Shifting a business from growth to scale requires a certain mindset, says ScaleUP founder Simon Raby. "The most successful scaling companies are looking beyond proof of concept and asking a tougher question: Does the business model still work at 10x the current size?" Raby told Taproot in an email ahead of ScaleUP Week in Western Canada. "Rather than chasing growth for growth's sake, they are creating repeatable, resilient models that can compete nationally and internationally. The companies that scale successfully are those that build for the next stage long before they arrive there."
One company that has caught ScaleUP's attention is Mitsoh, an Edmonton-based company that makes pemmican-based snacks. It is a finalist for the ScaleUP Awards that will be presented in Calgary on June 10, and it is the featured company at the ScaleUP Breakfast Social happening at Edmonton Unlimited on June 12. Mitsoh, which announced a multimillion-dollar investment by Raven Indigenous Capital Partners in 2025, recently surpassed three million units sold. "Three million people reached into a bag of something that did not exist four years ago," founder Ian Gladue posted after hitting that milestone. "Something rooted in a tradition that was almost lost. Made from five ingredients that my ancestors survived on for thousands of years."
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Economic development
The first step in the Alberta government's new 30-year passenger rail master plan is to connect the two major cities to their airports, integrating existing LRT systems. The plan, which was delayed for nearly a year, also includes routes connecting Edmonton to St. Albert, Spruce Grove, and Leduc. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack praised the initiative, emphasizing its potential transformative effect on the region. The province is allocating $15 million over three years for planning. "A feasible passenger rail network is no longer just a vision for Alberta. It's a goal," Premier Danielle Smith told reporters.
The Edmonton Chamber of Commerce recapped a tour of Alberta's Industrial Heartland alongside Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack and Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin, describing the region as one of the top two industrial clusters in the world. The Heartland supports more than 8,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs, and it has attracted $50 billion in capital investment, with 23 companies operating there continuously since its founding. "This is all in Edmonton's backyard, and it's extraordinary," the chamber said.
Canadian municipalities announced the launch of a defence task force at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities annual conference in Edmonton on June 5. The initiative aims to improve coordination of infrastructure planning between military bases and their neighbouring communities. The task force will address challenges faced by military families, enhance urban planning, and promote dual-use infrastructure. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack highlighted Edmonton's strategic role in supporting Canada's defence posture, with its advanced infrastructure serving both civilian and military purposes.
Bison Low Carbon Ventures has opened the Meadowbrook Carbon Storage Hub near Legal in Sturgeon County. The project's first phase is licensed to store up to 500 kilotonnes of CO2 per year, with an initial investment of about $17 million. It plans to expand capacity to at least three million tonnes annually and grow total investment to nearly $150 million.
The Town of Gibbons is contesting a provincial viability review that found the municipality financially distressed and examined whether it should remain a town or dissolve into Sturgeon County. Mayor Rick Henderson called parts of the report "incorrect, incomplete, or outdated," and the town issued a letter to the municipal affairs minister maintaining that Gibbons has a viable future as a town.
The Heartland Housing Foundation has received $10.9 million through the provincial affordable housing partnership program for an all-ages downtown apartment building in Fort Saskatchewan with more than 80 units priced below market rates. The grant represents about 30% of the project's estimated total cost, with construction expected to begin in spring 2027. "This site plays a vital role in our downtown core, and the development will strengthen our community and provide meaningful benefits for generations to come," said Mayor Lisa Makin.
Leduc Mayor Lars Hansen addressed resident concerns about the city's plan to stop operating ambulances on behalf of the province after the provincial government changed funding agreements for integrated ambulance services. Two 24-hour advanced life support ambulances will remain stationed in Leduc under the provincial system, and every fire engine will include at least one paramedic.
Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin took Daybreak Alberta for a walk down her city's main street. The city's population has surpassed 30,000. "What that number means to me is growth pressures," she said, noting that Fort Saskatchewan is the fourth fastest growing municipality in Alberta. She noted the importance of the tax base provided by Alberta's Industrial Heartland and increased construction to support development.
The City of Beaumont will resurface the tennis and pickleball courts at Gobeil Park starting June 15 through July 18. A dedicated pickleball facility remains on the city's capital plan for future budget consideration.
St. Albert released its 2026-2029 strategic plan, prioritizing economic growth with responsible development, community well-being, and fiscally responsible governance. Mayor Scott Olivieri highlighted the Lakeview Business District expansion and $28 million in federal funding for the Northeast Servicing Project as key economic development priorities.
Applications are open for Parkland County's business revitalization program, which offers local businesses up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $3,500 toward exterior improvements such as signage and visual appeal.
Public engagement opportunities in the region include Edmonton's annual climate change and energy perception survey, open houses about the proposed Yellowhead Pipeline route from Peers to Fort Saskatchewan, and sessions about a new approach to area structure plans in Parkland County.
Headlines
Alberta's Court of Appeal reinstated misconduct findings against Mary Lynne Campbell, former superintendent of the Sturgeon Public School Division, who was found to have "grossly mismanaged" employees and created a "culture of fear" after a whistleblower investigation. The ruling overturned a 2024 court decision that had quashed the findings on procedural fairness grounds; Campbell's lawyer said she is considering an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Energy City Cactus Rats played their first home games at the new Energy City Metro Ballpark in Spruce Grove without spectators, as the facility is not yet complete. The Western Canada Baseball League team said it would move toward limited public seating as sections are approved, without committing to a date.
Black Gold School Division's Darren Maltais leveraged Google's Face control, Gemini, and Google Classroom to help a Grade 7 student with cerebral palsy achieve greater academic independence. Student Liam Dansereau is cognitively advanced but physical operations of his laptop were a challenge, Maltais shared in a blog hosted by Google. "Liam can simply move his head to control his cursor, allowing him to open assignments in Google Classroom, turn on voice typing, and complete his work independently," he wrote.
Members of St. Albert's Muslim community gathered outside the city's courthouse as the man alleged to have assaulted a Muslim resident made his first court appearance on charges of aggravated assault and uttering threats.
Strathcona County residents raised concerns about access to care and hospital capacity at a Friends of Medicare forum in Sherwood Park on May 26. "Whether it is rural, urban, or suburban communities, people are worried about the system's ability to keep up," Chris Gallaway of Friends of Medicare told Postmedia.
St. Albert's air quality monitoring station received a new art wrap designed by Rachel Beyer, unveiled on Clean Air Day as part of a collaboration between the Alberta Capital Airshed and the West Central Airshed Society.
The Devon Pottery Guild marked its 50th anniversary with a public open house, celebrating five decades as a community arts space that has grown from a small neighbourhood group into a vibrant collective.
Happenings
Here are some events coming up over the next seven days:
June 10-June 12: AfriCanada Expo at Wyndham Edmonton Hotel and Conference Centre
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