Head office moving back to Edmonton

[Sonic Death Monkey]

North American Energy Partners is moving back from Calgary

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...dmontonjournal

Three years after joining the corporate exodus to Calgary, North American Energy Partners is picking up stakes and moving its head office back home.

A spokesman for the billion-dollar oilsands construction giant, founded by Edmonton’s Gouin family and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange since 2006, says company brass will complete the move north by the end of July.

Although its senior execs decamped for Calgary in 2009, North American’s main administrative office and key operations centre have always remained in the Acheson Industrial Park, west of Edmonton.

The relocation announcement follows the recent appointment of Martin Ferron as CEO. He replaces Rod Ruston, who ran North American for seven years before retiring back to his native Australia in early June.

Ferron is the former CEO of Houston-based Helix Energy Solutions, a New York Stock Exchange-listed offshore energy services supplier.

It’s not yet clear what his plans are for North American, or why he opted to move the firm’s head office back to Edmonton, but I hope to find out when I sit down with him over the next few weeks.

[etownboarder]

Fantastic news. Perhaps other companies could also be persuaded to move to the city with some incentives. I think the city should actively pursue and develop relationships with international companies and new industries such as green technologies.

[Hilman]

Didn't they move because the City Centre Airport was being shutdown, I guess it wasn't such a big problem.

[Chmilz]

I'm assuming that means the executive offices? How much space do they take up in Altius Centre? Do we know if they're going downtown or will they do an executive campus out in Acheson (thus, not Edmonton)?

[faraz]

Hopefully they move downtown and require tons of space.
Any ideas on how many personnel will be moving?

[jagators63]

downtown needs more head offices so this city can get more office towers being built.

[Edmcowboy11]

This is a nice step in the right direction.

[EdmTrekker]

Originally Posted by Edmcowboy11

This is a nice step in the right direction.

Easy boys...lets not scare them away. Just be supportive that they are planning to be back in the Capital Region.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Originally Posted by faraz

Hopefully they move downtown and require tons of space.
Any ideas on how many personnel will be moving?

Guess we'll know for sure at the end of July

[moahunter]

They never really moved to Calgary, just a few senior executives.

[Transplanted_Edm]

North American’s main administrative office and key operations centre have always remained in the Acheson Industrial Park, west of Edmonton.

At a minimum, even if say only a handful of execs are moving back, Edmonton gets a little more visibility.

Potentially it's a few execs along with support staff such as legal/accounting etc. I would think it would be weird for the senior executives to have offices in a city and not at least have some advisory/support staff along with them.

[Chmilz]

Hopefully they enjoy the move, and tell their peer in Calgary "It's nice up here"

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Here's hoping the head office actually goes to downtown Edmonton

http://www.nacg.ca/contact-us

Calgary (Executive Office)
2400 - 500 4th Avenue SW
Calgary, AB T2P 2V6
Phone: (403) 767-4825
Fax: (403) 767-4849

[RichardS]

Originally Posted by Hilman

Didn't they move because the City Centre Airport was being shutdown, I guess it wasn't such a big problem.

While I remember they were against the closure of the CCA, I don't remember them personally citing the closure of the CCA as the reason for the relocation. I remember the line of wanting to be near the CEO's and decision makers of some of their largest customers.

...but with the central location of Edmonton to both Calgary and the oilsands construction sites, I can see why they kept most of the ops here...all this does is move senior execs back...probably to be closer to the operations as North American has a pretty large market share anyway - so no real need for excess schmoozing...


...nice to see though...

[Vincent]

I've always thought Edmonton, being closer to the oilsands, would make more sense for oil companies as a head office location. I still don't get why they all moved to Calgary.

[psiebold1]

Originally Posted by Vincent

I've always thought Edmonton, being closure to the oilsands, would make more sense for oil companies as a head office location. I still don't get why they all moved to Calgary.

The regulatory body (forget the name) is located in Calgary.

[Medwards]

^ http://www.ercb.ca/

[RyanS]

The oil industry started in Alberta far before the Oil Sands were ever a part of it.

[The_Cat]

Perhaps Edmonton could look at getting some federal government agencies to locate here, given the provincial government presence.

[Edmcowboy11]

More government agencies, more educational facilities, more research companies all would be good to see in the city.

[ChrisD]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

Perhaps Edmonton could look at getting some federal government agencies to locate here, given the provincial government presence.

we already have a number of federal agencies with a large employment presence.

[MylesC]

Originally Posted by psiebold1

The regulatory body (forget the name) is located in Calgary.

Very interesting historical throwback here, actually.

PS. - Howdy from Athens. I hope all is well in Edmonton!

The original form of Alberta Energy, the AUC, blah, blah, blah, was essentially a provincial 'bone' thrown to Calgary back in the early days of the Turney Valley gas finds under the Social Credit government. Nobody knew that oil would later be discovered and how big a deal the whole energy industry would become. So....the gov't sent one of its departments down to Calgary. Before the modern electronic age proximity mattered so lo and behold energy offices setup in Calgary.

And now back to your regular programming.

It's great to see an office move *back* to Edmonton!

[Vincent]

Interesting. It's like the butterfly effect.

[moahunter]

^as in Luongo's goal tending, or the chaos theory that provides the example of a butterfly flapping its wings?

[Vincent]

lol. I was thinking the chaos theory.

[Instadylan]

Anyone heard anything yet about where there building will be? Maybe they are waiting to see about the arena district ? Any thoughts?

[SP59]

They already have a building. It is at the corner of 163 St. and 114 Ave.

[TJFA]

Most head offices moved to Calgary when Reimer (Edmonton Mayor) refused to close the City Center Airport so the International Airport could expand and recieve more flights...so Klein (Calgary Mayor) had a new airport built and the rest is history..Vancouver and Edmonton suffered by loosing office towers/head offices

[TJFA]

Losing

[McBoo]

^LOL. When you're logged in - you can edit your original post.

Sad to say, I am glad of that feature more often tha I'd like to admit.

[ScottieA]

Originally Posted by TJFA

Most head offices moved to Calgary when Reimer (Edmonton Mayor) refused to close the City Center Airport so the International Airport could expand and recieve more flights...so Klein (Calgary Mayor) had a new airport built and the rest is history..Vancouver and Edmonton suffered by loosing office towers/head offices

It just wasn't the airport issue. Reimer and her Council weren't what you would call business-friendly, and managed to drive out many companies from the city.

She was one of the worst mayors Edmonton has had.

[TJFA]

Originally Posted by McBoo

^LOL. When you're logged in - you can edit your original post.

Sad to say, I am glad of that feature more often tha I'd like to admit.

Thank you

[TJFA]

Originally Posted by ScottieA

It just wasn't the airport issue. Reimer and her Council weren't what you would call business-friendly, and managed to drive out many companies from the city.

She was one of the worst mayors Edmonton has had.

Yes and Smiling Smith second

[Vincent]

I agree with the Reimer comment but Smiling Bill was exactly what Edmonton needed at that time. Clearly his time has passed but I think he did more good than bad. Just my opinion.

[AAAAE]

Was Reimer's council responsible for the dithering on YXD?

I do know that she started our current Waste Management system, which is excellent.

[TJFA]

Ok Reimer started one good thing, Smith would have been better if he was a little stronger on issues that may not have brought votes next time around..this is why Klein won the provincial power game between the two

[SP59]

Originally Posted by TJFA

Most head offices moved to Calgary when Reimer (Edmonton Mayor) refused to close the City Center Airport so the International Airport could expand and recieve more flights...so Klein (Calgary Mayor) had a new airport built and the rest is history..Vancouver and Edmonton suffered by loosing office towers/head offices

Ralph Klein was the Mayor of Calgary from October 1980 to March 21, 1989. Jan Reimer was the Mayor of Edmonton from October 16, 1989 to October 16, 1995. Obviously whatever dithering that Jan Reimer did on the Airport issue was not benefiting Ralph as the mayor of Calgary.

Peter Lougheed's major strategy as Premier was to favour Calgary over Edmonton and establish it as a centre for head offices to locate and it was in the early seventies that this started to happen. Imperial Oil was one of the first to move their offices from Edmonton to Calgary (although it is interesting as they were probably the last major oil company to move their head office to Calgary). CIBC used to have their principal Alberta office here and it moved at that time as well. Undoubtedly the province has paid millions of dollars to major corporations to move their offices to Calgary from various other locations.

In short, the head office move started in the early 1970's, two decades before Jan Reimer was mayor.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

It was under Reimer's tenure that Shaw moved their HQ to downtown Calgary. That was a massive blow, one that I think that crystallized the notion that she chased businesses out of town. It certainly helped kill her chances of getting re-elected.

[jagators63]

Why does Reimer doing that to Edmonton?? she got a lot of nerve by driving many headquarters out of here to Calgary ?? Did Edmonton get something in Return ?? none.

[SP59]

Originally Posted by Sonic Death Monkey

It was under Reimer's tenure that Shaw moved their HQ to downtown Calgary. That was a massive blow, one that I think that crystallized the notion that she chased businesses out of town. It certainly helped kill her chances of getting re-elected.

I wasn't a fan of Jan being the mayor and was happy to see bill Smith bringing a positive attitude to the position. As I recall Shaw had a big war with ED Tel because they wanted to share Ed Tel's infrastructure and Ed Tel did not want to share it. Shaw was supposedly looking at several locations (including Victoria) to move their head office and ended up choosing Calgary (probably got paid by the provincial government to do so).

I know I haven't used Shaw since they moved and never will.

[ScottieA]

I will give Reimer credit for the Waste Management system. While Smith didn't do a heck of a lotin his 9 years as mayor, at least he was able to correct some of the damage that was done during Reimer's tenure (or at least stop the bleeding). Heck, Reimer made Cec Purves look like one of our city's greatest mayors.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by TJFA

Most head offices moved to Calgary when Reimer (Edmonton Mayor) refused to close the City Center Airport so the International Airport could expand and recieve more flights...so Klein (Calgary Mayor) had a new airport built and the rest is history..Vancouver and Edmonton suffered by loosing office towers/head offices

While I never liked and still do not like Jan Reimer the above comment is incorrect and while I liked Ralph (still do) giving him credit for airport expansion is also wrong.

So a little history from:

http://www.calgaryairport.com/Defaul...?cid=21&lang=1

As resources were not forthcoming to upgrade the facility, in 1966 the City of Calgary sold the airport to Transport Canada for two million dollars, along with a commitment to spearhead the airport's ascension into the jet age. It was about this time that the facility became known as Calgary International Airport.
True to their word, Transport Canada launched an ambitious program of land acquisition and airfield construction and in November of 1977 the terminal building that we see today opened, and with it came the modern age of aviation.
On July 1, 1992, The Calgary Airport Authority assumed responsibilities for the operation and expansion of the airport.

ECCA, Riemer or Klein had nothing to do with Calgary's airport success.


If you look at this post it nails Edmonton's failures (edit, shortened and referenced):

Originally Posted by RichardS

4.It is hard to argue with those who do contribute to the "leakage" to Calgary, especially when (as typical of hub airports) you will see more seat sales on some marginal routes just to get capacity up. This can and does hurt our chances for that iron, especially from the driving crowd, but I refuse to villify the family of 4 that saves a few hundred to a couple thousand dollars on a trip by taking advantage of this and parking the car at grandma's/brother/friend's place for the week. Price inelasiticity is huge to the family person. This is not their fault, it is not the airport's fault, and in all honesty, it is the airlines every right to lower fares to fill seats on routes they have already paid to establish.

5.Look seriously at our offerings. No one is going to fill a plane to come to the Muttart, Fringe, Heritage Days, CapExK-DaysRiverCityRouondUpEdFestival, or whatever. We need to be

1. • hosting large scale conferences,
   • events aimed at attrracting the out of town dollar,
   • rewarding the businesses that work hard to attract the out of town visitor,
   • working with our communities to get more traffic to Jasper/valemount or Lloyd...or to Northern Alberta and the Territories, by being that focal point for their development...maybe this time actually be a true stepping stone to the Klondike
   • see if our other festivals can be expanded to attract more out of town dollars vs being solely aimed at locals. This is why I've worked so hard on Indy as it is the only internationally televised and sanctioned event that Edmonton has of this scale (and potential growth), that drives hotel bookings, rental cars, restaurants, etc. RWE is gathering the numbers now, and they are amazing in how much more income this little rag tag grouped helped create. Hint, you couldn't get a rental car this weekend, and rooms were hard to come by to not available at all. More to come once our report tot he city is released.
   • have large events like this in all 4 quarters. RWE is working on 3 right now, but we really need some certainty in location ASAP.

ref: Post 276 this thread
http://www.connect2edmonton.ca/forum...ad.php?t=23159

YYC is a success because Calgary is a success at marketing itself/its events and creating attractions such as the Stampede and tourism opportunities (marketing the Rockies etc).

Those are also the reasons that head offices are attracted to Calgary, of course combined with the overall economic success of Alberta.

Edmonton CAN do the same, but there are no silver bullets to solve the problem...just a lot of hard work.

So there are a few facts along with my highly biased PERSONAL opinion

Tom

[PhiFly]

I know I haven't used Shaw since they moved and never will.[/QUOTE]

[Alex.L]

Originally Posted by PhiFly

People are allowed to base their spending on whatever they like. Rolling your eyes at someone is not a productive form of communication.

[PhiFly]

Originally Posted by Ander

People are allowed to base their spending on whatever they like. Rolling your eyes at someone is not a productive form of communication.

Good for him. Companies and individuals all make business decisions. I just think its petty to avoid a company just cause that company moved their head office to another city.

[Alex.L]

Originally Posted by PhiFly

Good for him. Companies and individuals all make business decisions. I just think its petty to avoid a company just cause that company moved their head office to another city.

So say "That sounds petty to me" or something that can actually generate some conversation.

[ScottieA]

Originally Posted by SP59

I know I haven't used Shaw since they moved and never will.

I'm saddened by the loss of Shaw, and have only had them for cable briefly (after they bought Videotron's western operations). I chose to stop using them because I found that they weren't offering a good enough selection of channels and packages for the cost. AND I found that their customer service (you know, the one that they brag about) had turned to crap. It was like they were operating like when they still had a huge chunk of the local market share.

I currently am with Telus (I'm also sad that we lost them to BC) but have found them to be superior to what I experienced with Shaw.

[Sonic Death Monkey]

Edmonton a low-cost option for head offices, consultant says

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busin...578/story.html

Click the link, read the whole thing.

[booster]

^We marketed for years as cheap. Didn't work. I hope EEDC doesn't jump on this bandwagon again. Market with post secondary access, our awesome parks, etc not for cheap.

[Bill]

^ maybe it could work this time.

[Alex.L]

Or market the whole package.

- Cheap office space
- Minimal traffic congestion (at least that's what a recent thread said)
- Post Secondary
- Green space
- Leader in green innovation (biofuels and recycling plant)
- PORT ALBERTA
- Proximity to oilsands
- Culture
- Recession resistant economy
- etc.

[Bill]

^ Can also add:
- Expanding LRT

[RyanS]

Originally Posted by Ander

Or market the whole package.

- Cheap office space
- Minimal traffic congestion (at least that's what a recent thread said)
- Post Secondary
- Green space
- Leader in green innovation (biofuels and recycling plant)
- PORT ALBERTA
- Proximity to oilsands
- Culture
- Recession resistant economy
- etc.

Has Port Alberta progressed any further then a big open field? I'd hardly call the Edmonton economy recession resistant as well; its still largely based on the energy sector. We've been very fortuante that strong oil prices and increased international interest in the oilsands have kept the party going here. Were not immunte to the woes of the rest of the world.

[Alex.L]

It's a pitch. It's allowed to be based on future plans as well as recent history.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Originally Posted by Ander

It's a pitch. It's allowed to be based on future plans as well as recent history.

Ander...you're on the right track, but you need (2) pitches.

1) Directly targeting the needs of business to sell the Decision makers
- Competitively priced office space
- Easy in City access
- Leading Post Secondary Academic centres
- Canada's largest trades training centre
- Leading Apprenticeship programming
- Fastest Major Metro Centre Access to Canada's economic engine
- Ground Transportation Centre to the North

2) Directly targeting the Decision makers family
- Major Centre of Arts, Culture, Heritage and History
- Centre of Major Sporting events and Franchises
- Extensive Junior Sports programming
- Leader in Public Education Innovation K to 12
- Major Retail Centre for the Northern Region
- Best access to Alberta's true natural areas

Could throw in a few more of each but you get the point...

One pitch sells the business side of the relocation

The other sells the decision makers family on wanting to be here, just as important and done right acts as a Tourism Driver.

Cause if Momma and da kids don't want to be here the company ain't relocating.

In my highly biased PERSONAL opinion

[jagators63]

Originally Posted by Thomas Hinderks

Ander...you're on the right track, but you need (2) pitches.

1) Directly targeting the needs of business to sell the Decision makers
- Competitively priced office space
- Easy in City access
- Leading Post Secondary Academic centres
- Canada's largest trades training centre
- Leading Apprenticeship programming
- Fastest Major Metro Centre Access to Canada's economic engine
- Ground Transportation Centre to the North

2) Directly targeting the Decision makers family
- Major Centre of Arts, Culture, Heritage and History
- Centre of Major Sporting events and Franchises
- Extensive Junior Sports programming
- Leader in Public Education Innovation K to 12
- Major Retail Centre for the Northern Region
- Best access to Alberta's true natural areas

Could throw in a few more of each but you get the point...

One pitch sells the business side of the relocation

The other sells the decision makers family on wanting to be here, just as important and done right acts as a Tourism Driver.

Cause if Momma and da kids don't want to be here the company ain't relocating.

In my highly biased PERSONAL opinion

If EEDC does it right then 2 things will happen here.

[Alex.L]

Originally Posted by Thomas Hinderks

Ander...you're on the right track, but you need (2) pitches.

1) Directly targeting the needs of business to sell the Decision makers
- Competitively priced office space
- Easy in City access
- Leading Post Secondary Academic centres
- Canada's largest trades training centre
- Leading Apprenticeship programming
- Fastest Major Metro Centre Access to Canada's economic engine
- Ground Transportation Centre to the North

2) Directly targeting the Decision makers family
- Major Centre of Arts, Culture, Heritage and History
- Centre of Major Sporting events and Franchises
- Extensive Junior Sports programming
- Leader in Public Education Innovation K to 12
- Major Retail Centre for the Northern Region
- Best access to Alberta's true natural areas

Could throw in a few more of each but you get the point...

One pitch sells the business side of the relocation

The other sells the decision makers family on wanting to be here, just as important and done right acts as a Tourism Driver.

Cause if Momma and da kids don't want to be here the company ain't relocating.

In my highly biased PERSONAL opinion

Nailed it, Tom. Can't leave out WEM though.

[Vincent]

Originally Posted by RyanS

I'd hardly call the Edmonton economy recession resistant as well; its still largely based on the energy sector. We've been very fortuante that strong oil prices and increased international interest in the oilsands have kept the party going here. Were not immunte to the woes of the rest of the world.

Someone could argue that you just contradicted yourself. You said our energy sector kept the party going, but we're not immune.

Technically, you're right that we are not immune because the energy sector would falter if aliens suddenly gave us a free energy source, but if the energy sector does keep the party going, then doesn't that give us at least a certain level of immunity?

[Alex.L]

Recession resistant does not equal recession immune.

[Thomas Hinderks]

Ander

Nailed it, Tom. Can't leave out WEM though.

Agreed, others too...
Thats why I said

Could throw in a few more of each but you get the point...

But we are on the same page semantics aside (lol)

[Alex.L]

Originally Posted by Thomas Hinderks

Ander

Agreed, others too...
Thats why I said

But we are on the same page semantics aside (lol)

I was just hoping you wouldn't point out that I missed it too

[Blueline]

I wonder how many billboard campaigns the c of E has run in calgary ?
"Still stuck om the deerfoot for the 2nd time today and the 5 th day in a row .... ?"
" Ask your employer what they pay per square foot"
Wouldn't you like a 15 min commute AND lower mortgage and tax payments ? "
"Are your staffers stuck in traffic ?"
"Can't commute for lunch easily?"
Class "C" office space for HOW MUCH a foot + TI's ??"

We could go on for ever

[RyanS]

Originally Posted by Vincent

Someone could argue that you just contradicted yourself. You said our energy sector kept the party going, but we're not immune.

Technically, you're right that we are not immune because the energy sector would falter if aliens suddenly gave us a free energy source, but if the energy sector does keep the party going, then doesn't that give us at least a certain level of immunity?

Multiple boom and bust cycles related to the energy sector in this province in the past 50 years would suggest things other then aliens can impact the AB economy

[AngryWhiteMan]

Originally Posted by Blueline

I wonder how many billboard campaigns the c of E has run in calgary ?
"Still stuck om the deerfoot for the 2nd time today and the 5 th day in a row .... ?"
" Ask your employer what they pay per square foot"
Wouldn't you like a 15 min commute AND lower mortgage and tax payments ? "
"Are your staffers stuck in traffic ?"
"Can't commute for lunch easily?"
Class "C" office space for HOW MUCH a foot + TI's ??"

We could go on for ever

Lower mortgage payments, yes; lower tax payments, i.e. municipal, I don't think so.

[jizzaldo]

Originally Posted by AngryWhiteMan

Lower mortgage payments, yes; lower tax payments, i.e. municipal, I don't think so.

Can we get some proof from either side?

[AngryWhiteMan]

Originally Posted by jizzaldo

Can we get some proof from either side?

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_governme...nal_Report.pdf

Formally, this report/summary for 2010 shows there being a little over $400 difference between the cities for single detached housing. Informally, having compared my Edmonton tax-bill with my friends' in Calgary with similar houses, it looks like for 2012 the gap has grown to a point where it's somewhere near $700 for my property --- at least.

[jizzaldo]

Originally Posted by AngryWhiteMan

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_governme...nal_Report.pdf

Formally, this report/summary for 2010 shows there being a little over $400 difference between the cities for single detached housing. Informally, having compared my Edmonton tax-bill with my friends' in Calgary with similar houses, it looks like for 2012 the gap has grown to a point where it's somewhere near $700 for my property --- at least.

no ****! Good find!