Cities and towns are constantly reinventing themselves, reinvigorating their spaces and places through inventive design and good urbanism.
Developers are building attainable and affordable housing allowing more people to get into the market. They are designing for kids and families in mind with gardens and playscapes. They are building higher density hubs in traditionally low-density areas. They are connecting people to nature, through parks and other sustainability features.
Here are the stories of our members and how they are shaping our region.
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Finding the Right Fit
In 2023, UDI identified rightsizing public infrastructure requirements as a top advocacy priority, and our committees developed Right-sizing Public Infrastructure, a roadmap with issues and strategic opportunities to pursue. The punchline – we need to be strategic in how we build on both private and public lands. At our May luncheon, Katrina Rowe, President (Communities)…
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Industry Donates $10,000 to University of Alberta’s Curling Program
In its second year, UDI – Edmonton Metro’s Curling Invitational gathered 80 members to face off in a highly-competitive tournament – complete with a whole lot of tumbles, laughs, and misthrows. “Our real estate industry and city building is like one big team sport,” said Susan Keating, VP of Melcor and Chair of UDI’s Board…
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Consultants Take Centre Stage
For the last two years, UDI – Edmonton has hosted several discussions with a range of leaders in the industry – from developers to trailblazers in the construction industry. At our March luncheon, we handed the microphone to our consultant members – the groundbreakers who help the industry take center stage but from behind the…
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What does city building look like in Edmonton this year?
In 2023, urban issues dominated local headlines. The Valley Line Southeast opened its service to passengers after a three-year delay. Edmonton’s new zoning bylaw passed 11-2 and attracted nearly 300 people to a five-day public hearing. Migration to Alberta surged, with 31,371 from international origins and 13,926 from other Canadian provinces. And of course, macro…
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Edmonton Metro, I’m Yours
When it comes to romance in the movies, cities are the main character. There’s a scene in Clueless, where Cher, after realizing she was in madly in love, found herself walking aimlessly throughout the streets of Beverley Hills. In Notting Hill, Julia Roberts’ character professed her love for a local in a bookstore found along…
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Growing the Grid
Early in January, the temperature took a sharp turn, even prompting an Alberta Emergency Alert advising Albertans to cut back on electricity consumption. “Extreme cold resulting in high power demand has placed the Alberta grid at a high risk of rotating power outages,” the alert read. The cold snap put into perspective how important power…
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Spring and Fall Luncheons Now Live!
We know that you really, really love our luncheons – so we are excited to launch them all together so you can register for one, a few, or all of them at once! One of the priorities in our five-year Strategic Plan is to establish diverse educational opportunities for our members, and to revitalize our…
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Job Posting: Manager of Policy & Governance
Are you interested in joining a dynamic team at the helm of city-building advocacy and engagement in one of Canada’s fastest growing metro regions? The Urban Development Institute – Edmonton Metro is looking for a Manager of Policy and Governance to lead the development of policy positions through member engagement and research – all to…
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The Year That Was
The people in our industry continue to enthusiastically engage, collaborate, and influence change, united in addressing the many challenges faced by our cities and communities. From a nationwide housing shortage to significant cost escalations, we continue to work hard on all fronts. This year, our members provided councils and administrations with significant time, expertise, and…
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Breaking Barriers
Prior to developing neighbourhoods with Rohit Group of Companies, Leanne Ure was an engineer at Stantec, designing the plans and inventing the spaces and places within those communities. Inspired by her mom, a civil engineer, Ure has made it her personal mission to create opportunities for women in the industry to connect and support one…
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350 City Builders Gather to Celebrate Industry Contributions
On November 18, 350 of our members, municipal and elected officials, and industry partners gathered at the JW Marriott for the 24th Annual Spirit Awards. “This annual celebration was a chance for us to recognize our peers and their contributions to making our region an attractive, affordable, and livable place,” said Kalen Anderson, Executive Director…
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Why the Metro Matters
Earlier this year, UDI – Edmonton Metro launched State of Growth, a report that provides a snapshot of land development trends and demographic profiles throughout the entire region. The report highlights social and economic strengths that have helped to attract jobs, people, and talent to the region – sharing what has worked well for municipalities,…