The CAEP SPARK - October 2026
Your voice matters, and your leadership can make a difference!
As the colourful leaves of Fall swirl through the air giving way to a new season, we're reminded that change brings fresh perspectives and new opportunities. For CAEP, this means preparing for our annual election for vacant Board of Directors positions at the Fall General Meeting.
Registration is open now for the 2026 Fall General Meeting, taking place on November 18th in Lacombe, Alberta—visit our website here to register.
We encourage representatives from our municipal and Team Central Alberta membership to consider putting their names forward for a Board position, taking an active role in shaping the future of economic development in Central Alberta.
Election nomination packages will be emailed to CAEP / Team Central Alberta members shortly, with all the details needed to run for a Board position.
Serving on the CAEP Board is an opportunity to champion your community, collaborate with municipal and industry leaders, and help guide regional priorities in investment attraction, business development, and economic growth. Strong regional partnerships begin with engaged local leaders, and we want your perspective at the table! Consider letting your name stand for election on November 18th and help us build a stronger Central Alberta, together.
Budget Decisions
Fall is also a time when CAEP members are planning their budgets for 2027. To help support this process, download a two-page summary of CAEP’s Business Plan that clearly demonstrates how CAEP will deliver value to our members over the next three years.
Highlights include:
Continuing to build Team Central Alberta, CAEP’s industry partnership and regional investment marketing brand. Team Central Alberta brings together municipalities, businesses, educational institutions and regional organizations under a common banner to take Central Alberta’s investment opportunities to market. CAEP will develop a Central Alberta International Market Development Strategy to enable Team Central Alberta to effectively target priority markets aligned with regional sector strengths.
CAEP's new Economic Data Portal with regional and community data and reports to help CAEP members respond faster to investor questions, build stronger investment packages, improve investor readiness.
Regional Investment Attraction Strategy: Developing this strategy will begin with a series of workshops this winter on Land Development, Commercial Development and Housing. The workshops will deliver investment attraction tools and resources for our members and contribute to the development of a regional strategy to attract more investment to Central Alberta.
Networking and professional development events and courses.
CAEP will also continue its government advocacy for projects, infrastructure and policies that support regional economic growth.
We always want to hear from our members about the services you’d like CAEP to deliver. Reach out to us anytime to chat. We love getting input and feedback from our members.
CAEP Fall General Meeting — Register Now
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Time: 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Lacombe Golf and Country Club, Lacombe, AB
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.
Meeting Theme: Trade, Resilience & Regional Opportunity: Positioning Central Alberta for What’s Next
Trade tariffs continue to create new pressures for Alberta businesses, supply chains and communities. A panel of experts will discuss what changing U.S. trade measures mean for Central Alberta municipalities and businesses, with a focus on practical, proactive responses.
To view the meeting agenda and to register, visit the event page on CAEP’s website.
Economic Development Course: Business Investment and Attraction – Register Now
Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2026
Time: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Red Deer Polytechnic, Red Deer, AB
Join CAEP and the EDA Institute for a course designed for economic development practitioners and decision-makers who want to learn more about attracting new business investment, supporting business expansion, and strengthening community investment readiness. The course provides a practical framework for understanding what investors and site selectors look for, how investment decisions are made, and how communities can position themselves to compete effectively in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
CAEP Member Organizations: Free registration for up to 2 individuals
Non-CAEP Members: $350
To register, visit the event page on CAEP's website.
Paul Salvatore, BA, ALUP, CLGM
Executive Director
Phone: 587-447-2237
