The Pulse: Jan. 15, 2025

The inaugural Industrial Heartland Career Forum in Fort Saskatchewan will search for workers to fill the blue- and white-collar jobs emerging in the region following major project investments from Dow, Linde, Cando Rail & Terminals, and others.

"With so much investment happening in our in our region, there is going to be a lot of increased demand for a local, skilled workforce to help support all these projects," Erin Brush Duncan, the director of investment for the City of Fort Saskatchewan, told Taproot. "(The event is) beneficial to the community, and it is beneficial to all of these big, industrial investments."

The forum, which is free but requires registration, will take place at the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan on Jan. 30. It is a partnership between the City of Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont County, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County, and Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association. The event will feature a session for high school students and another for professionals looking to re-skill. Sponsors include Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Interior Heavy Equipment Operator School, Graham, and North West Redwater Partnership. Educational presenters include Careers in Energy from Energy Safety Canada, the Indigenous Career Centre out of NorQuest College, the University of Alberta, MacEwan University, the Heartland Industrial Training Centre, and NAIT.

Brush Duncan was clear that working in Alberta's Industrial Heartland isn't only for on-the-ground tradespeople. There are several career paths in the area, she said. "The trades are such an integral, important part of industry processes, and keeping these plants and operations running," Brush Duncan said. "But there are other parts: There are analyst positions, there are positions for people who are very tech-oriented; they can transition. There are jobs in operations that primarily use computers and technology. There's this huge growth in automation."

She added the event is not a job fair but is instead about learning. "This is a chance for you to really explore the opportunities that are out there — and how to get there," she said.

Brush Duncan pitched the forum to the event partners following a recent labour study of the northeast Edmonton region and the conversations its results inspired. The study, by Applications Management Consulting Ltd., found there is "uncertainty" in the job market across the region. It suggests "emerging energy technologies, technological advancements and diversification of the regional economy" are why more professionals in both office and field positions will be needed.

In November 2023, Dow announced a US$6.5-billion expansion to build a net-zero ethylene and derivatives complex in the region. In August, Linde announced it will invest more than $2 billion a clean hydrogen facility. And in September, Cando announced a $200-million investment to expand its Sturgeon Multi-Purpose Rail Terminal. The Heartland area is also home to companies that work in climate-marketed energy businesses like carbon capture, utilization and storage (or CCUS) and hydrogen, too.

Mark Plamondon, the executive director of AIHA, has spoken about the need for skilled workers in the Heartland, including at an event Taproot attended in October. There, on a panel with reps from ATB Financial, NAIT, and Nanostics, he highlighted that a focus on climate has also opened doors in the region.

"Not only do you have the opportunity for low-cost production of value-added energy products (in the Heartland), you now can do so in a way that has a lower carbon footprint, because of the carbon-sequestration capability in this region," Plamondon said. "A lot of companies, when they're looking to advance their next big capital project, they're looking at: 'Not only can I produce this in an economic way, but how do I do it with a lower carbon footprint?'"

The Government of Alberta tracks labour supply through its province-wide job market forecasts, its biennial occupational outlook updates, and data specific to the Edmonton region. Its 2021 to 2025 report on the Edmonton metropolitan region highlights workforce deficits that include train crews, operators for cranes, drillers, blasters, as well as utility equipment operators and controllers. Conversely, it shows that the number of workers in other trades, including electrical and construction, slightly exceeds the jobs available.

• Edmonton city council members received a 3.07% salary increase for 2025, with the mayor's pay rising to $223,234 and councillors' to $126,119. Council's pay automatically increases or decreases based on the Alberta weekly earnings index. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he will donate the difference between his salary and that of Calgary's mayor back to the municipality. Coun. Andrew Knack defended the independent process for determining salaries, warning against politicizing the issue, while Coun. Erin Rutherford highlighted the importance of adequate pay to attract diverse candidates.
• EPCOR has removed a $200 installation fee for customers who opt out of using new water meter reading devices linked to an Israeli company after pressure from advocates supporting the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. The campaign has raised concerns over the meters' ties to the Arad Group, which has been criticized for its connections to water exploitation in the West Bank and Gaza. A spokesperson for EPCOR said about 300 customers have opted out of using the meters "for various reasons."
• Beb's Bagels in Edmonton typically focuses on local deliveries, but co-owner Lindon Carter recently made a special 2,348.8 km trip to Las Vegas to deliver Montreal-style bagels to a customer longing for a taste of home. Steve Lake, originally from Montreal and now residing in Las Vegas, had been craving the classic sweet, chewy bagels he grew up with. "We saw the passion Steve had for a good bagel and we really wanted to get them to him," said Carter, who happened to be travelling to Las Vegas a few days after Lake's request.
• A water main break at the intersection of 109 Street and 111 Avenue in central Edmonton the morning of Jan. 14 prompted EPCOR and city police to advise drivers to avoid the area as crews worked to clear the water. The break was attributed to temperature fluctuations causing ground movement. Crews drained most of the pooled water by around 12pm.
• The Alberta Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint by Edmonton trans rights advocate Marni Panas. The tribunal acknowledged that Panas faced discrimination when she was misgendered by 911 operators during a 2019 call, but found that the Edmonton Police Service has since taken sufficient steps to prevent similar incidents in the future. While the tribunal found that training and inclusive language guides introduced by the police service were adequate, Panas expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the changes.
• MacEwan University has appointed The Little Potato Company co-founder and CEO Angela Santiago as its 38th Allard Chair in Business. During her year-long tenure, Santiago will engage with students and faculty through lectures and events to share her expertise in agriculture, innovation, and sustainability. The university will officially celebrate her appointment at an event in February.
• Jens Lindemann, a Canadian trumpeter and Edmonton native, lost his family home in the Pacific Palisades wildfires but said he is finding solace in preparing for an upcoming concert in South Carolina. Despite the devastation, Lindemann saved some personal items, including trumpets and his Order of Canada pin. Other Canadian artists in Los Angeles, including guitarist Brian Hughes, have also been displaced by the deadly fires.
• Municipalities in the Edmonton Metropolitan Regional Board (EMRB) are beginning to vote on whether to stay in the organization after the Alberta government cut its funding and made membership voluntary. Morinville councillors were expected to discuss the issue on Jan. 14, while St. Albert is expected to vote on Jan. 21. Mayors emphasize the importance of regional collaboration but note challenges like differing priorities and economic pressures.
• The Alberta government is beginning its preparations for the 2025 wildfire season, with efforts happening in communities near forested areas across the province. Communities in the Bow Valley, including Canmore, are enhancing their wildfire preparedness with the construction of a new fireguard, supported by $750,000 in provincial funding. Alberta's Community Fireguard Program aims to reduce wildfire risk through forest thinning and mechanical tree removal, with the first phase of work expected to be completed this spring.
• Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada, is expected to launch his federal Liberal Party leadership campaign in Edmonton on Jan. 16, CTV News reported, citing unnamed sources. The news comes after Justin Trudeau announced he will step down as prime minister and party leader once a successor is chosen. In an appearance on The Daily Show on Jan. 13, Carney hinted at his interest in becoming party leader while addressing Canada's economic challenges and emphasizing the need for focused leadership.
• New Edmonton Elks head coach Mark Kilam has seamlessly transitioned to his new role after spending 20 years with the Calgary Stampeders. The Elks, under new ownership by Larry Thompson and management by Chris Morris and Ed Hervey, are aiming for a fresh start after a challenging season. Kilam is optimistic about the team's future and is focused on building a winning culture in Edmonton.

Here are some events happening today in the Edmonton area.

• Community Coffee starting at 8am at Edmonton Unlimited
• Edmonton Arts Council Survey Project Presentation starting at 10am at Prince of Wales Armouries Heritage Centre
• Strategic Power Hour: Bold Business Tips from Expert Advisors starting at 1pm online
• ASTech Awards 2025 Information Session starting at 1:30pm online
• Book Clubs of EPL: The Clockmaker's Daughter starting at 1:30pm at Edmonton Public Library (Mill Woods)
• Films at the Library: Clue starting at 6:30pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Writers' Guild of Alberta Pub Night starting at 7pm at Rooster Kitchen
• Energy Talks - Point-of-need sensors: What are they and how can they help us? starting at 7pm at Edmonton Public Library (Strathcona)
• MS Edmonton Whisky Festival starting at 7pm at Delta Hotels by Marriott Edmonton South Conference Centre
• Mercedes Eng reads from COP CITY SWAGGER: A community conversation on policing, gentrification, and Chinatowns starting at 7pm at Paper Birch Books

And here are some upcoming events to keep in mind:

• Jan. 25: Where Have All The Buffalo Gone? at Horizon Stage Performing Arts Theatre
• Jan. 27: Meeting of the Secret LongTree Society at Felice Cafe
• Jan. 28: Thirty Day Startup at Pub 1905

Visit the beta version of the Taproot Edmonton Calendar for many more events in the Edmonton region.