10 - 12 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 6/8 - 11 Tooth 8/10 - 13 Tooth
Canadian Industrial Hydraulics Ltd. would like to congratulate Sureway Construction on half century of hard work & excellence. We thank you for trusting CIH with keeping your hydraulics’ equipment ready for a hard day’s work.
Trusted hydraulic pump and motor repair Edmonton
780-465-1133 | www.cih.ca
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 19
FORT MC CONGRATULATIONS Sureway Construction on 5o years!
Congratulations
Sureway Construction on 50 years!
LEGEND Light Green: Fort McMurray 1970 Dark Green: Fort McMurray 2023 Red: Land & Industrial Development Blue: Major Road Development
PROJECT HISTORY, In 2004 Sureway began to operate in Fort McMurray and has maintained a permanent presence in the region since as a major contributor to its continued regional growth. Highlights in Fort McMurray include: • Prime contractor for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo performing major capital infrastructure projects across the region
Building Positive Change in Our Communities.
• Parsons Creek Interchange which was the largest bid-build contract from Alberta Transportation at the time
www.ohanlonpaving.com
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 20
MURRAY
CONGRATULATIONS ON
We recognize the hard work, care, and dedicated effort required to create a lasting company, and share in the celebration of this great accomplishment. Congratulations!
Congratulations from your friends at
FORT MCMURRAY • Eagle Ridge and Parsons North neighborhoods • Eco Industrial Park
Congratulations to Sureway Construction 50 incredible years!
• Stone Creek including 250 acres residential neighbourhoods o Stoney Creek Village Shopping Centre o The Markets future development • Emergency support during the 2016 wildfires and 2020 flooding • Community reinvestment
www.rmrf.com SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 21
Sureway Construction Group, 50 years of shaping Alberta and Western Canada!
Southeast Anthony Henday Drive (SEAHD)
Thank you for being valued partners of Ritchie Bros. and supporters of the communities that we live and work in. Here’s to many more years of success together!
Northeast Anthony Henday Drive (NEAHD)
Congratulations Sureway Construction on 50 Years! We are proud to be a part of your success.
Ring Roads and Interchanges: Southeast Anthony Henday Drive (SEAHD): • 2005 to 2007 – in Edmonton, AB • Project scopes were Earthworks and Underground drainage utilities – as a Subcontractor • 7.1 Million m3 of Earthworks • 9 km of drainage pipe – culverts and storm pipe Northeast Anthony Henday Drive (NEAHD): • 2012 to 2015 – in Edmonton, AB
WOOD MAT OPTIONS
• Project scopes were Earthworks and Underground drainage utilities – as a Subcontractor
COMPOSITE MATTING
• 7.69 Million m3 of earthworks
RIG MAT WASHING EQUIPMENT RENTALS
• 5.5 km of Culvert CSP
www.littleguyrentals.com
• 5.0 km of Storm pipe
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 22
Parson’s Creek Interchange
NOW PART OF THE EURO AUCTIONS GROUP
Our hands-on ownership & experienced sales team can offer terms that work for you!
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CALGARY EDMONTON WINNIPEG CONGRATULATIONS TO SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION GROUP FOR THEIR 50 YEARS IN BUSINESS! West Calgary Ring Road (WCRR)
Parson’s Creek Interchange: • 2013 to 2016 – in Fort McMurray, AB • General Contractor was Sureway Construction • Project scopes for Sureway was Earthwoks and Underground drainage utilities • 5 Million m3 of earthworks
WE CONNECT COMMUNITIES TO ESSENTIAL RESOURCES
• Subcontractors performed 450,000 tonne of roadway gravel and 190,000 tonne of asphalt West Calgary Ring Road (WCRR): • 2019 to 2022 – in Calgary, AB • West Calgary ring road DB1 project, for Stoney trail and Highway 1A (Transcanada) construction • Project scope was Earthworks – as a Subcontractor • 6.2 Million m3 of earthworks • 1.9 Million m3 of bedrock blasting
ICONIX proudly supplies waterworks products and solutions to the construction industry. Congratulations to Sureway Construction Group on 50 years of success!
Visit us online at iconixww.com
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 23
Congratulations on 50 years of success. Here’s to 50 more! Proud to be your surety partner since 2004.
intact.ca
Despite a period of stalled development in the ‘90s, Sureway persevered. As Fort McMurray began booming again, Sureway established operations 450 kilometres north of their main office. Initially, Sureway focused on land development in the new communities north of the Athabasca River, eventually becoming a resident contractor for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. They also constructed the Parsons Creek directional interchange and twinned HWY 63, which at the time was the largest bid-build contract from Alberta Transportation. Sureway’s dedication to the community resounds beyond their construction projects. They provided emergency support during the 2016 wildfires and 2020 flooding, further cementing their commitment to the communities they serve. The work over the past 50 years has been nothing short of transformative, leaving an enduring legacy on the landscape of Alberta. Fifty years later, however, O’Rourke is building something far more personal. “Right now. I am very inspired with building a winery from scratch. I’ve already built and opened Peak Cellars. Currently, I’m building O’Rourke Family Estate.”
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 24
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S Sureway Construction on 50 Years! We are proud to be a part of your success.
Select Engineering Consultants Ltd. (Select) specializes in providing comprehensive consulting, design and project management services for a wide range of large and small residential, commercial, industrial, municipal and recreational developments.
www.selecteng.ca
The development, located in Lake Country, B.C., north of Kelowna, encompasses over 340 acres with lake access and when complete will include a world class winery, vineyards, a restaurant, a 30,000 square foot event centre and outdoor amphitheatre, all with stunning views of Lake Okanagan. Some of O’Rourke’s early wines have already won international acclaim and the wines will only get better as the vines age and mature.
Congratulations Sureway Construction!
www.alberco.com
CONGRATULATIONS Sureway Construction on 50 Years!
Cooper Equipment Rentals | Edmonton East 8430 24th Street Edmonton, AB, T6P 1X8 1‑800‑315‑COOP | cooperequipment.ca
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 25
Congratulations to Sureway Construction for 50 years in business
Sureway physically contributes to building communities, but also contributes by providing robust community support amounting to millions of dollars to a wide variety of charitable interests including but not limited to:
Pressure Grouting & Concrete Lifting
• Alberta Cancer Foundation
www.mudjacking.com
• Athol Murray College of Notre Dame
CONGRATULATIONS
• Capital Care Foundation
Sureway Construction on 50 Years! We wish you many more years of continued success.
• CASA Foundation • Compassion House Foundation • Edmonton Opera
Premium Service. Anytime, anywhere. Oil & Gas, Industrial and Commercial. Potable, Demineralized and Hot Water Services.
Congratulations
• Festival Place Cultural Arts Foundation • Habitat for Humanity • Junior Achievement
on 50 years! 780-496-7604
• Kelowna General Hospital Foundation • Kids with Cancer
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 26
A.B. GILL TRUCKING LTD.
We haul sand, gravel, dirt and more! You Call, We Haul
CONGRATULATIONS Sureway Construction on your 50th Anniversary! Bobby Gill 780.991.6224 Shawn Gill 780.499.5678 1184 Cy Becker Road Edmonton, AB T5Y 3V9 abgill@hotmail.com
• Kids Kottage • Make-A-Wish Foundation • Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute • Mustard Seed • Northern Lights Health Foundation • Okanagan Symphony Orchestra • Pilgrims Hospice Society • Prostate Cancer Canada • Sign of Hope Society • STARS Foundation • Strathcona Community Hospital Foundation • University Hospital Foundation Festival of Trees • Wellspring Edmonton House • Valour Place Society
SUREWAY CONSTRUCTION || CELEBRATING 50 YEARS || 27
Congratulations Sureway Construction on 50 years of business excellence! Wearpro is an industry leader in supplying Ground Engaging Products for all Makes and Models of Equipment. www.wearprosupply.com
For its outstanding project achievements and philanthropy, both O’Rourke and Sureway have been recognized numerous times. Awards include O’Rourke’s Junior Achievement Northern Alberta & N.W.T. Alberta Business Hall of Fame induction in 2008 and recognition from the Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association. Sureway swept the Minister’s Award of Excellence for Construction Innovation in 2014 and 2016, received an EllisDon Safety Excellence Award in 2020, then followed up with a safety award from Imperial Oil in 2022. O’Rourke has recently set up the Dennis O’Rourke Foundation to ensure this legacy of philanthropy and charitable giving will continue and be carried on by future generations.
Congratulations Sureway on 50 years!
However, O’Rourke doesn’t count the trophies in the case as the measure of success. He counts the successful projects that contribute to the lives of the communities they serve, the teams they employ and the future generations he wishes to support. “I just keep looking ahead,” he smiles.
CO N S U LT I N G & T E ST I N G E N G I N E E R S
2304-119 Avenue NE • (780) 489-0700 • jrp.ca
Half a century is a very big milestone for any company – more so for any company in Alberta that is affected by the boom and bust cycles. O’Rourke has much to be proud of but he is quick to point out that he is far from alone in crafting the company’s success.
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“We have had a lot of very good and faithful employees. There are a lot of people that worked with us that are not around anymore too, and that makes us very sad. Anyone can start a company and buy equipment but running a successful company? That is all about the people, people, people. I’m grateful for each and every one of them.”
Congratulations Sureway Construction!
The story of Sureway is just getting started. O’Rourke plans to leave a legacy that will always stand the test of time.
We wish you many more years of continued success.
“We own Sureway, gravel pits and shopping centres. Right now it’s about the future and transitioning the brand. We have many good people and lots of great things going on. I’m thankful to be in a position where we can continue to create quite an impact going forward.”
Mailing Address: 9175 – 14 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6P 0C9
Phone Number: 780-440-2121
Toll-Free: 1-877-447-2121
Email: info@sureway.ca
www.sureway.ca Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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