A Closer Look AT STRATHCONA COUNTY
STRATHCONA COUNTY HAS A LOT TO OFFER AS A DIVERSE, SUCCESSFUL MUNICIPALITY AND KEY PLAYER IN ALBERTA’S ENERGY SECTOR. by Nerissa McNaughton
COUNTY SNAPSHOT – A FASCINATING HISTORY WITH A BOLD FUTURE Strathcona County is a young, successful and vibrant community of almost 96,000 residents. The County, located on the eastern boundary of Edmonton, includes the urban community of Sherwood Park and a large rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. Currently, just over 70 per cent of the County’s population lives in an urban setting, with the remainder living in a rural environment. It is home to 75 per cent of refining in Western Canada and is a hub for product distribution. The County has much to offer its diverse mix of residents and businesses, including access to some of the best nature sites in the vicinity. The Beaver Hills Biosphere is located in the south east corner of Sherwood Park and extends east of Elk Island National Park. The Beaver Hills is the second Biosphere to be designated by UNESCO in Alberta, and joins a network of 669 biospheres in 120 countries worldwide. Strathcona County has been a member of the Beaver Hills Initiative since it formed in 2002, working to address sustainable development, stewardship and land use planning within the moraine. Strathcona County | Page 1
Discovery of oil in the late 1940s brought new opportunities to the Edmonton region. Strathcona County has since become the western Canadian hub for oil refining, petrochemical production and the storage and distribution of these products. This prosperity has led to the attraction of other sectors creating business opportunities, quality jobs and population growth to the entire region.
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As Canada’s largest petrochemical region, Strathcona County has partnered with leading international companies like Imperial Oil, Suncor, Inter Pipeline, TransCanada, ATCO Energy, KinderMorgan, Royal Dutch Shell and MEG Energy, and some of these corporations are contributing to over $12 billion in announced, recently completed or in-construction-phase hydrocarbon projects, which are key drivers to the regional economy. January 1, 2016 marks the 20th anniversary of Strathcona County being granted the specialized municipality status. This means that Sherwood Park and the urban service area immediately around it are considered equivalent to a city for purposes of provincial programs and grants, and rural Strathcona is recognized as equivalent to a municipal district for program and grant purposes. Strathcona County grew an average of 1.46 per cent annually between 2010-2015, while business growth was at an annual rate of four per cent. The Capital Region Board (CRB) projects that the County’s population will grow at an average of 1.6 per cent per year over the next 25 to 30 years. The best place to live, work and invest Strathcona County has 10,914 business establishments, which is a 35 per cent increase over the past five years. The County has more business establishments per capita (1 per 8.9 persons) than the Edmonton CMA (1 per 10.25). The County supports and encourages new
INVESTING FOR THE FUTURE… Economic activity in Strathcona County • Centre in the Park market with Planet Organic as the anchor tenant • Savona condominiums by Salvi Group • Bedford Village by Christenson Communities • Broadmoor Heritage Plaza by Prism Group of Companies • JYSK • Three hotels: Four Points by Sheraton, Sandman Signature Suites and TownePlace Suites by Marriot. • Three restaurants: Browns Social House, Chop Steakhouse and Bar and The Keg • Lowes • Kinder Morgan/Esso rail terminal project ($270 million) • Imperial Oil proposed diluent recovery unit • Kinder Morgan/Keyara tank baseline tank terminal ($441 million) • Williams Alberta propane dehydrogenation (PDH) project (1.1 billion) • Air Products Canada Ltd. hydrogen plant ($300 million) • MEG Stonefell terminal ($250 million)
entrepreneurs and the growth and the development of these establishments by working closely with the Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce.
Strathcona County’s most VIBRANT shopping centre. Emerald Hills Centre combines successful, leading retail stores and services with a relaxed, easy-going setting. Enjoy wide walking paths, outdoor music and an abundance of trusted national and regional brands. Store anchors include Bed Bath & Beyond, Winners, Sport Chek, Marshalls, Wine and Beyond, Walmart Supercentre and Lowe’s.
FEATURING OVER 40 STORES AND SERVICES Childrens Wear Electronics Footwear
Housewares Jewelery & Accessories Ladies Wear
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Find success and growth with Emerald Hills Centre. For leasing inquiries, please contact: Robert Mulvale, Vice President, Retail Leasing WAM Development Group P: 647.256.1014 E: rmulvale@wamdevelopment.com
OPENING SUMMER 2017
5000 EMERALD DRIVE | SHERWOOD PARK, AB EMERALDHILLSCENTRE.COM
Mens Wear Restaurant Sporting Goods
$ HOUSEHOLD INCOME $
165,451
HOME PRICE
453,000
$
➜
WORK Canada’s largest petrochemical region
5.3% Alberta 7.8%
37 km
TAX RATES* - MILL
6.9
Residential
12.5
Non-Residential
*One tax rate is one thousands of a dollar.
LIFE Canada’s most livable community
$
➜ UNEMPLOYMENT
PARKLAND 2
PROJECTS
12 BILLION
$
OPEN EDUCATION
94%
Diploma / Degree
BUSINESSES
10,914
www.strathcona.ca/edt
00095.25.08.16.EDT
Q&A WITH MAYOR ROXANNE CARR How long have you been the Mayor of Strathcona County? Since October 2013 – and on Council as a councilor for six consecutive years prior. What do you love the most about the County? I love the people with their diverse interests and innovative natures. Because we are a specialized municipality with rural and urban landscapes, we attract the most interesting variety of people. We have farmers and industrialists, professors and doctors, environmentalists and acreage owners with a myriad of small businesses and entrepreneurs. What are some of the challenges you face in this position? The position is as complex as the municipality and region in which we live. Leading a council of eight to create a bright future for our residents means keeping a strong focus on our priorities. We need to run an efficient organization
Clearflow works closely with various industries, Universities and Government Agencies to provide proprietary and patented water treatment processes to solve some of the toughest water challenges.
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Sherwood Park • 780.410.1403 office | 780.410.1406 fax Unit 140, 134 Pembina Road Sherwood Park, AB T8H 0M2 Regina, SK • 306.536.8919 office | Lethbridge, AB • 403.380.2980 office info@clearflowgroup.com | www.clearflowgroup.com
that, as much as possible, meets the expectations of our residents for service and future facilities. At the same time, council has to ensure sustainability by maintaining existing infrastructure. Council must respect the nature of our municipality and work diligently together to maintain the balance of rural and urban service levels, leading to a high quality of life for all. What has your time as mayor of Strathcona County taught you about leadership? That the greatest of accomplishments can be attained with genuine collaboration and transparency. In so large an organization – more than 1,500 staff and nine elected officials, all of whom strive to meet the needs of over 95,000 people in a specialized municipality – communication and two-way conversations are the currency of success to move forward. We have put tremendous efforts into improving our communication and public engagement processes. We boast a very comprehensive public engagement process for major planning changes, and a very effective resident response system called County Connect that has greatly improved the speed and accountability in answering our citizen enquiries and issues. I believe both staff and elected officials work hard to ensure residents are truly a part of finding the solutions. What is your best advice for Strathcona County’s existing and prospective residents? Utilize our website (www.strathcona.ca) to gain the most up-todate information on the thousands of amenities and programs available for seniors and families, as well as events throughout our municipality. New residents especially should connect with the Welcome Wagon, the library and our Family and Community Services department to get the answers to their questions. If someone was thinking about opening a business in and/or moving a business to Strathcona County and you could tell them one thing, what would that be? Strathcona County’s Economic Development and Tourism department works closely with Sherwood Park & District Chamber of Commerce to assist new business from all levels – from home businesses to large commercial and retail. Our economic development department also offers personalized and business-friendly support and assistance to work through our planning and permitting system.
WHY ENTREPRENEURS LOVE STRATHCONA COUNTY • Pro-business environment and favourable tax structure (no business tax) • No business license fees or registrations • Strong economic growth • Productive and skilled regional workforce • Above average incomes, which means more money to spend locally • Large customer and supplier base • Excellent road networking system, including access to major provincial highways and transportation high-load corridors • The 2016 completion of the Anthony Henday ring road provides six and eight lane freeflowing divided highways, increasing labour mobility and transportation of goods within the region • Access to both CP and CN rail • Within close proximity to three airports, including the Edmonton International Airport (YEG) • Assistance with site selection and permitting • Pipeline maps and land photography services are available if needed • County meeting facilities are available for use • Letters of support are provided for developments, if applicable
Strathcona County is a founding member of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, which represents Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region and is one of the most attractive locations for petrochemical, chemical and oil and gas investments in the world. Spanning five member municipalities, the heartland is a national asset in a new series of investment dynamics. Residents enjoy a great work/life balance in one of Canada’s most livable communities. Three new recreation facilities opened this fall. The Strathcona Wilderness Centre, in addition to various other natural areas and hiking trails, offer yearround enjoyment. There is no shortage of sports options either, as Millennium Place houses a twin arena, a field house, skateboard park, indoor wave pool, and the County’s only indoor fitness track. Those interested in art and culture take in concerts, plays, and performances at Sherwood Park’s Festival Place – a 500-seat Elizabethan style theatre. While housing styles in the urban centre of Sherwood Park have been mostly low density neighbourhoods, the community has zoned new developments for higher density targets set by the CRB. Over the next five years, multi-family options will continue to flourish, with major developments anticipated. Growth planning for new urban development areas is well underway to ensure the market supply and demand remains in balance. The County has also recently completed an Agricultural Master Plan to ensure further development of the agricultural industry. The strategic plan for the County, speaks to how Strathcona County will showcase and secure itself as the world leader in petrochemical cluster development.
2001 Sherwood Drive Sherwood Park, Alberta Canada T8A 3W7 Phone: 780-464-8111 Fax: 780-464-8050 www.strathcona.ca @StrathcoCounty \ Strathcona.County
ANNOUNCEMENT SHANE OLSON B. Mgt Manager, Commercial Development
Together, Shane and Sean look forward to meeting all of the County’s key stakeholders and to enhancing the success of commercial and industrial businesses within Strathcona County.
For three years, Sean worked with the City of St. Albert economic development team, developing and implementing strategies to generate and attract investment. Before then, he managed the supply chain, sales, promotion, and strategic planning for performance materials for BASF Western Canada.
Business is better in Strathcona County – learn more www.strathcona.ca/edt
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With over 14 years economic development experience, including 10 years as the manager of Economic Development in Okotoks, Shane developed successful strategies for business investment and community development.
SEAN MCRITCHIE B. Mgt Manager, Industrial Development
Join the celebration!
October 1, 10 a.m. Enjoy FREE swimming on October 1 and 2.
October 1, 12 p.m. Welcome back! FREE drop-in activities on October 1 and 2.
September 17, 10 a.m. Come play and enjoy FREE family activities.
780-467-2211
www.strathcona.ca/grandopening