2024 Winners

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) presented its Annual Awards of Excellence during EDA Xperience 2024 Leaders' Summit and Conference at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge April 10 - 12. 

The 2024 Annual Awards of Excellence honour Alberta individuals for their contribution to the profession, as well as Alberta communities for excellence in the following categories:

• Economic Development Renewal Project
  
• Innovative Approach to Economic Development Project
  
• Regional Collaboration and Partnership Project
  
• Marketing for Economic Development Outcomes Project  
  

Economic Development Renewal Project  

• Large Community/Region: City of Edmonton - Corner Store Program
  
• Medium Community/Region: Parkland County - Explore Parkland
• Small Community/Region: Leduc County - Leduc County Business & Entrepreneur Centre

Innovative Approach to Economic Development 

• Large Community/Region: Energy Futures Lab - Alberta’s Electricity Future
• Medium Community/Region: Airdrie Economic Development - Discover Program
• Small Community/Region: Mountain View Regional Film Office - Make it Reel BIG in Mountain View!

Regional Collaboration and Partnership

• Large Community/Region: Community Futures Lethbridge Region - Blackfoot Signage Project
  
• Medium Community/Region: Town of Taber - Taber Regional Immigration Initiative
  
• Small Community/Region: Town of Strathmore - Lead by Example Powwow

Marketing for Economic Development Outcomes

• Large Community/Region: Southern Alberta Investment & Trade Initiative - SAITI 2024 Global Awareness Campaign
• Medium Community/Region: County of Grande Prairie - Quality of Life Campaign
• Small Community/Region: MD of Willowcreek - The Last Best West 

The Alex Metcalfe Awards

These awards celebrate the "best in show" in each community size: 

• Large Community/Region Project: Community Futures Lethbridge Region - Blackfoot Signing Project
• Medium Community/Region Project: Town of Taber - Taber Regional Immigration Initiative 
• Small Community/Region Project: Leduc County - Leduc County Business & Entrepreneur Centre 

The Individual Awards

• EDA Public Private Partnership Award : ATCO
• Inclusive Community Award: Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism
• First Nation Partner: Cando
• Economic Development Champion:  Jennifer Jabs, Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade; Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade
• Gerry Gabinet Mentorship Award: Mary Lee Prior, Manager Economic Development Town of Vermilion
• Emerging Talent in Economic Development: Jamieson Brown Community Engagement & Economic Development Manager Town of Vegreville
• The President’s Award: Tammy Powell Senior Director, Regional Economic Development Services at Government of Alberta
• The Economic Developer of the Year: Angela Groeneveld Economic Sustainability & Investment Officer Town of Strathmore

Thank you to everyone who submitted their projects for consideration.

Our 2025 Annual Awards of Excellence will be presented at EDA Xperience 2025 at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.