1. Natural resources. The foundation of Edmonton’s economy is its proximity to the Athabasca oil sands, the third-largest oil reserve in the world.

6. Workforce. Edmonton’s excellent job opportunities attract a younger, better skilled and more diverse workforce.

2. Major investments. Major investments worth $191 billion are planned or under way in northern Alberta.

7. Education. With 150,000 full- and part-time students, Edmonton’s nine post-secondary institutions are training the engineers, technologists and trades people that your business will need to grow.

3. Diverse economy. Edmonton has the second-most diversified economy of Canada’s largest cities. It is a centre for energy, manufacturing, government, financial services, education, transportation, and much more.

8. Connections to global markets. We are connected to the North American Free Trade zone and North Asia through a 24/7 international airport, continental highway and rail systems and a rail-sea container route to Asia via Prince Rupert.

4. Culture of innovation. Edmonton is a leading centre for research in sustainable resource development, nanotechnology, life sciences and more.

9. Prosperous, growing market. The 1.2 million people in our region enjoy the benefits of one of Canada’s fastest-growing economies and high disposable incomes.

5. Globally competitive tax environment. We have no provincial sales tax, the lowest overall personal income taxes in Canada, low corporate income taxes, no capital tax, no payroll tax, no machinery tax and no equipment tax.

10. Quality of life. Edmonton, rated in 2011 by the Canadian magazine MoneySense as one of the best cities to live in Canada, offers Canada’s best combination of thriving economy and vibrant quality of life.        

Edmonton is a world-class centre for innovation and research in energy and the environment. Centres of excellence in the region include:

• University of Alberta Centre for Oil Sands Innovation
• Alberta Co-operative Conservation Research Unit
• Canadian School for Energy and the Environment
• Canadian Centre for Isotopic Microanalysis
• Centre for Earth Observation Sciences
• Climate Change and Emissions Management Corp.
• Helmholtz Alberta Initiative
• Nanofab
• National Institute of Nanontechnology
• NovaNAIT
• Oil Sands Tailings Research Facility
• Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures
• Alberta Water Research Institute
• C-FER Technologies 
• AGAT Laboratories
• CanmetEnergy Devon Research Centre
• Schlumberger Global Reservoir Fluids Centre
• Syncrude Research
• TRLabs

Bottom line - our strength is energy and much more:

• Growth & investment
• Talented workforce 
• Research & innovation
• Connected to the world
• Leading in medicine & focused on health
• Enrichment through life-long education
• Committed to keeping it green