Industries in Northern Sunrise County

Northern Sunrise County: Open for Business

Northern Sunrise County’s economy is driven by Alberta’s strongest sectors: oil and gas, forestry, agriculture, and tourism. Spanning over 21,000 square kilometers of prime wilderness and agricultural land, the County also sits atop one of the province’s largest oil sands deposits. With abundant natural resources, a rich cultural heritage, and a community of industrious and innovative people, Northern Sunrise County is a thriving hub, open and ready for business opportunities.

The County does not require business licenses, making it easier for businesses to operate and thrive. We actively maintain a Business Directory, which currently includes 244 registered businesses, reflecting the diverse and dynamic nature of our local economy.

Northern Sunrise County is committed to supporting business growth and is continually seeking to expand and improve the services we offer to our business community.

Agriculture in Northern Sunrise County

Northern Sunrise County (NSC) is surrounded by rich agricultural land, situated in the heart of the world’s most northern agricultural region, affectionately known as the Peace Country. With decades and generations of collective farming knowledge, the Peace Country has earned an international reputation for producing superior agricultural products.

The table below highlights the active agricultural land in NSC and the top agricultural products cultivated on this land.

Key Agricultural Features in NSC:

Grain Terminal: Located in the Village of Nampa, the Richardson Pioneer grain terminal has a capacity of 44.5 metric tons and direct access to CN Rail. It is one of 12 grain terminals in the Peace Country, providing ample opportunities for value-added industries in Northern Sunrise County.
Diverse Farming Operations: The region is home to a variety of farming operations, including bison and cattle farms, community pastures, a dairy farm, honey producers, and a timothy haying plant.

Northern Sunrise County’s strong agricultural base, combined with its strategic infrastructure, creates numerous opportunities for businesses looking to invest in value-added agriculture and related industries.

For more detailed information, please refer to the document below.

Value Added Agricultural Opportunities Packagef

Energy in Northern Sunrise County

Alberta’s Oil Sands and Northern Sunrise County

Alberta’s oil sands are among the largest deposits of crude oil in the world, making the province a leader in energy exports within Canada. In 2016, Alberta accounted for 64.2% of Canada’s total energy exports, valued at $52.4 billion.

Northern Sunrise County is the gateway to the Peace Oil Sands, one of Alberta’s four major oil sands deposits. The Peace Oil Sands hold an estimated 130 billion barrels of bitumen, accessible via Township Road 822 leading to Seal Lake. Despite economic fluctuations due to oil prices, Northern Sunrise County remains poised for the next boom.

Oil and Gas in Northern Sunrise County:

2019 Well Counts: 1,880 wells (NSC assessment data)
2017 Natural Gas Production: 760.0 million cubic meters
2017 Natural Gas Reserves: 2.5 billion cubic meters
2017 Oil Production: 2.8 million barrels

For more detailed information on the oil industry, visit the Alberta Energy Regulator.

Forestry in Northern Sunrise County

While trees in ecosystems like rainforests can live for centuries, the species indigenous to Alberta's boreal forest have much shorter lifespans. They typically reach maturity between 80 to 100 years, and those that escape fire generally succumb to insects and disease before reaching 150 years. Without active management of working forests, old and dying trees accumulate, creating ideal conditions for forest fires or insect infestations. While these events are natural parts of a forest's life cycle, they can have devastating impacts on communities and the forests themselves.

The forest industry plays a crucial role in managing these risks by harvesting trees from mature forests as they near the end of their life cycle, converting them into useful products. This process helps maintain the forest's natural cycle while reducing the risk of fire, insect infestation, and disease.

Active Forest Management:

Active forest management includes the regeneration of healthy forests. Forest companies are responsible for renewing harvested areas and must monitor these forests until they are fully re-established. Over the past 20 years, more than 2 billion trees have been replanted in Alberta.

Forestry in the Peace Region:

Forestry is a robust industry sector within the Peace Region, with thousands of acres of timber attracting many forest-based businesses, including sawmills like Boucher Bros. Ltd. and numerous logging and service companies.
Out of Alberta’s forest management agreements, four are located within Northern Sunrise County, highlighting the region's significance in the province's forestry sector.

For more information on Alberta Forestry Management, visit loveabforests.com.

Tourism in Northern Sunrise County

Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, and this is especially true in Northern Alberta. Northern Sunrise County offers vast, unspoiled wilderness, abundant wildlife, clean, open water, and expansive skies that are hard to compare. The County is covered by a dense boreal forest and features three beautiful rivers: the Peace, Smoky, and Heart Rivers.

In winter, the prairie skies are illuminated by the northern lights, and throughout the year, visitors are treated to breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. During the summer months, nearly 24-hour daylight allows for endless outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, wildlife and bird watching, hiking, hunting, ATV riding, kayaking, and canoeing.

Cultural Attractions and Events:

Museums: Nampa and St-Isidore Museums offer a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the region and are must-visit sites.
Community Events: The County hosts numerous cultural events throughout the year, including the St-Isidore Carnival, Peace River Pow Wow, Farmer’s Day, Canada Day celebrations, and various rodeos and fairs.

Parks and Recreation:

Cecil Thomson Park: Enjoy free fishing and camping, as well as a giant bouncy pillow, playground, and well-maintained washrooms.
Community Centers: Our community centers are well-equipped with playgrounds and outdoor activities, offering fun for the entire family.

To discover more about what Northern Sunrise County has to offer, visit Mighty Peace Tourism or explore the visitor information section on our website.