The Fort Saskatchewan & Lamont County Regional Chamber of Commerce recently convened a strategic roundtable bringing together Luigi De Masellis of the European Commission mission in Ottawa, leadership from the European-Canadian Centre for Innovation & Research (ECCIR), and key regional stakeholders to explore the European Union’s growing engagement with Western Canada particularly Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.
The meeting was hosted by Executive Director Colin Fagnan and Chamber Board Treasurer Tamara Dabels. In addition to his role with the Chamber, Colin also serves as a volunteer Strategic Advisor and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist with ECCIR, further reinforcing the collaborative nature of the discussion.
Participants included MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk and Mayor Lisa Makin, along with members of their teams, including Ruven Rajoo (Stakeholder Relations Manager) and Jess Arsenault (Constituency Manager). ECCIR was represented by its President, Dr. Carl Amrhein, as well as Dr. Manfred Zeuch, Director of Stakeholder Relations.
At the center of the discussion was the European Union’s Horizon Europe program—a €93.5 billion research and innovation initiative and one of the largest of its kind in the world. The program is designed to foster international collaboration, support breakthrough technologies, and connect regions like Alberta to global innovation ecosystems. For companies and organizations in the Industrial Heartland engaged in research, clean technology, energy innovation, and advanced manufacturing, Horizon Europe presents a significant opportunity to access funding while building partnerships with European counterparts.
The roundtable took place at a time when Alberta continues to expand its global outlook and seek to diversify its trade relationships. In that context, the European Union is increasingly looking westward, recognizing the scale, expertise, and strategic importance of regions like the Industrial Heartland.
Mark Plamondon, Executive Director of the Alberta's Industrial Heartland Association, played a key role in grounding the discussion by providing an overview of the region’s industrial capacity, infrastructure, and long-term potential. His insights helped illustrate why the Heartland is well-positioned to engage in deeper transatlantic collaboration.
Overall, the discussion highlighted a strong and growing alignment between the Industrial Heartland’s core sectors energy, petrochemicals, hydrogen, and emerging technologies—and European priorities around sustainability, innovation, and large-scale industrial development. It also underscored the importance of continued dialogue and partnership-building to translate that alignment into concrete opportunities.
The Chamber looks forward to continuing to play a convening role in these conversations, supporting its members in accessing new markets, building international partnerships, and positioning the region for long-term economic growth.