Page 25 - XperienceAlberta-EDA-2025

In the city of Lethbridge, two hours south
of Calgary, Whitecaps FC Lethbridge BMO
Academy offers soccer skill development based
on a European club model. A partnership
between the Lethbridge Soccer Association
(LSA) and the Major League Soccer team,
Vancouver Whitecaps, the academy provides
high-quality soccer education and competitive
play. Supporting players on their way to the
top of the sport, the academy’s Caps to College
program connects young athletes with soccer
scholarships at several American and Canadian
universities. Recently, Whitecaps FC and LSA
announced the extension of their partnership
to 2026, speaking to soccer’s continued
importance in the community.
LSA also runs adult leagues and tour-
naments, from recreational leagues to high
performance clubs. The association attracts
provincial, national and international
competitions. In the first quarter of 2024
alone, sporting events brought $5 million into
Lethbridge’s economy.
Alberta’s Ministry of Tourism and Sport has
allocated $10 million in local community recre-
ation centres and $2.5 million to attract major
sports events to the province. Alberta is slated to
host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games.
In Edmonton, Rogers Place arena can seat
18,500, and Commonwealth Stadium holds over
55,000. Calgary is developing a new arena that
will seat 18,400 when it opens in 2027.
$461,153
Was the average sold house price in
Alberta in 2023, 31 per cent below the
Canadian average
>470
Number of provincial parks and
protected areas in Alberta
$5.5 BILLION
Is contributed to Alberta’s gross
domestic product annually by the
non-profit sector
95 PER CENT
Of Albertans believe recreation
facilities, services and programming
are important to quality of life
13,000 KILOMETRES
Designated and managed trails in
Alberta, plus hundreds of thousands
of kilometres of unintended trails
Calgary is well positioned for growth in
the sports sector. As the first Canadian city
to have hosted the Winter Olympics, it has a
strong sporting culture. Thanks to the historic
investment in Calgary sports, there are a
number of top quality sporting facilities all
over the city.
Major sporting events can generate
millions for local economies, with tourists
boosting hospitality, accommodations and
transportation. Hosting the 2015 FIFA Women’s
World cup generated $249 million in the
United States and Mexico. Soccer’s growing
popularity holds a great deal of promise for
Alberta.
Alberta’s population is one of the youngest
in the country, and it’s growing, too — Alberta
experienced the most inter-provincial migration
of any province last year. This growing, youthful
population will drive participation in sports,
and draw larger audiences to sporting events.
ALBERTA HAS
THE HIGHEST
NUMBER OF SUNNY
DAYS IN CANADA
WITH OVER 312
ANNUALLY — A
6:1 RATIO.
Source: Government of Alberta
AT A GLANCE
Connecting Conservation and Community
The Battle River, southeast of Edmonton, stretches over 800
kilometres through central Alberta, perfect for fishing, canoeing
and kayaking. Battle River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) works to
protect the river and its watershed, by hosting events and engaging
residents in citizen science.
BRWA’s Paddle the Battle guide and interactive map connects
residents and visitors to 19 paddling routes along Battle River and its
tributaries, including areas with class two and three rapids. As
visitors paddle the area, they enjoy beautiful vistas of open prairies
to rocky cliffs, showcasing Alberta’s natural beauty and diverse
landscapes.
Youth programs like the guided Habitat Tour of the Battle River
badlands at Big Knife Provincial Park create environmental awareness
and inspire the next generation of conservationists.
Holistic Wellness
Taking care of your health doesn’t have to feel like a chore and
Daysland is proving just that with their new health and wellness hub.
The small town, an hour and a half southeast of Alberta’s capital,
Edmonton, is readying the Daysland Health and Wellness Hub.
The initiative will offer comprehensive services that go beyond
the doctor’s office and dentist’s chair, encompassing a golf course,
massage services, a fitness centre and more.
The hub is designed to make wellness more accessible for
Daysland residents and those in the surrounding area. By integrating
services that support physical, mental and social health, the hub aims
to inspire residents to take an active role in their well-being.
AMPLIFY. ATTRACT. ACCELERATE.
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