City gets grant from province for Aerospace Industry Symposium

Cold Lake is being supported by a provincial grant called the Northern and Regional Economic Development program.

The NRED program will be funding Cold Lake’s hosting of the 2025 Aerospace Industry Symposium in collaboration with aerospace and defence sectors. 

They’ve provided $7.3 million to 74 different projects in 2023-24 in municipalities and Indigenous communities across the province.

“The City of Cold Lake will be facilitating an important discussion regarding the future of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and unmanned systems technology,” said Mayor Craig Copeland in a Government of Alberta press release. 

“Home to an air force base, the oil patch, and an increasing interest from aerospace and unmanned systems companies, our region is well-placed to bring people building the future of aviation together with the people who will be using the technology. We are honoured that the Government of Alberta shares this vision and has made this crucial investment in our project.” 

Previously in 2022-23, Cold Lake First Nations, Community Futures Lakeland, County of St. Paul, Frog Lake First Nation, Lac La Biche County, received provincial dollars from the NRED grant.