"NAIT is the only polytechnic in the province with a plan to address the serious and growing skilled labour shortage," the webpage for the Advanced Skills Centre reads. Federal projects alone will need around 500,000 more skilled trade workers by 2030 and potentially 800,000 by 2034, a Deloitte report found. The ASC is part of NAIT's restructuring plan, which will bring it from four schools to seven. In 2024, the polytechnic secured $43 million in provincial funding to build the 625,000 square-foot skills centre and train an additional 5,500 future workers per year. The centre is now in the "final year of planning and design," NAIT notes.
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Economic development
WestJet announced four new flights and enhanced east-west connectivity for summer 2026, including a new non-stop seasonal service between Terrace, B.C., and Edmonton. Starting May 19, the Edmonton-Terrace route will operate twice weekly. James Jackson of the Edmonton International Airport highlighted the route's importance for connecting Alberta with northern British Columbia's industrial sectors.
Freson Bros. is hosting the Alberta Food Fair in Stony Plain on April 15, partnering with the Alberta Food Processors Association to provide opportunities for Alberta producers to connect directly with decision-makers interested in pioneering new and innovative local products in stores across the province.
Dow has contracted Valmet to provide a suite of services for its Path2Zero project in Fort Saskatchewan. The news follows Dow's decision to resume construction on Path2Zero after a pause in April 2025.
THRIVE is accepting applications for the THRIVE Studio Sprint III, a six-week virtual program for researchers and early-stage founders exploring agri-food innovation. The program runs from March through April, with applications closing on March 2.
Startups and SMBs
Trust Science has acquired Lenders API, promising the deal will create Canada's first industry-wide defence system against coordinated lending fraud. The acquisition price has not been disclosed.
Treasures Insurance Edmonton has been acquired by Axis Insurance Managers Inc. Former Treasures leader Chris Waye has joined Axis Insurance as a senior vice-president of corporate development and director for Edmonton.
TrustBIX president and CEO Hubert Lau shared a letter of intent to purchase Output Provider Solutions. "(B)uilding on TrustBIX's previously announced technology platform strategy, this acquisition will strengthen its platform and expand TrustBIX's capacity to deliver value-added products and services across the agriculture and agri-food ecosystem," the announcement says.
Brenda Lynes, founder of Elevating-HR, appeared on the Women in Leadership and Entrepreneurship podcast to discuss aligning company values and developing effective leadership skills in organizations without internal HR departments.
Builder took a look at how Rohit Group transformed its internal process management system into BuildBase, a commercial platform for home builders intended to increase efficiency and decrease waste.
Coliseum Steak & Pizza is celebrating 50 years in business, outlasting its namesake, Northlands Coliseum, which was home to the Edmonton Oilers before it was slated for demolition. "We love the Oilers, they've been good to us," said second-generation owner Dimitra Scordas, "but good customer service, good food, and reasonable prices … that's what our motto has always been."
Chelsea Mani of Anastasia's Bedroom discussed creating a space for women to rediscover confidence and embrace sensuality on an episode of the Stay Spicy podcast. Mani's online boutique offers inclusive lingerie, loungewear, and intimacy essentials.
Everyday Payments faces allegations from dozens of British Columbia users who claim money is missing from their digital wallets for tips and staff wages. The Bank of Canada, which oversees payment service providers, confirmed it is investigating these concerns under the Retail Payment Activities Act.
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East Edmonton resident Mike Thomas purchased his neighbour's home because he feared a multi-unit infill development would be built there. "I would be losing enjoyment of my entire property," Thomas told Global Edmonton.
Architect Josh Kjenner raised concerns over a proposal from Westrich Pacific for an interim parking lot at the vacant Bank of Montreal site at 101 Street and 102 Avenue NW. Kjenner argues that the city should design development conditions through land acquisition and targeted subsidies to achieve desirable, high-quality buildings, rather than accepting stopgap measures.
The Blatchford renewable energy utility's path to financial sustainability is more complicated now that the federal government has axed the consumer-facing carbon tax, Taproot reported. Since utility bills outside of Blatchford have dropped, Blatchford rates must follow suit, even though utility costs in the redevelopment haven't decreased because homes are heated with thermal energy, which wasn't subject to the carbon tax.
Mark Anderson of CBRE told Postmedia that high construction costs and rising development fees are dampening Edmonton's real estate market. Both industrial and residential property prices are rising a result, Anderson and others said.
Edmonton's office market recorded its third consecutive quarter of positive absorption in the fourth quarter of 2025, totalling 65,517 square feet and reducing overall vacancy to 15.4%. Downtown leasing saw 69,302 square feet of positive absorption, largely driven by government Class A assets in buildings like Peace Hills Insurance Building and First Edmonton Place. This performance offset softer suburban activity, though large Class A office spaces are becoming scarce in suburban areas such as Windermere and Summerside.
Edmonton city council's executive committee unanimously backed a proposal on Feb. 11 to designate a portion of Happy Beer Street as an entertainment district. The move would allow businesses such as Bent Stick Brewing, Shiddy's Distilling, and Sea Change Brewing to more easily host street events with public alcohol consumption. If approved by city council, it would be Edmonton's third entertainment district.
Stantec has pulled out of contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, after ICE agents killed two people in Minnesota and engaged in other violence. The contracts, held by a joint venture between Stantec and a business owned by Oneida Nation in Wisconsin, were for quality assurance for ICE facilities in Texas and Wisconsin.
The Investigative Journalism Foundation found that nearly 600 Alberta oil and gas companies owed almost $254 million in municipal property taxes by the end of 2024, up from $81 million in 2018. Four counties in the Edmonton region — Sturgeon, Parkland, Leduc, and Strathcona — were owed significant sums, with Sturgeon carrying nearly $3 million in arrears. Many of the companies are defunct, but MAGA Energy received new licences to drill, despite owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes to Sturgeon, Parkland, and other counties.
MacEwan University has removed the Christenson family name from the Centre for Sport and Wellness after the Christenson Group of Companies failed to fulfill its pledge commitment, The Griff reported. The name had been on the building since 2010, and MacEwan intends to update signage and wayfinding around the university to reflect the change.
Research from the Alberta School of Business found that an "open" leadership style by audit committee chairs can effectively neutralize the chilling effect that silences auditors when corporate management is present in meetings. The study suggests companies should recruit audit committee chairs for communication styles that promote psychological safety, not just financial acumen.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
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