Mount Royal University received millions in funding today to become the hub for Alberta’s transportation and logistics sector. 

The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), in partnership with the Government of Alberta, announced an investment of up to $4.15 million to fund MRU’s new Alberta Logistics Centre of Excellence (ALCoE). 

CEO of OCIF, Brad Parry, said the funding is to strengthen the province’s economic competitiveness and resilience. 

“The Alberta Logistics Centre of Excellence will bring industry, government, academia and talent together to help solve global challenges, develop a workforce and drive innovation that will secure our future,” he said. 

This funding comes as global trade routes drastically change, from tariffs to labour shortages and rapid technology transformation.

Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Joseph Schow said these changes require the province to respond with action. 

“As markets evolve and supply chains become more complex, it’s critical that Alberta remains competitive, innovative and connected,” he said. 

The ALCoE is designed to help companies adapt to that change, offering targeted training and programs to help with the rapidly changing industry. 

Over the next four years, the centre is expected to train 150 people, support 75 Calgary-based companies and create 80 high-skilled jobs. Jobs that are critical to the lives of Calgarians, said Schow. 

“These are mortgage paying jobs, grocery buying jobs, sports-fee paying jobs,” he said

The funding builds on a previously announced $1.5 million investment from Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), bringing total support for the centre to roughly $6 million.

The funding comes to Calgary because of its access to major rail lines, highways and global markets, but Parry noted that it’s also about the Calgary community itself. 

“We’re supported by a skilled workforce, strong post-secondary programs and industry leaders,” he said.

“Our region has built a secure and highly connected logistics hub. Here, we are the centre point.”

Executive Director of ALCoE Tom McCaffery credits MRU’s longstanding position in supply chain management for its choice to be the centre’s home. 

“Historically, they’ve shown that they have this ability to put programs out into the market for industry,” he said.

“Industry has responded and they have grown as a result of that. So that’s why Mount Royal is such an important choice.”

What this means for Calgary

The centre is a key player in Calgary’s Innovation Strategy, which aims to make Calgary the ‘innovation capital’ of Canada and broaden investment into the city. 

Deputy Mayor and Ward 8 Coun. Nathan Schmidt focused on this, and said this centre can position Calgary as a lead innovator in the global supply chain. All the while giving Calgarians the opportunity to be a part of it. 

“Collaboration is our strength,” he said.

“The more that we can work together and harness the talent that we already have in this city, and also the support of the other two levels of government means that we can grow together and really address what’s changing in the future.” 

That sentiment of innovation was echoed by Parry, who wants to see Calgary grow its presence beyond the province. 

“That’s why the OCIF is keen in supporting this continued development and growth of this crucial sector,” he said. 

“To continue to push our city into becoming the innovation capital of our country.”

Since launching in 2018, OCIF has invested more than $91 million into 63 projects, supporting more than 950 companies and creating over 3,500 jobs as part of its mandate to diversify Calgary’s economy. 

For McCaffery, the goal is straightforward: ensure Calgary doesn’t just benefit from global trade, but helps shape how it works.

“Our challenge is not capacity or ambition,” he said. 

“Our challenge is to capitalize on the opportunities that get created in times of change.”