All my life I have loved being an Albertan. My heart is here. I love the diverse topography from our majestic mountains to the rolling hills and the farmers’ fields. And I love the independent and entrepreneurial spirit of its people. As I have traveled around the country and the world, I keep coming back to the fact that there is no better place than our province to live, work and raise a family.
So, it was hard for me recently to hear my high school-aged kids and their friends talk about the option of studying and settling elsewhere. They simply had a hard time seeing the opportunities in Alberta and the Alberta advantages.
At the University of Alberta, our North Star is our impact. We worked together to create a vision — a 10-year strategic plan — supported by our strengths, so we could strive forward toward our common goals. Alberta has so much to offer. But it needs its own North Star for us to coordinate our efforts.
Recently, there was a series of roundtable sessions hosted by Edmonton Global and Optimus SBR with business leaders from across the Edmonton region. They discussed the region’s rich desire to be involved in building a platform and creating momentum for ongoing improvements in the economic growth, competitiveness and well-being of the Edmonton region.
They discussed key themes like talent attraction and retention, reputation and leveraging the strength of post-secondary — and the many things that make Alberta’s story a great one to tell.
At any one time, 100,000 talented post-secondary students are being trained here. We are ranked third in the world for artificial intelligence and machine learning research. We’re home to the northernmost major international airport, making us the Gateway to the North. Our healthcare system is among the top five most integrated health systems in the world. We are leaders in energy research, including sustainable resource development, lowest-cost hydrogen solutions and the most advanced carbon capture. And there’s so much more.
We have all the right ingredients to create a highly competitive, vibrant, growing community. A community in which our kids aspire to study, put down roots, raise their families, start their companies and run their businesses. A community with a sustainable economy that is ever-growing and diversifying. A community that is recognized for its talent and entrepreneurial spirit.
A community in which all Albertans have tremendous pride … and they don’t hesitate to show it.
All of these unique and powerful ingredients are signposts to pursue transformational growth. That will only happen if we grab the reins, as industry and community, and drive it.
Pride in, and a prosperous future for, our region has been at the heart of every Business in Edmonton column I have written over the past two years. Although this is my final column for BIE, I will continue to connect with all of you as we work together to shine a spotlight on the strengths of this region.
In closing, my farewell message to you is this: Alberta’s strengths should not be best-kept secrets. Our province and our cities are amazing places, full of talent, creativity and potential. Shout it from the rooftops — and do so unapologetically.
