Edson

resource-based employment, here. Another sig- nificant impact in our community is the Yellow- head Highway–Highway 16–which is, for us, one of the key freeways that goes east to west in Canada. It travels from Edmonton to Jasper Na- tional Park and so we see a significant amount of tourism-related traffic, particularly in the sum- mer months. And so, a lot of service-based indus- try– fuel and food– is a part of that as well.” Today, Edson’s population hovers around 8,500 people. “We also deal with the ebbs and flows of the resource sector,” says Derricott. “There’s a significant shadow population which is the transient workers that come to town, fill up our hotels, fill up the rental properties, but wouldn’t consider themselves permanent residents of our community. And that can be anywhere from one to several thousand workers, depending on how busy the oil and gas sector is. Right now, we’re experiencing a moderate level of that –maybe a EDSON, ALBERTA thousand, but if things ramp up, it can become a significant addition of people to the community.” While Edson has existed for quite some time in an economic boom region, with the oil and gas sector, in particular, pushing the economy forward, Derricott admits that over the last 18 months, or so, the decline in the sector has caused the town to re-evaluate some of its perspectives. “Business came easy during the boom times,” he says. “We really just collected the apples as they fell off the tree.We may have to become a little bit more strategic and proactive in fostering and strength- ening the attractiveness of Edson as a place to live and do business, because while I certainly hope, and the indications are, that the oil and gas sector will strengthen, I think it’s unlikely we’ll experience the same kind of boom that we did previously.” However, from his position as the town’s Chief Administrative Officer, Derricott stresses that one We are well situated in terms of our natural endowments. We have this incredible ability to interact with nature and the wil- derness. Some of our recreational activities are camping and ATVing, and snowmobiling. We’re only an hour and a half from Jasper, so we get out there as often as possible. MIKE DERRICOTT CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER