Business Roundup
Oct. 23, 2026

BioWare closure

• BioWare is closing after more than three decades and ending development of the next Mass Effect game. "What generations of BioWare built together is something to celebrate and remember," the company posted. The closure is part of a 3% workforce reduction by Electronic Arts, which was acquired by a consortium including the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund for US$55 billion earlier this year. Federal NDP leader Avi Lewis argued that such layoffs result from private equity takeovers: "Buy up businesses, run them into the ground, and rip them apart for short-term profit," he wrote.
• Digital Alberta is among the professional associations for the games industry that leapt to support the estimated 50 people laid off at BioWare. The situation is a "wake-up call" and emblematic of setbacks going back to at least 2022, said Interactive Arts Alberta. "More than ever, let's find ways to support the people who make up our creative industries," the non-profit wrote. "Whether that's transitioning to indie, to another studio, or to a new career, we should be resourcing interventions that ensure Alberta retains the creative and technical talent who have built world-renowned games, experienced by millions of fans across the world." Reps for both Digital Alberta and IAA are taking part in the inaugural Edmonton Games Week, which runs through Oct. 25.
• Former BioWare employee Ben Gelinas, who went on to become an indie developer himself after leaving, reflected on the company's contributions to the industry and to the city. "BioWare is the most Edmonton thing I can think of," he told CBC. "It's wild that a company this large, and often undersung, could blossom out of a place like this. But I don't think it could have happened anywhere else, because we're such a city of people who hunker down and make weird stuff."

Economic development

• Canada is adding $500 million to the Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, announced Eleanor Olszewski, Edmonton Centre MP and the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. The funding brings the total investment in the initiative to $700 million. "Our government is helping businesses across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba adopt AI, commercialize Canadian-made solutions, and compete in a rapidly changing global economy," she said in a release. "This initiative will boost productivity, competitiveness, and resilience for Prairie businesses and drive lasting economic growth across the region." Applications are open until Dec. 31, 2029, or until funding has been fully committed.
• After Edmonton's Business Improvement Area Council called for deeper collaboration and strategic alignment from the city, Edmonton's executive committee allowed BIAs to hire contractors to maintain and beautify city-owned assets within their boundaries. It also requested cost-sharing options for infrastructure maintenance, and additional spending proposals will go to November budget deliberations. The BIA Council has expressed its desire for members to be treated as formal partners in economic development, with one member saying the role will fill a void. "There are a lot of efforts on attracting and competing on the international stage as a mid-sized Canadian city, but there is no specific local economic development agency," Todd Janes of the Stony Plain Road Business Association told Taproot ahead of the executive committee meeting.
• During budget deliberations, Edmonton city council will consider a 25% property-tax break for three years on new industrial developments. Administration also proposed a four-year, $23-million program to reimburse developers for one key piece of municipal infrastructure per project. Both programs could open in April 2027 if council approves them. "The big deal is 20 years ago our non-residential tax base used to account for about 60% of our property tax revenue and 40% was made up by residential," Mayor Andrew Knack said at an executive committee meeting. "Over the last 20 years, that's been flipped. That puts more pressure on the residential tax base and also means you're not creating as much new business opportunities and new jobs."
• The Edmonton International Airport and Terracap Management have broken ground on a 50,000-square-foot airside cargo facility. The project follows $118 million from the federal government into the broader International Cargo Hub and related infrastructure. "Today's groundbreaking is a great example of what happens when public investment creates the conditions for private investment," said Myron Keehn, CEO of Edmonton Airports.
• The Edmonton International Airport celebrated that Edmonton will host GAD Americas and the CAPA Airline Leader Summit Americas in 2027. "Bringing global leaders in aviation and investment to our region reflects the growing importance of Edmonton and Alberta in the global aviation landscape," wrote Edmonton Airports CEO Myron Keehn. "As YEG strengthens connections to markets around the world, this is an opportunity to showcase our region's ambition, economic potential and capacity for growth." The event runs from June 9 to 11.
• German carrier Discover Airlines will launch nonstop flights between the Edmonton International Airport and Frankfurt starting on June 1, 2027. It's the latest in new flight announcements, following Air Canada's Newark service and a Flair Airlines route to Saint John, NB.
• Capital Power CEO Avik Dey said Alberta's vote to remain in Canada eased anxiety among investors outside the province. Servus Credit Union chief economist Charles St-Arnaud warned that lingering separatist sentiment could continue to weigh on businesses.
• Ahead of the referendum, Sen. Paula Simons warned that the campaign risked deterring workers, entrepreneurs, and researchers, contradicting Alberta's economic priorities. Farm producers offered a similar warning. While Alberta voted to stay in Canada, four questions about restricting immigration and access to services for non-permanent residents had majority support as of noon on Oct. 22, when Elections Alberta was still counting past its deadline.
• Rural Municipalities of Alberta said its agritourism working group has recommended policy changes to support the sector. Its proposals included a provincial definition of agritourism, stronger liability protection, municipal approval policies, marketing, an operator hub, and a multi-stakeholder advisory committee.
• Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish told RBC's Disruptors podcast about the province's push to attract $100 billion in data centre investment. He said the next power allocation will be interruptible and temporary.

Startups and SMBs

• Boodang's massively successful Scream dance-music event is sold out for 2026, with 30,000 attendees expected from all 13 provinces and territories, 23 U.S. states, and 22 countries. It marks another milestone after Boodang made more than $10 million last year, but it didn't come easy — Boodang partner and talent buyer Viet Nguyen lost all of a $5,000 loan he took out to produce his first event in 1999. "But that's how I got into it," he told Taproot. "From there on, I was hooked on watching these events come together, watching people of all different ages and all different backgrounds just getting together to dance and enjoy music."
• Games writer Stephen Lenz highlighted vrCAVE's growth into an international entertainment company with more than 200 locations. "Looking back through my own headset sessions, three central pillars explain how vrCAVE pulled off this coup: resource optimization, operational convenience, and an effortless capacity for expansion," Lenz wrote. The company's new Heroes Together VR — which Taproot tried in February — is now in early access on Meta Quest.
• The Edmonton Downtown Business Association profiled seven long-standing downtown businesses for Small Business Week. The businesses are Audreys Books, Henry Singer, Bistro Praha, Blu's, The Artworks, Tony the Tailor, and The Commodore.
• G2V Optics has named Mike Taschuk its new CEO, with co-founder Ryan Tucker shifting from that role to chief commercial officer. The company is now recruiting a chief operating officer and has secured funding to accelerate its technology deployment.
• The Canadian Space Agency awarded TransEON $350,000 to develop and test radio-frequency amplifiers for satellite communications. The grant was part of a federal funding round supporting 16 space projects at 15 Canadian organizations.
• Wyvern co-founder Kurtis Broda discussed the need for Canadian satellites to monitor the Arctic on the Tech Thursday Live podcast.
• In Phase 2 of NASA's LunaRecycle Challenge, Junaid Tahir of Waste Parrot won US$25,000 for having the best visualization. The company's digital twin shows how its compact, low-power recycling line turns multilayer plastic film — normally considered unrecyclable — into usable products and manufacturing feedstock.
• Promise Robotics has signed a multi-year agreement with DR Horton, its first U.S. customer. The company will support production of more than 1,250 homes in the Phoenix area. It expects its planned Phoenix factory to begin manufacturing in early 2027.
• Aqtiva showcased its crop-yield technology at the THRIVE Global Impact Summit in Silicon Valley. The update follows its selection as a company to watch at Edmonton Startup Week and a raft of other accolades.
• Crystal Holberton of Your Next Clean credited staff support and good pay for her ability to retain cleaners, she said on the Executive Wins Podcast. She said documented procedures and automation helped her husband run the business while she was in the hospital. She also described developing software for independent cleaners, with support from Edmonton's entrepreneurial community.
• Laina Neudorf of LPT Success Solutions urged owners to identify operational bottlenecks before hiring or expanding on The Business Development Podcast. She suggested imagining a two-week absence to identify where the business depends on its owner.
• By Doctor Mom's Stephanie Liu discussed building her successful skincare brand while juggling different responsibilities on the What the Job? podcast from the University of Alberta.
• Hazeldean Bakery at 9627 66 Avenue NW has reopened under new ownership. Luke Wood, who bought the bakery with a partner just before Christmas, gave away about 1,000 items of baked goods on opening day.

Real estate

• City officials projected a loss of 2,100 to 2,700 dwelling units in 2027 during on Oct. 16 council meeting asking for clarity on the province's infill order. Council voted 12-1 to request written instructions; officials told councillors that they understood the directive to cover only the small-scale residential zone, but must await provincial confirmation.
• Edmonton released seven pre-reviewed missing-middle housing designs, offering priority review for applications using them. The designs cost $5,000 to $18,000 and still require site-specific foundation engineering, lot grading, and landscaping. Project architect Greg Whistance-Smith said at an Oct. 15 event that the designs could be affected by the infill directive from the province, but they do have some flexibility built in. "We're pretty confident we can chart our way through whatever comes, but we're waiting as much as everyone else is on something coming concretely in writing," he said.
• The mayors of Fort Saskatchewan, Sturgeon County, and Strathcona County described balancing population growth with residents' resistance to change at a BILD Edmonton Metro event on Oct. 15. Fort Saskatchewan's Lisa Makin said new neighbourhoods bring amenities, while Sturgeon County's Alanna Hnatiw described demand for smaller homes among aging residents. Despite challenges such as opposition to increased density, Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank said he'd "much rather have to deal with growth than try to find growth."
• BILD Edmonton Metro has submitted a letter to the City of Leduc opposing proposed restrictions on narrow townhouses in its fall Municipal Development Plan amendments. The group representing developers, builders, and contractors argued that the housing type offers more attainable ownership options for young families and first-time buyers. BILD requested targeted standards instead of a blanket restriction, along with clearer timelines for the review.
• BILD Edmonton Metro has launched a speakers bureau connecting media and the public with members who can discuss housing affordability, infill, and regional growth. The bureau's directory lists expertise in planning, finance, engineering, and development processes.
• Royal LePage said the Edmonton region's aggregate home price fell 0.6% to $479,500 in the third quarter compared with the previous quarter. The price remained 0.7% higher than a year earlier. Royal LePage Noralta Real Estate broker Tom Shearer said rising inventory gave buyers more options.
• A Royal LePage survey found 94% of Alberta newcomer respondents considered home ownership important to feeling established in Canada. Edmonton realtor Aligul Arslan of eXp Realty said newcomers face challenges saving down payments, finding stable work, and building credit histories.
• Darin Rayburn of KV Capital and Curtis Way of RMS Group discussed budgeting for tariffs and borrowing-cost uncertainty on Real Estate Development: The Curtis Way. Both expressed optimism about Alberta's long-term investment prospects while emphasizing financial discipline and access to capital.

Honours

• Decorated philanthropist Irving Kipnes, who died earlier this week, was remembered as a leading patron of the University of Alberta and many causes, as well as for his business success. He and his wife Dianne, who died in 2024, donated millions to organizations such as the university, Edmonton Opera, the Art Gallery of Alberta, the Citadel Theatre, and Ballet Edmonton.
• Jodi Abbott of Alberta Innovates, Bruce Bentley of Maclab Development Group, Ron Triffo of Stantec, and retired lieutenant-general Paul Wynnyk are among the recipients of the Alberta Order of Excellence, the province's highest honour.
• Booster Juice founder Dale Wishewan received EY's 2026 Prairies Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence. He built the chain from one location in Sherwood Park in 1999 to 500 across Canada today. The organization also recognized Chris Engel of Canoco Energy Services, Barry Stewart of Igloo Building Supplies Group, Mike Bacchus of Humanis Advisory Group of Companies, and Adam Temple of Inline Group in the entrepreneur of the year competition for the Prairies.
• Ale Architect earned five medals at the Alberta Beer Awards, the most of any Edmonton brewery. Blind Enthusiasm swept the mixed-fermentation category with gold, silver, and bronze. Other winners include Sea Change Brewing Co., Irrational Brewing, Polyrhythm Brewing, Odd Company Brewing, Campio Brewing Co., Alley Kat Brewing Co., and SYC Brewing. At the Canada Beer Cup, Polyrhythm, Bent Stick Brewing, and 70 Acre Brew Co. also won medals.
• 7 Summits Snacks earned a place on the 2026 Canada Small Business 100. Co-founder Kristyn Carriere said her company's chocolate bars are in nearly 300 stores across Canada, with U.S. expansion underway.
• The City of Spruce Grove recognized Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals with its Community Spirit Award and named Lea-Der Group of Companies its Employer of the Year.

More headlines

• The Canada HealthTech Innovation Symposium in Calgary on Nov. 4 and 5 will hear from several Edmontonians. Among speakers are Mike Schoenberger of Sunco, Arden Tse of Yaletown Partners, Nir Katchinskiy of PulseMedica, Vivian Mushahwar of iSMART, Myrna Bittner of RUNWITHIT Synthetics, Amanda Bhardwaj of AltaML, and Riya Ganguly of Antigoni Studios.
• North-Central Co-op committed $50,000 to fund a year of snacks at the Zebra Child & Youth Advocacy Centre. The program serves children who have experienced abuse as they navigate the justice system.
• Jason Krips, who had served as president and CEO of the Alberta Forest Products Association since 2020, was appointed as vice-president of external relations for the University of Alberta. His five-year term starts Jan. 1.
• The University of Alberta has partnered with Silicon Valley venture capital firm Celesta Capital to help commercialize deep-tech research. Celesta will provide entrepreneurship training, patent and commercialization advice, and industry events.
• David Dorward recounted the nine-year effort to develop Edmonton's GO Centre, now the Saville Community Sports Centre, on Essential Dynamics with Derek Hudson. He described working with three governments and a university partner to address a shortage of gym space for youth basketball.
• Alberta Small Brewers Association executive director Blair Berdusco reported sales growth alongside rising packaging costs for Alberta craft brewers. To ATB's Carol Kamel, Berdusco said many breweries absorbed those costs because customers resisted higher prices.
• Canadian beef prices rose 61% over five years, compared with 29% for grocery food overall, the economics team at ATB found. Beef specialist Lee Irvine attributed tight supply to drought and processing bottlenecks. He said retaining heifers, breeding them, and raising their calves for retail beef takes 24 to 36 months.

Happenings

Here are some events coming up soon:

• Oct. 23: Coffee with the Chamber's Small Business Showcase starting at 8:30am at Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
• Oct. 23: Curling Funspiel starting at 11am at Crestwood Curling Centre
• Oct. 28: ENBIX Luncheon & Panel starting at 11:30am at Westin Edmonton
• Oct. 28: Learn Downtown: Convivencia and the Art of Sharing Space starting at 12:15pm at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Oct. 29: How to Start Your Business Without Overthinking It starting at 12pm online
• Oct. 29: NextGen Fitness Series starting at 2:30pm at YEG Cycle Spin Studio
• Oct. 29: Bowl your ACE off starting at 5:30pm at Plaza Bowling Co.

And here are more to keep in mind:

• Nov. 5: Building Together: IDEA Infill Symposium at Matrix Hotel
• Nov. 5: Roots that Reach: Celebrating South Asian Stories of Community Building at Edmonton Public Library (Stanley A. Milner)
• Nov. 18: 2026 State of the Economy at Westin Edmonton

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