The Story of Redwater

Redwater is poised to become the next Alberta boomtown. Located just 30 minutes north east from Edmonton, with 4 different access points, and significant Railway connections, Redwater is fast becoming a premier destination for the Oilfield and related industries in Alberta.

With over $40 BILLION in bitumen upgraders announced in Sturgeon County alone, there is a shortage of light industrial space. Central and Northern Alberta requires more industrial parks and commercial developments.

Redwater is considered to be a “full service community” and offers many of the services and amenities not found in other towns but common to most large cities. The Town of Redwater has successfully managed Oil and Gas booms as far back as 1948. The town is fully equipped to manage the influx of what will equate to over $40 billion in upgrader infrastructure and related developments. Redwater’s position in today’s growing oilfield market is secured by its proximity to Fort McMurray and markets beyond, its Railway connections, its 4 highway access points, and of course, the upgrader developments.

The town is experiencing explosive growth following announcements of three multi-billion dollar heavy oil upgraders from Petro-Canada, Northern Lights, and North West Upgrading.

In their news release of January 26, 2006, Petro Canada stated, the upgraders will process Bitumen from the Fort Hills Oil Sands Mines, 90 kilometers North of Fort McMurray, into light synthetic crude oil ready for refining into consumer products such as gasoline and diesel..

This light synthetic crude oil is in great worldwide demand.

In order to brace itself for this unprecedented growth, in 1998, the four communities that surround Redwater: Sturgeon County, Strathcona County, Lamont County and the City of Fort Saskatchewan, joined to form the Alberta Industrial Heartland Association. This co-operative was formed to attract industry into the area.

According to Sturgeon County, the efforts paid off and now in 2007 there have been over $40 billion in Sturgeon County upgrader construction commitments announced and many millions spent in land purchases and development.

Redwater is an important part of “Alberta’s Industrial Heartland” and requires industrial parks and commercial property; Standing Stone Development is fulfilling a demonstrated market demand.