- The Government of Alberta announced a salary wage freeze for public-sector managers and other non-union employees for two years. The move affects approximately 7,000 provincial employees and is expected to save the government $28.5M annually.
- ICE District Properties Joint Venture announced that the new hotel adjacent to Rogers Place will be upgraded to the luxury JW Marriott brand, the third such hotel in Canada. The building is expected to open in 2018.
- Brewsters Brewing, a regional craft beer brewer with brewpub restaurants in Alberta, recently started marketing its beers in bottles at retail liquor outlets. Recent changes to liquor regulations in Alberta have allowed the company to sell bottled product.
- The Leduc-Nisku Economic Development Association estimates that 7,000 to 8,000 jobs have been lost in the Nisku area, just south of Edmonton, in the last 18 months. The layoffs have had a ripple effect in other areas of the local economy.
- BuildForce Canada, an Ottawa-based industry group, is estimating that energy companies will require approximately 10,000 workers for maintenance work at oilsands operations in the spring of 2016. Industry groups are projecting that even with low crude oil prices, capital expenditures on existing oilsands operations and maintenance are expected to increase.
- The alternative energy technology program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology is reporting that student numbers have almost triple since the first class in 2011. Most of the students are tradespersons returning for further education.
- Coulee Brew Company recently opened a $10M brewery complete with a pub, a family restaurant and meeting rooms, in Lethbridge. The company is adding a canning line and plans to produce a line of soda pop. The company has future plans for a micro-distillery to produce rye whiskey and vodka.
- The City of Lethbridge has awarded a contract for the restoration of the historic Galt Museum to Cobra Corporate Management. The work is expected to cost almost $0.9M and will take one year to complete.
- Nitro Construction Ltd. of Lethbridge has been awarded a contract worth approximately $731,000 to build an eight-change-room heated facility at the North Lethbridge Sports Park. The revised structure will meet the requirements of provincial and national tournament standards.
- Suncor Energy and Canadian Oil Sands have come to terms on a deal worth approximately $6.6B. The agreement is primarily an exchange of shares between the companies, but includes $2.4B in debt that Suncor will assume.
- Williams Energy Canada has plans for a $2.5B petrochemical facility near Edmonton, pending the results of the Government of Alberta royalty review panel. The facility would directly create 80 full-time jobs, with another 1,500 construction positions at its peak. Methanex Corp is also proposing a US $1.3B methanol plant at its Medicine Hat facility.
- BuildForce Canada is forecasting that Alberta could lose 31,000 construction jobs by 2019 in a recent report. In the oilsands sector alone, construction jobs are forecast to decline by 28 percent from the peak in 2014.
- Loblaws, a national grocery store chain, is opening a City Market branded store in Calgary. The store plans to open on January 29, 2016 and will employ just over 200 people according to the owner.
- Remedy Café, a local coffee chain, is opening its fifth restaurant in Edmonton in March 2016
- DBS Environmental, a Lethbridge-based company, has taken over operation of all the waste transfer sites in Lethbridge County. The company is also helping Lethbridge Regional Waste Management administer the recycling trailers.
- A group of entrepreneurs in Medicine Hat has formed The Compass, a new co-working space to bring businesses and entrepreneurs together in one location. VA Angels, one of the largest angel investment companies in Canada, also has office space in The Compass to provide funding for start-up companies.
- Our House Child Care Centre, a local child care facility, has recently opened in Morinville. The facility offers a weekly music program and outdoor play space.
- WestJet is suspending its service from Fort McMurray to Kelowna effective February 15, 2016 due to reduced passenger demand. Service between Fort McMurray and Red Deer has already been cancelled, along with a daily flight to Denver.
- The Westlock Volunteer Fire Department is actively recruiting new members to boost their firefighting services. Although the firefighters work on a volunteer basis, they get an honorarium to complete the training and for each emergency call performed.
- The Prairie North Health Centre, a regional health facility, recently opened in Lloydminster. The centre is home to seven physicians, a primary health care registered nurse case manager, and other allied health professionals.
- According to the Fort McMurray Real Estate Board, sales of single-family detached homes in 2015 were down roughly 41 per cent compared to 2014, with lower selling prices. The vacancy rate for rental accommodation has risen to 30 percent.
- Gateway Casinos and Entertainment is recruiting for up to 200 jobs at a new site in downtown Edmonton. The company also has plans for 250 new positions at the Starlight Casino at West Edmonton Mall by the fall of 2016.
- Bad Axe Throwing, a recreational axe throwing facility which has five outlets in Ontario, opened its first location outside that province in Edmonton. Bad Axe targets the organized functions market such as corporate team-building events, bachelor or bachelorette parties and birthday celebrations.
- Windsor Pizza, a pizza outlet offering Windsor style pizza, has recently opened in Calgary
- The City of Cold Lake has contracted with Global Traffic Group to provide photo enhanced traffic enforcement until October 31, 2018. Photo radar will be set up to include speed, red light, stop sign, cross walk safety and distracted driver safety.
- Rocky View Schools is planning for a new elementary school in the Hillcrest neighbourhood in Airdrie, pending final approval from the Government of Alberta. The facility could be open for the 2019 school year.
- Pizza Delight, a franchise pizza restaurant in Fort Saskatchewan, closed on January 14, 2016. The franchise owner plans to open her own restaurant at the same site, Ollie’s Pizza Pantry, and retain all of the 20 full-time and part-time staff.
- The City of Fort Saskatchewan is expanding its business development program grants. Businesses are allowed to receive one grant once every three years.
- Postmedia Network Canada Corp., has cut 90 positions across Canada, including 35 in Edmonton and 30 jobs in Calgary. The company is consolidating operations, and eliminating some editors and writers.
- Earth’s General Store, an Edmonton organic and natural foods retailer, launched a small downtown delivery service taking organic produce, snacks, coffee and tea to local businesses, via cargo bicycle
- JobJar, a new service that matches contractors with customers, has launched in Calgary. The online database connects homeowners with handy people who are looking for work.
- Connacher Oil and Gas is cutting production at its Great Divide oilsands operation by 70 to 80 percent from 2015 levels. The company also accelerated planned maintenance at the operation near Fort McMurray.
- Husky Energy recently announced a cut of $800M from its 2016 capital spending plan in response to low oil prices. The company is deferring select drilling in Western Canada, with approximately 50 percent in the Alberta gas plays.
- source: http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/LMI_bulletin.do?cid=3373&AREA=25262&INDUSTRYCD=&EVENTCD=
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