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Edmonton's Diverse Economy

  • Edmonton was selected as one of the top 21 intelligent communities by The Intelligent Community Forum in 2009. This was due to the city’s historic establishment of computerized medical records, nanotechnology growth and commercial discoveries that have yielded 70 active spin-off companies and created over 1,000 new jobs.
  • Edmonton is strategically located between one of the world’s largest oil reserves and the world’s largest consumer – the US. The region has the advantage of being the transportation and logistics hub for Alberta’s oil, gas and mining sectors.
  • Greater Edmonton’s success in the energy sector has spun off into new areas of prosperity including technology, clean energy, manufacturing, production and transportation.
  • The National Institution for Nanotechnology, located on the University of Alberta campus, is Canada’s centre for cutting-edge micro systems and nanotechnology research.
  • Edmonton International Airport led the country in passenger growth in 2008. As a result, the Board approved a $1-billion airport development program - Expansion 2012. Edmonton International Airport contributes $1.6 billion in economic value to the Edmonton region each year and, with more than 4,000 employees, is one of the region's largest employment generators.
  • The Conference Board of Canada estimated Edmonton’s personal income per capita in 2010 to be $44,864. That’s 20 per cent higher than the Canadian average.
  • Edmonton Economic Development Corp. was named one of the 2007 Top Canadian economic development Groups by Site Selection Magazine.                              
  • Edmonton has an educated, entrepreneurial workforce of well over 600,000.
  • NAIT Northern Alberta Institute of Technology trains more apprentices than any other institution in Canada, with a 95 per cent employability rate.
  • Maclean’s Magazine voted the University of Alberta as the Canadian University with the third best overall reputation in 2009.
  • The University of Alberta is the second top-funded research university in Canada.
  • Edmonton rated number three in Canada for economic prosperity in the Conference Board of Canada's 2009 report, A Global Scorecard on Economic Prosperity.
  • Edmonton is a centre of medical and biotechnology research, having 58 per cent of the biotech companies in the province.
  • Edmonton leads the way in developing alternate sources of power including: mining landfills for methane to produce electricity, turning organic waste into bio-fuel and developing concept homes that will generate as much power as they consume.
  • The Edmonton service area has the second largest and the most politically stable oil reserves in the world, second only to Saudi Arabia.
  • The Edmonton region will be home to the creation of carbon capture technology. The $2 billion initiative is expected to store 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide underground annually be 2015.
  • Edmonton has one of the most competitive corporate tax environments in North America with no provincial sales tax, capital tax or payroll tax.
  • Edmonton was named the number one top Canadian metro in 2008, Site Selection Magazine.






Lifestyle

"Old Strathcona is a cultural melting pot, and that’s reflected in its impressive array of restaurants". Capital Gains: Edmonton has evolved into one of Alberta’s best assets – Paula Felps, American Driver 2008