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The CAEP SPARK - December 2025 / January 2026




MOMENTUM TO DELIVERY: What’s Next for Central Alberta and CAEP?

 

It was wonderful to see many of you at our Fall General Meeting in Rocky Mountain House on November 27, 2025. This event marked a new chapter for CAEP. Here are some of the comments heard in the room:  


“There’s new energy in the room.”

 

“A real sense of momentum.”

 

“Excitement about the future!”

 

Let’s keep building.


We spoke to the work that CAEP has done in 2025, and what’s ahead for 2026. Here are a few highlights:


  • Team Central Alberta: This program will expand CAEP’s corporate partnerships and

    engage corporate leaders more fully in the economic development work that benefits us all.

  • The Secret Sauce: Economic Development for Elected Officials and Industry Partners (the first session was delivered at the FGM with more to come)

  • The development of a regional Land Development and Investment Attraction Strategy for Central Alberta.

  • The proposed launch of Aurora – a Central Alberta Magazine in partnership with Red Point Media.

  • More of the economic development workshops that help increase the capacity of our member municipalities to advance their economic development strategies and initiatives.

  • EDO Advisory Committee.

  • CAEP Members-only Website Portal for economic development resources.

  • CAEP Economic Data portal upgrades.

  • Enhanced communication through CAEP’s website, newsletter, social media and event management services.

  • Memorandum of Understanding with Red Deer Polytechnic.

 

…and more announcements to come!


Our 27-year history—backed by the collective support of elected officials and industry leaders from across the region—is what makes CAEP the leading economic development organization in Central Alberta.


GOVERNMENT RELATIONS


CAEP has an important role to play in advocating for the region with key provincial and federal government partners. CAEP’s Executive Director has met with several Deputy Ministers and Associate Deputy Ministers in recent months to highlight the CAEP region and discuss CAEP’s importance as a driver of regional economic development. There will be a greater emphasis on building these relationships going forward.

 

NEW ECONOMIC DATA FOR CAEP AND OUR MEMBERS


The Alberta Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration has committed to sharing the Province’s economic dataset. This would be a huge step forward in improving access to consistent economic data for CAEP and all of our members—at little to no additional cost.

 

Not only would this save money for CAEP and our members, but it would also ensure we have access to consistent data across the region based on Provincial numbers.  It’s what you might call a WIN! WIN! WIN!


THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS


We are delighted to introduce CAEP’s newly formed Board of Directors, helmed by returning Chair, Mayor Jean Barclay (Town of Innisfail), who will also act as Interim Treasurer.

 

Other returning members include:

Mayor Barry Kletke (Town of Trochu) as Vice Chair

Councillor Chad Krahn (City of Red Deer)

Councillor Brenda Knight (Lacombe County)

Chief Leonard Standing on the Road (Montana First Nation)

Reeve Jordon Northcott (Clearwater County)

Ben Allan (Red Deer Polytechnic) as the Associate Member Representative

Amy Merrill (Kneehill County) as a Business Representative

 

New members include:

Councillor Lee Girard (Red Deer County)

Councillor Joe Iwanicki (Town of Sylvan Lake)

Deputy Mayor Bob Murray (Town of Didsbury) as the Board Secretary

Councillor Justin Sinclair (Town of Rocky Mountain House)

Councillor Neil Young (Village of Beiseker)

Councillor Kevin Stalker (Town of Rocky Mountain House) as a Business Representative



Paul Salvatore, BA, ALUP, CLGM

Executive Director  

Phone: 587-447-2237



 
 
 

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