News – Archive

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is a region rich with opportunity.  We have access to a world-class education system, vibrant communities, and an economic advantage that is second-to-none. Our region is considered one of the best in the world for petrochemical, manufacturing, oil and gas investment and is also Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region. 

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland region has seen some very cold weather in recent weeks, keeping even those who love wintertime bundled up and indoors. A drop into the deep freeze often restricts our activities, and it can also affect the quality of the outdoor air. 


An online tool to view calm wind regional noise outputs in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland was recently updated in 2018, allowing users to zoom in and out of specific locations.

There is nothing more important than safety. As leaders in safety culture, industry in our region has comprehensive systems aimed at keeping employees and worksites safe. 


Whether for work, for school, or for fun, our region sees thousands of people traveling in and through it daily. It’s typically business as usual, however in a region as risk-diverse as ours, there’s always potential for an emergency to occur. In any emergency, community safety is the priority. In the early stages of an emergency, being able to quickly and safely notify the community is a challenge for responders.


It is that time of year again when facilities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland take advantage of warmer weather. For many companies, spring signals the start of turnaround season and the continuation of or start of construction projects.

Most facilities operating in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland need an approval to construct, operate and ultimately reclaim their site. This is required from the province of Alberta as one way to manage the environment. Once an approval is granted, a renewal is necessary every ten years.

All communities have a plan in place to respond to emergencies, whether it’s a transportation incident, fire, flood, weather event or loss of utilities. When an industry cluster is part of the community, it is critical that municipal and industry emergency response departments communicate, coordinate and collaborate on an ongoing basis to know one another and work together to keep our community safe.

The quality of the water we use is vitally important to all community members living in the Heartland region. Additionally, the availability and consumption of water—both by residents and industry—is equally concerning for all who live and work in the Capital Region and Industrial Heartland.

Every year, Clean Air Day is celebrated the first Wednesday of June as part of Environment Week in Alberta. The day is a reminder of the importance of clean air and that everyone has a role to play in keeping local air quality as healthy as possible.

Authorities call for evacuations only when there is a risk to resident safety. Evacuations can be complex endeavours and there are steps you can take to be prepared should it happen to you.

It is that time of year again when facilities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland take advantage of spring weather. For many companies, spring signals the start of turnaround season and the continuation of construction projects.

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland region has seen some very cold weather in recent weeks, keeping even those who love wintertime bundled up and indoors. A drop into the deep freeze often restricts our activities, and it can also affect the quality of the outdoor air.

Fort Air Partnership’s recent addition of a permanent continuous air monitoring station in the Town of Redwater in October and a portable continuous air monitoring station slated to be operational by 2018 is enhancing regional air monitoring in and around Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.

From concept to completion, it might take 20 to 35 years or more for a major piece of transportation infrastructure. This timeline can vary depending on the size of the project. For a project with major bridges, interchanges, and flyovers, it takes decades of planning.

From concept to completion, it might take 20 to 35 years or more for a major piece of transportation infrastructure. This timeline can vary depending on the size of the project. For a project with major bridges, interchanges, and flyovers, it takes decades of planning.

Planning ahead, and putting together an emergency preparedness kit, can make a big difference to your safety and your ability to bounce back from an emergency. In addition to first aid kits, flashlights and blankets, it is suggested that copies of important documents are in your kit to ‘grab and go’.

Facilities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland take advantage of spring weather. For many companies, spring signals the start of turnaround season and the continuation of construction projects. Depending on the facility, a turnaround can last as short as a few days, or up to a month or longer. Nine companies have planned turnarounds this year, and construction activity continues on the Sturgeon Refinery.

Flipping through your local newspaper, you may notice ads from time to time about industrial companies renewing an Operating Approval. Just like the renewal of a driver’s license and passport at set intervals, most industrial facilities must renew their Operating Approval every ten years.

Most of the time, air quality in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is of low risk to health. However, with frigid temperatures like we’ve experienced lately, combined with calm winds, pollutants can be trapped close to the ground. One of the simplest ways that individuals can help reduce pollutants is by reducing idling time.

Mega projects in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland most often use modular construction for a large portion of the facility. Parts and pieces are sourced from all over the world. But instead of all the individual pieces arriving on site and assembled in order, many of those pieces are sent to offsite module fabrication yards or shops.

Risk assessment, response plans and access to resources are elements of industry and community emergency management programs. Confirming and improving these plans through drills, exercises and simulations not only enhances public safety, it also satisfies certain regulatory requirements.

More than six decades ago, construction began on the first industrial facility in the region. Today, several of the key advantages and commitment to value adding play a key role, just like in the 1950s.

NCIA has been harnessing the collective knowledge, goodwill, and expertise of its more than 20 member companies for more than a decade. Serving as a common voice for industry, the group has been a catalyst for collaborative work and partnerships that are making a profound difference in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. An example of this can be found in an innovative 10-year agreement between Aux Sable and Shell Canada.

Between carbon capture and storage, offgas processing, energy mapping, and others, companies in the Heartland are exploring and adopting greener projects in our energy sector. This includes Field Upgrading who has a pilot plant that’s testing a cheaper and cleaner way to upgrade bitumen.

Air quality is considered the most important topic to the local community, according to a 2015 Life in the Heartland survey. As such, residents are keen to know how the region’s air quality is monitored.

It’s technology that exists today and is used in many countries, but surprisingly not in Canada. It’s the Wireless Public Alerting Service (WPAS), and until May 30th, Canadians have an opportunity to support its implementation in a Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) public consultation.

Rail lines have been transporting goods and people across Canada for over 130 years. Since the completion of the railway to the Pacific Ocean in 1885, rail has been a reliable means of transport. Currently, Canada’s railways move $282 billion worth of goods every year, making it one of the most important modes of transport for our economy.

Spring means the start of camping, soccer, and gardening. To the facilities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, spring means the start of turnaround season and the continuation of construction projects.

Frosty temperatures can also influence air quality. Most of the time, local air quality is of low risk to health. However, it can rise to the medium and even high risk range due to cold weather, even if only for a few hours.

Just 31% of respondents in Life in the Heartland’s recent survey are aware of the safety action to take should a hazardous material be released into the atmosphere. If asked to Shelter in Place, would you know what to do?