Alberta is building big. The real question is: who will build it? Posted on July 28, 2026 by Mariangela Avila The cranes are rising. Billion-dollar projects are receiving approvals. New investment is pouring into Alberta. But beneath every major announcement lies one critical question: Who will build it all? From ATCO's $2.9 billion Yellowhead Mainline Pipeline to Meta's multi-billion-dollar data centre and other proposed industrial developments, Alberta is entering another significant investment cycle. These projects promise thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, but they also highlight one of the province's biggest challenges - finding enough skilled workers. That's not a bad problem to have. For years, Alberta has balanced steady job creation with elevated unemployment, particularly among younger workers. Today, that equation is changing. Job vacancies remain above pre-pandemic levels, even after easing from the historic highs seen in 2022. At the same time, population growth has begun to moderate, meaning the steady influx of workers that helped meet labour demand may no longer be enough. The next phase of Alberta's growth will depend on attracting skilled trades, investing in workforce training, and aligning immigration with the industries that need talent most. Why does this matter if you're buying, selling, or investing in Calgary real estate? Because labour drives growth, and growth drives housing demand. When companies invest billions into infrastructure and industrial expansion, they don't just build pipelines, facilities, or data centres. They create employment, attract families, support local businesses, and strengthen communities. Those ripple effects often translate into increased demand for homes, rental properties, and new housing developments. Calgary is well positioned to benefit from that momentum. The city continues to attract people seeking career opportunities while offering one of the most affordable housing markets among Canada's major metropolitan areas. For buyers, that means purchasing in a market supported by strong long-term economic fundamentals. For investors, it reinforces why Calgary remains an attractive destination for both rental and capital growth opportunities. The broader economic landscape is evolving as well. Trade tensions with the United States continue to influence consumer behaviour, with fewer Canadians travelling south and imports of U.S. alcohol declining since the trade dispute began. At the same time, provincial leaders are working to reduce barriers to trade within Canada, including expanding direct-to-consumer alcohol sales across participating provinces. These developments illustrate how economies adapt during periods of uncertainty. The lesson for real estate is simple: headlines change quickly, but fundamentals endure. Alberta's future will be shaped not only by the projects being announced but by the people who build them. Employment, infrastructure investment, population growth, and economic confidence remain the foundation of a healthy housing market. If you're considering buying, selling, or investing in Calgary real estate, don't focus solely on today's news. Look at the long-term drivers behind the market. Alberta isn't just preparing for growth - it's actively building it. And where opportunity is being built, real estate often follows.

Sherwood Park care workers file to unionize. If successful, it would affect over 50 workers employed at Aster Gardens. Earlier this week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their third new applications report of July 2026. The report summarizes all the application they received between 12 July and 19 July 2026. One of the applications was for a union certification. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees filed the application on 14 July 2026 on behalf of workers employed by Charis Seniors Residence Limited Partnership, which is the official business name of Aster Gardens. Located in Sherwood Park, Aster Gardens is a 155-space supportive living facility. It is managed by the BC-based Optima Living. The summary in the report said that the bargaining unit proposed by AUPE would include all workers employed in so-called auxiliary nursing care, which typically include licensed practical nurses and health care aides. It would be over 50 workers. To apply for union certification in Alberta, a union must demonstrate support from at least 40% of the workers in the proposed bargaining unit. In this case, that would be 22 workers. A hearing has been set for next Tuesday (28th), during which time the labour board will hear arguments, if there are any, from the employer as to why these workers should not be able to unionize with AUPE. Listed in the application summary as employer contacts are Kailey Brown and Jarrett Serediak. As of this past March, Brown was general manager at Optima Living's Country Cottage facility, also in Sherwood Park. According to LinkedIn, Serediak is a director of labour relations for Optima Living. Interestingly, he was the labour relations director for the NAIT Academic Staff Association for 5 years. Serediak was a labour relations specialist with ATCO before getting his current job with Optima Living. Should the ALRB approve AUPE's application, they will hold a certification vote. This will give workers a chance to democratically choose whether to unionize with AUPE. Assuming the 22 workers I mentioned prviously follow through with their initial support and vote in favour of unionizing, they would need to convince just 6 more of their fellow workers to join them. If a majority of these workers vote in favour of unionizing, one of their first orders of business will be to elect a bargaining committee to begin negotiating their first collective agreement. Support independent journalism.

Agreement clears the way for affordable housing project in Stoney Creek. July 23, 2026 Discover more Travel Guides & Travelogues GTA Construction News staff writer The City of Hamilton has reached an agreement with non-profit affordable housing developer Crosswalk Communities to deliver up to 60 affordable rental apartments at 5 and 13 Lake Ave. S. in Stoney Creek. Crosswalk Communities will work with several partners to deliver the project, including ATCO, Skygrid Construction, SpruceLab and Purpose Building. "This agreement marks a significant milestone from vision to execution," Jeanhy Shim, co-founder and CEO of Crosswalk Communities said in a statement. "The city stepping up with land, pre-development funding and a nominal ground lease, and Crosswalk bringing a commitment to build affordable housing backed by experience, expertise and a 'best-in-class' development team." The development will include units for residents facing housing challenges, with 20 per cent of the apartments prioritized for veterans. The agreement launches the next phase of development, including detailed design, planning approvals and pre-construction work. Homes will be built using modular construction methods, a practice the city says will help speed up delivery while reducing environmental impacts. The building is designed to meet Rick Hansen Foundation accessibility standards and achieve the highest National Energy Code of Canada targets for energy performance. Hamilton will lease the land to Crosswalk Communities at a nominal rate and provide $500,000 through the Housing Secretariat's Affordable Housing Development Project Stream to support pre-development costs. "By using surplus City lands to create more affordable housing, we're taking practical action to increase housing options, strengthen our neighbourhoods and support people at every stage of life," Mayor Andrea Horwath said in a statement. The sites were previously identified by the city for affordable housing. The property at 13 Lake Ave. S. was declared surplus in 2017, while 5 Lake Ave. S. was declared surplus in 2023. Pre-development work was completed in early 2025 and the city began accepting proposals from non-profit affordable housing providers in April 2025 with a request for proposals requiring a minimum of 30 per cent of apartments to be offered at 80 per cent of AMR. Crosswalk Communities' proposal will provide 100 per cent affordable units at that rate. Hamilton's Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap was adopted in 2023 and officials say about 30 housing projects are expected to be under development within three years, creating an estimated 1,455 affordable, 511 supportive and 138 attainable housing units.