City leads national growth with sustainable development

Cleaner, greener, safer, faster, cheaper. This is the mantra that the city of Edmonton has embraced as it encourages individuals and organisations to be part of its innovation and economic diversity.

Alberta's capital city has proven that for an ambitious and fast-growing region of about 1.2 million people, sustainable development is not only possible, it is a must - and the numbers show why.

Last year, Edmonton's economy outpaced Canada's average, and every other city in North America, with a gross domestic product that grew by 4.3 per cent from C$78.3 billion (HK$550.5 billion) to C$81.7 billion. Local workers earned an average annual salary of C$50,000 to C$60,000, and employment growth meant that one in every 10 jobs created in Canada were based in the Edmonton region.

Much of the city's growth can be attributed to new jobs created across various sectors, led by energy, manufacturing, logistics, construction and professional services.

This year, as Edmonton celebrates its 110th anniversary, it is poised to reach new milestones. With economic growth projected to be just under 4 per cent, the city's continued economic momentum means it will again be Canada's growth leader.

"The numbers are phenomenal and the efforts behind them are awe-inspiring, but the city is nowhere near stopping from moving forward - faster and with even more hard work. Edmonton's vision is to become an international city of the future, where there is a balance between a flourishing economy and high-quality environmental, health and living conditions," says Gary Klassen, Edmonton's general manager of sustainable development. "We benefit from the energy industry and the opportunities it provides, but we also value environmental consciousness and quality of life. We believe the key to success is moving forward in a responsible way."