SEPTEMBER 22, 2025 / FORT SASKATCHEWAN, AB – The City of Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont County, Sturgeon County, Strathcona County, and Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association are proud to announce that the Industrial Heartland Career Forum has been recognized with the 2025 Minister’s Award for Municipal and Public Library Excellence in the Partnership Category (for municipalities serving over 10,000 residents).
Held on January 30, 2025, the Industrial Heartland Career Forum connected over 500 participants with in-demand industrial career opportunities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. This free event was created in response to a 2024 Regional Labour Market Study, which identified critical workforce shortages in skilled trades and industry.
The Career Forum offered targeted sessions for both students and those exploring career transitions, alongside an interactive exhibitor hall highlighting in-demand industrial careers, educational pathways, and resources to support professional growth in sectors including construction, oil and gas, manufacturing, and emerging technologies. To ensure accessibility, the event provided free transportation, childcare, and interpretation services. All sessions were recorded and are still available online.
“This award highlights the strength of regional collaboration,” said Mark Plamondon, Executive Director of AIHA. “The Industrial Heartland Career Forum was made possible thanks to the dedication of our municipal partners and the contributions of our sponsors, exhibitors, and speakers, who helped create an inclusive, engaging, and impactful event for our community. One of this region’s greatest strengths is our skilled workforce, and we are proud to support its growth and development.”
The Industrial Heartland Career Forum is designed to become an annual initiative, fostering economic growth and addressing workforce gaps through proactive regional collaboration.
To learn more about the award or watch a video about the event, visit: https://www.alberta.ca/ministers-awards-for-municipalities
To learn more about the Industrial Heartland Career Forum or watch the recorded sessions, visit: https://industrialheartland.com/newsandevents/industrial-heartland-career-forum/
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region and most advanced carbon sequestration hub. With $50 billion in existing capital investment and more than 40 companies, AIH provides fuels, fertilizers, power, petrochemicals, hydrogen, and more to consumers around the world. Explore the people, partnerships, and potential behind Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.