SPECIAL FEATURE
Saskatchewan’s Top 10 economic
development community industry leaders
vices like water, power, and energy.
The town is currently working on im-
proving its water infrastructure. The
community is growing at a rapid rate
with demand for tradespeople, hous-
ing development, and retail develop-
ment. Biggar’s access to multiple
transport options makes it a great
place for businesses to flourish.
By Sarah Jean Maher
Canadian Design and Construction Report spe-
cial feature
Below is a list of Saskatchewan’s
Top 10 economic development com-
munity industry leaders. While many
of these communities share similar
economic drivers, they each bring a
unique milestone to the economic
landscape and all have bright visions
for the future. The listing is in no par-
ticular ranking order.
Battleford Battleford is combining infrastruc-
ture improvements with initiatives to
respect and recognize its history as it
sets economic development plans
rooted in storytelling and preserva-
tion. There are plans for a new mu-
seum at the historic Land Registry
Title Office, downtown revitalization,
and infrastructure improvements to
facilitate growth and opportunities in
conjunction with the nearby First Na-
tions community.
See story page 16.
Biggar The Town of Biggar has recently
expanded its highway commercial
corridor, increasing access to ser-
Estevan The City of Estevan boasts a di-
verse economy featuring a range of
different services including agricul-
ture, oil and gas, power generation,
and mining. In fact, its Southeast
College offers specialized education
for those interested in entering the
energy industry.
Its convenient location on the
main import/export line provides key
access to many different markets, as
does its close proximity to
Saskatchewan’s main highway. The
Centrally located on the Yellowhead Highway
(No. 16) between Lloydminster and Saskatoon,
and nestled between the North Saskatchewan
and Battle Rivers, Battleford has access to art,
culture and recreation activities for all to enjoy.
Working closely with First Nations
communities, the Town is growing with new
development while maintaining its history.
TOWN OF BATTLEFORD
1.306.937.6200 • Box 40, Battleford, SK S0M 0E0
14 – Summer/Fall 2019 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report
city has recently developed new sub-
divisions both in the city and in its
surrounding rural areas, and is home
to SaskPower’s $1.4 billion Clean
Coal Carbon Capture Enhanced Oil
Recovery Project. Its ever-growing
recreational facilities and education
programs makes it an ideal family-
friendly environment.
Humboldt The City of Humboldt’s economic
vision is entrepreneur-focused with a
vision for increased collaboration ef-
forts. The city has its eyes set on
continuing to welcome en-
trepreneurs and work with them to
help their small business and start-
ups thrive – something that isn’t al-
ways easy in a rural community.
The Humboldt Chamber of Com-
merce provides a business and com-
munity-centric voice for the city and
its surrounding area. Its member-
ship, which continues to grow, is
made up of individuals from a range
of different services and industries,
and its activities are carried out with
the help of volunteers. The chamber
has arranged for speakers, seminars,
hosted events, and many other activ-
ities for the community over the
years. Lloydminster
Known as the “Heavy Oil Capital
of the World”, the City of Lloydmin-
ster’s prominent economic footprint
is in large part due its heavy oil pro-
duction over the last 20 years. The
Husky Energy heavy oil refinery is lo-
cated within the city, and most of its
assets are located in the area.
The petroleum and agricultural in-
dustries have helped pushed Lloyd-
minster into the economic
powerhouse it is today. Its location
between Edmonton and Saskatoon
on the TransCanada Yellowhead
Highway and accessible airline and
railway access makes it a very well-
connected spot.
The agriculture industry – mainly
wheat, barley, and canola – also
makes Lloydminster a hot spot; the
city is home to the country’s largest
bio-diesel plant and one of its largest
canola crushing facilities.
Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw prides itself in having
grown exponentially in a number of
vital categories over the past several
years: job creation, population, and
building permits; just to name a few.
Potash and agriculture continues to
drive the economy and, notably,
companies like AgroCorp and CAE
have played a large role in the indus-
try’s stability. In fact, Moose Jaw re-
lies heavily on the agricultural sector,
rather than on oil and gas like many
other cities in the province. As for in-
dustrial investment, the local econ-
omy is expected to continue to soar
with the Canadian Protein Innovation
providing even more economic po-
tential. Prince Albert
Located right in the middle of
Saskatchewan, the City of Prince Al-
bert is undertaking a number of eco-
nomic initiatives to encourage new
business, including plans for two
businesses moving into the city from
outside the province. There are also
plans for local contractors and busi-
nesses to work together to provide
more incentives for existing busi-
nesses within the city.
The city’s approach to economic
development within the region is
represented by the Prince Albert Re-
gional Economic Development Al-
liances (PREDA), formed in
partnership with the Rural Municipal-
ity of Prince Albert, the Rural Munici-
pality of Buckland, the Town of
Shellbrook, Muskoday First Nation,
and Peter Ballantyne Developments.
Regina Regina’s thriving economy is
driven by multiple sectors, including
manufacturing, metal fabrication,
agriculture, tourism, recreation, fi-
nance, and oil and gas. The
province’s capital city prides itself on
being a leader in manufacturing inno-
vation, and is also home to Western
Canada’s largest steel producer; pro-
ducing three million tonnes of steel
annually. Producers and markets in
the agricultural market are easily ac-
cessible, paving the way for its lead-
ership in this sector.
With regards to its strong financial
sector, Regina houses a number of
major financial institutions, including
Public Employees Benefits Agency
(PEBA), Greystone Managed Invest-
ments (GMI) and Saskatchewan Gov-
ernment Insurance (SGI).
Regina’s downtown core is now
home to a wide range of different
businesses, having recently experi-
enced a boom in restaurants. Regina
has also become a vibrant hub for
events thanks to its popular Evraz
Place – the largest interconnected
event complex in Canada, which
sees 3.5 million visitors annually. It is
home to many parks arts centres and
museums. Swift Current
Agriculture, oil and gas, manufac-
turing, and tourism are all large con-
tributors to the City of Swift
Current’s lively economy. According
to the city’s most recent strategic
plan, it expects its population to in-
crease to 25,000 by 2025 from its
current from 17,500. An increase in
immigrants and new families has
also stimulated their economy, with a
boom in housing units, apartments,
and condominiums recently built to
meet these needs.
The construction, manufacturing,
and gas industries are seeing a lot of
investment potential, bringing many
opportunities for new service compa-
nies to capitalize on this potential.
Agriculture also continues to thrive,
with its booming cattle prices and
strong relationships to agricultural
companies in southwest
Saskatchewan. Its proximity to the
TransCanada Highway also continues
to boost the city’s hospitality indus-
try. Oil and gas companies have their
eyes set on drilling programs in the
near future, with potential to bring
even more business to the city.
Warman The City of Warman’s “open for
business” perspective is demon-
strated by its dedication to welcom-
ing and assisting all types of
businesses, both new and growing.
The city supports business develop-
ment and emphasizes local employ-
ment opportunities for its residents
and existing businesses.
The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Summer/Fall 2019 – 15