St. Albert Minute: Business Growth, Residential Construction, and History Happened Here

St. Albert Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of St. Albert politics

This Week In St. Albert:

• A meeting of City Council, originally scheduled for Tuesday, is cancelled. The next Council meeting - which will be a 2025 Strategic Planning Session - will take place on January 13th.
  
  
• The Youth Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. The agenda includes a Council Update, a Staff Liaison Update, a Social Media Subcommittee Update, and a Grants Subcommittee Update.
  
  
• St. Albert ranks 25th overall for livability in Canada and 10th for entrepreneurs specifically in The Globe and Mail's second annual report. The ranking, which evaluates 448 communities using 50 variables, highlighted the city's strong economy, low commute times, and supportive business environment. The report says the city has a median household income of $125,232 and relatively affordable costs for food, transportation, and recreation.

Last Week In St. Albert:

• The Musée Heritage Museum has launched a new program called History Happened Here, which brings local history to public spaces outside its usual setting. In partnership with Fountain Tire, the museum has set up panels in the shop’s coffee lounge to showcase the life of Brigadier-General Raymond Brutinel, a pioneering figure in St. Albert. Brutinel, who built a lavish home on the site now occupied by Fountain Tire, was an adventurer, soldier, and entrepreneur. The panels provide insight into his life in St. Albert, his military service, and his role in creating Alberta’s first interurban railway. The initiative aims to introduce forgotten figures and spark public dialogue about the city’s history.
  
  
• In 2024, St. Albert saw significant business growth, with 3,795 businesses licensed, a 13% increase from 2023 and a 21% rise from 2022. The City received 530 new business license applications reflecting a steady trend in business expansion. St. Albert’s economy is expected to continue growing, especially with ongoing development in the Lakeview Business District. The City’s population grew by 9.2% between 2018 and 2024, and new residential and commercial projects are enhancing its appeal to investors and entrepreneurs.
  
  
• St. Albert experienced a record year for residential construction in 2024, with $365 million in building permits issued, largely driven by demand for rental units. The city's population growth and strong economy, fueled by international migration and a thriving job market, are contributing to the high demand for housing, especially for multi-family units. St. Albert's industrial sector also expanded, with 200,000 square feet of space added. More growth is anticipated in the Lakeview Business District, which could create 5,000 jobs.

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