As the representative from St. Albert on the regional economic development committee (REDC) for the past year, I was very pleased with the level of co-operation among all of the regional municipalities from the mayors and their staff, academic officers of the University of Alberta, NAIT and MacEwan University.
There was also significant input from several business executives who donated their time and expertise to help make this initiative a success. I hope that this level of co-operation continues as we put the plan into effect.
We all stand to benefit if the REDC plan is successful and we attract several new businesses to the area. It is also important that we diversify the economy away from our sole dependence on oil and gas in the longer term. I am optimistic that this will be the case and we can be as successful as the Bioenterprise initiative in Cleveland after which the REDC plan was fashioned. Bioenterprise raised over $900 million in venture capital over a 10-year period, funding 92 successful start-up companies.
If Cleveland can do it, so can we if we continue to co-operate with the other regional municipalities.
Barry Barclay, St. Albert
