Job Market Trends and News in Alberta Province

(Source: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/LMI_bulletin.do?cid=3373&EVENTCD=&INDUSTRYCD=&AREA=25262)

Week of Dec 01 – Dec 05, 2014

• The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton has launched a $100M fundraising campaign for the Centre for Applied Technologies, student bursaries, equipment and applied research
• Lowe’s Canada is opening a new $24M store in Lethbridge in the spring of 2015. The company expects to hire 120 to 140 employees, with an additional 40 to 50 seasonal jobs at the site.
• Lethbridge School Division No. 51 has been able to hire 12.5 full-time equivalent teachers and 18 full-time equivalent support staff due to funding increases as a result of higher student enrolment. The district has also received an increase of $1.75M in maintenance and renewal funding from the Government of Alberta.
• The Edmonton Police Service is actively recruiting from Edmonton’s African communities in an attempt to increase diversity among its members
• The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has allocated $3M towards the demolition of the seven Penhorwood condominium complex buildings in Fort McMurray. The vacant buildings are scheduled for demolition by February 2015.
• Calgary HandiBus is ceasing operations in 2015 due to increasing costs and the emergence of cheaper forms of service in the city. HandiBus currently provides transportation for approximately 17,000 people with disabilities in Calgary.
• Penny Lane Entertainment Group, based out of Calgary, introduced a no-limit vacation policy for its staff effective November 25, 2014. The policy was introduced as an incentive to attract and retain younger staff.
• The second payment for 2014 from the Gas Tax Fund will provide $7.9M for infrastructure projects in the Peace River area
• Di-Corp is set to begin distributing frac sand in March 2015 from a new terminal, currently under construction, near Rocky Mountain House
• The Town of Canmore has reached a contract agreement with its local fire and rescue personnel that provides a retroactive wage increase for three years, back to 2011
• The Government of Canada is providing $600,000 over four years to Avalanche Canada for youth-focussed avalanche safety training and the development of tools to minimize backcountry travel risk
• The Newell Regional Tourism Association has recently released the Tourism Industry Study, which identifies gaps in tourist services and business opportunities within the County of Newell
• Parkland Seniors Lodge in Edson is expanding from 40 rooms to 102 rooms by adding a third storey, increasing the space allocation and improving the accessibility within the building. Construction is expected to start in February or March 2015.
• The Wood Buffalo Brewing Company in Fort McMuuray and a sister company, Last Best Brewing and Distilling in Calgary, are expanding in the craft distilling market. A pub is planned for the Calgary market in the spring of 2015.
• Elk Island Catholic Schools is planning to build a new school near the Dow Centennial Centre in Fort Saskatchewan. The school district is expecting to start construction in November 2015.
• The City of Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department is seeking increased funding for firefighter hours in response to service demands. The department, composed of 51 part-time firefighters, has experienced a 22% yearly increase in call volumes.
• The Canadian Home Builders’ Association’s Grande Prairie branch is expecting a strong winter construction season and continuing demand for new housing into 2015
• The fate of Alberta Downs, a harness-racing facility in Lacombe, is in limbo after Horse Racing Alberta denied any racing dates to the track for 2015
• The Lloydminster and District Co-op has opened the Marketplace, a retail grocery store, as part of its new complex in Lloydminster. The company has plans for another gas bar, cardlock and bulk petroleum site on the west side of the city.
• The Livingstone Range School Division plans to spend just over $2M on school infrastructure maintenance and renewal over the 2014-2015 school year. The money is spread across a range of communities and schools throughout the district.
• The Telus World of Science is planning to spend $40M on a major expansion to the facility, with a recent $12M commitment from the City of Edmonton
• The City of Edmonton has approved $3.75M for the expansion of the Winspear Centre, to include a performance theatre with a childcare centre and other cultural space
• The Peace River & District Chamber of Commerce has urged the Town of Peace River to hire an Economic Development Officer in a recent presentation to council. The town is also considering a shared position with other regional economic partners.
• The City of St. Albert has exhausted its snow clearing budget after a recent heavy snowfall. The city has hired 21 contractors, with an additional 12 contractors planned for residential road work.
• The employees of Wood Art Industries, a family business with six employees in Wetaskiwin, face an uncertain future after fire destroyed the facility on November 26, 2014
• Athabasca Oil Corporation has recently announced that they are reducing their 2015 capital budget to $208M, a 70% decrease from their 2014 budget, in response to lower oil prices
• Loblaw Companies Ltd. is opening a Loblaws City Market in the Edmonton Brewery District, but the company did not disclose further details. The new outlet is an urban-format store concept with organic produce aimed at food enthusiasts.