We are YEG
We Are YEG: Alberta’s Economic Powerhouse
Alberta is the province that keeps on giving, growing, and diversifying. The Edmonton and Calgary regions are the twin economic engines of Alberta, each playing distinct and critical roles in driving the province's economy forward. While friendly competition exists, the relationship between the two regions is fundamentally rooted in mutual benefit and collaboration - where the growth and prosperity of one, ultimately benefits the other.
Alberta’s GDP is growing faster than anywhere else in Canada, and the Edmonton region is playing a key role in driving this growth.
The Edmonton region is expecting more than $30 billion in investment into its clean energy sector by 2030.
The Edmonton region is one of the few places in the world that can produce low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen at a global scale. Some of the world’s heaviest emitting industries are investing in the Edmonton region to reach de-carbonization goals, including DOW Chemical building the world’s first net-zero polyethylene facility, and Air Products building the world’s largest net-zero hydrogen production complex. It’s becoming more and more clear - Canada's path to net-zero runs through the Edmonton region.
Centered around the Edmonton-Calgary corridor is the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge – an initiative aimed at decarbonizing commercial transportation by getting 5,000 hydrogen or dual-fuel vehicles on the road in Western Canada in five years. Edmonton International Airport is working with Toyota Canada to bring a fleet of 100 Miral Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to Alberta’s roadways.
But the Edmonton region isn’t just a one-trick pony. We're also one of North America's fastest growing tech, AI and machine learning, and life sciences sectors. We’re blending traditional sectors with cutting-edge technology and innovation – and shaping the future of these industries.
The Edmonton region is more than a gateway to the North – we're a gateway to global markets. At the heart of this is the Edmonton International Airport (YEG), which is Canada’s largest airport by land mass with 7,000 acres of land being used to create economic prosperity for the region and the province.
The Government of Canada has recently invested into establishing an International Cargo Hub at YEG which is even further increasing the region’s access to and from international markets. It’s where air, road, rail and pipelines converge to create an international manufacturing cargo and logistics hub, facilitating even greater movement of goods around the world. The Cargo Hub’s first major tenant also happens to be the world’s largest airport solar farm, a utility scale solar farm developed by Alpin Sun.
As the fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic in the country, and supporting over 21,000 jobs, YEG’s economic output of $4.9 million is fundamental to Alberta’s economy.
All this economic activity, and much more, makes it clear why the Edmonton region is Canada’s fifth-largest economy with a GDP of $110 billion and a population of 1.5 million that is young, educated, and growing.
Edmonton’s Tourism Treasures
It’s easy to love our city, but don’t just take it from us! Edmonton's Tourism Sentiment Index is +28 which puts us on par with major cities across the globe. Looking for reasons why the Edmonton region is a must-visit destination? We’ve got you covered.
Edmonton is a unique destination that provides the perfect balance of urban big city lifestyle and natural wonder. If you are looking for nature in the center of downtown and throughout the region, Edmonton has it. Our river valley is the largest urban parkland in North America, 22 times the size of world-famous Central Park in New York City.
Edmonton’s food and drink scene is bustling, with a place called ‘Happy Beer Street’ you can expect nothing less than a massive collection of delicious craft beers and a culinary scene that has several nationally recognized restaurants.
Amiskwacîwâskahikan (also known as Beaver Hills House or Edmonton) offers many opportunities to awaken your cultural curiosity and understanding with a growing Indigenous tourism sector.
Indigenous Tourism is an act of reconciliation. There is a lot of history in our city, and a number of Indigenous tourism operators who are excited to share knowledge with Edmontonians and visitors.
In the Edmonton region tourism is big business, more than $2 billion into our economy big business.
As rodeo season continues, Edmonton is unmissable. The Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) is returning to Edmonton from October 2-5, 2024! CFR brings together people from all over the province and nation during a week-long celebration of western culture featuring the nation’s very best rodeo athletes. You won’t want to miss the excitement.
We can’t talk about tourism in Edmonton, without sharing about Edmonton’s modern and well-connected airport. Edmonton International Airport plays an important role in the transportation of people around the world offering more than fifty nonstop flights to destinations in North American, Central America, and Europe.
Edmonton International Airport is a key player in Alberta’s tourism sector and economy being the fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic in Canada. The airport’s partnerships include municipalities in the region to fund a Regional Air Service Opportunities Fund intended to continue to increase air service and economic opportunities in the region.
Tourism is growing in the Edmonton region. Travel Alberta’s research shows that the Edmonton area is expecting massive growth with visitor spending potentially hitting $5.8 billion in 2035, expecting to see the largest growth in tourism spending in the province.
The Edmonton Region's Educational Excellence
With a myriad of institutions and programs that fit anyone’s interests and aspiration, accessible and relevant education and training is a cornerstone of the post-secondary landscape in Edmonton and the city’s metropolitan region.
Alberta’s economy is constantly growing and diversifying. As a leader in workforce development and skills training, NAIT supports key industry sectors with their current and future talent needs in business, health care, skilled trades and technology. Whether through degree, diploma and certificate programs or upskilling and reskilling opportunities, NAIT is creating pathways for success for new graduates or those looking to transfer existing skills into emerging economies.
Providing innovative apprenticeship and technology-based training is what NAIT excels at. Through important initiatives like the Advanced Skills Center, NAIT will modernize how we train the next generation of skilled talent. NAIT will bolster its reputation as one of Canada’s leading polytechnics by continuing to provide the best hands-on experiential learning while integrating a more interdisciplinary approach to training. The result will provide industry with even more highly skilled and future-ready trades professionals, technicians, and technologists.
Located downtown in the center of Edmonton, NorQuest College stands as the largest comprehensive community college in Alberta. Focused on providing accessible paths to workforce relevant education for all learners, NorQuest plays an essential role in powering Alberta’s economic growth by producing the front-line workforce employers need to grow and sustain their business in an increasingly diversified economy.
MacEwan University is in the heart of Edmonton's downtown and as a growing undergraduate university is on track to serve 30,000 students by 2030. Recently, they broke ground for the MacEwan School of Business, scheduled to open in 2027. The institutions impact will continue to contribute to downtown’s vibrancy.
Ensuring this province’s country music legacy is alive and growing, MacEwan’s Distinguished Visiting Artist in Country Music initiative builds partnerships and promotes collaboration between students who are up-and-coming music artists and the country music industry. These collaborations lead to life-changing opportunities, enabling aspiring country singers, musicians, producers, and other industry professionals to learn from the most celebrated names in their field.
The University of Alberta exists to inspire and ignite the human spirit in pursuit of a better tomorrow. Its work is rooted in its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, while honouring Indigenous identities, languages, cultures and world views. As one of the world’s top 100 teaching and research universities, the U of A ranks among the top 5 in Canada, providing a $19.4 billion annual economic impact in Alberta alone.
With five campuses, including one rural and one francophone campus, the U of A maintains strong connections with communities across Alberta, working with them to help address some of the most pressing issues facing our province in areas like rural health care, the impacts of climate change and drought, and new technology in the energy sector. The recent Alumni Impact Report shows that U of A grads contribute $250 billion each year to the global economy through alumni-founded companies employing 922,000 people. The U of A seeks to challenge, to change, and to always be Leading with Purpose.
Athabasca University (AU) is a university like no other. As Canada’s leading open online university, AU provides opportunity and access by removing the most common barriers to a world-class university education. AU’s learners are mostly working people who live, work, and study where and how they choose through AU’s wide range of Bachelors, Masters and PhD programs, and personal and professional development programs. Whatever learners’ age, location, career, or education: we support them to develop their careers while living and working in their home communities – in ways no other Canadian university does or can. AU transforms the lives of our learners and their communities, via research and teaching, one person at a time.