Strathcona County Receives 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council

IEDC’s annual Excellence Awards honour the economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the profession.

Strathcona County received a 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Silver Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The award was bestowed specifically for the organization’s work in the Special Purpose Website category that impacted over 100,000 residents. Sean McRitchie, Director, Economic Development and Tourism, Reade Beaudoin, Senior Economic Development Officer, and Richard MacDonald, Marketing and Communications, were acknowledged and honoured at the IEDC 2024 Annual Conference in Denver, CO, September 15-18, 2024. The award-winning website can be viewed at SelectStrathcona.com.

"Strathcona County is setting the standard of excellence for economic development with its investment attraction website project. This award highlights Strathcona County’s commitment to its community and demonstrates the transformative impact of economic development,” said Nathan Ohle, IEDC President and CEO. “It is with great pride that IEDC presents this award to Strathcona County, celebrating their leadership and innovation in the field of economic development." 

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce this year's award winners. These exceptional projects showcase remarkable dedication and ingenuity within the field," said Kevin Kramer, Chair of IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Awards Advisory Committee. “Strathcona County’s contributions will leave a lasting impact and demonstrate its commitment to creating positive change for its residents.”  

Every year IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development.  

“This online tool was developed to help Strathcona County further communicate what we already know to be an incredible value proposition for new capital investment. Being recognized with this international award, from a prestigious organization such as IEDC proves that all the hard work put into its development is beneficial for economic growth and prosperity of the region,” stated Sean McRitchie, Director, Strathcona County Economic Development and Tourism.

This is the third international award of recognition for this investment attraction website. A Gold Hermes Creative Award and an Award of Distinction with The Communicator Awards were received earlier this year.

About Strathcona County 

Situated in Alberta’s Edmonton Metropolitan Region, Strathcona County is a thriving community of over 100,000 residents. It is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large rural area of farms, acreages, and smaller hamlets. Set in an energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is an innovator and partner in North America’s energy industry, and a champion for advancing a diverse agricultural sector. Environmental conservation is important; 55 per cent of land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. With a focus on economic prosperity, a healthy and safe community, responsible development, and municipal excellence, Strathcona County is committed to successfully balancing the needs of its community. Strathcona.ca.

About the International Economic Development Council

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC), based out of Washington D.C., is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in a full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When IEDC succeeds, its members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. iedconline.org.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595