September 2021 Issue:
Beginnings and Recovery
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Recovery Task Force
by Amy Nastase- anastase@stalbert.ca

On August 30, the Recovery Task Force presented their final report to Council. The report outlined four priority areas where the Task Force recommended Council focus their strategic initiatives:

  • Accessible Programs and Services
  • Accelerated Growth, Investment and Financial Diversification
  • Social Profit and Business Resiliency
  • Community Connectedness, Vibrancy, Pride and Sense of Belonging

Included here is a link to the Task Force’s Final Report. The City of St. Albert thanks the members of the Task Force for their thoughtful commitment and valuable insight throughout the past 18 months in working to ensure St. Albert has the knowledge to “build back better” than before.
Northern Alberta Business Incubator Open House and
The Wellness Hub
by Amanda MacDonald- amacdonald@stalbert.ca
The Northern Alberta Business Incubator (NABI) has provided business support services and flexible office space to local companies since 1989. Located at 200 Carnegie Drive in the Campbell Business Park, NABI is currently home to 46 resident companies, and 32 virtual members that can gain access to facilities for meetings & other services within NABI. NABI will be hosting an open house October 1, 2021.

The goal of a business incubator is to help ‘nurture or grow’ businesses by removing or minimizing barriers businesses can face by providing access to facilities, services and or direct business supports. Incubators often vary in the services they offer and the sector they serve, but the common thread to all of them is that they nurture and support local businesses.

NABI office spaces range in size (from 120 square feet and up) and have flexible month to month lease terms. This flexibility for businesses minimizes the risk for startups and for growth stage companies because it allows them to make decisions to scale their operations based on their cash flow and downsize or grow within a short time frame if needed without penalties. Business operations can begin on day one because utilities and high-speed internet is included in the rental rate. Additional services include: Parking on premises, access to shared kitchen, business programs, and administrative services and virtual reception.

NABI has launched their coworking space (NABI Commons) and a variety of flexible membership packages. For more information on membership packages contact info@nabi.ca

Wellness Hub – “The Wellness Hub” is a cluster of local health & wellness businesses located in the NABI wellness hub at the ground level of 200 Carnegie Drive. From professional counselling services, holistic services, to yoga and massage therapy the wellness hub is a community that is focused on providing services for health & wellbeing of mind and body.

For more information on NABI check out their website: https://nabi.ca/
Also follow their Social Media here for the latest news on events: https://www.facebook.com/NABI.incubator
New Provincial Public Health Measures and
Noise Bylaw Changes
by Monty Killoh- mkilloh@stalbert.ca
On September 3, 2021, the Government of Alberta announced new province-wide restrictions intended to protect the health system and slow the spread of COVID-19. Due to Alberta’s high case numbers, the Province is taking aggressive action to protect our health system from being overwhelmed. Health officials, the Province, and the City of St. Albert continue to monitor the situation and will adjust response as required.

Mandatory Restrictions – effective September 4, 2021 at 8 a.m.

  • Masks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces and workplaces.
  • Alcohol service must end at 10 p.m. in all licensed establishments.
  • Employees must mask in all indoor work settings, except in work stations.

The City is continuing to monitor this situation closely. For the most up-to-date general information relative to the situation in St. Albert, visit stalbert.ca/covid19.

If you need further information or clarification on public health measures, the Government of Alberta is available to assist by emailing bizconnect@gov.ab.ca or visit the Biz Connect website at alberta.ca/bizconnect

Be sure to stay informed on the evolving COVID-19 situation and mandatory public health measures. There are two key Government of Alberta web pages to monitor:


Noise Bylaw Changes

As of Tuesday, September 7, 2021, the bylaw exemption permit for service delivery of essential services will be revoked. The Noise Bylaw in its original form will be back in effect and service deliver hours will return to normal:

  • Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
  • Saturday                      9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
  • Sunday and Holidays   9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

For more information, please go to stalbert.ca and search “Noise Bylaw.”
Downtown pop-up shop powered by The Public Food Hub Co.
by Amanda MacDonald- amacdonald@stalbert.ca
The Public Food Hub Co. is bringing together food makers and food lovers to experience several food and culinary experiences in downtown St. Albert including a food crawl, culinary workshops, and chef’s table dinners featuring food makers and brands.

The 3 week pop-up market and outpost will be hosted at Breadlove, an Artisan Bakehouse & bread school, which is a located at 46C St Michael Street with a variety of activities scheduled Tuesdays through Saturdays from September 28 through October 15, 2021. The location will also act as a local pick-up and delivery outpost featuring a curated selection of ready-to-eat food and culinary offerings from local businesses.

The Public Food Hub Co.is being led by two St. Albert based entrepreneurs: Ken Bautista, who started his first tech company Hotrocket at the Northern Alberta Business Incubator, and later went on to co-found the entrepreneurship hub Startup Edmonton and several innovation campuses; and Peter Keith, chef and co-founder of Meuwly’s, Edmonton’s first artisan charcuterie shop and local food market.

You can start signing up for culinary experiences on their website to participate in experiences like the Downtown St.Albert Food Crawl, take a tour of the St. Albert Farmers Market, cooking classes and much more. Make sure to follow The Public on social media for upcoming details:



Social Media Business Profiles and
Business Resiliency Program
by Amanda MacDonald- amacdonald@stalbert.ca
Over the summer you may have seen some added promotion of our local businesses through the Support St. Albert Facebook page. The City of St. Albert Economic Development department was able to support & promote businesses with the help of a summer marketing student who was able to safely visit over 80 local businesses, gather information and take photos of buildings and products.

Our summer student wrote business profiles for 62 businesses and uploaded these profiles to social media including store location, descriptions of services and products, special offers, and shared links to websites or business owned social media links. This summer position has come to an end but these business profiles are still archived and being shared on social media Support St. Albert Facebook page by our team and will continue to provide value.

The Support St. Albert community page encourages the business community to share any information on their own business, and local residents to share their experiences and advice on local shops.

If you are looking to make some enhancements to your website or add to your current marketing material’s for social media or online, you can access funding of 50% (up to a maximum of $1000) towards costs that improve your business online presence. The Business Resiliency Program launched in May 2021 and applications are open until September 30, 2021. 
Grandin Parc Village
A boost of charm to Downtown St. Albert
by Patricia Nicol - pnicol@stalbert.ca
A new vibrancy is taking shape on the peripheral of downtown St. Albert, located on the corner of Grandin Road and Sir Winston Churchill Avenue. Grandin Parc Village possesses an urban village concept that includes two residential condo developments that boast a modern, attractive style, and The Offices, a full featured business centre that offers lavish amenities for its tenants. 
 
The Offices at Grandin
This impressive, newly renovated, six-storey professional complex showcases a full-service business centre with a contemporary tenant lounge, a boardroom and full-size kitchen. Some of the features that tenants can enjoy also include underground parking, and a fully equipped fitness facility. Whisk Bakeshop & Coffee House is located on the main floor along with Kids & Company daycare, both offering convenient lifestyle services.

The ~75,000 sf building currently has 80% of its space occupied and houses the corporate offices of Alberta Pacific Forest Industries occupying the majority of the building’s top floor, making them the largest commercial tenant in the building, and Rivers Edge Counselling occupying half of the third floor. Prime space is still available, with competitive lease rates and terms being offered.

Condominiums at Grandin
The two residential condo buildings round-out the urban village vision offering homebuyers and renters alike a feasible option close to downtown. These modern condos provide affordable living close to many services and amenities, both onsite and within easy walking distance.

Phase 2 of Grandin Parc Village masterplan proposes future development which includes a potential 160,000 sf of retail and office space, promoting a walkable village concept that provides open landscaped and flexible public spaces with design elements capturing the beauty of its natural surroundings.

St Albert continually strives to enhance and diversify the downtown core, with the goal to stimulate both residential and commercial activity to build a stronger local economy. Attracting key investments such as Amacon’s Grandin Parc Village will help stimulate growth by providing a healthy mix of retail options, commercial space, employment opportunities, and affordable living which all influences a diverse tax base. 

For more information or leasing details, contact CBRE Edmonton
E-Scooter Pilot Program Comes to St. Albert
by Monty Killoh- mkilloh@stalbert.ca
On August 16, 2021 Council approved a motion to initiate an E-Scooter Pilot Program in St. Albert. The project will seek to determine the viability of e-scooter sharing within the City and will run from September 2021 through the end of 2022. Throughout the course of the pilot, e-scooter companies will be parking their e-scooter fleets at various locations within St. Albert for residents to rent and use for transportation and entertainment purposes.
 
The pilot project involves amendments to the Traffic Bylaw to define an E-Scooter and treat it similarly to other modes of personal transportation (e.g., Bikes), as well as Business Licence conditions that will regulate how e-scooter sharing companies will operate in St. Albert. Some of the rules and regulations for shared e-scooters in St. Albert include:

  • E-scooters may be used on sidewalks or trails and may not be used on streets or roadways.
  • E-Scooter users must yield to other sidewalk traffic.
  • E-Scooters have a maximum speed limit of 15km/hr
  • E-scooters must not be used in a transit zone or at a transit centre, at special events, or inside buildings.
  • Riders are required to wear a helmet and must be at least 16 years of age.
  • Riders must ensure they follow parking guidelines outlined by e-scooter companies and may not park e-scooters in areas where they will impede pedestrian movement or access to a building or road/street.
 
Throughout the pilot, residents and business owners can have their say and provide feedback about the pilot through the following webpage: https://conversation.stalbert.ca/e-scooter-pilot. Evaluation of the Pilot Project will also include the use and analysis of local e-scooter usage data, as well as considerations related to public safety, public impact, market demand, and financial and operational impacts on the City. 
Business Spotlight On...Whisk Bakeshop and Coffee House
by Patricia Nicol- pnicol@stalbert.ca
Being an entrepreneur and opening a business is not for the faint of heart. It takes patience, good planning, dedication and a long-term vision that will take your investment to the next level.

In July of 2012 Jennifer Gray and her partner combined their expertise and opened a cake studio that would offer a blend of custom cake items that they felt would fill a void in the community. In 2015, Jennifer ventured out on her own and changed the name of the business to Whisk Bakeshop and decided to add more items to the menu offering a wider variety of deserts to provide more options for her expanding customer base.

On August 24, 2021, Whisk Bakeshop and Coffee House opened in their new location as an anchor retail tenant in The Offices at Grandin, offering a wide assortment of delicious and decadent pastries, cookies, and cakes along with the addition of a coffee bar and beverages, it has taken their small bakeshop to a whole new level.

This St. Albert gem has something for everyone – from macaroons to decadent deserts to custom cakes, they even provide gluten free and vegan options. They are advocates of supporting other local businesses, with ACE Coffee Roasters supplying their coffee products and also locally source hand blended teas. Jennifer’s vision was to create an environment for her customers that offered high end, quality products, specially made for her diverse customer base. The comfortable, non-rushed atmosphere allows her to take a moment and visit with her valued patrons. 

Jennifer stated, “When the bakeshop opened in 2012 as Over the Top Cakes, we certainly had no idea where it would take us. This has been the adventure of a lifetime and we are so happy to be sharing it with our amazing staff, family, friends, and of course, our customers”.

Jennifer has been designing cakes since she was 12 years old, but her career did not start off on this path initially, as she is a certified medical transcriptionist. She is a self-taught baker, learning from the best in the trade, and has since become a qualified barista.

Whisk Bakeshop & Coffee House
# 186, 1 Tache Street
www.whiskco.ca
(780) 458-2922

The Spotlight on Business is a monthly feature wherein we highlight a local business and learn more about what they do and how they positively contribute to the identity and economy of St. Albert. If you, or someone you know, would like to be featured in a future issue, please contact economicdevelopment@stalbert.ca  with a brief description of the organization. 
New Businesses in St. Albert
Commercial/Industrial Businesses

780-410-2007
403-1 Tache Street
Financial Services
 
Melody Audiology & Hearing                                                                            
780-809-1349
103-225 Carleton Drive
Hearing Aid Clinic
 
Peoples Pharmacy #8058                                                                                   
780-312-7575
120-140 Bellerose Drive
Pharmacy
 
Tatsbeautybar.Co                                                                                                 
867-446-8881
106, 1 Hebert Road
Lash Studio



Home-Based Businesses

Amaze Custom Homes Ltd.                                                                               
780-937-8350
New House Built
 
CNT Drywall and Plaster Ltd.                                                                            
780-919-6011
Drywall and Stucco Services
 
Concept71 Nails Etc                                 OPENING SOON                            
780-690-6941
Gel Nail Studio
 
Katsseyess                                                                                                           
587-989-1767
Katsseyess
 
Ruby Speech Therapy                             OPENING SOON                            
604-836-6545
Speech and Language Therapy Services
 
Zen Blossoms                                                                                                        
780-905-1911
Florist
Monthly Growth Stats
Single Family Housing Stats
Single Family Dwelling Resales
Building Permits Issued
St. Albert Economic Development
29 Sir Winston Churchill Ave, 
St. Albert, AB T8N 0G3
780-459-1500