By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

Alberta Venture Magazine Ranks Lethbridge as 2nd Best Place to do Business in Alberta

Jun 8, 2016 | 2:31 PM

EDMONTON:    It may be an opinion piece but, when that opinion comes from Alberta Venture Magazine, it’s bound to get attention.

The magazine recently released the 21 best places to do business in Alberta and Lethbridge was ranked number two — right behind Edmonton.

Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL) CEO Trevor Lewington credits our stable population growth and economic base.

Lewington also points to the fact that Lethbridge doesn’t undergo the wild economic swings seen in the rest of the province.

“We see population and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth in that one to two per cent range – nice and stable and predictable – they’re (Venture Magazine) recognizing that but, they’re also recognizing innovation, in that we’ve got an emerging tech sector, we’ve got two post-secondary institutions that are growing and developing and, the provincial government has made some significant investments in this community – we’re seeing kind of a recognition of both of those dynamics.”

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While those elements are definitely positive, Lewington feels the defining difference for Lethbridge is the sense of collaboration.  

“When you look across the community, you’ve got CASA as a great example, where you have a city owned asset being operated by a community-based, not-for-profit society. Also, you look at the agri-business program that’s a joint venture between Cor Van Raay, providing the initial seed funding for the university and the college – and these institutions in other communities would, potentially, be working against each other but, here in this community, we have these two post secondaries that collaborate with each other for the strength and benefit of the community.”

Lewington says that for him the theme of collaboration, whether it be community groups or city groups and businesses, shows how the entities can work together and produce phenomenal results.

According to Lewington, Alberta Venture does this type ranking every year and each year they look at different elements of the economy, with some of the rankings heavily based on economic data. The June 6th article is more of an opinion piece by the magazine, based on interviews around the city and information and statistics provided by EDL, to arrive at a subjective assessment.

With Edmonton holding a first place and Lethbridge following at number two in the magazine’s rankings, the communities that follow in succession are Leduc, Grande Prairie and Cochrane. Calgary holds down the number six position.

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