ROI - Regina On Investing by Lori Kluge

With over $1 Billion invested into the Residential Construction Industry in Regina in 2012

ROI Regina On Investment

Creating Great New Communities

Community Developers & Home Builders are creating safe and inclusive neighbourhoods that are easy to get around in and have a mix of housing choices welcome to Regina...welcome home!

Regina North

Regina South

In RegIna

Regina Region

busIness Is bOOmIng

Learn more at www.reginahomebuilders.com

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Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest neighbourhoods New Home Builders The largest selection of available new homes Consumer articles on home buying and renovations

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Regina Revitalization Initiative once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for city

By Andrew Livingstone For L-P Specialty Products

he City of Regina has embarked on an ambitious, long-range project to construct a new stadium and make use of newly-vacated real estate at the heart of the city. This effort, called the Regina Revitalization Initiative, comprises the Stadium Project, the construction of the Taylor Field Neighbourhood and the Railyard Renewal Project, which will develop former CP Rail property. “The new stadium will replicate all of the functions formerly performed by Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field while offering much more due to its improved design,” said Michael Fougere, Mayor of Regina. The planned ‘spectator roof’ will shelter attendees in the open-air field, thus allowing for more comfortable activities in a wider range of weather conditions, and the outer ring of the complex will include large, heated rooms. “The main tenant, but not the only tenant, is the Riders, so we’ll have those games happening all the time,” Fougere said, and the indoor areas will be available regardless of the weather. “It’s a year-round facility and there’s lots of room inside the ring, or concourse, for meetings, events, tradeshows and a host of different activities. We’ll have a lot of community events there.” “Once the new stadium is built, we’ll decommission the current football stadium to build a new neighbourhood,” said Fougere. “We’re going to look for the community to help us design that neighbourhood. This is very much about rejuvenating this inner city neighbourhood.” “There will be about 700 affordable and market housing units, as well as other opportunities for investment like office space, restaurants and retail stores,” Fougere said. “While this isn’t a silver bullet to answer the issue of Regina’s low

vacancy rate, putting 700 new units in the market is a great opportunity to increase our housing stock.” The former site of Mosaic Stadium will not be the only major space to open up near the heart of the city. “We will also be redeveloping the 17.5 acres of land along Dewdney Avenue purchased from CP. This is prime land that will be transformed from industrial use to build on the successful residential, oﬃce and entertainment Warehouse District along Dewdney Avenue,” said Fougere. “Both the Taylor Field Neighbourhood and the CP land development are signiﬁcant and could amount to $500 million worth of private investment.” “There’ve been some expressions of interest already,” Fougere said. “I’m hoping it will be a mixture of opportunities for hotels, retail development and condominiums. The City isn’t in the building business but we have the opportunity to zone it in a way that it’s an expression of what the community wants to see.”

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“This is the third part of a very exciting, once-in-a-generation opportunity to use industrial land, reclaim it, restore it and build a stronger downtown,” said Fougere. “Most cities in Canada don’t have this kind of opportunity to redevelop land in their core.” “The whole city and the whole of our province will beneﬁt from the Regina Revitalization Initiative because the stadium is a provincial project,” Fougere said. “People come to games and activities all the time from across Saskatchewan, so our business community beneﬁts from this as do the residents who live here in the city and the residents of the rest of the province.”

Connecting neighbourhoods, facilities and people with opportunities to live, play and invest.

ARTISAN

DAYTONA HOMES

NORTH PRAIRIE HOMES

PACESETTER

CENTURY WEST

HARMONY BUILDERS

NORTH RIDGE DEV.

SPRING GREEN

CRAWFORD HOMES

HOMES BY DUNDEE

OAK PARK LIVING

TRADEMARK

546.8030

ReginaRevitalization.ca

522.1062

525.9801

522.3210

205.7313

347.8100

306.931.2880

352.5900

586.9106

565.4663

719.1444

205.2502

CONTENT Wascana Park — Photo courtesy Eric Lindberg

Editor

Lisa Mitchell

Art Director Bonnie Bird

Contributing writers Shirley Byers Barb Flynn Ella McIntyre Lisa Mitchell Shaadie Musleh Meka Okochi Nadine Olson Pat Rediger Carol Rodgers Deborah Rush

A special thank you to the following for allowing us the use of their photography in this book. Alliance Grain Traders, Ampyx Power, Paul Austring, City of Regina, Evraz Place, Calvin Fehr, Shawn Fulton Photograpy, Ron Garnett, Global Transportation Hub, Mark Greshner, Habitat for Humanity, Patricia Holdsworth, Greg Huszar, Innovation Place, IntraGrain Technologies Inc., K+S Potash, Eric Lindberg, Lisa Mitchell, Keith Moulding, Mosaic, Jenn Nelson, Hans-Gerhard Pfaff, Matt Powers, Regina Hotel Association, Tourism Saskatchewan, and Western Potash Corporation

Publisher

The Leader-Post

Visit www.reginaroc.com

Investment Opportunities

Transportation and Logistics

Mining

Oil & Gas

Agriculture

Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship

Environment and Subtainability

Education & Talent Recruitment

Housing

Regina’s booming economy can be attributed to the growing global demand for everything Saskatchewan produces: minerals, energy and food.

The Global Transporatation Hub (GTH) has drawn the attention and the investment of wholesalers, distributors, transporters and logistics handlers from across North America. In 2011, Saskatchewan continued to be the world’s largest producer and exporter of potash, supplying almost 30% of the world’s supply and the second leading uranium producer, providing almost 20% of the world’s supply. Saskatchewan enjoys a strong competitive edge in the oil and gas sectors.

The Ag business is big business in Saskatchewan. Agriculture accounts for a third of Saskatchewan’s total exports.

The entrepreneurial opportunities in Regina have never been better. The city and the province are experiencing economic growth that has not been seen since the 1970s. Saskatchewan continues to be a global leader in the development of carbon capture and storage technologies.

The city of Regina is bustling with employment opportunities. The economic boom keeps the city at a constant growth rate and our labour force is reflecting the change. Whether you’re looking for a quiet suburb to raise a family, a quaint lakeside property with less than an hour of commuting time or a lively urban atmosphere, there is an option for everyone.

Sales Inquiries: Contact Aaron Hackel, The Leader-Post 306.781.5492

s Cover Photo

Photo courtesy Regina Hotel Association

Sponsored in part by Royalty Developments, visit us at www.royaltydevelopments.com

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Message

F r o m m ay o r michael Fougere

From President & ceo larry hiles Photo courtesy Keith Moulding

On behalf of my colleagues on City Council and the citizens of Regina, I am pleased to invite you to explore Saskatchewan’s Capital city — Regina. There has never been a better time to Invest in Regina. Our economy is booming, our population is growing, and our businesses are succeeding. Regina’s diverse economy offers a magnitude of opportunities for investors, business owners and job seekers. Add to this an excellent education system, Regina provides outstanding opportunities for families and individuals. Regina’s competitive advantages are many. Where we tip the scale is with our exceptional quality of life. Regina is a mid-sized city with big city amenities, short commute times, and safe neighbourhoods to raise a family. Whether you’re interested in cultural attractions or if professional football or university athletics are more to your liking, Regina has what you’re looking for. And everything in between! I encourage you to consider Regina when you are making your investment decisions. You won’t be disappointed. I look forward to showing you first-hand why Regina is the best city in Canada to live, work, learn and invest.

Welcome to Regina! I feel so fortunate to be living and working in such an amazing city and province at such an exciting time. All signs point to sustainable growth and prosperity in the Regina region. As President and CEO of Regina Regional Opportunities Commission (RROC), the economic development and tourism agency for the City of Regina, it gives me great pleasure to introduce to you this new premier, full gloss business magazine, ROI - Regina on Investment. This publication was created to share our success stories, outline the business advantages of investing in Regina, and highlight key industry sectors that are propelling our economy into a sustainable and bright future. I encourage you to discover the abundant opportunities to invest here, and invite you to contact us to find out more about how Regina might be the place for your next investment.

Sincerely,

Larry Hiles President and CEO Regina Regional Opportunities Commission

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Message

F r o m m ay o r michael Fougere

From President & ceo larry hiles Photo courtesy Keith Moulding

Sincerely,

Larry Hiles President and CEO Regina Regional Opportunities Commission

reginaroc.com

In RegIna,

busIness Is boomIng

- It’s the best it’s ever been, and there is no stop in sight for the economic growth or the investment opportunities.

Regina’s inviting and collaborative business environment is quickly becoming known as a premier destination in North America for businesses and investors alike. This is due in large part to a growing, stable and diversified economy supported by a business community with a ‘can-do’ attitude. We value innovation and believe in supporting our personal and corporate citizens through a business-friendly style of governing.

In recent years Regina has been identified as: • Having one of the highest GDP growth rates in Canada for the last two consecutive years at 5.6 % in 2011, and at 4.2% in 2012. • Continuing to post the strongest economic growth rates for the next few years as indicated by the Conference Board of Canada. •

Ranking 3rd in the list of Canada’s most entrepreneurial cities by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses in their Communities in Bloom report.

• Being one of the top 10 metropolitan areas in Canada in which to invest according to Site Selection Magazine. • Being recognized by Moneysense Magazine as the 5th best place in Canada to live and the 6th best place to find a job in Canada. Photo courtesy Ron Garnett

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weLcOme TO rEGINA

REGINA

SASKATOON

pOpuLatIOn:

210,556

LOcatIOn: Regina, the capital of the province of Saskatchewan, is the closest to the geographic center of North America.

reasOns FOr the bOOm 1. Regina housing starts are forecasted to hit a 36-year high in 2012. 2. Employment has risen at least 3% during three of the last four years, and the labour participation rate is at an all time high earning Regina the lowest employment rate in the country at 4.9% in 2011. 3. Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing sector is expected to expand 5.6% in 2012, the second year in a row that Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing sector has expanded faster than the national average. 4. The transportation and warehousing sector expanded 6.8 % in 2011, the largest gain in this sector since 2000, and is forecasted to rise an additional 3% in 2012. 5. The retail and wholesale trade sector saw an expansion of 7.5% in 2011. 6. The Regina region expects to add 10,000 new jobs by 2015. 7. Regina has experienced the second highest population increase in Canada since 2006 and has had an increase in population of over 8% between 2006 and 2011. 8. Incredible global demand for the resources that are abundant in the Regina area.

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weLcOme TO rEGINA

we weLcOme yOu

LIVING

in regina

TO CAll ThIS rEMArkAblE PlACE hOME. The communities of the regina region offer an incredible level of natural beauty, a high standard of living, and a diversity of lifestyle sure to satisfy and enrich the life of anyone new to our city. Landscape Regina is nestled in the vast and beautiful prairies, home to endless sunshine, blue skies and breathtaking horizons.

cLImate Regina enjoys more rays than any other Canadian capital, averaging 2,365 hours per year. Regina winters last from mid-November to March and winter days tend to be cold, short and sunny.

LIFestyLe OptIOns The Regina region is growing, and along with it comes a strong, diversified economy and a quality of life that is exceptional. Living here, you can enjoy big city amenities of the highest caliber. For those who prefer a more rural lifestyle, the small towns in the Regina area present an attractive alternative.

FamILy The region is an excellent place to raise a family with organized sports and sports facilities, recreational programs, bicycle and foot pathways, family attractions, excellent school systems and an abundance of parks.

In a recent Omnibus Survey

regIna resIdents rated their quality of life at

MOrE ThAN

80%

Photo courtesy Tourism Saskatchewan/Hans-Gerhard Pfaff

An average family in regina

EArNING

75,000

keeps $20,000 more

of their discretionary income compared to other Canadian cities.

shOrt cOmmute tImes Regina is easy to navigate and it only takes 20 minutes to get from one end of the city to another. Additionally, in less time than it takes a Torontonian commuter to get to work, a Reginan can hop in a car, unpack, open a book, dip their feet in Regina Beach and start working on a tan. In fact there are actually six freshwater lakes within an hourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drive of the city.

Photo courtesy Eric Lindberg

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weLcOme TO rEGINA heaLth care Finding a family physician is a key factor in feeling secure, healthy and happy. In Regina, there are almost 2.3 doctors per 1,000 residents, which means finding a doctor here is easier than in other Canadian cities. The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region offers a full range of hospital, rehabilitation, community and public health, long term care and home care services.

shOppIng With over 250 big box and specialty retailers, Regina’s three marquee shopping malls – Southland Shopping Centre, Northgate Mall and Cornwall Centre – deliver an abundance of shops and services. There are plenty of hidden gems to be found in the chic boutiques of Cathedral Village, the Downtown core, and Regina’s historic Chicago-style Warehouse District.

arts and cuLture Regina is a hub of arts and culture activity. One only needs to explore the museums, the galleries, the festivals, the restaurants, the music scene, the cultural events and you will discover a diverse and vibrant community.

events and FestIvaLs You’re destined to find a festival, concert series or jamboree in Regina that fits your groove. Just make sure to pace yourself, because there’s always a new celebration, like the Regina Folk Festival, Mosaic Cultural Festival, or the Craven Country Jamboree, just around the corner.

herItage In the heart of the city you’ll discover one of North America’s largest urban parks – Wascana Centre. Here you can also visit several landmarks and attractions including: Saskatchewan Legislative Building , MacKenzie Art Gallery, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, Saskatchewan Science Centre and IMAX Theatre. Regina is also home to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Training Depot and the RCMP Heritage Centre and Government House, a national historic site.

Photo courtesy Jenn Nelson

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Investment OPPOrTuNITIES

major Investments moving our economy forward

regina’s booming economy can be attributed to the growing global demand for everything Saskatchewan produces: minerals, energy and food. below are some of the significant investments in these sectors which are driving our economy forward. Yara, an international nitrogen fertilizer production company, will be expanding its operations in Belle Plaine and doubling its current production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes annually by 2016. Read more on pg 11

The Co-op refinery Complex has completed a $2.66 billion expansion, making it the 4th largest refinery in Canada. Over the past three years, the expansion of this facility has brought approximately $5 billion in economic activity to Saskatchewan. Read more on pg 12

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Eight municipalities, including Regina and Moose Jaw, are working together to enhance economic development throughout the transportation and industrial corridor that joins the two cities along the Trans Canada Highway. This industrial corridor has the potential to be one of North America’s best places to invest for heavy industries as it is home to about 24% of the province’s population and generates approximately 20% of Saskatchewan’s GDP. Read more on page 13

The Global Transportation Hub has completed a $32.8 million infrastructure project, delivering over four kilometers of roadways and asphalt paving, water and sanitary sewer lines, site grading and storm channel constructions. In total over 425 acres of service ready land is for sale. Loblaw’s has invested over $250 million in its warehouse and distribution centre, including adding a 100,000 sq. ft. freezer to their property that is part of the Global Transportation Hub. Canadian Pacific is investing $50 million at the Global Transportation Hub and has just completed the first-phase of its 300 acre Intermodal Facility project which will increase its capacity for container lifts from 45,000 to 60,000 annually. Canadian Pacific officials project container lift capacity to reach 250,000 per year. Read more on pg 20

K + S Potash Canada is investing $3.25 billion dollars into their Legacy Solution Mining Project, 50 kilometers north west of Regina. Read more on pg 27

The Petroleum Technology Research Centre based in Regina is investing $26.5 million in their Aquistore Project, an independent research and monitoring program, which will determine the scientific and economic feasibility of sequestration in a deep saline geological formation. Read more on pg 36

Investment OPPOrTuNITIES

MeGa

Projects

Sustain Growth by Nadine Olson

It is a busy time for businesses in regina and surrounding area. New construction projects and expansion of current businesses and industries symbolizes the economic growth of the region and an increasing population. Two of the companies expanding their operations in the area are Yara International and Consumer’s Cooperative refineries ltd. This is good news for the region as it means international exposure, employment and revenue.

McCallum Hill Towers, Regina’s most distinctive skyscrapers — Photo courtesy Jenn Nelson

yara belle plaine

will be expanding its operations and doubling its current production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes annually by 2016. Yara International is an Oslo-based company, which has about 17,600 employees and operates 25 nitrogen plants around the world. They have offices in more than 50 countries and sales to more than one 150 countries. Yara International took over Canadian Saskferco in 2008 and renamed the plant Yara Belle Plaine Inc. It is located on the Trans-Canada highway between Regina and Moose Jaw in the Moose Jaw Regina Industrial Corridor. The core business of Yara International is fertilizer production. The products they produce are largely connected with agricultural productivity and food production which is intrinsic to the activities of those involved with agriculture in Saskatchewan. The Belle Plaine facility produces nitrogen fertilizer, an essential product for success of the full growth of crops. It is the world’s largest chemical company that converts energy, natural minerals and nitrogen from the air into essential products for farms and industrial customers.

reginaroc.com 11

Investment OPPOrTuNITIES It was recently announced that Yara Belle Plaine will be expanding its operations and doubling its current production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes annually by 2016. The Belle Plaine expansion will include an integrated world-scale ammonia and urea line, with urea capacity of approximately 1.3 million tonnes per annum. Yara is confident that there will be enough demand for the production of 2.4 million tonnes a year of urea and related fertilizer products. “We want to have the plant up and ready to go in the latter half of 2016,” says Michael Schlaug, Plant Manager. “This is more than just an expansion. It is like building another plant on the site. We will basically be establishing ourselves to double our current capacity. The existing plant has reached maximum capacity and has already been upgraded two or three times. The old units are maxed out.” Yara Belle Plaine presently has one ammonia plant, one nitric acid plant and one urea granulation plant. Fertilizer is manufactured in three forms, urea, ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate. Yara Belle Plaine has the largest single line granulation plant in North America and produces an average of 3,000 tonnes of urea, 700 tonnes of UAN and 1,900 tonnes of ammonia per day. The company hasn’t released any cost estimates to date but has made the announcement that they will be doubling their capacity. This means more jobs for people – or greater employment – something always good for the economic well being of an area. The project will employ a couple of hundred people in the construction phase and is indicative of long term growth for Yara Belle Plaine which in turn means long term jobs and employment.

Co-op Refinery Complex — the world’s first co-operatively owned refinery — Photo courtesy Jenn Nelson

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Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) is another company which is expanding its operations in the region. FCL’s wholly owned subsidiary Consumers’ Co-operatives Refineries Limited operates the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC), the world’s first cooperatively owned refinery. It was incorporated on April 1, 1934. The CRC is located on the North end of the City of Regina and occupies 607 acres of land. FCL announced in 2008 that the refinery would be expanding to ensure that retail co-operatives across Western Canada would have a long-term supply of gasoline and diesel fuel. The work resulted in an over $2.6 billion expenditure to add a new Section V, and to revamp much of the existing infrastructure. On October 12, 2012 the Co-op Refinery Complex began processing crude oil through the new units. The Refinery now has the capacity to process up to 145,000 barrels per day of crude oil, an increase of 45 per cent from its previous total of 100,000 bpd. Section V consists of five new state-of-the-art processing units, which increases the total to 33 at the Refinery. It is supported by 14 additional storage tanks and vessels as well as new firewater, flare, plant and instrument systems, cooling tower and electrical substation. The Co-op Refinery Complex has established itself as a major economic force in Regina and elsewhere in Saskatchewan. Over the past three years the expansion of the facility has brought approximately $5 billion in economic activity to Saskatchewan. Throughout the expansion and associated revamps, more than 150 companies provided contracted services. At the peak of construction, almost 5,000 additional people a day were on site helping to complete the project. CRC currently employs over 800 people on a permanent basis and contracts over 1,000 additional people during peak maintenance periods and turnarounds. The expansion will create 70-100 additional full time jobs at the CRC. The completion of Section V expansion is a tremendous accomplishment for FCL and the cooperative retailing system, providing critical capacity for the continued growth of its petroleum business. The refinery has proven itself to be an impressive force in the Western Canadian market. It is a great time for businesses and industries around Regina. The economic boom that has hit Saskatchewan can be seen by the success of the two mega projects in the Regina region. Our population is growing, employment is on the upswing and companies are taking notice. Yara Belle Plaine and Consumers’ Cooperative Refineries Ltd. with their two large investments expansion are indicative of a progressive and sustainable business culture, something that will continue to be built upon in the future, for the future.

Investment OppORTunITIes

Yara’s nitrogen fertilizer Plant — Photo courtesy Thinkstock

Global Transportation Hub (GTH) — Photo courtesy Thinkstock

Mosaic potash mine — Photo courtesy Thinkstock

Moose Jaw— Regina Industrial Corridor by Nadine Olson

A group of eight municipalities, including the cities of Moose Jaw and Regina, are using innovative thinking to develop the area between Moose Jaw and Regina along the Trans-Canada Highway. The Moose Jaw-Regina Industrial Corridor Committee is committed to proactively promoting economic development in the region and is working towards

In 2009, the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission (RROC) in partnership with the South Central Enterprise Region in Moose Jaw brought togethercommunity leaders from the Rural municipality (RM) of Sherwood, RM of Pense, RM of Moose Jaw, the Village of Belle Plain, the Village of Pense, the Village of Grand Coulee, the City of Moose Jaw and the City of Regina to work collectively so that the benefits of investments are captured over the long term, opportunities are realized, and the costs and benefits are available to all participating jurisdictions. “This is an effort to pursue a dynamic regional development plan to ensure efficient and progressive growth” says Tim Cheesman who is leading the regional planning work. “The Corridor offers great potential to significantly impact the economy of the province and inter-municipal cooperation is the key to realizing this huge opportunity.”

a plan of action that will ensure the economic future of the area.

reginaroc.com 13

Investment OppOrtunities The Moose Jaw-Regina Industrial Corridor already has many existing infrastructure components that have been built over the years. This makes it an attractive area for new businesses and industries to build and expand. According to Brad McKenzie, Economic Development Manager from RROC and project lead, “this Corridor is home to 24 per cent of the province’s population and generates approximately 20 per cent of Saskatchewan’s GDP. “ The Corridor is a prime transportation hub, featuring major highway and rail links to the east and west, as well as north and south into the United States. The Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railway lines and the Trans-Canada highway already run through the area. The Regina International Airport and the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport further enhance the reputation of an easy access pro- business area. The Stakeholders Committees’ mandate is to facilitate a coordinated effort to attract and retain investment that will enhance economic development throughout the Corridor while meeting global site selector criteria. The intention is to create uniform regulations for companies wanting to establish a presence in the area and the municipalities of the region have been working collaboratively to form a long term comprehensive plan. “This is a project that would be far too large a scale for a single rural municipality to accomplish. By pooling our resources and working together we will be able to accomplish so much more” says Tom Lemon, Reeve of the RM of Pense and Chairman of the Corridor Committee. “We are attempting to create a type of one stop shopping for companies – to eliminate some of the duplication and hurdles a company must proceed through in order to even think about setting up shop.” The purpose of the Stakeholders Committee is to increase GDP though enhanced industrial and commercial investment. Marketing and promoting the Corridor to the world, while maintaining a good working relationship with existing companies and potential investors. The Committee is working with provincial government agencies and local boards to streamline and coordinate the various processes involved. The different municipalities that comprise the Committee are studying changes to their zoning bylaws in order to create universal regulations.

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Some of the work the Committee is undertaking includes an overview of new development and investments within the corridor, analysis of trends and changes within the differing communities, and identifying constraints and barriers to investment in the area. The Committee is also working on many areas of joint interest and responsibility while maintaining their individual goals and responsibilities to their own communities. “The Committee is diligently working towards a strategic plan resulting in a shared vision and priorities for the area” says Rick Musleh, the provincial Ministry of the Economy government representative who is leading the investment efforts. “This is an exciting and innovative way of approaching business development and investment attraction. We are planning today for what will be the future.” The Industrial Corridor is already a well established area for development. Yara’s nitrogen fertilizer plant and the Mosaic solution potash mine are just two of the companies already enjoying the success of the area. Tele-communications, power, water, and energy are already in place for new companies and industries. Another advantage of the Corridor is that labour is more easily accessible due to the proximity of the two cities of Regina and Moose Jaw, as opposed to more remote locations where plants often locate. The region has developed into a group of industries ranging from plants that process and manufacture products such as fertilizers, salt and ethanol, to companies that provide storage and handling of crop protection products and transportation services. The Corridor Committee is approaching economic development issues from a new and inventive perspective that could be used as a template for other municipalities. This is development based on clearly identified issues culminating in clear goals and objectives. Growth management is always important for sustained advancement of any region. Having a step by step implementation process will be instrumental in ensuring and solidifying the success of the Corridor, as a business hub, for the future.

“the Corridor offers great potential to significantly impact the economy of the province and inter-municipal cooperation is the key to realizing this huge opportunity.” —Tim Cheesman The purpose of the Committee can best be summed up by the joint vision which they have for their eight municipalities: A regional collaboration partnership resulting in a high performing economic corridor that is a leader in job creation and wealth generation in Western Canada. The Corridor has enormous potential and can be a powerful engine for economic growth. It will be up to the eight municipalities to harness this great opportunity and to nurture its’ potential for the benefit of future generations.

regional partnerships Spur Development in

Investment OPPOrTuNITIES

Five municipalities

have joined forces to help spur development in the White butte region.

whIte butte regIOn by Nadine Olson

Five municipalities have joined forces to help spur development in the White butte region. Three towns, one village and one rural municipality are working cooperatively in an effort to share the cost of delivering services. Community leaders from the Towns of balgonie, Pilot butte and White City, the village of Edenwold and the rural Municipality of Edenwold formed the White butte regional Planning Committee in 2008 to facilitate a coordinated effort across the region to work together on areas of mutual interest for cost sharing benefits. The first major project the Committee undertook was a plan for the needs of Highway 1 from Regina to Balgonie, which serves as a major corridor for business and commuting traffic. A year- long cost shared review took place with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure which was used to determine the safety and needs of commuters using the highway. The resulting plan was accepted in October 2010 by the Minister of Highways and Infrastructure. Designs were completed and construction on acceleration and deceleration lanes for the intersections of Highways 1 and 48 and Highways 1 and 46 was to commence in August of 2011 but due to poor weather was delayed until summer 2012. The work has now begun and should be completed by early October.

There have been several areas of cooperation between the municipalities, proving that a regional partnership can be beneficial for all participants. The Town of White City and the RM of Edenwold have been working collaboratively on a joint lagoon and waste water infrastructure. The towns of Balgonie and Pilot Butte have signed a water supply arrangement to facilitate treated drinking water from Pilot Butte to Balgonie. “The White Butte Regional Committee has made significant steps in broadening and deepening the relationships between communities along with identifying areas where partnerships make sense and where they don’t,” says Tim Sterzer, Chairperson of the White Butte Regional Planning Committee. The Committee continues to work on other common issues related to recreation services for the Region joint service capabilities, purchase opportunities for supplies and services, infrastructure, and land use. Fire and police services are two more areas of discussion. If it makes sense and allows for a reduction in expenditures while streamlining services, the Committee is willing to work together on just about any issue for the betterment of their collective population. “By pooling our resources and working together we are able to accomplish so much more,” says Sterzer. “This is an important opportunity for the Towns of Balgonie, Pilot Butte and White City as well as the Village of Edenwold and the Rural Municipality of Edenwold.” As Saskatchewan continues to experience an economic boom many communities, large and small, are having to seek new and diverse methods of dealing with growth management issues. The White Butte Regional Planning Committee has provided a forum for regional leaders to explore opportunities and to foster discussions about working collaboratively to bring communities together. A coordinated regional plan of shared interest and mutual understanding can only strengthen the towns, village and rural municipality involved.

reginaroc.com 15

Investment OPPOrTuNITIES

downtown

Photo courtesy Patricia Holdsworth

Development Projects

by Nadine Olson

The City of regina is expanding and downtown regina is on

the move. There are new developments underway that will help to revitalize and energize the heart of the City, making downtown regina more inviting, secure and accessible. New construction symbolizes the economic growth of the region and an increasing population. Many residents of regina are interested in living where the benefits and amenities of downtown, such as parks, shopping, restaurants, bikeways and heritage buildings, are easy to access.

Sponsored in part by royalty Developments, visit us at www.royaltydevelopments.com

16 reginaroc.com

The Gardens on Rose Condominium Development is a brand new project being erected at 2055 Rose Street and will be one of only two buildings on 2000 block Rose Street. The project is designed by Alton Tangedal, managed by Graham Construction and developed by a group of local developers. The Gardens on Rose condominiums will be a twelve storey building offering sixtyfour condo units. The condominiums offer amenities such as a spa inspired hot tub area, fireplace lounge, fitness room, outdoor lounging areas, gas barbeques, day spa, coffee pastry bar, heated parking and each floor will boast a solarium for residents to enjoy.

Investment OPPOrTuNITIES

“With this quiet location, you can truly escape into your very own personal getaway. People are buying more than a condominium, they are buying a home and a lifestyle,” says Bruno Geshwandtner, one of the developers. “We are within walking distance of Victoria and Wascana Parks, the businesses of downtown, fine dining, shops, coffee houses, the YWCA, the culture of Globe Theatre and so much more. This type of condominium living is a lifestyle change that offers people many opportunities.” Harvard Developments Inc. is another real estate development company with big plans for downtown Regina. It is the main operating entity of the Hill Companies headquartered here in Regina. Over the past forty years, Harvard Developments Inc. has developed five Class A office towers in Regina: Hill Centre Towers I & II, the Bank of Montreal Building, FCC Tower/Agriculture Place and the Canada Life Building. In August 2010, Harvard Developments Inc. received approval to develop the Hill Centre Tower III situated on the corner of 12th Avenue and Hamilton Street. It will be the first Class A office tower to be constructed in Regina in the past nineteen years. The new office building will comprise 220,000 square feet and will feature a pedway connection to Hill Centre Tower II, a community conference centre that can accommodate up to eighty people, a fitness centre, a public atrium space that will host a permanent art gallery, and a 3000 square foot rooftop patio. The featured tenant in the tower is The Mosaic Company, the world’s largest producer and marketer of concentrated potash and phosphate. Hill Centre Tower lll has been designed to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the Canada Green Building Council. Construction is scheduled to be completed in December 2012. Harvard Developments Inc. continuously strives to enhance the environmental efficiency of the properties they manage. Over the years, several of its buildings have been recognized for achieving environmental best practices and have been awarded BOMA BEST and LEED Silver accreditation.

Photo courtesy Jenn Nelson

Centre Square Developments is currently constructing a condo and townhouse project at 2300 Broad Street in Regina. The project is set for completion in the Fall/Winter of 2013 and will have seventy one units and be ten storeys high. The building’s circular form will provide a panoramic view of the city landscape. Residents of Centre Square Place will be able to enjoy a rooftop garden with natural grass, a rooftop fitness centre and walking track, underground secure heated parking and Condo Association Recreation on the main floor. Office and retail space will be available on the main floor. Downtown Regina is definitely reenergized. The major new developments are creating an excitement and buzz about the benefits of working and living downtown. The new buildings, once completed, will help to create a lifestyle that will contribute to the changing social and economic fabric of the city. With a growing population, Regina is changing and downtown Regina is also changing. The new skyline gives testament to the transformation that is taking place.

Sponsored in part by royalty Developments, visit us at www.royaltydevelopments.com

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Investment OPPOrTuNITIES

expOrtIng

bOOm — SASkATChEWAN

trade and expOrt

PArTNErShIP by Nadine Olson

There are many Saskatchewan companies taking advantage of the booming provincial economy to expand their business by tapping into new markets both nationally and internationally. In this age of multimedia and fierce competition for market share, many business owners are looking for direction on how to access new markets in which to introduce their products. It is becoming increasingly important for companies to stay current and competitive and to utilize the resources available to them so that when an opportunity arises they are in a position to capitalize on it.

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The Export Readiness Program offered by Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP) works with Saskatchewan companies to enable them to build export capacity and knowledge. The staff responsible for the program work one on one with companies to formulate a plan specific to their needs and products, and strategically determine the actions required for the company to achieve their export goals. “This is a good program that helps a lot of Saskatchewan companies,” says Chris Yin, Export Development Analyst with the Export Readiness Program. “Just the other day I was able to help a company that was making a food product. I was able to meet with them to do up an export readiness diagnostic, and suggested several viable options outside of Saskatchewan to compliment their local sales efforts. They are now in a much better position to move forward with marketing their product.”

Investment OPPOrTuNITIES

The program consists of a three part tool kit: internal analysis, a customized report including action plan, and STEP Support. In undertaking internal analysis, companies provide information to help identify their strengths and weaknesses and meet with a STEP staff person who will introduce the Export Plan workbook. Based on that information, a diagnostic report is prepared which identifies the key areas on which to build capacity. STEP support is available for guidance to all companies utilizing the program. The program provides an opportunity to meet new contacts, set up a planning guide, and enhance one’s skill set.

“The guidance we can provide to companies offers them a great resource. We want to work with them to provide information, resources and tools, networking opportunities and strategies to help them meet their business goals,” says Laura Fahlman, Export Development Analyst with the Export Readiness Program. “The Export Readiness Program can make a difference to making Saskatchewan businesses viable outside of the province and even the country.” The Export Readiness Program helps Saskatchewan companies expand their customer base and make valuable contacts in foreign markets. New markets are instrumental for long term growth, and the Program provides a strategic plan that includes capacity building and activities to help companies reach a wider audience. For more information, visit STEP’s website at www.sasktrade.sk.ca .

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transpOrtatIOn AND lOGISTICS

transportation and Logistics

has become a significant driver of the economy in regina and the province of Saskatchewan

due in part to infrastructure developments like the Global Transportation hub. Saskatchewan’s Global Transportation hub (GTh) is the most significant new distribution and logistics development in all of Canada. Strategically located within Canada’s Asia Pacific Gateway and Corridor, the GTh is a 2,000 acre development that is ideally situated for quick turnaround and efficient transportation to connecting points across North America and around the globe.

ecOnOmIc Impact The total investment made to service the land and to build the critical transportation infrastructure is an impressive $504 million. The one million square foot distribution centre operated by Loblaw, is a $200 million investment and adds 800 jobs in Saskatchewan. AFI Distribution Group has invested $20 million into the GTH and adds 40 new jobs to the economy. They will bring between 400 to 500 truckloads per week into the GTH. The development of the Canadian Pacific Intermodal Facility brings 100 new jobs in to Saskatchewan.

asIa pacIFIc cOrrIdOr 76% of Canada’s total trading the Asia is from China, Japan, and South Korea. This does not include the increase in trade with Pakistan, India, and Philippines. Currently, Canada’s top trading partner in the region is China. The value of this partnership is $57 Billion. The GTH is designed to be a key partner in the Asia-Pacific Corridor that is a significant Canadian transportation and logistic centre to provide efficient, cost effective access to the global market.

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transpOrtatIOn AND lOGISTICS

“the global transportation hub is one of saskatchewan’s most important economic development initiatives.” — Saskatchewan Premier, the Honourable Brad Wall

Loblaw Building aerial view — Photo courtesy Mark Greschner of ARTEC Photographic Design Ltd.

the global transportation hub:

A remarkable success 32.8infrastructure million project

Just two years since the opening of the loblaw Companies one million square foot warehouse and distribution centre the Global Transportation hub (GTh) is already a story of remarkable success, growing much faster than originally projected. It has drawn the attention and the investment of wholesalers, distributors, transporters and logistics handlers

From concept to construction . . . from prospects to major clients . . . the GTH has evolved from ‘dreams to reality.’ In the fall of 2012, the GTH completed a $32.8 million infrastructure project, delivering over four kilometers of roadways and asphalt paving, water and sanitary sewer lines, site grading and storm channel construction. In total, over 425 acres of service ready land is for sale.

from across North America.

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transpOrtatIOn AND lOGISTICS

Global Transportation Hub — Photo courtesy Calvin Fehr

“the global transporation hub is saskatchewan’s new gateway to the world” — Honourable Bill Boyd

pOwerhOuse On the praIrIes The Honourable Bill Boyd, Minister responsible for the GTH, says the project has become an important business and investment opportunity. “It is a distribution and logistics powerhouse on the prairies,” says Boyd.

Distribution Centre — Photo courtesy GTH

gLObaL transpOrtatIOn hub Impact Located at the west end of the city of Regina, the GTH is situated adjacent to the CP mainline, in the middle of two major highway systems, number 1 and 11, and is just minutes from the Regina International Airport. The impacts on both the region and the province as a whole have been dramatic: • Private sector investment has topped $330 million to date • Over 800 jobs have been created • 300 construction jobs were created in the summer of 2012 through the GTH’s infrastructure works program • An additional 225 person years of employment were have been created through the GTH’s capital investment • Approximately 3,600 truck movements are taking place weekly at the Global Transportation Hub.

“Saskatchewan’s unprecedented growth has created new demand for supply chain solutions that efficiently distribute goods and foster a business environment that is attractive to investors,” Boyd said. “The GTH is stimulating provincial economic development through new jobs, investment and enhanced access to global supply chains,” he said.

Blair Wagar, Chief Operating Officer of the GTH, says anchor client Loblaw has invested over $250 million in its warehouse and distribution centre, which completed phase III of its operation this summer by adding a 100,000 sq. ft. freezer on to the southeast corner of the property.

Saskatchewan is an exporting and manufacturing province that is linked to the global market and because of international trade, is a vital part of our economic activity. The GTH is in fact “Saskatchewan’s new gateway to the world,” Boyd said. “It is the most significant – most exciting – distribution and logistics hub in the country.”

“Our other anchor client is Canadian Pacific (CP), which is investing a total of $50 million at the GTH and has just completed the first-phase of its 300-acre Intermodal Facility (IMF) project which will increase its capacity for container lifts from about 45,000 annually at the downtown Regina location to about 60,000 immediately,” Wagar said.

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Saskatchewan’s Global Transportation Hub is the most significant new distribution and logistics development in all of Canada.

REACH CUSTOMERS. Strategically located within Canada’s Asia Pacific Gateway, Saskatchewan’s Global Transportation Hub is ideally situated for quick turnaround and efficient transportation points to markets across the globe. With new rail intermodal, park and highway infrastructure at your doorstep, you can respond to changing customer needs.

DEVELOP FASTER. A total of 425 acres of greenfield service-ready land is available today to meet your unique business requirements. As your single point of contact, the GTH team will connect the right people and information to quickly move you from design concept to start up.

ACCELERATE ROI. The GTH offers a highly competitive land and operating environment. Let the province’s economic, transportation, workforce, business and innovation climate become your ongoing advantage.

Location, Location, Logistics. The GTH is Changing the Game! Global Transportation Hub Authority Rhonda Ekstrom Vice - President, Business Development 350 - 1777 Victoria Avenue Regina, SK S4P 4K5 T: 306-798-4762 E: rhonda.ekstrom@thegth.com

WWW.THEGTH.COM

Saskatchewan’s Gateway to the World.

transpOrtatIOn AND lOGISTICS “the gth is stimulating provincial economic development through new jobs, investment and enhanced access to global supply chains,”

new act

TO SuPPOrT ClIENT SuCCESS Late in November 2012, Bill No. 81, was introduced in the Saskatchewan Legislature and will move the control of the development and operations of the GTH from municipal to provincial jurisdiction to further support the business success of GTH clients. Officially known as “The Global Transportation Hub Authority Act,” Bill No. 81 establishes the GTH as a Statutory Corporation and Agency of the Crown. It streamlines governance and formalizes responsibilities and ownership of infrastructure assets within the GTH footprint. Minister Boyd explains that positioning the GTH as a more effective authority will further contribute to the level of success the GTH has achieved to date. “The new legislation will help transition the GTH into a full inland port operation to grow Saskatchewan’s warehousing, transportation and logistics sectors in accordance with the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth,” Boyd said.

— Honourable Bill Boyd

strategIc aLLIance FOrmed The first phase totals about 41.3 acres and includes a 4.2 acre container pad. CP’s old downtown IMF was about 16.6 acres. When the project is fully completed, CP officials project container lift capacity to reach 250,000 per year. Also, by moving the intermodal facility to the GTH, truck traffic and congestion is expected to be reduced significantly in the downtown area and on the arteries leading into the city. The success of the GTH in attracting two major clients to its site has set the tone for the future. “Additional clients, such as the Yanke Group of Companies and Consolidated Fastfrate have announced the start of construction in 2013 and other new clients will be announced in the very near future,” Wagar said. A key partner in the Asia Pacific Corridor, the GTH is building a world-class transportation facility that focuses on speed, reliability and safety. These are critical components for companies that are looking to move goods in and out of Saskatchewan.

Also in the fall, the GTH launched a new strategic alliance program with the commercial broker community in Saskatchewan. GTH Vice-President of Business Development, Rhonda Ekstrom said the program was developed through consultation and collaboration with local broker representatives that included Michael Kelsey of Colliers International and Paul Mehlsen of NAI Commercial. “Our goal was to construct a working relationship based on industry best practices. Through this initiative, both the GTH and the brokers can leverage the combined experience of our teams to attract clients looking to drive transportation, logistics and supply chain business outcomes,” says Ekstrom.

“Loblaw has invested $ over in its warehouse and distribution centre”

250 million

— Blair Wagar, Chief Operating Officer of the GTH

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transpOrtatIOn AND lOGISTICS

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mInIng

saskatchewan MINING FACTS (excerpts from Sask. Mining website)

In 2011 Saskatchewan continued to be the world’s largest producer and exporter of potash, supplying almost 30% of the world’s supply and the second leading uranium producer, providing almost 20% of the world’s supply. • Saskatchewan has the largest high grade reserves for both potash and uranium in the world • Saskatchewan has approximately half of world potash reserves and 8% of the world’s known recoverable uranium reserves. • Saskatchewan mineral production valued at $9.2 billion in 2011. • Saskatchewan has two producing gold mines that annually produce between 40,000 and 45,000 oz gold. The Seabee gold mine produced over 1,000,000 ounces of gold by the end of 2012. • Saskatchewan coal, mined in Estevan, Bienfait and Coronach, represents the primary source of energy in Saskatchewan, accounting for over about 40% of the province’s available power capacity and the majority of its base load capacity. • The Cameco operated McArthur River mine is the world’s largest uranium mine. It accounts for 14% of global uranium production in 2010.

• The world’s largest potash mine is The Mosaic Esterhazy mine complex. • Saskatchewan produces over 85% of Canadian potash production. • Saskatchewan has a wealth of developing mineral resources, in addition to potash, uranium, gold and coal, including diamonds, platinum, palladium, rare earth elements, copper, zinc, nickel, sodium and potassium sulphates and mineralized brines. • Mining is a major benefactor to Saskatchewan’s economy by directly contributing over $1.5 billion in revenue to the provincial government. These revenues support government programs and services such as health care, education and infrastructure development. • Overall in 2008, mining (direct, indirect, and induced) accounted for $7.7 billion in GDP or 12% of the total Saskatchewan economy. • Direct, indirect and induced mining employment accounted for 30,500 jobs or 6% of total employment, almost 1 in every 16 jobs with a payroll of $1.5 billion.

FrOm 2008 – 2028. • The Saskatchewan mineral industry will invest over $50 billion in expansions and new mines. • This translates to new investments of more than $6 million a day. • Mining employment (direct, indirect and induced) will see its contribution rise to 17% of total employment or almost 1 in 5 jobs. • Mining will generate over 286,000 person years of direct employment in construction in operational activity. • Mining will contribute an additional $9.5 billion per year to provincial GDP. • Mining will generate $28 billion in provincial revenues or $1.4 billion per year, for a total of over $50 billion.a

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bethune mIne Promises lasting legacy

mInIng

By Ella McIntyre

A promise of economic growth and employment, with an eye to ensuring long-lasting environmental and community well-being, is behind K + S Potash Canada’s $3.25 billion dollar solution mining Legacy Project planned for the Rural Municipality (RM) of Dufferin, near the village of Bethune. Bethune is approximately 50 kilometres from Regina. “Not only is the Legacy Project Saskatchewan’s first potash mine in nearly 40 years, it is one of the world’s most economically attractive greenfield projects,” said Christine Stass, spokesperson for K+S Potash Canada and its parent K+S Group, a leading supplier of fertilizers and the world’s leading salt producer. As Stass explains, with a potash price of between USD 400 and 450/tonne, the project achieves a Return on Capital Employed of 12 per cent and an attractive premium on K+S Group’s costs of capital. It also promotes important jobs and economic opportunities for Saskatchewan. By spring 2013, 200 to 300 people will be working on site which, at its peak, will provide over 1,100 jobs and roughly 6 million employment hours. The following two years will see rail construction, structures built and equipment installed and, by late 2015, plant commissioning and the site near completion. Once in full production, the mine will employ 320 permanent workers, with more jobs created through ongoing contract employment. Potash production for the mine is anticipated for 2015. The operation will ramp up to full capacity of 2.86 million tonnes by 2023. With further expansion, production could increase up to 4 million tonnes per year.

by spring 2013, 200 to 300 people will be working on site which, at its peak, the bethune Mine will provide over 1,100 jobs and roughly 6 million employment hours.

The Legacy construction site with drilling rig in the South of the province of Saskatchewan, aerial view — Photo courtesy K+S Potash

As solution mining experts, K+S Group has several mines in North America and Germany, and is bringing that vast knowledge and expertise to the Bethune community. Solution mining is the process of mining underground water-soluble minerals by dissolving minerals with water. The water, called brine, is then extracted from the ground and the minerals recovered from it. This and other key information about the Legacy Project has been shared with Bethune and area residents and other key stakeholders in a number of engagement activities that are expected to continue during the life of the project. “K+S Potash Canada has been fortunate to engage the community and solidify great relationships,” said Stass. “In addition to outreach to residents and First Nations and Métis communities, there are partnerships with the RM of Dufferin, AMEC (an international project management and services company) and March Tron as Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management partners, Associated Engineering for design and project management and road improvements, and MGM Communications for marketing.” All in all, it’s a future – and a legacy – K+S Potash Canada is excited to be a part of. “We’re proud to be a part of the steady growth the province of Saskatchewan is experiencing,” said Stass. “The company looks forward to being a valuable and contributing partner for a long time to come.”

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great work+strong community % & " " # ! ! # " ' "(! $ !" " " # " ! ! " %

! " ! !" # " " & ! & # $ (! " " " & ! % " # " " " % ( " #!" # " ! % ( # #"# #" " ! " !

green

mInIng

is the Colour of this

Potash Partnership by Ella McIntyre

A unique, world-class potash development by Western Potash Corp. is paved with green intentions. And the City of regina is all the richer for it. When Western Potash Corporation was looking for a reliable water supply for its solution potash mine, treated wastewater surfaced as a feasible and preferred option. From this, a unique partnership with the City of Regina was formed. In an agreement signed in June, 2012, the City of Regina approved Key Commercial Terms that will see between 40 to 70 per cent of the City’s treated effluent to be piped 30 kilometres southeast of Regina to Western Potash Corp.’s Milestone Potash mine site. The wastewater will then be used in the solution mining process of bringing potash to the surface. Western Potash Corp. will fund all capital costs associated with the construction of the pump house and pipeline, and the City of Regina will be in charge of operations. “Western Potash Corp. is thrilled to partner with the City of Regina in developing a first-of-its-kind, world-class potash deposit in an ecologically sustainable, economically efficient and socially responsible manner,” says Greg Vogelsang, Manager of Environment and Regulatory Affairs, Western Potash Corp.

Greg Vogelsang (left) has been a key player in an agreement to use recycled water from Regina at the Milestone potash project — Photo courtesy Western Potash

“the city is quite happy to be able to provide reclaimed water to an industrial customer, “ — Dorian Wandzura, Deputy City Manager, City Operations Division

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mInIng

construction on the milestone project could mean up to 1, 500 jobs, with approximately 350 jobs for mine operations. Drill rig drilling an exploration hole.— Photo courtesy Western Potash

Using effluent as a water source will reduce construction costs, lower capital expenditures and add value to Western Potash Corp. and its shareholders. “The Milestone Potash project is predicted to be the lowest cost highest volume of the Greenfield juniors in Saskatchewan,” says John Costigan, VP of Corporate Affairs, Western Potash Corp. “It has secured a viable water source for production. We have also identified our Port Options. For potential project financiers, it also boasts the highest net present value of all the potash juniors in North America. In fact, we believe it to be one of the lowest risk Greenfield projects in the world today.”

For the City of Regina, the agreement means over $200 million from Western Potash Corp. over a 45 year term for treated wastewater. As an added bonus, the use of reclaimed water will have a net positive impact on the environment. “Not only is this venture an environment-friendly initiative which will see reduction in the release of residual compounds to Wascana Creek and the downstream Qu’Appelle River area, it means the City of Regina can generate revenue by providing a new service to a new customer,” says Dorian Wandzura, Deputy City Manager, City Operations Division. It will also generate positive economic benefits and jobs that are both significant and long-term. Construction on the Milestone Project could mean up to 1, 500 jobs, with approximately 350 jobs for mine operations. While there remain several key steps before implementation – starting with the Milestone Feasibility Study coming in November 2012 – Wandzura says the City is very much looking forward to selling that first unit of treated wastewater. “The City is quite happy to be able to provide reclaimed water to an industrial customer, “ Wandzura says. “ It’s an excellent and practical way to stretch the use of a finite resource.” Together, the City of Regina and Western Potash Corp. are paving the way for innovative thinking to address environmental issues.

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Investing $6 billion here. Helping feed 7 billion around the world. The work that Mosaic does in Saskatchewan has an incredible impact around the world. The potash and crop nutrients we produce here help create new agricultural economies in places where once, little would grow. We haven’t done too badly at improving Saskatchewan’s economy either. We are currently spending 6 billion dollars to grow our business in the province. We also employ nearly 2,300 people in jobs with incredible benefits. Not the least of which is helping to end world hunger. Learn more about Mosaic, visit our website today.

mosaicco.com ®

mInIng

invests

in communities

Mosaic Esterhazy Mine — Photo courtesy Mosaic

Mosaic Stadium — Photo courtesy Matt Powers

by Pat Rediger

One of the most dominant landmarks in regina is Mosaic Stadium, home to the Saskatchewan roughriders as well as outdoor concerts, minor league football games, and other special events. The facility takes its name from The Mosaic Company, a global leader in crop nutrition, and one of the largest corporate donors in the province. “Mosaic is committed to investing at least one per cent of our pre-tax earnings into our communities,” says Brad DeLorey, Mosaic’s Director of Public Affairs. “In 2012, we committed a total of more than $23 million worldwide to support food, water, and local community enrichment programs.”

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mosaic is one of the largest potash producers in the world, operating three mines in saskatchewan and two in the united states.

Mosaic was created in 2004 through the merger of IMC Global, a fertilizer company, and Cargill’s crop nutrition division. It is one of the largest potash producers in the world, operating three mines in Saskatchewan and two in the United States. It has more than 8,000 employees worldwide, including 150 in Regina, which is the headquarters of its potash division. Mosaic employs approximately 2,300 people in Saskatchewan. The company quickly became one of the most talked about in the city when it made a significant donation to assist with repairs and renovations at the former Taylor Field and the building was renamed Mosaic Stadium. “That investment forever changed how we were perceived,” explains DeLorey. “It drastically increased our visibility in the province and beyond.” Another significant investment Mosaic has made in Regina is the Mosaic Heart Centre, which was created through a donation to the Hospitals Foundation of Regina. Located at Regina General Hospital, the Mosaic Heart Centre serves cardiac patients from across western Canada and is recognized as a centre for excellence in healthcare. With Mosaic’s support, the hospital was able to purchase innovative diagnostic equipment that can detect and help treat cardiac symptoms before they require heart surgery or other invasive procedures. DeLorey says that Mosaic is committed to looking at issues facing Saskatchewan residents, especially in communities where its people live and work, and supporting solutions to those issues. One of the issues that have arisen in recent years is housing, which led Mosaic to assist in the construction of 37 homes in the province through Habitat for Humanity. “We have taken 37 families and given them the opportunity to own their own homes,” says DeLorey. “This is not a handout, but a hand-up. This not only helps people, but also builds communities.”

Photo courtesy Habitat for Humanity

mInIng

Mosaic was also a major contributor to the development of an emergency medical helicopter service in Saskatchewan. It provided $5.5 million to the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) to assist people in rural and remote areas to receive access to timely, critical health care. It’s not just high profile events and activities that Mosaic supports. It has provided an opportunity for charitable groups to send children and families to the Queen City Ex, helped raise food and donations for the Regina and District Food Bank, sponsored the Regina Symphony Orchestra, and so much more. “Big or small, these projects are all important. They touch on the lives of so many people,” says DeLorey. Mosaic doesn’t just provide financial support to worthwhile initiatives. Many of its employees can be found at various events from cooking turkey dinners at Christmas time and swinging hammers to build a Habitat home to making lunches for hungry school children. The company wants to be a true partner in the community and its people are willing to roll up their sleeves to make a difference when the situation arises. Further from home, Mosaic provides funding to numerous other projects. It has made investments in countries such as Guatemala, India, Mali and Ghana to helping small farmers increasing their yields. Despite its international reach, Mosaic remains committed to Regina. It recently moved the headquarters for its potash operations into a new downtown office tower. “The move continues to show the community that we have a long term commitment to Saskatchewan,” said DeLorey. “The new structure continues to build the infrastructure of the province, and continues Saskatchewan’s growth.”

Mosaic Miner, Esterhazy Mine — Photo courtesy Mosaic

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OIL & gas

Photos courtesy Thinkstock

OIL & gas Saskatchewan enjoys a strong competitive edge in the in 2011. It is estimated that 33,200 person years of direct and gas sectors. These sectors contributed approximately $1.7 billion in royalties and bonus bids to the province in 2011-12. Saskatchewan is the second largest oil producing province in Canada. Approximately 14 per cent of all Canadian crude oil production comes from this province. There are over 28,000 productive oil wells in Saskatchewan. This has led to 157.7 million barrels of oil produced with the value of sales of approximately $12.3 billion in 2011 The gas industry is a strong contributor to the economy. Saskatchewan is the third largest producer of natural gas in Canada. In 2011, 19,000 gas wells produced approximately 131.5 billion cubic feet of non-associated gas production and 87.4 billion cubic feet of associated gas production. Total sales from the gas sector in 2011 were approximately $492 million.

SASkATChEWAN.

Four oil explorations garnered a lot of interest in 2011. These fields are The Viking Formation, The Shaunavon, The Bakken, and The Birdbear. These are not the only oil and gas producing in Saskatchewan, but they were considered the “hottest” in early 2012.

oil and gas sectors. Oil and gas produced $12.7 billon is sales indirect employment are attributed to the health of the oil and

OF All CANADIAN

CruDE OIl PrODuCTION COMES FrOM

the vIkIng

—Fast Facts—

• Oil was discovered in the Viking in the 1950s. Proven initial oil-in place is estimated at 2.3 billion barrels with recoverable reserves based on present technology (vertical wells and waterflood) estimated at 214 million barrels (nine percent).

the bakken • In the past year, the Bakken produced nearly 22.2 million barrels of oil, and currently produces nearly 69,000 barrels per day.

the bIrdbear • Heavy oil has been intermittently produced from the Birdbear in west-central Saskatchewan since 1968.

the shaunavOn

• In the last five years, horizontal wells in the Shaunavon have produced around 12.3 million barrels of oil, and over 450 wells were drilled to exploit the clastic/carbonate upper member of the formation.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is accurate as of May 2012; however the Government of Saskatchewan accepts no liability for any actions taken as a result of the information contained herein.

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vast

OIL & gas

economic potential in the belle Plaine Area

by Barb Flynn

Mosaic Mine, Belle Plain, Saskatchewan — Photo courtesy Greg Huszar Photography

The provincial economy is booming and the area surrounding belle Plaine has some key competitive advantages for industrial development in Saskatchewan. located in the middle of the regina-Moose Jaw Industrial Corridor, belle Plaine already has much of the infrastructure needed for development in place, such as direct access to the Trans Canada highway and multiple rail lines for shipping across Canada and into the united States, and close proximity to the Global Transportation hub. There is an industrial water source located at buffalo Pound lake to the north, a substantial natural gas and electrical supply on site, as well as the ability to tap into the Plains Midstream Canada pipeline, Enbridge’s oil pipeline and TransCanada’s keystone pipeline which runs directly through belle Plaine. A further component which makes the area desirable is the readily available professional and trades labour pools and attainable workforce housing in both the regina and Moose Jaw metropolitan areas. The two best known industrial players in the area are Yara and Mosaic. Also in the area is

Development around the Belle Plaine area has focused on different opportunities, with the most ambitious being the creation of an Integrated Energy Complex. This was envisioned as a large industrial value-added, hydrocarbon-based processing and manufacturing energy cluster that could include a heavy oil/ bitumen refinery, a cogeneration plant, a gasification plant, and a renewable diesel plant. The economics of the heavy oil/bitumen refinery became less viable with the collapse of natural gas prices but there are other opportunities on the horizon. While the vision of an Integrated Energy Complex has not come to fruition, there are some significant multi-million dollar mega projects slated for the area. In June of this year, Yara, a world exporter of nitrogen fertilizer, announced plans to double the size of its plant and production by 2016. This expansion will comprise an integrated world scale ammonia and urea line capacity of approximately 1.3 million tons per year. Part of the urea produced will be with sulphur, which will meet the increasing demand from canola producers. The ongoing expansion of Mosaic’s Potash refinery and storage facilities, as well as increased minefield development is also creating more jobs and economic spin-offs for the area. Saskatchewan’s enviable economic outlook is making large industrial development attractive and the Belle Plaine area is the place to capitalize on this opportunity.

Windsor Salt’s manufacturing plant, Terra Grain Fuels ethanol plant, and Alpine’s liquid fertilizer manufacturing plant.

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OIL & gas

the well runs deep by Ella McIntyre

Sunset over a canola field in Saskatchewan — Photo courtesy Thinkstock

With Saskatchewan home to significant amounts of oil and gas reserves, it is vital that the technologies are put

One of ptrc’s largest initiatives is the $26.5 million aquistore project, an independent research and monitoring program.

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in place to ensure the most efficient and environmentallysustainable methods are used to extract these resources from the ground. At the forefront of this research is the Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC). Founded in 1998, PTRC is a Reginabased, not-for-profit corporation created by Natural Resources Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Research Council and the University of Regina to fund projects and foster research and development into enhanced oil recovery and carbon storage, with the goal of addressing the challenges faced by the oil and gas industry while reducing its environmental footprint. Since 1998, a significant part of PTRC’s mandate has been to conduct research into enhanced oil recovery. This is now done through the Sustainable Technologies for Energy Production Systems (STEPS). The STEPS Business – Led Network of Centres of Excellence seeks to become the national focus for leading-edge scientific and engineering innovations that address challenges for hydrocarbon resources that are difficult to access.

STEPS areas of research include: proven economic resources such as bitumen and heavy oil; future hydrocarbon resources such as oil shales, and developing enabling technologies to access such resources; and, light-medium conventional oil, particularly reserves that are in decline and need new technologies to improve recovery.

OIL & gas

One of PTRC’s largest initiatives is the $26.5 million Aquistore Project, an independent research and monitoring program, which will determine the scientific and economic feasibility of taking carbon dioxide (CO2), captured and compressed from SaskPower’s Boundary Dam power plant near Estevan, and transporting it via pipeline to a well site two kilometers away where it will be injected into a deep saline geological formation. Aquistore is the first commercial-scale deep saline injection project in the world using a man-made source of CO2. Even though injecting CO2 into other geological formations is not new in North America, the process has mostly been used for enhanced oil recovery. Some smaller CO2 deep saline storage pilots are currently being conducted in the United States through the United States Department of Energy. And after 58 drilling days to get 3,396 meters underground, the Aquistore project boasts the deepest well ever dug in Saskatchewan, as confirmed earlier this year by the Ministry of Economy’s office of Energy and Resources. More importantly, with increasing concerns about climate change resulting from manmade greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), Aquistore offers a solution for cutting CO2 and meeting reduction targets, a key point for PTRC’s CEO Malcolm Wilson. As an adjunct University of Regina professor and member of the Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – the team of scientists awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice-President of the United States Al Gore in 2007 – Wilson points to the more than 10 years experience the PTRC has in managing CO2 monitoring and storage through the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas (IEAGHG) WeyburnMidale CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project. Aquistore will benefit from that extensive scientific and research experience, and be a model for others to learn from. “The Aquistore project will demonstrate that storing liquid carbon dioxide deep underground in a brine and sandstone water formation is a safe, viable solution to reduce greenhouse gases,” said Wilson. “Deep saline aquifers have the potential to store centuries’ worth of CO2 emissions. All eyes are now on us, as Aquistore will be the example for other jurisdictions and companies to follow.”

Photos courtesy Thinkstock

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OIL & gas “the aquistore project will demonstrate that storing liquid carbon dioxide deep underground in a brine and sandstone water formation is a safe, viable solution to reduce greenhouse gases” — Malcolm Wilson, CEO, Petroleum Technology Research Centre

Photos courtesy Petroleum Technology Research Centre

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While the rest of the world is watching, the effects here in Saskatchewan are especially meaningful. Partnered with SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Carbon Capture venture, Aquistore will assist SaskPower in meeting its GHG reduction targets by taking captured CO2 emitted from the newly refurbished Boundary Dam Unit No. 3 (BD3) and sequestering it deep underground. As the injection and storage of the CO2 is closely monitored and surveyed, the knowledge gained will be used to improve the techniques and approaches of other carbon capture and storage sites in Saskatchewan and elsewhere. Aquistore also highlights the ground-breaking leadership of made-in-Saskatchewan industry and environmental solutions for which PTRC is known. With Saskatchewan’s booming economy and innovative drive, these are busy days for PTRC. In addition to Aquistore, PTRC is currently overseeing other projects of environmental significance for the province, the country, and, indeed, the world.

OIL & gas

One project will refurbish a separator unit and construct field test trailer units to sample produced water in locations for reclamation and re-use, potentially significant in agricultural irrigation or other industries. Another project will see a broad evaluation of organic nutrient sources in Saskatchewan, leading to further research on microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) technologies. These projects will contribute to increased efficiency of oil and gas production and reduce the environmental impact of these activities. “One of the most pressing concerns in the oil patch is the amount of produced water during oil recovery,” said Wilson. “It is particularly difficult for smaller companies in the field because of the costs associated with clean up, so developing cost effective methods is critical.” With PTRC at the helm, the Saskatchewan well of innovative ideas and sustainable solutions is not about to run dry anytime soon.

Photos courtesy Thinkstock

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OIL & gas

University of Regina Campus — Photo courtesy Paul Austring

petroleum partnership

Fuels Growth and learning by Ella McIntyre

The university of regina’s innovative Petroleum Systems Engineering Program is running on anything but empty. As one of North America’s largest accredited petroleum engineering training programs, the Petroleum Systems Engineering Program is a partnership with industry that is propelling the science and future in Saskatchewan forward.

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“Through hands-on, real life experience and opportunities to work and study on the job, our students learn to evaluate oil and gas reserves, design well drilling facilities, analyze reservoir performance for production optimization, perform advanced reservoir simulation and visualization, develop new techniques to enhance oil recovery and conduct modern reservoir management,” says Dr. Tony Yang, Chair of the Petroleum Systems Engineering Program at the University of Regina.

A significant part of this hands-on learning is through the Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC), a not-for-profit corporation created in 1998 to fund projects and foster research and development into enhanced oil recovery and carbon storage. The goals of the PTRC are to improve recovery rates while reducing the environmental footprint of the oil and gas industry. The University of Regina is one of four founding partners of the PTRC – along with Natural Resources Canada, the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Research Council – and it benefits greatly from the presence of the PTRC in Regina. The PTRC offers tremendous research and funding opportunities for University of Regina faculty and students, and provides a $5000 PTRC scholarship each year to a qualifying student pursuing a Master of Applied Science degree in Petroleum Systems Engineering. “The Petroleum Systems Engineering Program is one of the key pillars in the University of Regina’s broader focus on energy and environment,” explains Dr. Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Dean of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Regina. The program ties in neatly with major international projects happening in Saskatchewan, such as the PTRC-led IEAGHG Weyburn-Midale CO2 Monitoring and Storage Project. This project focuses on best practices for the geologic storage of large volumes of CO2 in association with enhanced oil recovery. Not only is the joint industry and research project greatly enhancing oil recovery, but it will safely store more than 40 million tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of removing more than 8 million cars from the road for one year.

OIL & gas

Much of the work done by the Petroleum Systems Engineering faculty and researchers focuses on developing unique, novel technologies suited for Saskatchewan’s unconventional oil resources, such as the province’s heavy oil reserves, which rival those of Alberta and the conventional reserves of the Middle East. At the same time, these technologies have the potential to be utilized in reservoirs around the world. The Petroleum Systems Engineering Program also focuses on sustainability. As researchers work to extend the lives of flagging reservoirs, they are also looking for ways to reduce the environmental footprint of petroleum production. Many new research programs are looking at utilizing CO2 and other greenhouse gases in unconventional enhanced oil production, such as vapour extraction in heavy oil reservoirs in which steam assisted production is not feasible. “The University of Regina is excited and proud of the work being conducted by its graduate students and senior researchers,” says Tontiwachwuthikul. “Together with our government and industry partners, we are furthering the industry and helping to overcome the challenges of growing our petroleum production while minimizing its environmental impacts.

“the petroleum systems engineering program is one of the key pillars in the university of regina’s broader focus on energy and environment,” — Dr. Paitoon Tontiwachwuthikul, Dean of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Regina

Photo courtesy Thinkstock

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agrIcuLture

agriculture The Ag business is big business in Saskatchewan. Agriculture accounts for over 1/3 of Saskatchewan’s total exports. There are over 60 million acres of farmland in Sask. That is 40% of the total farm lands in Canada. Each year, over 50% of agricultural lands are used to grow crops.

the saskatchewan agriculture communities are responsible for producing;

99% of canada’s chickpeas 95% of canada’s Lentils – 61% of world supply 86% of canada’s durum wheat – 34% of world supply 74% of canada’s flax seed – 55% of world supply 72% of canada’s mustard seeds – 41% of world supply 65% of canada’s dry peas – 57% of world supply 42% of canada’s canola– 34% of world supply

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Harvest time in Saskatchewan — Photo courtesy Thinkstock

The exports of cereal grains (wheat, oats, rye, and barley), pulses (peas and lentils) and Oil seeds (canola and flax) are each worth $1 Billion to the Saskatchewan economy. The potential to expand beyond these crop industries are abundant. The Ministry of Agriculture works with organizations, producers, and research groups to create value added processing, increase competitiveness, and new product development. This increases profitability throughout the value chain by introducing new crops, adding value through processing, and increase the return on investment. For instance: Camelina—used in fish feed, bio-lubricants, healthy oils, and jet fuel, is estimated to value $16.8 million. High value vegetables, such as onions and small potatoes will yield a net return of $3000- $5000 per acre. Fruit processing produces 5 million pounds per year with the potential to increase with expansion of irrigation districts and agri-tourism. The wide open spaces accommodate over 6 million hectares of pastureland, which is home to 30% of the beef cow herd in Canada. This translates to 1.3 million cattle in the province— an industry valued at 1.3 million. The hog industry is also thriving with over $228 million in revenues. Growth is also occurring in poultry, bison and game meat markets

agrIcuLture

From producer to the

by Pat Rediger

world

What began as a leap of faith in a basement office in a regina home a dozen years ago, has become an awardwinning international grain trader with more than 700 staff and exports to more than 100 countries. Murad Al-Katib identified an opportunity during the late 1990s, which convinced him to quit his job, set up an office in his house, and juggle the demands as a new father of twins. His hard work and determination has been rewarded as his company, Alliance Grain Traders, has become a global powerhouse for processing and marketing pulse crops.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;regina is a great place to do businessâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Murad Al-Katib Chief Executive Officer and President of Alliance Grain Traders Inc.

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agrIcuLture

Arbel Pulse Grain Industry & Trade S.A. maintains its production facilities in Mersin, Turkey — Photo courtesy Allaince Grain Traders

While working at the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership (STEP), Al-Katib realized that there was an increasing demand for red lentils in the Middle East and Canadian producers were only growing a small fraction. If these producers could be convinced to grow red lentils and the quality met the demands of growing overseas markets, then a Saskatchewan processor could capitalize on this opportunity.

Al-Katib spent the next two years working on his dream. He had to convince local producers to move away from traditional wheat and barley crops and grow red lentils. He also had to develop international markets and convince them about the quality of Canadian lentils. And he had to build a processing plant in Regina using technology and equipment that hadn’t been seen in this part of the world before.

Fortunately, while working with STEP, Al-Katib had the chance to assist the Arslan family, a group of Turkish businesspeople, on various exporting issues. When he approached them with his idea, they became one of his first investors. That captured the attention of various local lenders including SaskWorks and the Saskatchewan Government Growth Fund.

“We had to find a piece of land, award a contract, order the equipment, get VISAs for the skilled technicians to install the equipment,” explains Al Katib. “We bought commercially available equipment like those found in the grain industry from North America, but all of the speciality and propriety processing equipment we bought from Turkey.”

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Once the plant was operational, business kicked into high gear. The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce honoured the company with the ABEX Award for Best New Venture in 2003, Exporter of the Year in 2004, and Business of the Year in 2005. Two years later, his company was purchased by the Agtech Income Fund, and the fund was rebranded as the Alliance Grain Traders Income Fund. In 2009, Alliance Grain Traders completed a conversion to a dividend-paying corporation and it acquired The Arbel Group, which included the Arbella Pasta brand, the third-largest selling domestic brand of pasta in Turkey. Today, Alliance Grain Traders in one of the largest lentil and pea splitting companies in the world. It buys lentils, peas, beans and chickpeas from farmers around its 29 facilities in the best pulsegrowing regions in Canada, the United States, Turkey, Australia, China and South Africa. These products are then shipped to more than 100 countries. Its operations also include Australia Milling Group, Alliance Grain Traders (Tianjin) Co. Ltd. in China; United Pulse Trading in North Dakota, US; and Advance Seed in South Africa. At a time when other companies were dealing with the economic downturn, Alliance began looking at opportunities. It tightened its operating efficiencies and, with a strong Canadian dollar, was able to acquire a number of companies which allowed it to reach its current level. “Regina is a great place to do business,” says Al Katib. “We have access to elected officials and the city has a ‘let’s get it done’ attitude. The transportation sector is also changing. The Global Transportation Hub is opening up new possibilities and the railways are relocating. We’re looking forward to new opportunities in the future.”

Alliance Grain Traders’ state-of-the-art production facilities feature production lines for cleaning, sizing, splitting, colour-sorting and packaging a full line of lentil, chickpea, pea, bean and canary seed products. — Photo courtesy Allaince Grain Traders

agrIcuLture

Saskcan Pulse Trading (Main Plant), Regina, Saskatchewan — Photo courtesy Allaince Grain Traders

today, alliance grain traders in one of the largest lentil and pea splitting companies in the world. — Murad Al-Katib Chief Executive Officer and President of Alliance Grain Traders Inc.

Pasta Machine — Photo courtesy Allaince Grain Traders

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agrIcuLture

Intragrain techologies Inc. Finding Success by Pat Rediger

Photo courtesy Thinkstock

Several years ago, kyle Folk noticed the grain loss his father was experiencing as his grain began spoiling in heated bins. This is a typical issue for a lot of farmers and many turn to various temperature control and monitoring devices to minimize their losses with limited success. “I remember thinking at the time that this must be an issue that all farmers face and that there has to be a reasonable solution,” he said. “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Once a farmer harvests his crop and stores the grain in the bin, there is a risk of spoilage due to heating and sweating of the bin. Temperature control and monitoring becomes extremely important since there are no insurance options for stored grain. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to monitor and keep track of grain stored in bins off site or at remote locations as farm size increases. Millions of dollars are lost every year in Canada due to grain spoilage.

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Folk, who farms near Regina, developed a new way for grain farmers to keep track of the temperature of their stored grain in a convenient and economical way from almost anywhere in the world. His company, IntraGrain Technologies Inc., produces a stored grain monitoring system called Bin-Sense. Temperature sensor cables are mounted inside the grain bins and have digital temperature sensors encased inside the cable. The sensor cables are connected by wire to remote units that are mounted on top of the bins. Each bin requires one remote unit. The master unit collects information from all remote units and at designated time intervals transmits the data back to IntraGrain’s database through cellular networks where each customer can access their information. The system works well for remote locations as it does not require an external power source. The remote units operate on AA Lithium ion batteries and the master unit operates on a larger lead acid battery combined with a solar panel trickle charger.

The battery life of the units is approximately two years and notifications are sent when the battery life is getting low. The website notifies customers when a rise in temperature occurs. The customer is also notified when a temperature sensor has been exposed. This feature also acts as a theft monitor because it notifies the customer within 12 hours of a sensor becoming exposed.

agrIcuLture

“I am excited about where this can go and who it can help” — Kyle Folk, President, IntraGrain Technologies Inc.

Folk had considered the idea for several years but did not act on it until he heard about Progress2Capital, a competition for entrepreneurs, on the evening news. Progress2Capital was initiated by the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission and it has since grown to become a province-wide event, by partnering with the Saskatchewan Ministry of the Economy. Competitors are paired with mentors who help them to understand what is needed to turn a concept into a business. The idea is to help entrepreneurs establish and launch a solid business plan. SpringBoard West Innovation Inc. staff helped Folk to identify the steps he needed to take to turn his idea into a product that could be taken to market. They helped him to find investors and manufacturers, identify his market niche and develop a marketing plan. The Progress2Capital competition and the mentorship aspect of the competition were instrumental in helping him launch his company. In June 2012, IntraGrain Technologies Inc. put Bin-Sense 1.0 on the market. It has had success with sales in Saskatchewan and Alberta and inquiries from other provinces and even other countries. At the 2012 Farm Progress Show the company received the Sterling Innovation award and won an award for the best new exhibitor booth. It continues to find new markets and new clients. “I am excited about where this can go and who it can help” says Folk. “I grew up in a small farming community in Saskatchewan and I am proud to offer farmers a product which can help them monitor their stored grain in a convenient and cost effective manner and was developed by engineers from my home province.”

Kyle Folk, President, IntraGrain Technologies Inc. — Photo courtesy Jenn Nelson

IntraGrain is currently marketing Bin-Sense 1.0 through its website, but Folk is also developing a retail network. He is pleased with the progress made to date but there is still a lot of work to be done including product development, expanding of the sensor line and new markets to pursue. IntraGrain is establishing itself for the opportunity to grow and expand in the future.

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agrIcuLture L Lture IN SASkATC SASkATChEWAN k hEWAN kATC

agricultural manufacturing: a

boomingbusiness by Shirley Byers

No Image Supplied â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Photo courtesy ???

regina is known as a showcase Annual Canada Farm Progress Show in Regina. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Photo courtesy Evraz Place

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for agriculture manufacturing and products that are recognized as being innovative, of a high quality and that advance the interests of farmers around the world.

The agricultural manufacturing industry is growing, and

agrIcuLture

growing fast in Saskatchewan. There are several reasons why this sector is growing so rapidly, says Jerry Engel, CEO, Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada, “First of all, it’s because Canadians make the best agricultural machinery in the world. Many of our members over the years have been exporting their fine products all around the world. And they are very successful in those endeavours because of the quality of the equipment that they make.”

And last, but not least, grain prices have been high over the last couple of years, enabling farmers to update and replace machinery. In terms of sales, “I would say that this year was comparable to 2010,” says Engel. “Both were very good years; 2011 was a bit slower. I’d say we’ve gained in 2012, five percent over 2010 on average.” Three years ago the Canadian dollar rose to about $1.10 which was a bit of challenge notes Engel. “Obviously when our dollar goes up the cost of our equipment goes up in the U.S. and in foreign markets. But because of the quality of the equipment made here, there are no other manufacturers who can touch it. Some foreign companies have tried to do knockoffs but not very successfully. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles and isn’t made as well.” Looking ahead, Engel says, “I think the future looks great. The majority of agriculture manufacturers are constantly doing research and development to improve their products. New innovations are coming along all the time. The food producers of the world — the farmers — the world obviously needs those people. “

The annual Canada Farm Progress Show in Regina, is another reason for the growth of the industry, he says. Last year around 600 people from around the world came to view the agricultural equipment on display, to make deals and, in some cases, to do joint ventures. “Show manager, Rob O’Connor has really done a terrific job,” says Engel. Last June, international buyers from 58 nations were in attendance from the Middle East, eastern and western Europe, Australia and North America. Buyers from Ghana and the Czech Republic attended for the first time. The number of exhibitors, topping 800, broke previous records. Twenty-four new products were launched, including Caterpillar’s new CT660 truck, a new combine from Versatile and new onboard tanks from Seedmaster.

Regina is headquarters for several large agriculture manufacturers that provide significant economic spinoffs for the local economy. The Brandt Group of Companies is a dynamic and diverse group of companies that services markets in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australian and Asia. Brandt recently surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue. Degelman Industries Ltd. has been in business since 1962 and has a state-of-the art research and development facility in Regina and a global presence in the agriculture manufacturing sector. Sakundiak Farm Equipment opened its first plant in the winter of 1947-48 and is now a multimillion dollar industry that ships its products worldwide. Dutch Industries is one of the largest grain auger suppliers in Canada and has over 50 years of experience providing an variety of agricultural and structural products to clients around the world. Regina is known as a showcase for agriculture manufacturing and products that are recognized as being innovative, of a high quality and that advance the interests of farmers around the world.

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InnOvatIOn, technOLOgy AND ENTrEPrENEurShIP

The increase in exportation and population has led to an increase into major investment for infrastructure. There are over 80 major projects under construction in Regina. The strong investment attraction has created opportunities to create businesses and services to support our local supply chains. The opportunity for entrepreneurs to build businesses that develop new technologies, create new processes and increase service based industries have never been in more demand. With this economic performance, Regina has earned its place as one of the most entrepreneurial cities in Canada. Regina is home to exiting new companies ranging from advanced technology, new media start-up, and innovative new companies in traditional industries.

— Photo courtesy Thinkstock

The entrepreneurial opportunities in regina have never been better. The city and the province are experiencing economic growth that has not been seen since the 1970s. The year to year percentage growth from 2010 to 2011 is 4.8%. Saskatchewan’s economy is expected to grow between 2.7% - 3.6% this year. This will keep our economy as one of the top performing economies in the country. Saskatchewan has over 500,000 people in the workforce. The year to year growth of the number of employed people in Saskatchewan is 2.0%. This is almost twice the national average of Canada. The unemployment rate is the lowest in the country at 4.0%. lastly, the effects of this economic growth have driven retails sales to amazing heights. In 2011, retail sales grew 7.5%.

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To support local business start-ups, Regina is home to many business support services. For instance, the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission Business Resource Centre is a business development resource office designed to provide entrepreneurs the ‘first step’ to access assistance. SpringBoard West Innovations Inc. is a non-profit corporation established to help entrepreneurs transform their idea into a commercially viable idea. The Regina Public Library Business Services have business resources available for you to build your business plan. The resources available will cover all your research topics form marketing to strategic planning. The Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan works with women who are considering starting a business, buying a business, or operating an existing business. This organization complements other service providers by in supporting women entrepreneurs. There is the Canadian Youth Business Foundation that offers support to young entrepreneurs aged 18-39. This organization will support you through the life cycle of your business by providing pre start-up coaching, mentoring, business resources, and potential financing. These are some of the organizations that are ready to help you get your business open.

InnOvatIOn, technOLOgy AND ENTrEPrENEurShIP

Photo courtesy Thinkstock

Innovation place

– A Thriving Entity

The Terrace — Photo courtesy Innovation Place

by Carol Rogers

Innovation thrives with the right people in the right place. And regina is just the place for science and technological advancement to flourish. Established in 2000, Innovation Place in Regina is one of Canada’s newest science and technology parks. With locations in both the capital city and Saskatoon, Innovation Place is also one of the most successful university-related science and technology parks in North America. Located directly adjacent to the University of Regina, Innovation Place is home to 35 tenants employing more than 1750 people and occupying six buildings in the park. While the location is a key factor in its success, Innovation Place is more than that.

APPrOxIMATElY

3,368 jObs IN ThE CITY AND 3,873 jObs IN ThE PrOvINCE are attributable to the presence of

InnOvatIOn pLace regIna.

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InnOvatIOn, technOLOgy AND ENTrEPrENEurShIP “Innovation Place isn’t about buildings,” says Douglas Tastad, President and CEO, Innovation Place. “It’s the people working inside those buildings and the personal relationships they develop with each other that results in innovation.” As the name suggests, Innovation Place is designed to create clusters of creative energy, fostering success by providing facilities, services and amenities to create unique opportunities for businesses in the science and technology sector. “When you create clusters, it creates higher visibility for the science and technology sector,” explains Jacqueline Woods, Brand Specialist, Innovation Place. “Working together in a centralized location gives greater prominence to the activities of all involved.” The two most prominent clusters of activity are in electronic government (EGovernment) services and in the energy and environment sector.

The efficient delivery of government services using Internet technologies is changing how governments do business and Innovation Place is at the centre of much of this activity. Private and public enterprises are partnering to bring these efficiencies to the public. Led by provincial agencies like eHealth Saskatchewan, the Information Technology Office and Information Services Corporation, most people working in this area work for the private sector. In addition to tenants like ISM Canada, Fujitsu Canada and Science Applications International Corporation, hundreds of the people working in the provincial agencies are private contractors Work within this cluster has made Innovation Place a national and international leader in the provision of EGovernment services. The work done by the University of Regina, The Saskatchewan Research Council and the Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) related to carbon capture and storage and enhanced oil recovery has also generated national and international interest. High quality, focused research and collaboration in this cluster has led to outstanding achievements in storage, drilling, oil recovery, well testing and more. Projects like the Aquistore well are revolutionizing the energy and environment sector’s Southern Saskatchewan’s operations. PTRC has recently completed drilling of this 3.4 km well—the deepest ever in Saskatchewan—west of the Boundary Dam power station outside of Estevan. Aquistore will inject the captured CO2 deep underground into a brine and sandstone formation that is a safe, workable solution to reduce greenhouse gases. As a centre of carbon capture and storage experience and expertise, Innovation Place is the location of the International Performance Assessment Centre for Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide—a major contributor to the development of international standards for carbon capture and storage.

Saskatchewan Disease Control laboratory

A number of successful startups have also begun their business at Innovation Place. The combination of its technical, business, social and physical environments provides a strong and unique foundation for startups in many sectors. Companies like GB Internet Solutions and Communities of Tomorrow are growing quickly and achieving great success internationally. GB Internet Solutions began in 2008 as a small group of web developers. They started with eight employees and have grown to nearly 50 today. They are leading web technology with focuses on two principle areas: Gas Buddy and Gas Buddy Open Store.

ISM building

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Gas Buddy is a website and mobile application on gas prices for 250 localized sites—every major metropolitan area or province/ state. Among the many awards GB Internet Solutions have won, their mobile application placed 6th in Time magazine’s Top 50 2012 Mobile Apps for iPhones. Gas Buddy Open Store is a social media marketing platform they license to convenience store retailers to list locations, in-store deals and customer feedback. Communities of Tomorrow is a public/private company focused on the development of innovative infrastructure products and services to benefit Saskatchewan municipalities and create new economic growth in the province.

InnOvatIOn, technOLOgy AND ENTrEPrENEurShIP Looking ahead, Innovation Place anticipates the continued success and growth of its tenants and the sectors in which they are involved.

They work closely with researchers at the University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan, SIAST, TR Tech and the Saskatchewan Research Council. Communities of Tomorrow values being part of Innovation Place and thrives in the dynamic atmosphere it provides. “Innovation Place provides a vibrant setting for an organization such as ours that emphasizes the creative spirit, new technologies, and exciting start-up companies,” says John D. Lee, President, Communities of Tomorrow. “It is really important for us to physically have a wide variety of resources available to our clients right in the neighbourhood, and to be able to work with some of our closest partners by simply walking down the hall or across the campus. It is an atmosphere that is conducive to new technology development and entrepreneurial thinking.”

2 research Drive

It’s that setting that helps to attract and foster talent today and in the future. The campus environment and proximity to the University of Regina mean that Innovation Place is a natural progression for many graduates. Working with the university enables large-scale research projects and gives students the opportunity to contribute to and gain experience in some of the province’s newest science and technology sector.

Petroleum Technology research Centre

The creative and entrepreneurial spirit fostered by Innovation Place plays a huge role in Saskatchewan’s economic strength. It provides an opportunity for its businesses, the city and the province to grow and compete within Canada and internationally. In 2011, Innovation Place Regina generated roughly $290.32 million to the city economy and $373.98 million to the provincial. Approximately 3,368 jobs in the city and 3,873 jobs in the province are attributable to the presence of Innovation Place Regina.

Pilot Plant

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InnOvatIOn, technOLOgy AND ENTrEPrENEurShIP

by Carol Rogers

Today’s entrepreneurs not only showcase Saskatchewan’s current innovation and economic strength, they also are essential for continuous growth. The Progress2Capital business Planning Competition is just one initiative that contributes to the success of the province’s current and future economy by creating a nurturing entrepreneurial environment in the province of Saskatchewan. Developed by the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission (RROC) in 2006, the Progress2Capital Business Planning Competition is a unique initiative designed to encourage entrepreneurialism and economic growth in the Regina region. Thanks to a partnership forged in 2012 with the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA), and financial contributions from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Economy, the Progress2Capital competition has now expanded to include the entire province of Saskatchewan.

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“We started the Progress2Capital business planning competition to raise the profile of entrepreneurship in Regina, to help build the private sector component of our economy, and to help individual entrepreneurs who wanted to start their own businesses by making available a competition that will provide them with the tools and support to become successful,” explains Larry Hiles, President and CEO, RROC. Progess2Capital is a six-month competition involving three rounds during which participating entrepreneurs work through a series of challenges designed to hone their business skills and provide them with the tools, coaching and mentoring required for future success. The value of the training the participants receive throughout the competition, plus the prize pool the finalists compete for totals more than $100,000. Progress2Capital is unique as it brings together more service providers and business development organizations than any other competition in the province through sponsorship, partnerships and mentoring. Progress2Capital is also the only competition with wide eligibility criteria. Any type of business idea brought forth by a Saskatchewan resident is accepted into the initial phase of the competition.

“The one-on-one mentoring is tailored to the participant’s needs,” explains Evelyn Cerda, Economic Development Officer, RROC. “The competition includes support for building a business plan, mentorship from existing entrepreneurs, both a design weekend and a boot camp to dig into their business model, marketing seminars, pitch sessions, introductions to professional service providers such as accountants and lawyers, and making formal presentations to a panel of judges,” says Hiles. “The results have been very encouraging, with many of the finalists having gone on to become successful businesses.” That success is demonstrated by a staggering statistic; that 1 in 3 of the finalist teams of the Progress2Capital competition enter the market within their first year and continue to prosper due to the start-up capital, mentorship and the on-going supportive environment fostering new entrepreneurs. Rachel Mielke, the owner of Hillberg & Berk, a high-end jewelry line for women, is one such success story. Rachel was a runner up in the 2008 competition, “After the business planning stage of the competition was complete, next was the actual ‘pitch’ which was extremely helpful for me personally because days after doing my Progress2Capital limo pitch, I had to pitch my idea to the Dragon’s on CBC’s Dragons’ Den,” states Rachel.

InnOvatIOn, technOLOgy AND ENTrEPrENEurShIP The program’s success has also been recognized across the country and is indicative of the entrepreneurial spirit in Regina. “In 2008, Progress2Capital was chosen as the Canadian Economic Development Initiative of the Year by the Economic Developers Association of Canada,” says Hiles. “And recently, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business released its 2012 ‘Communities in Bloom’ report in which Regina was ranked as the 3rd most entrepreneurial city in Canada.” The 2013 competition will run from January to June. Once again, RROC will partner with SREDA and will also be joined by other service providers. There are also plans to add new elements to the competition to help and advise participants in the earlier stages of their start-up process.

She also recalls that “by the end of the competition I already hired two more employees and was growing rapidly. Since then I have moved into an office and now have eight employees and I am moving my business into international markets. Over the next five years we plan to enter the US, European and Asian markets and plan to become a preferred name in the high-end fashion jewelry industry.” Eric Penner de Waal, proprietor of Sprossil Industries and the manufacturer of the Smart Stud is also a previous Progress2Capital winner. He attests much of his success to date to the experience and knowledge he gained through the competition. Eric says, “Progress to Capital legitimized my idea. Everyone has ideas; Progress2Capital let me take the next step. It enhanced my idea and showed me what to do next”. Eric and Rachel are just two of the 363 aspiring entrepreneurs and 73 finalist teams that the Progress2Capital business planning competition has mentored over the years.

Eric Penner de Waal, proprietor of Sprossil Industries and the manufacturer of the Smart Stud — Photo courtesy Jenn Nelson

reginaroc.com 55

envIrOnment AND SuSTAINAbIlITY

Photo courtesy Thinkstock

Saskatchewan continues to be a global leader in the development of carbon capture and storage technologies. A number of important advancements in clean energy technology are taking place right here in regina with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in key sectors of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy. the International test centre (Itc) for carbon dioxide capture at the University of Regina is researching economical amine-based technologies to capture carbon dioxide from flue gases emitted at large industrial facilities such as refineries or coal-fired electricity generation stations. The work at the ITC has identified significant potential for reductions in the cost of capturing carbon dioxide.

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The Government of Canada has committed $240 Million for the boundary dam Integrated carbon capture and storage demonstration project which involves the life extension and retrofitting of Unit 3 of the Boundary Dam coal-fired electricity generation station in southeast Saskatchewan. SaskPower, the provincial Crown electricity utility, will contribute $1 billion to the project. The Clean Coal Project will capture up to one million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year which would be available for enhanced oil recovery purposes. This project will be one of the first to develop and demonstrate carbon dioxide capture at a coal plant on a commercial scale. In 2009, the International performance assessment centre for the geological storage of carbon dioxide (Ipac-cO2) was established at the University of Regina through funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, Royal Dutch Shell as well as the Government of Canada through Western Economic Diversification. IPAC-CO2 is an environmental non-government organization (ENGO) that works to gain public and regulator confidence in the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) as a sustainable energy and environmental option for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.

morph my city

envIrOnment AND SuSTAINAbIlITY

challenge and the Future of regina by Barb Flynn

Former mayor Pat Fiacco and former councillor Mike O’Donnell, Chair of 2012 National Infrastructure Summit,congratulate the “Morph My City” Challenge Greenfield Prize winners, Jennifer Barrett and Christopher Miles Kailing, Missoula, Montana for their Recycle the Grid entry.

Former mayor Pat Fiacco, City of Regina, Christopher Miles Kailing, Jennifer Barrett and former councillor Mike O’Donnell

The energy needed to build, maintain, and operate residential and commercial buildings in a sustainable manner is known as one of the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Many leaders agree that significant progress on

This challenge is all the more daunting when one realizes that many of the buildings we see today will still be in use throughout those upcoming decades If we are going to still be using most of today’s buildings how will we address this need for improved energy systems?

this challenge is needed within the next few decades.

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envIrOnment AND SuSTAINAbIlITY Just as a child’s picture can be morphed step by step into that of an adult, might a neighbourhood be morphed step by step into sustainability? That question led the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission (RROC) to propose a Morph My City Challenge (MMCC) to the City of Regina for their National Infrastructure Summit, held in September, 2012.

Mitchell Reardon, Sebastien Goethals, Daly Brown and Atsushi Hagihara were awarded the 2040 Prize of $50,000 and a contract with the City of Regina for their “Rosemont Innovation and Revitalization” entry. Jennifer Barrett and Christopher Miles Kailing of Missoula, Montana were awarded the Greenfield Design Prize of $10,000 for their “Recycle the Grid” entry. The action taken by Regina in seeking creative ideas to incorporate into the urban renewal process is beneficial in that the city will develop a set of competencies, systems and technologies to support innovation-based growth. Continued support for and implementation of the ideas brought forward at the MMCC can make Regina a leader in sustainability.

The MMCC is a two-part competition. In one competition, the 2040 Prize, entrants submitted a step-by-step plan of how to morph one particular Regina neighbourhood – Rosemont – into a greener, more comfortable and integrated place for people to live. The second competition, the Greenfield Prize, invited designers to create a sustainable new neighbourhood on flat farmland as is typical of new subdivisions for Regina. Finalists in the two competitions were given the opportunity to present their plans to an expert judging panel at the National Infrastructure Summit. The idea of holding a competition for innovative ideas appealed to both RROC and the City, with the latter agreeing to fund the two prizes. OmniCompete, a UK-based global competition manager was contracted to manage the competition with RROC serving as Project Coordinator. The response to the MMCC was overwhelming with over 17,000 individuals representing 117 countries visiting the website for information. Three finalists for each of the competitions were chosen from a total of 58 detailed submissions and involved team members from Canada, Sweden, Belgium, United States, and China. Kirkland sums up the MMCC success as “showing that if you have exciting challenges there are literally thousands of people around the world eager to offer their ideas. Certainly the prospect of prize money is a motivator, but the biggest factor is the chance to make a difference, to have an impact.”

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the idea of holding a competition for innovative ideas appealed to both rrOc and the city, with the latter agreeing to fund the two prizes.

envIrOnment AND SuSTAINAbIlITY

Ampyx powerplane — Photo courtesy Ampyx Power

airborne wind power – Energy high in the Sky by Barb Flynn

As part of the regina regional Opportunities Commission’s (rrOC) mandate to develop and sustain economic prosperity in the region, a number of their projects focus on accelerating the adoption of sustainable technologies suitable to the

The exciting prospect of wind energy systems that are far less costly but far more productive led RROC to approach one of the leading AWE startups, Ampyx Power of The Netherlands, to establish the first AWE wind farm in southern Saskatchewan. AWE does have one drawback – by flying so high AWE systems face more rigorous regulatory review regarding use of airspace. Here, Saskatchewan has a huge competitive advantage with its wide open spaces. Ampyx builds “Powerplanes” which look like gliders with tethers attached to a generator on the ground. As the glider cuts aggressively back and forth through the air the tether is pulled out spinning the electricity generator. Once the glider pulls the tether to maximum length the powerplane dives back while the generator retrieves the tether – then this process can be repeated over and over. Powerplane operation is governed by flight automation software – the core of Ampyx’s expertise.

attract people and investment is airborne wind energy.

For anyone who has water skied understanding Ampyx Power’s system is easy. When you ski the more aggressively you cut across the water the harder you pull on the rope tethered to the tow-boat.

Renewable solar energy technologies have demonstrated curve effects where costs keep falling as innovation advances. The same is true for wind energy where conventional mast and rotor systems will soon compete against a breakthrough system: airborne wind energy or AWE. AWE systems operate several hundred meters above ground where winds are stronger and steadier.

RROC has a keen interest in the Ampyx technology because providing renewable electricity at cost levels competitive with fossil fuels would be a large competitive advantage. If Saskatchewan moves fast and early in adopting this technology Saskatchewan could also become the supply chain centre for this emerging industrial sector.

Saskatchewan has some of the highest producing mast and rotor systems in the world operating at near a 40 per cent “capacity factor”. AWE, can far exceed this. Prototype testing projects AWE systems may achieve capacity factors of 70 to 80 per cent. This almost doubled the capacity factor. Combined with needing less than one-quarter of the materials to build suggests wind energy costs are competitive with fossil fuels, if neither is subsidized.

The benefits of this technology in the long run will require a supply chain of wind farm design engineers, component manufacturers, electric system fabricators, transport systems, construction management, and operations expertise. This huge economic opportunity depends on meeting the electrical utility essentials for reliability, efficiency, and financial and operations risk. RROC is working with Ampyx Power to establish AWE consortiums able to meet those market essentials.

regina region. One such project that has the potential to raise the region’s profile, utilize leading technology, and

reginaroc.com 59

educatIOn & taLent rECruITMENT

Photo courtesy Thinkstock

Saskatchewan Job Fair — Photo courtesy RROC

The city of regina is bustling with employment opportunities. The economic boom keeps the city at a constant growth rate and our labour force is reflecting the change. The shift in Regina’s economy is two-fold. There is a strong demand moving our part-time employment opportunities in to full-time positions and the short term employment opportunities created by our infrastructure expansion. The infrastructure building has created demand for skill trades professionals. Once the infrastructure is complete, the short-term employment opportunities will transition into full scale demand for fulltime workers. It is estimated that positions from entry level to management will be required. There are currently, over 2700 jobs listed on Saskjobs.ca. and it is expected to grow. Saskjobs. ca is a free service offered by the provincial government to help employers connect with potential applicants. It is not, however, the only recruitment strategy implemented in Regina. There is a very active recruitment strategy to engage our Aboriginal Peoples. Several companies and government agencies are using a holistic approach to recruitment in order to create a culture of inclusion in our workplaces. Regina is home to some of the best educational programs in Canada. The University of Regina, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Technologies, and the First Nations University of Canada are working with industry to ensure that our graduates are equipped with the necessary skills to meet today corporate challenges. The Provincial government has led several international recruiting missions to attract international

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Photo courtesy Thinkstock

talent to Regina. Finally, the Regina Regional Opportunities Commission, with the Ministry of the Economy, has engaged both public and private companies to participate in national job fairs in Montreal and Toronto. The recruiting effort in Regina is felt locally, nationally, and internationally.

LIFe LOng educatIOn To say that Reginans value a good education is an understatement. With an economy that is booming even in hard times and employers seeking skilled workers in every sector, Reginans know that education is the key not only to our children’s future, but to the future of our city itself. The Regina region offers diverse educational opportunities for all, and is becoming recognized locally, nationally and internationally for the quality and accessibility of our institutions and programs. There are many educational opportunities in Regina at all levels of study and many services to help students increase their chances of success. The Regina Knowledge Corridor is a unique cluster of educational facilities, training and research institutions, and technology businesses. The proximity of the University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada, Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology and the Regina Research Park, Innovation Place offers exciting opportunities for innovative partnerships, intellectual growth and cross-specialty communication.

Life is multiple choice. And we have the answer key.

goSIAST.com

Why choose Saskatchewan?

Saskatchewan is a great place to learn, work and live. Saskatchewan is known for its community spirit and beautiful scenery, including 100,000 lakes and rivers. Saskatchewan has a strong economy and grows 45% of Canada’s grain. Mining is also a major industry in the province, with Saskatchewan being the world leader in potash and uranium exports.

1-866-goSIAST (467-4278) Apply now for fall 2013.

Why choose SIAST? The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) is Saskatchewan’s primary public institution for post-secondary technical education and skills training, recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise and innovation. There are many reasons why you should pick SIAST.

Choose your favourite reason: a. Great value. SIAST has affordable tuition, less than the typical university. b. Make money faster. An education at SIAST offers practical skills in as little as a year or two. c. Program variety or choice. SIAST has more than 150 programs – from Aviation and Business to Nursing and Technology . You can obtain a diploma, certiﬁcate or a degree. d. You’re important at SIAST. Small class sizes mean your instructor will know your name and will have plenty of time to help you learn. e. SIAST grads get jobs – 93% surveyed after six months were employed. f. All of the above.

educatIOn & taLent rECruITMENT

the boom heard Around the World by Ella McIntyre

The booming economies of regina and Saskatchewan have people talking. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the job of the regina regional Opportunities Commission (rrOC) to encourage it. rrOC promotes a growing, vibrant and sustainable economy in the regina region by creating a climate where businesses, residents and visitors can thrive. One way it does this is through strategic participation in job fairs, in Canada and beyond.

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educatIOn & taLent rECruITMENT

“The Saskatchewan advantage is alive and well,” says Larry Hiles, President and CEO of RROC. “We have the lowest unemployment rate in the country, but are short on employees with particular skills. RROC assists local businesses and industry in finding those workers to meet the needs. We want to attract expatriates home, and welcome newcomers from across the country and around the world.” Recent initiatives have included government-led missions to Ireland (March 2012), and RROC-led missions to Toronto (April 2012) and Montreal (October 2012).

It also means partnering with industry and RROC. “The most important issue right now is finding the right people for the available jobs,” says Hiles. “Since 2006, RROC has accompanied employers – up to 45 at one time – to find employees at several job fairs. Because of the booming economy, many of the currently available job positions have been created within the last five years. This job creation is happening at such a rapid pace that the need for employees with the appropriate skill set is increasing faster than employees can put aside the time and resources to learn those desired skill sets.”

Led by Premier Brad Wall, the Ireland mission included 27 Saskatchewan employers looking for skilled workers to fill jobs in sectors such as oil and gas, trades, manufacturing, construction, engineering, healthcare, and information technology. In all, the employers needed to recruit up to 280 jobs and the Ireland mission resulted in 285 job offers. The mission has been a true success, with Irish newcomers excited about their new home.

With the continued success of job fairs and the work of RROC, this is changing. A recent Globe and Mail article profiling immigrant Alfred Chan says it all. Mr Chan had never heard of Regina and could not even pronounce Saskatchewan. But just three weeks after coming to Regina from Toronto, where he spent time as a taxi driver, he found employment at a computer company.

All the missions have the same objectives: find skilled workers to fill the many jobs created by the ongoing boom in this province.

“we want to attract expatriates home, and welcome newcomers from across the country and around the world.”

“Saskatchewan is really getting global attention,” says Kent Campbell, Deputy Minister, Ministry of the Economy. This new ministry brings together a number of the economic functions of government, including Enterprise Saskatchewan, energy and resources, as well as employment, immigration, elements of tourism, and Northern and First Nations and Métis economic development. “We want to make sure the growth becomes a stable and progressive trend. This means working with Saskatchewan residents – including the Aboriginal population, immigrants, and expats—to help them obtain what they need to fully participate in the province’s growth.”

— Larry Hiles, President and CEO of RROC

reginaroc.com 63

culturel scolaire Travailler, apprendre et Put your French and bilingual skills to good use! Saskatchewan is booming, and so is the Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF). ( French language and culture are alive and well as student enrolments keep rising at the CÉF, Saskatchewan’s ONLY French language publicly funded school division. With the numbers of students increasing year after year, so do career opportunities at the CÉF’s 16 elementary and secondary schools as well as administrative offices. If you’re looking for opportunities to work in French, consider the

largest French-language employer in the province of Saskatchewan. The CÉF is frequently looking for French-speaking staff to fill an array of new and existing positions. The chances of getting a permanent or long-term contracts are favourable. As a member of the CÉF, you will join a team of close to 400 people actively contributing to the development and reinforcement of the French language and culture among students and the Fransaskois community.

Got kids? If your first language is French, you were educated in French at an elementary level in Canada, or you have children who received (or are receiving) a French first language education, your children can attend the CÉF’s French first language schools. Thanks to its unique triple mandate (academic, cultural and community),

the CÉF’s elementary and secondary schools prepare children to become proud bilingual Francophones and accomplished citizens. French first language education is not an immersion program. Students live, play and learn in a 100% French-speaking school environment, from Pre-kindergarten to Grade 12. All subjects are taught in French with the exception of English Languages Arts classes, which respect the province’s English curriculum standards. By the end of grade 12, students have a superior level of bilingualism. This opens doors to a postsecondary education or a career in their language of choice. For more information on career opportunities at the CÉF, visit our website at cefsk.ca/emploi, send an email to recrutement@cefsk.ca or call 1 877 273-6661. For information on our schools, call 1 877 273-6661 or visit our website at cefsk.ca.

cefsk.ca communautaire vivre en français! Travailler en français en Saskatchewan, c’est possible! La Saskatchewan est une province en plein essor de même que le Conseil des écoles fransaskoises (CÉF). Les inscriptions dans les écoles élémentaires et secondaires du CÉF ne cessent d’augmenter année après année. LE CÉF est donc souvent à la recherche d’un personnel francophone compétent pour pourvoir à des postes variés. Les occasions d’obtenir un poste permanent ou un contrat à long terme dès l’embauche sont favorables. Si vous voulez travailler en français en Saskatchewan, choisissez l’employeur francophone le plus important de la province. En travaillant au CÉF, vous

vous joignez à une équipe de près de 400 personnes qui contribuent au développement et au renforcement de la jeunesse et de la communauté fransaskoises.

Étudier en français, c’est possible aussi! Si votre langue maternelle est le français, si vous avez été instruits en français à l’élémentaire au Canada ou si vous avez des enfants qui ont reçu (ou reçoivent) une éducation en français langue première, vos enfants peuvent fréquenter les écoles du CÉF. Grâce à son triple mandat (scolaire, culturel et communautaire), les écoles élémentaires et secondaires du CÉF préparent les enfants à devenir de fiers francophones bilingues et des citoyens accomplis.

L’école de langue française n’est pas un programme d’immersion. De la prématernelle à la 12e année, les élèves vivent, jouent et apprennent dans un environnement scolaire 100 % francophone. Toutes les matières y sont enseignées en français à l’exception des classes English Language Arts qui respectent le curriculum provincial en matière d’anglais. À la fin de leurs études secondaires, les élèves terminent avec un bilinguisme de haut niveau. C’est ce qui leur ouvrira les portes à des études postsecondaires, à un métier ou à une profession dans la langue de leur choix. Pour plus d’information sur les carrières au CÉF, consultez notre site Web à cefsk.ca/emploi, écrivez à recrutement@cefsk.ca ou composez le 1 877 273-6661. Pour des informations sur les écoles et les services offerts, composez le 1 877 273-6661 ou consultez notre site Web à cefsk.ca.

Realize. Our greater impact.

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Amber Fletcher, BA(Hons)â&#x20AC;&#x2122;06 PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary, JSGSPP

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Photo courtesy Lisa Mitchell

regina and the surrounding region are made up of many great neighbourhoods. Whether you’re looking for a quiet suburb to raise a family, a quaint lakeside property with less than an hour of commuting time or a lively urban atmosphere, there is an option for everyone. More good news - A house in Regina costs significantly less than what the same house costs in Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver.

dOwntOwn regIna

Hip, trendy, revitalized

Downtown Regina is becoming a more pedestrian-friendly retail and dining hot spot in the city. The results of our ongoing rejuvenation projects have been very positive, making this a great place to live and work.

nOrth regIna

Spacious, thriving, active

North Regina has steadily grown in recent years and is home to several big box stores, unique retail locations, excellent restaurants, coffee houses, parks and recreation opportunities and high quality homes.

sOuth regIna

Scenic, friendly, on the rise

South Regina is experiencing a construction boom, bringing new stores, hotels and housing opportunities to the area. The south end is also one of the most beautiful areas, thanks to Wascana Centre, one of the largest urban parks in North America.

$303,383

$429,469

$618,787

$732,738

Regina

Calgary

Toronto Vancouver

Regina is experiencing a remarkable construction boom, resulting in the development of several new subdivisions. These areas are adding new life to the city’s vast cultural, social and economic landscape.

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east regIna

Vibrant, busy, shopping supercentre

East Regina is one of the fastest growing areas in Regina. It has an abundance of big box stores and strip malls. East Regina also offers diverse dining experiences.

west regIna

Laid-back, casual, serene

West Regina features an abundance of parks and green space, which adds to the area’s relaxed atmosphere.

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“Regina is currently a great place to invest in real estate” —Gord Archibald, Executive Officer, Association of Regina Realtors Inc

record breaking housing starts

and real Estate values

by Carol Rogers

real estate investors have a lot of choices when it comes to how to spend their money. To help make those decisions easier, MoneySense magazine rates cities to determine where in Canada investors can find the best value for their dollar. The rating system takes into account value (homes that are reasonably priced), momentum (increasing in value) and the strength of the community’s economy.

The number one ranked city for 2012 is Regina. The city earned top marks for value, momentum and the strong economy driven by the natural resources sector (particularly in the oil and potash). Combined with low unemployment indicates that real estate values will to continue to grow.

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Gord Archibald, Executive Officer, Association of Regina Realtors Inc., agrees that Regina is a strong investment choice. “Regina is currently a great place to invest in real estate,” he says. “The market has been very active since 2007 due to economic and population growth. This has spurred demand for housing at a new level that has sustained itself for six years.” According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), August 2012 saw 248 housing units started in the Regina Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), an increase from 114 in August 2011. “Full-time job creation, rising wages, and net migration are supporting housing starts in Regina. August housing starts increased, particularly in the multi-family market where the inventory of unabsorbed units remains low,” said Suleman Souleyman, Senior Market Analyst for CMHC. In the Regina CMA, foundations for 117 single-detached units were poured in August compared to 99 one year earlier. To the end of August 2012, 861 single-detached units were started in the CMA, rising from 610 during the first eight months of 2011. There were 131 multi-family housing units—semi-detached units, rows and apartments--started in August this year, compared to 15 units during the same period last year. In the first eight months of 2012, 1,075 multi-family units were started, up 206% from 351 units during the same period in 2011. The increased growth and development in Regina has an immense economic impact.

Photo courtesy Thinkstock

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“For 2,500 annual housing starts in Regina, there is over $1 billion in investment in the city, more than 5,000 jobs and approximately $300 million in wages which impacts the entire economy,” explains Stu Niebergall, Executive Director, Regina and Region Home Builders’ Association. “It also provides millions of dollars to the government through provincial and federal taxation, creates future tax revenues to enhance municipal services for all Regina residents, and is the largest single wealth provider for many Regina families.” Regina’s median price for a single-detached new home is $428,800 based on 615 single-family absorptions from January to August 2012. The Regina and area MLS® system reports 2,946 re-sales recorded in Regina from January to August 2012, up 11% from the same period in 2011. The year to date average selling price in 2012 is $300, 513, an increase of eight per cent from the January to August 2011. Archibald says that although home values have increased significantly since 2007, “Regina’s average residential price is less than most other major markets in Western Canada, having broken the $300,000 mark for the first time in 2012.” Regina’s real estate market is a positive reflection of the city and province’s economic growth and potential. “There is a new attitude and optimistic view of the future,” says Archibald.

“For 2,500 annual housing starts in regina, there is over $1 billion in investment in the city, more than 5,000 jobs and approximately $300 million in wages which impacts the entire economy,” — Stu Niebergall, Executive Director, Regina and Region Home Builders’ Association.

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DIVerse HousING

Photo courtesy Shawn Fulton Photography

and Neighbourhood Options by Carol Rogers

As more and more people choose to live and invest in regina, there are plenty of places available to call home. Regina has always had many neighbourhood options for residents — from close proximity to the downtown business centre to family-oriented areas close to parks, schools, and shopping malls. With the city’s economic and population growth, developers and builders have an opportunity to provide even more options for homebuyers to meet a variety of needs and price points.

“There is a wide variety of types of homes on the market from smaller to larger homes,” says Gord Archibald, Executive Officer, Association of Regina REALTORS®. “A good quality bungalow would be in the $300,000 to $350,000 range while larger, executive homes can go up to $1 million with plenty of options in between. Single family dwellings continue to be the most popular housing type for sales through the MLS® system, although condos are becoming a much more prevalent low-cost alternative.

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“Location is always important to homebuyers,” says Archibald. “With Regina’s size and proximity to lakes and recreational areas, buyers can choose to live within the city or outside and maintain a high quality of life that is often unavailable in larger centres.” “Regina offers short commutes from one part of the city to another — 20 minutes would be the extreme high end while many are less than 10 minutes,” Archibald says. “For those who prefer to live in the country or at a resort, there are several communities, including Regina Beach and Katepwa, within a one-hour drive from the city.” Adding to the choice of location is the look and feel of each neighbourhood.

Photo courtesy Jenn Nelson

“with regina’s size and proximity to lakes and recreational areas, buyers can choose to live within the city or outside and maintain a high quality of life that is often unavailable in larger centres.”

The challenge is to create neighbourhoods that meet the needs of these buyers, providing them an affordable, desirable living space in an area that supports their lifestyle. New developments like Greens on Gardiner, Harbour Landing and The Creeks feature a variety of housing options and lot sizes and have walking trails connecting residents with shared public spaces. Some neighbourhoods combine attached garages with back lane garage options to create pedestrian-friendly streets and pleasant streetscapes.

— Gord Archibald, Executive Officer, Association of Regina REALTORS®

Regina’s homebuilders are meeting these demands and providing buyers with plenty of choice. “Regina has a reputation for building quality housing by long-time builders with a solid reputation,” says Archibald.

Stu Niebergall, Executive Director, Regina and Region Home Builders Association, says the real estate market is changing how developers and builders think about neighbourhood design. “Much of this change is driven by affordability — in many cases, lot size is decreasing and the number of multi-family units is increasing,” he says.

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Regina homebuyers searching for the right fit can choose from traditional detached homes, semi-detached, condominiums and a new option, the fee-simple townhome that provides a condominium look and feel without the fees or governing association. Discerning buyers are also looking for high quality finishes within their homes. For instance, hardwood flooring and granite countertops were once considered luxury items but are now expected.

As Regina continues to grow and change, so will neighbourhood design, says Niebergall. “Developers have adjusted to the marketplace. New neighbourhoods are compact, walkable, in harmony with nature, and have interconnectivity through trails, sidewalks and a main street focus that brings people together.”

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Economic Measures The following economic measures are the indicators RROC uses to measure overall growth in the Regina region.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012F

2013F

2014F

2015F

GDP at basic prices ($M 2002)

7,863

7,840

7,746

8,126

9,439

9,789

10,134

10,531

10,863

Personal Income per capita

37,646

40,460

41,697

43,933

46,397

47,689

48,891

50,766

52,639

CMA Total Population (‘000)

203

206

210

215

219

223

227

231

234

Labour force (‘000)

115

119

115

119

123

126

129

133

136

Goods (# of employees ‘000)

Services (Number of employees ‘000)

103

104

106

108

110

Unemployment rate (%)

4.8

3.9

4.4

4.8

4.7

4.0

4.2

4.1

4.0

Retail Sales ($M)

3,748

3,982

4,109

4,369

4,733

5,076

5,332

5,614

5,894

Value of building permits ($M)

337.6

342.3

458.3

523.7

646.5

n/a

Total Housing starts

1,398

1,375

930

1,347

1,694

2,757

1,330

1,316

1,326

Innovation Place Economic Impact ($M)

230.8

193.7

266.9

272.5

277.1

290.3

n/a

CPI Percentage change (2002=1.0%)

2.6

3.2

1.7

1.5

2.9

2.1

2.2

2.1

International migration (net)

1,095

1,697

2,079

7,425

10,660

n/a

Interprovincial migration (net)

262

513

668

1,678

1,181

n/a

Intraprovincial migration (net)

510

850

n/a

Visitors Saskatchewan (M)

8.7

8.5

8.9

9.1

n/a

Visitors - Regina (M)

1.5

1.7

n/a

1,296.4

1,385.2

1,496.9

1,285

n/a

Traveller expenditures Saskatchewan ($M) f = forecasted

Sources: Conference Board of Canada, Statistics Canada, Tourism Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration.

reginaroc.com 73

Regina Regional Opportunities Commission (RROC) is the agency responsible for advancing economic development and tourism in the Regina region. The Economic Development Division creates and implements economic strategies to grow and sustain prosperity in the Regina Region. This is accomplished by actively promoting the Regina region to attract investment, as well as encourage, retain and develop growth opportunities for businesses in the Regina region. The Tourism Division works in collaboration with the Regina regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism sector and industry partners to promote and enhance Regina as a destination experience, and encourages the retention, development, attraction and growth of its tourism industry. It attracts visitors and residents to explore Reginaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leisure, business, and special event tourism, which account for $285.7 million of the regional economy. For more information on investing in Regina please contact us or visit reginaroc.com

1925 Rose St. Regina, SK S4P 3P1 Toll free: 1-800-661-5099 Direct: (306) 791-4700 email:info@reginaroc.com www.reginaroc.com Fax: (306 352-1630)

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