BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT

If you would like to be featured as a Business Highlight in an upcoming newsletter, please email cherbert@wainwright.ca

LOCAL PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES

In order to assist local business in gaining information on business opportunities with local municipalities, CFB Wainwright etc., the Wainwright Economic Development Office will periodically send out business opportunities featured on   merx.com  and CanadaBuys that pertain particularly to Wainwright and area.

These are systems used by the Government for procurement of goods and services over $25,000.

ALBERTA YOUTH EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVE

Alberta’s government is launching the Alberta Youth Employment Incentive, a new $8-million program designed to help young Albertans (ages 15–24) find meaningful work and build skills for the future.

Through this initiative, employers will receive direct funding to offset the costs of hiring, training, and employing youth:

• $4,000 for hiring 1–2 young workers for a combined minimum of 400 hours.
• $7,500 for hiring 3–5 young workers for a combined minimum of 750 hours.

The program is expected to support around 1,000 businesses and create opportunities for 2,500 young workers beginning October 2025.

In addition, Alberta is introducing a new digital badge system for youth who complete at least 200 hours of work and pass a skills-verified employer assessment. This recognition will strengthen résumés and help employers identify candidates with proven workplace skills.

The incentive will be administered by CAREERS: The Next Generation Foundation, a trusted not-for-profit connecting youth with employment since 1997. Eligible employers include Alberta-based for-profit businesses, non-profits, and First Nations or Métis Settlements.

With Alberta’s youth unemployment rate at 17%, this program comes at a critical time to ensure young Albertans have the support, training, and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s workforce.

CANADA-ALBERTA PRODUCTIVITY GRANT

Alberta’s government is excited to announce the new Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant. This program will effectively replace the previous Canada-Alberta Job Grant (CAJG) program. The CAPG program aligns with Alberta’s efforts to increase productivity and help employers invest in skills training that boosts productivity.

Employers can use the program to help their business increase efficiency and stimulate innovation, while equipping Albertans with the skills needed to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.

Visit https://www.alberta.ca/canada-alberta-productivity-grant for more information on the program, eligibility and how to register for online information sessions. Additional questions can be directed to jobgrant@gov.ab.ca.   

2026 INTAKE FOR WAINWRIGHT RN PROGRAM

The University of Calgary, in collaboration with Alberta Health Services, is offering the Rural Community Route – Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program in Wainwright, with the next intake scheduled for September 2026.

Important: There will be no intake at the Wainwright site in 2027, so interested students are strongly encouraged to apply for the 2026 intake.

Applications open October 1, 2025 and the deadline to apply is March 1, 2026.

Program Highlights:

• 3.25–3.5 year degree program

• September admission only

• Labs held in person at Wainwright Health Centre

• Clinical placements within the Wainwright area

• Applicants must reside within 130 km of Wainwright and be Alberta residents (excluding major urban centres)

For full program details and to apply, please visit: https://nursing.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate/rural

For questions about admission requirements, tuition, financial aid, or the application process, please contact: bnosinfo@ucalgary.ca

THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE?

Do you know someone who would make a great local leader? If you do, the Town of Wainwright council and administration encourage you to share this information with them!

Alberta Municipalities (ABmunis) and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) are hosting a one-hour webinar for people interested in running for council in this fall’s municipal elections.

Participants will discover:

• What local councils control
• The actual time commitment (most councillors work regular jobs, too)
• How decisions in small municipalities create immediate, visible and long-lasting impacts
• How skills acquired from work, community activities and family life apply to serving on municipal council.

Prospective candidates can register for a webinar that corresponds with the size of the municipality in which they will run. Numerous one-hour sessions are being offered from April to September.

For more information and to register, go to https://www.abmunis.ca/events

For additional election-related resources, visit the ABmunis Running for Municipal Office page.

ELECTION NOMINATION PERIOD

The nomination period for the 2025 general election began on January 1, 2025, and will run until 12:00 p.m. on nomination day: Monday, September 22, 2025.

Candidate Eligibility

A person may be nominated in any election under Section 21 of the Local Authorities Election Act if the person:

• is eligible to vote in the election;
• has resided in the municipality for six consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day; and
• is not otherwise ineligible.

Submitting your Nomination Form

Candidates who seek nomination for office must bring into the Town Office (1018 - 2 Avenue) the following:

• Notice of Intent to Run - If not already submitted
• Form 4 - Nomination Paper and Candidate's Acceptance - Completed, along with a minimum of five elector signatures. These electors must be residents of the local jurisdiction on the date they signed the form and must be eligible to vote in the election
• Form 5 - Candidate Information
• $100.00 Nomination Deposit in the form of cash, cheque, debit card or credit card as required by Bylaw 2024-13
• Criminal Record Check - dated no more than six months from the date in which a candidate's nomination form is submitted as required by Bylaw 2024-13

1 AVENUE CONSTRUCTION NOTICE

UPCOMING BUSINESS EDUCATION

Alberta Government

Request a presentation for your company or organization

at EOP.Presentations@gov.ab.ca

Protecting Our Future: Health, Safety, and Employment Standards for Young Workers

September 16, 2025

Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office - TFW and Employer Rights and Responsibilities

September 25, 2025

Small Business Week - Job Protected Leaves: When employees can take time off and job security rules. (45 mins)

October 14, 2025

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety

Protecting Our Future: Health, Safety, and Employment Standards for Young Workers

Designed for young workers under 25, their parents, and employers, that will cover essential health, safety, and employment standards information.

September 16, 2025

Introduction to Disability Management and Occupational Health & Safety

September 23, 2025

Alberta Women Entrepreneurs

From Insight to Impact: Naturally Amped Shares Their Journey

September 17, 2025

How to Choose the Right CRM for Your Business
(Even If You’ve Tried Before)

September 18, 2025

Steps to Start Your Business

September 23, 2025

Unlocking Opportunity: How AWE Supports Alberta Women Entrepreneurs

October 1, 2025

Business Link

Cashflow Canvas Bootcamp

September 17, 2025

ChatGPT: Using Ai to streamline your Marketing Efficiency

September 18, 2025

Innovation Made Simple: How Design Thinking Fuels Growth

September 25, 2025

StartUp Lloydminster

Lunch & Learn - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

September 23, 2025

LUNCH & LEARN - Unmasking Fraud - Detection and Prevention

September 24, 2025

GRANTS AND FUNDING

General

• Indigenous Employment Training Partnerships Program
• Training on the Job Program
• Workforce Partnership Grant
• Workforce Strategies Grant
• Workplace Training Program

Industry-Specific

• Alberta Manufacturing Productivity Grant
• Class 1 Commercial Driver Employment Pathway Grant
• Addressing the Agriculture Labour Task Force Grant Program
• Food Futures Program
• Training & Wage Subsidies for Environmental Jobs
• Youth Employment and Skills Program (YESP)

Apprenticeship related Incentives for Employers:

• Apprenticeship job creation tax credit
• Canada Apprentice Loan
• Apprenticeship Grants: Funding opportunities for skilled trades and apprenticeship
• Supports for skilled trades and apprenticeship
• Canada Tradesperson’s Tool deduction – up to $500 per year
• Supplementary unemployment benefit plan (SUBP)

Youth and Apprenticeships

• CAREERS - Youth Internship Incentive Program (YIIP)
• Empowering Futures for Apprentices
• FIRST (First Industry Research Science Technology) Jobs Pilot Program (Technology Alberta)
• Student Work Placement Program
• Trade Pathways Program
• Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Funding Programs

BUSINESS RESOURCES

• Alberta Innovates
• Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
• Agriculture Job Connector
• Alberta Online Learning Centre
• Battle River Alliance for Economic Development
• Business Link
• Community Futures East Central Alberta
• East Central Regional Innovation Network
• Futurpreneur Canada
• Government of Alberta Supports for Business
• Investment & Growth Strategy
• Prairies Economic Development Canada - Canada.ca
• Startup Lloydminster
• Wainwright & District Chamber of Commerce

ECONOMY STATISTICS

• Indicators at a Glance
• Weekly Economic Review
• Labour Market Notes
• Economic Trends