Success Stories

See how the EDA is assisting smart companies grow and expand in Southeast Alberta here.

Watch videos of some of our success stories here.

Energy

With a proud history and a promising future, Oil & Gas and Alternative Energy are main sectors of focus in Southeast Alberta. What follows is a sample of some of the successful Energy businesses in our region.

  • Trailblazer Drilling Corp. - A division of Savanna Energy, Trailblazer Drilling Corp. is a long-term employer and a premiere contract drilling and well servicing company. Their expertise in both conventional and direction drilling takes them throughout western Canada and the United States. Watch a video about Trailblazer.
  • NaturEner Wind Energy - Plans include Prairie, Wild Rose Projects 1 & 2 southeast of Medicine Hat, and the East Palliser Transmission Line in Cypress County. NaturEner has a portfolio of over 1000 MW of wind farm projects in various stages of development in southern Alberta.
  • Polycore Tubular Linings - A division of Conestoga, produces polyurethane linings for oil well pipes. Polycore helps their customers maximize production and minimize operating costs by eliminating rod on tubing wear and tubing corrosion and reducing the cost of well completions and well workovers. Download a video about Polycore.
  • Cantool Industries - A 24-hour oilfield pipe equipment repair and manufacturing service company. Cantool Industries is equipped to supply and service the petroleum industry and commercial industry applications with manufacturing, repairing, and equipment testing. Cantool is unique in southeast Alberta as they are the only company to have a FARO Laser ScanArm which is ideal for inspection, rapid prototyping, reverse engineering, and 3D modeling. This is cutting edge technology for
    • Aerospace: Reverse Engineering, Certification, Part Inspection
    • Automotive: Tool Building & Certification, Alignment, Part Inspection
    • Metal Fabrication: OMI, First article inspection, Periodic Part Inspection
    • Molding/Tool & Die: Mold and Die Inspection, Prototype Part Scanning
  • Terralta is southern Alberta's leading renewable energy product provider and installer. They have been in the business for over a decade and pride themselves on quality and service. They make your life more comfortable, affordable, clean and sustainable with Geothermal, Solar, and Wind technologies.
  • WindRiver Power Corporation is a renewable energy company created as a result of the merger of Pteragen Canada Inc. and the Interpac group of companies. As the name strongly suggests, WindRiver's focus is on developing and operating commercial large-scale wind power generation and run-of-river hydro generation projects. WindRiver is currently developing projects in Alberta and British Columbia.
  • Shell Canada continues development of the proposed Wild Steer Butte wind farm project in the Bow Island area. "The Wild Steer Butte project is an important project for Canada that has tremendous wind resource behind it," said Kevin Simmons, Shell's Senior Business Development Manager. Development work of the project continues in the areas of environmental studies and interconnection to Alberta's electrical grid. The project offers Shell an opportunity to be a part of Alberta's and Canada's wind energy developments.
  • Hranco Industries Ltd. services various industries including oil and gas, commercial, industrial, and agricultural fields. They offer end-to-end services, including welding fabrication, repair, sandblasting, painting, heavy-duty mechanical repairs, inspections and certifications, dangerous goods carrier inspections and certifications. They. provide shop and field services and are a great example of companies offering broad ranges of services.
  • Iron Horse Energy ServicesIron Horse Energy Services - core business is Fracture Through Coiled Tubing ("FTC"), and provides these specialized services to the E&P companies in central and southern regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Their Enviro-Print Equipment is designed and operated with the reduction of the overall site footprint as the utmost importance. In effect, Iron Horse has taken a typical Frac-Through Coiled Tubing Spread that requires 9 units into a suite that only requires 6.

Harvest

Agriculture

Some of the thriving Agriculture businesses in Southeast Alberta include:

  • Spitz International - One of the leading North American producers of sunflower and pumpkin seed snacks.
  • Canadian Fertilizers Limited (CFL) owns the Medicine Hat Nitrogen Complex, Canada's largest nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility, providing vital nutrients for farmers throughout western Canada and the northern-tier of the United States. Each year, this clean, modern facility produces more than 1.2 million tonnes of anhydrous ammonia, including amounts upgraded to some 735,000 tonnes of granular urea. The complex employs approximately 160 people on a full-time basis, as well as contract maintenance personnel, and is an important part of the Medicine Hat community.
  • Red Hat Cooperatives - Distributor of greenhouse cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers to wholesalers and grocery retailers throughout Canada and parts of the United States. Watch a video about Red Hat. Greenhouses are one of Alberta's major growth industries and opportunities abound. Watch a video about Red Hat.
  • ADM Ogilvie - An international milling company and producer of 8,300 cwts. of wheat flour daily, ADM Ogilvie is a key partner in the region's cycle of quality products from farm to consumer.
  • Parrish and Heimbecker, Limited (P&H) - A grain processing elevator in Medicine Hat capable of handling 175 tonnes/hour receiving and 200 tonnes/hour shipping.P & H is a Canadian family-owned firm with over 100 years of experience in agribusiness, with locations stretching across Canada from Vancouver to Halifax. P&H has grown into a diversified, vertically integrated company that is committed to agribusiness and the entire agri-food industry.
  • Paterson Grains - A grain-processing elevator in Dunmore, Cypress County celebrating 100 years of business. Paterson Grain operates approx. 50 elevator sites across the Canadian prairie provinces including seven high-throughput inland terminal locations. Dunmore is its only Alberta location.
  • Dale Thacker Specialty Crops are a 4th generation family farm owned by Dale and Natalie Thacker, who have recently been joined by sons Kyle & Gavin. Dale was formerly one of the three partners of George Thacker Sons, along with his brothers Lynn and Jim. George Thacker Sons evolved from a family farm that began in 1919 and has been in the essential oil business for almost 20 years. GTS designed and built a PLC based automated distillation control system that gives the most consistent quality control in the industry and is a key component of the facility that DTSC currently uses
  • Viterra's position as Canada's leading grain handler and agri-products retailer is supported by an extensive network of operations in all major growing regions of the prairies and at all key ports. This enables the company to provide a wider range of products and services to prairie farmers and destination customers than any of its competitors. The company operates the country's largest and most efficient grain pipeline, including over 85 prairie elevators. Eighty-five per cent of total elevator capacity is capable of loading 50 or 100 cars in 24 hours to quality for railway incentives. Viterra has 44 per cent of the industry's 100 car loaders. Viterra also operates 11 special crops plants in western Canada and two US states handling a variety of specialized commodities such as field peas, lentils, chickpeas, dry beans, specialty oats, mustard and buckwheat. In Bow Island the bean plant is an integral part of the local economy.

Criterion

Manufacturing

Manufacturing remains a highly profitable sector within our region.

  • Criterion Catalyst - An international company that supplies catalysts, process technologies and catalyst services for refining applications. Watch a video about Criterion this site.
  • Goodyear Canada - The Medicine Hat plant manufactures all versions of car and truck tires. They will be celebrating their fiftieth year of operation in 2012.
  • Weddingstar - An international designer, manufacturer and distributor of wedding supplies, Weddingstar has excelled for over 25 years in the dynamic wedding market and continues to expand their products.
  • Blue Imp - One of the top North American designers and manufacturers of steel and wooden playground equipment, park furnishings and sports equipment. As Canada's most experienced and most trusted playground manufacturer, Blue Imp designs playground equipment that maximizes fun without compromising safety or quality.
  • ModulineChampion - A site-built manufacturer of modular homes. The company has over 37 years of residential design and construction experience that has earned Moduline Industries a reputation for excellence in the manufactured housing market. Their homes meet the high standards set by discerning buyers and quality is evident throughout every home.
  • Cancarb - The world's largest thermal carbon black manufacturing plant, Cancarb produces material for use in rubber, metallurgy, plastics, insulation, concrete and graphite.
  • I-XL Ltd - Thanks to readily available natural gas and unique clay bodies, brick has been made at the current Medicine Hat plant since 1886. At the original I-XL Redcliff plant the clay was mined underground and then eventually fed into mechanical brick presses and set by hand into the mechanical down-draft kilns. It is one of the top specialty brick manufacturers in North America.

Technology

The opportunities in Southeast Alberta for technology are endless. Some of the most cutting edge and successful technology-related businesses in the region are:

  • CCUVSCanadian Centre for Unmanned Vehicle Systems - An international hub for the design, development and commercialization of unmanned air, ground, and underwater vehicles. This UVS cluster is also actively supported and promoted by all levels of government. Watch a video about the UVS.
  • Meggitt Defense Systems Canada - The company specializes in the design, manufacture, integration and operation of several services used to support agencies worldwide. As well, Meggitt Canada offers unmatched service and support, turnkey operations and custom designed programs to meet the diverse needs of military and civilian customers. Meggitt is the only Canadian company to offer a full range of air, land, and sea target systems with associated scoring and data analysis training tools.
  • Amtech Aeronautical - Amtech is a professional management, engineering services, and product development company serving national and international clients in three core business areas: aeronautics, automated and remote sensing systems, defence systems and military engineering.
  • MacDonald, Detwiller and Associates - MDA has an enduring history of equipping large organizations with operational integrated information solutions for surveillance, intelligence, decision support, transportation, land and property, and other integrated applications. MDA offers these solutions to customers worldwide through operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. MDA is an important part of our region's UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) future and their Integrated Information Solutions includes: Monitoring & Surveillance Systems ,Precision Support Systems and Information Federating Systems
  • Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) - DRDC is a world leader in scientific and technological research and development of nuclear biological and chemical defense technologies and counter-mine warfare technologies.
  • The Litebook Company - An innovative designer and international distributor of LED light-therapy devices for the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder, jet lag, and various other uses. The company has also created the world's first handheld light-therapy device, which has significantly increased the use of light therapy.
  • RedTec (Redcliff Technology Enterprise Centre) - Robotics research and development centre. Read more. Link to location on our website
  • Auto~Star Compusystems - The company provides custom-designed software solutions for retail, pharmaceutical and convenience stores.

Tourism

Our region is part of the Canadian Badlands, a significant tourism attraction with investment opportunities.

  • Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort - Located in Canada's only Interprovincial park, the Lodge and phased condo development is nestled in the Cypress Hills and was nominated as one of the Seven Wonders of Canada. 
  • Medalta - In Medicine Hat Clay Industries Historic District. Upon completion of a $20 million historic restoration this venture will be a significant tourism focal point. 
  • Canadian Badlands - The Canadian Badlands are magical - a vast, carved prairie landscape harbouring dinosaur fossils, intimate parks and a warm, western way of life. 
  • Tourism Medicine Hat - Home to wide-open spaces and clear blue skies of southern Alberta, this is a canvas for natural beauty with much to explore. 

Significant Regional Factors

There are many other success stories to be found in our region outside of the six key sectors that the EDA focuses on. Other successful industries and institutions in Southeast Alberta include:

Health

  • Alberta Health Services - the Palliser Region - The organization provides regional medical and health care services to people from southeast Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan.

Post-Secondary Education

  • Medicine Hat College - Currently, more than 30 diplomas and certificates are offered along with 25 university transfer programs. There are also several opportunities for degree completion at MHC including nursing, applied arts, and social work. A partnership with the University of Calgary makes it possible for nursing students to complete a full bachelor's degree at Medicine Hat College while graduates from diploma programs such as Police and Security may also complete degrees. Medicine Hat College is proud to offer other unique diploma programs such as Addictions Counselor, Technical Illustrator, Paramedic, and Deaf and Blind Support Specialist. New applied degrees are also offered in Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership and Visual Communications. This 2,500-student campus also has a satellite campus in Brooks, Alberta, and an international campus in Hebei, Hunan Province, China. Program offerings include arts, science, trades, health, science and business

Military

  • AES - Advanced Expert Systems Ltd. - AES has supported military organizations (land, sea and air) for many years, helping to improve equipment availability and reduce support costs. AES is the recognized supplier of oil sampling and analysis services to the UK land forces (since 1995) and currently supports over 1,500 British Army equipments/vehicles. They also provide this service to BAE Systems and to the Royal Army of Oman.
  • Canadian Forces Base Suffield - Southeast Alberta is the home of CFB Suffield and their military and research activities.
    • CFB Suffield includes facilities for the Canadian Armed Forces, a centre for research and development (Defense Research and Development Canada) and a major field-training centre for the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS).
    • CFB Suffield also includes a 458-square kilometre national wildlife sanctuary, the second largest of its type in Canada.
    • CFB Suffield has approximately 1300 personnel.

The opportunities for your business enterprises are varied and exciting. Contact us and we'll assist you with in creating a dynamic future here in Southeast Alberta.