Forging Fort Saskatchewan: A city for every generation

A message from BILD Edmonton Metro:

When Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin reflects on her path to public office, she admits politics was never part of the plan.

A stay-at-home mom in the early 2000s, Makin opened a day home that eventually grew into a career in early childhood education, operating preschools and daycares. Along the way, she became increasingly involved with the Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, serving as treasurer, vice-president, and eventually president.

Her work with the Chamber exposed her to advocacy at both the municipal and provincial levels.

"Through the Chamber, I advocated to the Province of Alberta on the budget," Makin says. "That experience, combined with attending council meetings, sparked my interest in municipal politics."

She successfully ran for council in 2017 and was elected mayor in 2025. Throughout her time in office, Makin has focused on making local government more accessible.

"So much of local government isn't shared in a way that's accessible to community members," she says. "I prioritize explaining the 'why' and the 'how' behind council decisions, so residents understand the vision and the impact of what we're doing."

That vision is increasingly centred on one defining challenge: growth. Fort Saskatchewan has surpassed 30,000 residents and continues to attract families and businesses seeking the advantages of a smaller community within the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. Managing that growth, Makin says, means ensuring infrastructure keeps pace without losing the city's close-knit character.

"We're growing quickly, but we also want to maintain our small-town feel."

That balance requires strategic investments in everything from roads and utilities to recreation facilities and emergency services. Among the city's priorities is securing provincial support for improvements to key industrial streets and corridors — investments Makin says are critical for public safety, regional connectivity, and future economic development.

Despite its rapid expansion, she believes Fort Saskatchewan's greatest strength remains its people.

"During the recent storms, we saw neighbours helping one another — clearing fallen trees, removing debris, and supporting each other. That's who we are."

The city's approach to housing reflects that same philosophy.

"You can walk through our neighbourhoods and see large, medium, and small single-family homes alongside duplexes, triplexes, and zero-lot-line homes," Makin says. "That creates affordability and welcomes people from different backgrounds and financial situations. These are complete, thoughtfully planned communities."

Building for every stage of life

For Jacq Lakusta, sales manager with Akash Homes, Fort Saskatchewan's appeal is deeply personal. Having grown up in the city, she's watched it evolve while retaining the qualities that made it home.

"Fort Saskatchewan has done an excellent job balancing residential growth with investments in infrastructure, recreation, parks, schools, and commercial services," Lakusta says. "It's become an attractive option for first-time buyers, growing families, and move-up purchasers alike."

As Edmonton continues to expand, buyers are increasingly looking beyond the city limits for communities that offer more space without sacrificing convenience.

"Fort Saskatchewan offers something that's becoming harder to find — a welcoming community with a genuine hometown feel that's still well-connected to the capital region."

Akash Homes, a locally owned Alberta builder with more than 20 years of experience, has built its reputation on delivering thoughtfully designed homes that combine quality finishes, practical layouts, and exceptional value. The company is currently building in SouthPointe, Windsor Pointe, and Roseburn, offering a range of front-attached garage homes, including single-family and duplex models designed to meet the needs of today's buyers.

For Lakusta, affordability is only one part of the equation. Residents also benefit from extensive trail systems along the North Saskatchewan River, quality recreational amenities, thriving local businesses and a strong sense of community.

"That combination of affordability, quality of life, and community spirit continues to attract both lifelong residents and people moving here for the first time."

Growing the next generation of communities

Few families have been involved in Fort Saskatchewan's development as long as the Useniks.

"Our family has been engaged in Fort Saskatchewan for more than 40 years," says Andrew Usenik, partner at Strata Developments.

His father began developing land in the community during the 1980s, eventually partnering with the Galloway family to help shape the city's southern growth. One of those early projects included selling serviced land to the City for what would become the Dow Centennial Centre — a decision that helped establish the surrounding area as a destination for future residential development.

"My dad believed in where the city was headed," Usenik says. "Twenty-five years later, we're continuing that vision."

Today, Strata Developments, led by Andrew and his sister Courtney Jensen, is developing Roseburn in partnership with the Galloway family on land that was once farmland.

"For us, it's rewarding to see the work our dad and the Galloways started come full circle," Usenik says. "We get to continue tending their garden while creating something for the next generation."

Roseburn is designed to celebrate both its agricultural history and Fort Saskatchewan's future. One of its signature features will be two new destination playgrounds whose initial stage of development will cost over $1 million — an investment unlike anything Strata has undertaken before.

"We've built playgrounds before, but this is on an entirely different scale," Usenik says.

Inspired by the children's game The Floor is Lava, the playground is intended to become a regional destination, featuring imaginative play elements, durable recycled rubber surfacing, and spaces designed to encourage exploration and active play.

"If we're making this kind of investment, we wanted to create something memorable — something fun, unique, and unlike anything else in the region."

Innovation through housing choice

Innovation extends beyond playgrounds. As Fort Saskatchewan continues to grow, developers are finding new ways to increase housing choice while preserving neighbourhood character.

Roseburn will include a broad mix of housing types that support regional density goals, including an innovative fourplex designed to resemble a traditional single-family home.

"On paper, it's a fourplex," Usenik explains. "But from the street, it fits naturally into the neighbourhood. We've addressed parking, massing, and design so it doesn't feel imposing while still creating more homes for people."

That willingness to rethink traditional housing builds on earlier innovations such as zero-lot-line homes and reflects a broader shift in municipal planning. Usenik credits Fort Saskatchewan's new land use bylaw for creating greater flexibility.

"Rather than zoning lot by lot, we're able to plan entire neighbourhoods and respond to what the market needs over time," he says. "It gives us the flexibility to deliver housing products that support both today's buyers and tomorrow's growth."

For Makin, that collaborative approach between the City and industry is essential.

As Fort Saskatchewan continues to welcome new residents, its success will depend not only on how much it grows, but on how intentionally it grows — building neighbourhoods that remain connected, inclusive, and distinctly Fort Saskatchewan.