Policy ToursLearn first-hand the key issues and innovative industries in our region by participating in policy tours in the greater area.
Attendees must be registered for a tour in order to attend. Please register in advance or onsite at the registration desk, pending availability. Waitlists will be made available onsite for any tours that are full in advance. Disclaimer: Space is limited on policy tours and may be prioritized for PNWER board members and legislative attendees. PNWER reserves the right to adjust participation as needed. |
WEDNESDAY TOURS
Heidelberg Materials Edmonton Cement Plant Tour
Wednesday, July 22 | 1:45 pm - 5:30 pm
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Join Heidelberg Materials for an exclusive tour of their Edmonton Cement Plant, where operational excellence, innovation, and sustainability come together.
Guests will be provided with a guided look at the cement manufacturing process. The tour will showcase how Heidelberg Materials produces essential building materials while continuously improving environmental performance and supporting the communities where it operates. The Edmonton Cement Plant takes a practical, locally grounded approach to sustainability, integrating recycling, resource efficiency, and operational innovation into daily operations. This includes the reuse of impacted clay in clinker production, comprehensive water recycling processes, and the use of alternative fuels as part of a multidimensional strategy |
toward net zero 2050 commitments. The facility also produces EcoCemPLUS® blended cement, one of Heidelberg Materials lowest global warming potential cement products, supporting lower carbon construction across the region.
Guests will learn about Heidelberg Materials carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The Edmonton plant is the site of the first planned industrial scale CCS project in the North American cement industry. When fully operational, the facility is expected to capture approximately 1,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year from cement production, marking a significant step forward in decarbonising essential building materials.
The tour offers a unique opportunity to see how Heidelberg Materials is combining local action with global leadership to build a more sustainable future.
Guests will learn about Heidelberg Materials carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. The Edmonton plant is the site of the first planned industrial scale CCS project in the North American cement industry. When fully operational, the facility is expected to capture approximately 1,000,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year from cement production, marking a significant step forward in decarbonising essential building materials.
The tour offers a unique opportunity to see how Heidelberg Materials is combining local action with global leadership to build a more sustainable future.
Innovation in Action: A University of Alberta Research Tour (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday, July 22 | 1:45 - 5:30 pm
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This comprehensive University of Alberta tour highlights the province’s leadership in energy innovation, climate science, and applied engineering. Participants will explore cutting-edge research at the Centre for Hydrogen Innovation, Workforce Development and Outreach (CHIWDO), where cross-sector collaboration is advancing hydrogen technologies and building the future workforce. The tour also features the Microwave, Millimetre-wave and MetaDevices (M3) Laboratory, showcasing high-frequency technologies with applications in defence, telecommunications, and health.
Attendees will gain insight into climate research at the Canadian Ice Core Lab, home to invaluable records of environmental change spanning thousands of years. The tour further examines large-scale carbon capture, storage, and monitoring technologies, alongside emerging solutions like the “biobattery,” which converts forest and agricultural waste into low-carbon fuels. Finally, the Construction Innovation Centre demonstrates how integrated research and industry partnerships are driving sustainable development and modernization across Canada’s built environment. The tour will feature a small reception for participants, with remarks from the University of Alberta leadership. This tour is sold out. Please email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist. |
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Edmonton International Airport's Airport City Sustainability Campus
Wednesday, July 22 | 1:45 - 5:30 pm
Explore how Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is redefining the role of an airport as a platform for economic growth, innovation, and sustainability. This behind-the-scenes tour will showcase YEG's unique approach to developing one of North America's largest airport land holdings, featuring dual-use commercial and defence infrastructure upgrades, Canada's largest airport-based hydrogen production and refuelling ecosystem, commercial drone delivery operations conducted safely within controlled airspace, and world-class aviation training facilities. Participants will gain insight into how strategic airport development is attracting investment, enabling new industries, strengthening supply chains, and creating a globally connected innovation hub for the Edmonton region and beyond.
Hydrogen Policy Tour (SOLD OUT)
Wednesday, July 22 | 1:45 - 5:15 pm
Join us for an exclusive, guided tour of Alberta's first modular hydrogen fueling station. Located at the City of Edmonton's Ellerslie Facility, this state-of-the-art mobile station is a cornerstone of the Alberta Zero Emissions Fleet Fueling initiative, a strategic regional partnership dedicated to piloting hydrogen as a viable, scalable fuel source for light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles.
What to Expect on the Tour:
This tour will also visit the Alberta Motor Transport Association. This vehicle showcase will allow attendees to see, touch, and interact with hydrogen vehicle technology that has been trialed in Alberta. Vehicles include fuel cell electric semitrucks and a variety of hydrogen diesel dual fuel vehicle retrofits. Guests in attendance will be able to ride in a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).
This tour is sold out. Please email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
What to Expect on the Tour:
- Innovative Technology: Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the facility produces clean hydrogen on-site utilizing an advanced process involving methanol and deionized water.
- Scale and Infrastructure: Explore the station's impressive storage capabilities, which feature 16 high-pressure steel tanks with a combined capacity of 600 kilograms.
- Live Demonstration: Witness a hydrogen-powered vehicle being fueled in real-time.
- This tour offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to see the practical application of this technology and understand the critical role it plays in building a robust, sustainable hydrogen ecosystem for Alberta’s economy.
This tour will also visit the Alberta Motor Transport Association. This vehicle showcase will allow attendees to see, touch, and interact with hydrogen vehicle technology that has been trialed in Alberta. Vehicles include fuel cell electric semitrucks and a variety of hydrogen diesel dual fuel vehicle retrofits. Guests in attendance will be able to ride in a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV).
This tour is sold out. Please email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
Anohka Distillery – Innovation, Agriculture, and Value-Added Manufacturing
Wednesday, July 22 | 1:45 - 5:30 pm
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Explore how Alberta-grown agricultural products are transformed into premium spirits through innovation, advanced production techniques, and sustainable manufacturing practices during this exclusive tour of Anohka Distillery. Participants will gain an inside look at the distilling process, from sourcing local grains and other regional ingredients to the application of modern fermentation and distillation technologies that create high-quality, value-added products.
The tour will also feature a discussion on the policies that support growth in the craft beverage sector, including agricultural value chains, rural economic development, innovation, market access, and opportunities for expanding trade. |
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This tour offers a practical look at how entrepreneurship, agriculture, and manufacturing intersect to strengthen regional economies and create new opportunities for producers and communities across the Pacific Northwest.
Attendees will have the opportunity for a behind the scene look at the distillery and will enjoy a tasting and light reception.
Attendees will have the opportunity for a behind the scene look at the distillery and will enjoy a tasting and light reception.
Invest Northwest Alberta - Grande Prairie-Greenview Tour: Where Energy Meets Opportunity (INVITATION ONLY)
Wednesday, July 22 | 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Experience firsthand why the Grande Prairie-Greenview region is one of Canada's most important economic engines and a critical contributor to North America's energy, forestry, agricultural, and resource sectors.
This exclusive full-day tour will transport delegates from Edmonton to Grande Prairie for an immersive look at the industries, innovation, and infrastructure driving growth across Northwest Alberta. Positioned between the Montney and Duvernay resource plays, the region is a North American leader in natural gas production, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing, and workforce development. Delegates will gain behind-the-scenes access to key industry sites, connect with business and community leaders, and explore the investments and partnerships shaping the future of Alberta's economy. |
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In addition to the region’s industrial strengths, delegates will learn about key assets that support the broader resource economy, including Northwestern Polytechnic’s expanding trades training, modernized facilities, and strategic partnerships with industry. These investments are addressing skilled labour needs across energy, construction, fabrication, transportation, and other critical sectors in northern Alberta. The tour will include a look at regional agriculture and applied research capacity, including the National Bee Diagnostic Centre in Beaverlodge, a nationally significant facility supporting pollinator health, agricultural resilience, and research for producers, regulators, and industry across Canada. From energy security and skilled trades training to agricultural innovation and emerging investment opportunities, this tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the scale, momentum, and potential of Northwest Alberta.
Tour Includes:
Tentative Schedule:
Tour Includes:
- Round-trip charter air transportation between Edmonton and Grande Prairie
- Ground transportation throughout the tour
- Visits to leading regional industry, innovation, and agricultural destinations
- Networking opportunities with industry and community leaders
- Breakfast refreshments, snacks, and lunch
Tentative Schedule:
- 8:00 AM – Depart Edmonton
- 9:00 AM – Arrive in Grande Prairie
- Full-day regional showcase and site visits
- 4:00 PM – Depart Grande Prairie
- 5:00 PM – Arrive in Edmonton
THURSDAY TOURS
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Policy Tour (SOLD OUT)
Thursday, July 23 | 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
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Join Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA) for a guided tour of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland: Canada’s largest hydrocarbon processing region and one of the most significant concentrations of energy, petrochemical, refining, fertiliser, and industrial infrastructure investment in Canada. Located just northeast of Edmonton, the Heartland is home to more than 40 companies and approximately $50 billion in capital investment, making it a major driver of regional trade, manufacturing, and energy value-chain development.
Designed for PNWER delegates, this tour offers a closer look at the industrial scale, strategic infrastructure, and investment platform that makes Alberta's Industrial Heartland a key part of Western Canada’s economy and an increasingly important link in North American supply chains. |
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Delegates will gain insight into how the region is supporting growth in conventional and emerging sectors, including petrochemicals, hydrogen, fertiliser, fuels, and other value-added industrial development. The tour will also highlight Alberta's Industrial Heartland’s world-class carbon capture and storage capabilities, which are helping position the region as a leader in industrial decarbonisation and lower-carbon growth.
For delegates interested in seeing how policy, infrastructure, geography, and industrial clustering come together in practice, this will be one of the most distinctive off-site experiences of the summit.
The tour may take delegates for a walk throughout industrial spaces – as such, please be prepared for gravel or uneven terrain. Closed-toed shoes are required.
This tour is sold out. Please email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
For delegates interested in seeing how policy, infrastructure, geography, and industrial clustering come together in practice, this will be one of the most distinctive off-site experiences of the summit.
The tour may take delegates for a walk throughout industrial spaces – as such, please be prepared for gravel or uneven terrain. Closed-toed shoes are required.
This tour is sold out. Please email [email protected] to be added to the waitlist.
Cenovus Christina Lake Tour (INVITATION ONLY - FOR LEGISLATORS)
Thursday, July 23 | 6:45 am - 4:00 pm
Cenovus Energy, a sponsor of the 2026 Pacific Northwest Economic Region Annual Summit, is offering a tour of its Christina Lake oil sands operations, where the company is producing about 400,000 barrels per day of crude oil in northern Alberta. This is a full-day, invitation-only event for elected officials, on Thursday, July 23 with an early morning departure - approximately 6:45am from the hotel, with a return to Edmonton International Airport at 4pm.
Attendees will depart via coach from the JW Marriott at approximately 6:45am. Return air transportation will be provided to Christina Lake from Edmonton as well as the necessary ground transportation at our site for the tour. Luggage will be stored for those with evening departures. Anyone returning to the hotel will be responsible for their own transportation at the end of the tour.
Attendees will depart via coach from the JW Marriott at approximately 6:45am. Return air transportation will be provided to Christina Lake from Edmonton as well as the necessary ground transportation at our site for the tour. Luggage will be stored for those with evening departures. Anyone returning to the hotel will be responsible for their own transportation at the end of the tour.
Additional details on the departure terminal location as well as a tour itinerary will be provided to registered attendees. Please be prepared to arrive at the airport by 7:30 a.m. You will be back in Edmonton by approximately 4 p.m.
For more information about Cenovus, please see our website Cenovus.com and for Christina Lake, see the Oil Sands operations page.
*Please note: weather and other safety considerations may cause cancellation of the tour.
For more information about Cenovus, please see our website Cenovus.com and for Christina Lake, see the Oil Sands operations page.
*Please note: weather and other safety considerations may cause cancellation of the tour.
If you are an elected official interested in this tour, please email Rachael Kopp at [email protected].