The CAEP SPARK - November 2025
- CAEP Author
- Nov 7
- 4 min read
MOMENTUM TO DELIVERY: What’s Next for Central Alberta and CAEP
With municipal elections now behind us, CAEP is excited to welcome some new faces from member communities. We're excited to roll up our sleeves and work together to advance Central Alberta’s regional competitive advantage.
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.
Join us at our Fall General Meeting on November 27th to get a first look at CAEP’s 2026 programs and events for 2026—all designed to foster strategic regional partnerships, and connect our members with the essential tools, resources and networks they need to advance a sustainable and innovative regional economy.
We’ll be activating Team Central Alberta, linking businesses to new opportunities and facilitating key discussions to drive growth in transportation and logistics, agri-food and agtech, energy and CCS, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure (including data centers). Through targeted investor outreach, business retention and expansion, workforce development, and investment readiness, we’re helping opportunities land where they can grow.
Want to be part of the action? Whether it’s joining a sector roundtable or building new economic development tools to support your community, we’re ready to plug you in!
FALL GENERAL MEETING - REGISTER NOW!
FALL GENERAL MEETING
DATE: November 27, 2025
TIME: 8:00 am – 1:15 pm
LOCATION: Pine Hills Golf Club, Rocky Mountain House, AB
REGISTRATION FEE: $55 (includes continental breakfast & buffet lunch)
WHO: Open to CAEP Members and the Public
CAEP invites members, partners, and supporters to join us for our Fall General Meeting — a gathering designed to share progress, exchange ideas, and strengthen collaboration across the region.
You’ll hear updates on CAEP’s ongoing initiatives, opportunities for regional economic growth, and insights on key trends shaping Central Alberta’s future. It’s also a chance to connect with municipal leaders, business representatives, and community partners who are committed to building a vibrant, resilient economy in Central Alberta.
AGENDA:
8:00 - 9:00 am
Continental Breakfast & Registration
9:00 - 10:30 am
Pre-FGM Workshop: The Secret Sauce: Economic Development for Elected Officials. All participants are welcome to join the workshop—see below for full details.
10:30 - 10:45 am
Networking & Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:15 pm
Fall General Meeting
12:15 - 1:15 pm
Buffet Lunch & Networking
1:15 - 2:15 pm
Post FGM Session - Technical Workshop: Connections Corridor Pre-feasibility Study Initial Results. All participants are welcome to join this session, to hear about initial study findings from CPCS—the firm conducting the study—and provide input.
MEET THE "SECRET SAUCE" OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Join us for a special session at the Fall General Meeting: The Secret Sauce: Economic Development for Elected Officials.
CAEP is offering this session just before the Fall General Meeting begins, to help newly elected officials understand how their decisions shape community growth.
In this fast-paced, 90-minute session, we will demystify how economic development works, and how elected officials can make a measurable impact. Using plain language and real-world examples from across Central Alberta and beyond, we’ll unpack what actually moves the needle: aligning council priorities, streamlining permitting, packaging serviced land, and building investor confidence through clear, consistent data.
You’ll learn how business retention and expansion, as well as investment attraction, work together to drive prosperity—and how elected officials can help unlock new opportunities. We’ll walk through practical, cost-effective steps that strengthen your community’s competitiveness and connect you to the broader Central Alberta economic development ecosystem.
By the end of this session, you’ll understand the “secret sauce” behind successful local economic growth—and how opportunities can lead to tangible investment with the support of CAEP and our regional partners.
Everyone is welcome to register for this session.
The Secret Sauce session is included in the registration fee for the FGM and networking lunch ($55). If you’d like to register for this session only (and you’re not attending the FGM) the registration fee is $10.
TOWN OF DIDSBURY WINS FOUR NATIONAL MARKETING AWARDS
A huge congratulations to Economic Development Officer Alexandra Ross and her team at the Town of Didsbury for winning four national Marketing Canada Awards at the Economic Development Association Canada (EDAC) Conference. The event was held on October 6 – 9, 2025 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
DIDSBURY WAS AWARDED TOP PRIZES IN THREE CATEGORIES:
Promotional Event: “Earptopia Didsbury Day” Wynonna Earp Fan Experience
Promotional Item: Wynonna Earp-Themed Scavenger Hunt
Advertising Campaign: “Direct Your Life” Calgary Transit Marketing Campaign
Didsbury went on to win the EDAC Cup for best overall submission. Check out EDAC’s video announcement HERE.
Former Didsbury Mayor, Rhonda Hunter, accepted the awards on behalf of the Town, noting: “These awards recognize that small rural Alberta towns can deliver big things… and can really shine when it comes to having creative and innovative economic development initiatives.”
We couldn’t agree more!
And as always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me anytime to chat! Our team at CAEP always loves to hear from communities about what matters most to you.
Paul Salvatore, BA, ALUP, CLGM
Executive Director
Phone: 587-447-2237
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