Business, Edmonton Election, Municipal

On May 8, 2025, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce hosted its reimagined “State of Our City: Let’s Get Down to Business”, presented by EPCOR. Departing from the traditional mayoral addresses, this year's gathering embraced a no-nonsense, solutions-focused format, spotlighting Edmonton’s key business and civic leaders. 

Moderated by Ryan Jespersen, the panel featured Doug Griffiths (CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce), Kalen Anderson (CEO, BILD Edmonton Metro), Traci Bednard (CEO, Explore Edmonton), Tim Shipton (EVP, Oilers Entertainment Group), and Eddie Robar (City Manager, City of Edmonton). 

If We Were Mayor for a Day… 

The event opened with: “If you were Mayor for a day, what would your first proclamation be?”. While all the panelists responded with bold ideas, they all underscored the urgency for Edmonton to adopt a more ambitious and unified vision. Doug Griffiths, the Edmonton Chamber CEO emphasized the need for a cultural shift within City Hall—from a mindset of managing risk to one of embracing opportunity. He advocated for a city culture that says “Yes—and here’s how,” aiming to streamline permitting processes and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that deter business investment. 

Placemaking and City Branding: Beyond the Oilers 

We love our Oilers, and we’re all in on the excitement they bring to this city. But Edmonton’s brand is more than a playoff run. The panel emphasized the opportunity to expand Edmonton’s story beyond this period. Traci Bednard, CEO of Explore Edmonton, highlighted the city’s impressive net promoter score among visitors — people from outside Edmonton love what they see here. But she pointed out that Edmontonians themselves need to harness that pride and share it more actively. Tim Shipton, EVP at Oilers Entertainment Group, echoed that call, emphasizing the need to make downtown a vibrant, year-round destination that reflects Edmonton’s diverse culture and energy — not just on game nights but every day. 

Infrastructure, Growth, and the Business Climate 

With Edmonton experiencing rapid growth—adding approximately 55,000 residents annually—the panel addressed concerns about infrastructure keeping pace. Kalen Anderson, CEO of BILD Edmonton, pointed out that while the city is expanding, outdated policies and siloed departments are hindering progress. Eddie Robar, the City Manager for the City of Edmonton, struck a positive note, emphasizing the city's commitment to breaking down silos and prioritizing interdepartmental coordination to better support sustainable growth. "We’re making progress," he said. "The goal is to move faster, work smarter, and ensure Edmonton is ready for what’s next." 

Advocacy in Action: A Pre-Election Call to Voters 

As Edmonton gears up for its municipal election on October 20, 2025, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce is intensifying its advocacy efforts to ensure the city’s next leadership champions a business-friendly environment. Building on the momentum from the “State of Our City” event, the Chamber has outlined key priorities for the upcoming election: 

• Investing in Infrastructure: Smarter investments in roads, transit, and downtown revitalization to facilitate business operations and enhance urban living. 

• Enhancing Competitiveness: Reducing bureaucratic red tape and promoting Edmonton as a global business hub to attract investments and talent. 

• Fiscal Responsibility: Holding all levels of government accountable for responsible spending that supports the business community. 

• Boosting Trade and Investment: Advocating for policies that open doors to international markets, helping local businesses expand beyond borders. 

The Chamber is actively engaging with candidates to advocate for policies that foster economic growth, streamline regulatory processes, and position Edmonton as a city of opportunity and innovation. 

Doug Griffiths closed the event with a clear call to action. “This Chamber represents over 2000 businesses — together employing over 100,000 Edmontonians. We are the economy. We are the tax base. We are the community builders,” he said. But he didn’t stop there. 

Griffiths emphasized that if Edmonton truly wants to attract and retain business, the City needs to act more like a concierge — providing clear guidance, faster approvals, and a service-first mindset.

“Right now, it feels like businesses have to jump through hoops to get basic answers. Imagine if the City worked like a concierge desk — anticipating needs, removing obstacles, and making it easy for businesses to say yes to Edmonton. That’s the kind of city we need to be,” he said.