Community Profile

Lacombe County is in central Alberta, almost equal distance between the province's two major urban centres of Calgary and Edmonton. The QEII (or Highway 2) is the major north-south corridor in the province that provides ready access to the County. Secondary Highways 11 and 12 serve as the primary east-west transportation corridors through the County, with Highway 21 on the east side and Highways 20 and 22 to the west. Access to CP and CN Rail provides another significant transportation advantage for County businesses.

The County's economic base stems from its robust agricultural and industrial activity. Significant petrochemical activity occurs in the area, with operations by NOVA Chemicals, the world's largest ethylene production facility, Dow Chemicals, and MEGlobal.

The agriculture industry is supported by the Federal Research Station, Olds College Field Crop Development Center, and the head office for Alberta's Agricultural Financial Services Corporation within the City of Lacombe. In addition to the more than 1,000 farms within the County, many agricultural service businesses provide goods and services to local producers.

The County boasts a skilled and educated labor force with numerous post-secondary institutions nearby, including Burman University, Red Deer Polytechnic, and Olds College.

The largest natural tourism asset is the three lakes, Sylvan Lake, Gull Lake, and Buffalo Lake, which draw visitors from across the province to our community. Various natural and paved trails, cultural and historical attractions, and other tourism experiences and businesses, including Agri-tourism, complement the lakes.

The County's population is 10,791 and is supplemented by the urban municipalities and communities within our borders.