Major Projects Exchange brings regional opportunities and local expertise together in Radway

On October 21, 2026, local business owners, project representatives and regional partners gathered at the Radway Agri-Centre for the N.E. Alberta Major Projects Exchange. For businesses in Thorhild County and neighbouring communities, it was a chance to hear about five major projects and speak directly with people working across the region. It was also a chance for project representatives to hear from the people who live and work here about what their businesses can offer.

The morning’s Major Projects Panel introduced participants to infrastructure projects at CFB 4 Wing Cold Lake, the Fortune Minerals Cobalt and Critical Metals Refinery, the Meta Data Centre and Beacon infrastructure project, the Greenlight Power Project and the Warwick Battery Storage Facility. Hearing about these projects in one place gave participants a broader picture of the work taking shape across northeast Alberta and a starting point for conversations about how local skills and services could fit in.

After the panel, participants gathered around tables for group-based speed networking. The smaller groups gave business owners time to introduce themselves, describe the work they do and ask questions. They also had the opportunity to meet other suppliers working in neighbouring communities. We enjoyed a delicious lunch together that was prepared by the Radway Agri Centre volunteers, while hearing from two keynote speakers. Emily-Anne Batori discussed cybersecurity, and Serena Sjodin from the Government of Alberta spoke on the economy, trade and immigration.

In the afternoon, the Procurement and Regional Support Panel brought the focus back to a practical question for local suppliers. Once a business hears about a promising project, how does it take the next step? The session allowed participants to ask about purchasing processes and learn where to turn for support. Open networking at the end of the day left time to return to an earlier conversation or introduce themselves to someone they had yet to meet.

Thorhild County thanks all the partners, speakers, volunteers and everyone who made the trip to Radway. We especially appreciate the business owners who took time away from their day-to-day work to share their experience and the volunteers who took the time to assist with setup, preparing lunch, and clean up after the event.