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's location as the largest urban centre closest to the oilsands gives it an advantage as 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.
- Edmonton is home to the National Institute for Nanotechnology, the heart of nanotechnology research in Canada. The 20,000 square metre building is one of the world's most technologically advanced research facilities.
- 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 is proud to boast a diversified and educated work force. The city's largest employers are the Government of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, the City of Edmonton, and the University of Alberta.
- NAIT is the largest apprenticeship trainer in Canada with a 89 per cent employability rate, and is the only school in the country offering a diploma in Industrial Heavy Equipment Technology. In addition, it offers Canada's first diploma in nanotechnology.
- 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 a world leader in scientific and medical research and is one of the top-funded research universities 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 third-largest and the most politically stable oil reserves in the world, after Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. They are also the world’s largest investible oil reserves. Over half of the total world oil reserves accessible to private investment are in these oil sands.
- 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.
- Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses rates Edmonton as one of the top 10 entrepreneurial cities in Canada. Cities are scored on the presence of a high concentration of entrepreneurs, high business start-up rate, high levels of optimism and success, and good public policy.
- The University of Alberta currently lays claim to 91 research chairs worth $13.1 million annually and received approximately $114 million from the Canada Research Chair in the 10 years since the program's inception.
- The artists, arts organizations and arts ventures in Edmonton create a locally based industry that sustains 2,800 full-time jobs in the Edmonton region, engages thousands of volunteers, and annually entertains an audience of over 4 million people. The arts industry contributes $124 million in economic value to the Edmonton region each year.
- Edmonton employs a variety of emerging artists supporting local talent through theatre, film and visual arts. The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Citadel combined annual budgets of almost $19 million employs over 100 producers, technicians and administrators and 260 artists.
- Edmonton has a strong financial services sector, home to the Alberta Investment Management Corp. (AIMCo), two regional banks and one of Canada’s top credit unions.
- Edmonton is the first Canadian city to make IBM Corp.s Smarter Cities Challenge list, winning recognition for its open data initiative and commitment to transportation infrastructure.
- Edmonton based Enerkem Inc., a leading waste-to-biofuels company, was named one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies for 2011 by Fast Company Magazine, in a list that includes Apple, Twitter and Google.
- Edmonton Forces Base Edmonton contributes over $279 million in economic value to the Edmonton region each year and, with more than 6,000 employees and, is one of the region’s largest employment generators.
- Edmonton's 17 centres of excellence in energy research and technology are key to meeting the energy and environmental challenges of today.
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