News Release: Town of Westlock receives provincial award for building economic strength

Town of Westlock receives provincial award for building economic strength

Westlock, AB - The Town of Westlock is proud to see its work to support economic growth and community resiliency recognized at the provincial level through a 2026 Minister’s Award for Municipal and Public Library Excellence.

Westlock received the award in the Building Economic Strength category, which recognizes initiatives that strengthen a community’s economic capacity, resiliency, and improve its attractiveness to businesses, investors and visitors.

Westlock’s award submission highlighted a coordinated approach to housing, planning and economic development, bringing several major initiatives together to improve the community’s readiness for future opportunities. Through the Housing Accelerator Fund, zoning modernization, digital service improvements and the Town’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Westlock has worked to create clearer development pathways, reduce barriers and build a more responsive environment for housing, business and investment.

The Town also appreciates the endorsement from the Westlock & District Chamber of Commerce, which provided a letter in support of the award submission. The Chamber recognized Westlock’s integrated approach to housing, land use planning, development processes and economic development, along with the importance of strong relationships between the municipality and the local business and development community. That alignment reflects a shared commitment to coordinated planning, responsive service and creating the conditions for businesses, developers and the broader community to succeed.

“This recognition reflects the deliberate work Council and administration have undertaken over a number of years to position Westlock for sustainable, measured growth,” said Jon Kramer, Mayor of the Town of Westlock. “We have been intentional about understanding where we are, where the opportunities exist and what needs to be in place before we move forward. Using data to understand our housing, land, infrastructure and economic needs helps Council make informed decisions that serve the community over the long term. These opportunities are here now, and Westlock is well positioned to grow in a way that makes sense for our community.”

“A great deal of this work has come down to people working together across the organization and building strong relationships outside of it,” said Simone Wiley, Chief Administrative Officer. “Planning and Development, Economic Development and other Town departments have all contributed to making our systems more responsive and easier to navigate. Just as importantly, staff have worked closely with developers, businesses and community partners to better understand their needs, solve problems and build trust. That collaboration has helped us become more coordinated and better prepared to support responsible growth.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Simone Wiley, Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Westlock
780-350-2100

Jon Kramer, Mayor
Town of Westlock
780-349-4444

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