Municipal Matters: Investment attraction – Opportunity Medicine Hat

By Al Sharma on January 31, 2026.

If a city were a hockey team, success wouldn’t come from talent alone – it would take strategy, discipline, a strong bench, and an unwavering long-term commitment. As the manager of investment attraction for the City of Medicine Hat, that same philosophy guides my work in investment attraction.

I joined the Medicine Hat Economic Development team in 2024, coming from Calgary after serving with the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, where I held provincewide responsibility for investment attraction. From that experience, I learned a simple truth: some regions rise because they intentionally build their profile, while others remain overlooked simply because they don’t tell their story loud enough or consistently enough.

When I stepped into my role with Medicine Hat Economic Development, my mandate was clear: elevate Medicine Hat’s visibility among investors, build meaningful relationships, and deepen our understanding of the region’s competitive strengths.

One of our first major initiatives was the OpporTOURunity Medicine Hat event, a play on words as we wanted stakeholders to come and tour our city. This event, held in the fall of 2024, gave us an opportunity to showcase our assets and demonstrate our potential firsthand. The event was a strong success, drawing roughly 25 delegates from Business Development Bank of Canada, Prairies Economic Development Canada, Invest Alberta Corporation, US Department of Commerce, Global Affairs Canada, and many others from across Alberta. Delegates participated in tours, presentations, social functions and met with local business leaders, city officials, our MLA Justin Wright and Premier Danielle Smith. It was the kind of high impact engagement that helps shift perceptions and open doors.

A regional economic strategy was already in motion in 2024, which identified key sectors as aerospace and defence, value added agriculture, and tourism. We have since built on this foundation by dedicating resources to the aerospace and defence sector, leveraging unique local advantages including Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield, and our growing drone industry. In parallel, we advanced a regional agriculture strategy that highlights key considerations for agrifood investment – the area’s favourable climate, land advantages, and strategic geography – and identifies actions to leverage opportunity.

To ensure Medicine Hat is visible on the right stages, we have represented the region at major industry events including International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC), Canada’s Defence & Security Event (CANSEC), Canadian Defence Security and Aerospace Exhibition (DEFSEC), the Alberta Aerial Evolution Conference, Carbon Capture Canada and the Alberta Aviation, Aerospace & Defence Summit. These conferences have helped us build essential networks, track industry trends and establish Medicine Hat as a credible and committed player. They have yielded rich dividends and generated valuable leads.

Energy transition opportunities are emerging. With projects like the Samis Solar development, the carbon capture project, Clear Horizon and a large existing petrochemical base, Medicine Hat attracts companies working on next generation energy technologies. We regularly engage with firms looking to capitalize on these strategic advantages.

This work is truly a team sport and success depends on collaboration across the city and the broader investment community. A recent example is our co-ordinated participation at the ICSC Conference in Whistler, where the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce, the Urban Development Industry Group (UDI), the city’s land department and Medicine Hat Economic Development came together to jointly promote investment opportunities. ICSC is one of Canada’s largest real estate conferences, and our unified presence strengthens our pitch.

Day to day, our work is directly supporting investors who see potential in bringing their projects to our region. We help them navigate municipal processes and act as a connector – ensuring projects are supported by the various city departments and create win-win outcomes for both the investor and the community.

Investment attraction is a long-term effort. Transforming a regional economy requires persistence, a clear, consistent message, and the right partners at the table. Our goal is to communicate Medicine Hat’s value proposition with discipline and ensure we create the conditions that attract the industries we want. I am fortunate to work alongside a capable, committed team – and together, we are building momentum.

Al Sharma is manager of investment attraction for the City of Medicine Hat

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