Agriculture

Crop Cultivation
Agricultural production and growing world markets continue to stand as two of the primary forces driving the regional economy. The development of biotechnology enhanced seeds/chemicals and more efficient farming practices present opportunities for processing of specialty crops for region and export markets. Other dry land farming crops such as peas, lentils and herbs may lead to additional value added business ventures. The bulk of the 7,000 area farms continue to produce spring wheat and durum wheat,as well as barley, oats, rye, flax, peas and canola. Although commodity prices for traditional crops fluctuate, there is good potential for value added opportunities.

Livestock
Livestock is important to the REDA area. Moose Jaw is the largest distribution centre for livestock in Saskatchewan as approximately 300,000 head of cattle are raised annually with many being finished at feedlots within the Moose Jaw district. Meat-processing plants within Moose Jaw are important employers in the REDA.

Service Centre
Moose Jaw is a regional and provincial service centre to the agricultural community. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool operates the AgPro Inland Grain Terminal in Moose Jaw. Major agricultural based organizations within the Moose Jaw REDA include:

• Acklands - Grainger Inc.
• AgPro Grain
• Agricore United
• Cargill Limited
• Heartland Agro Services Ltd.
• Jameson Gilroy & B & L Livestock Ltd.
• M & T Feedlot
• Northfork Seeds Inc.
• Parrish and Heimbecker
• Pioneer Grain Company Ltd.
• Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
• Simpson Seeds Inc.
• Simplot Canada Ltd.

Business Training

SIAST Palliser Campus employs over 300 people with an annual economic impact of approximately $55 million. In addition to its traditional education role and importance as a major institutional employer, SIAST serves the business community through special education and research initiatives. There is a Cooperative Education program through which business and technology students gain on-site experience at area businesses and industries; this very successful program provides benefits to all parties including the company.

Film Sector

During the past few years, a number of film productions including feature films, made for television features,documentaries, and television series selected Moose Jaw as their filming location. Moose Jaw benefits from the Saskatchewan Film Tax Credit Program, which offers a 45% rebate on all approved labour up to a maximum of 50% of the eligible production cost.

This program also offers a 5% bonus for productions filmed 25 miles outside of Regina or Saskatoon and an additional 5% for some productions that hire Saskatchewan crew. The following list highlights productions that have taken place in Moose Jaw region:

Some of the key benefits of Film Production in the Moose Jaw region:

• 55% Saskatchewan Film Tax Credit
• Canada Saskatchewan Production Studio located 45 minutes east of Moose Jaw
• Local expenditures estimated at $4.1 - $5 million
• Excellent variety of locations including early 1900's architecture
• Good pool of performers from professional level actors,musicians, dances and arts groups
• Natural features including Wakamow Valley, Buffalo Pound Lake, Old Wives area, Claybank, and Crescent Park
• Man-made features including old style architecture, Sukanen Ship Pioneer Village and Museum, Western Development Museum, (including antique vehicle collection), Tunnels of Moose Jaw, heritage homes, numerous small towns in the area, and the air base.

More information can be found in our Film brochure or by contacting SaskFilm.

Financial Services

The City of Moose Jaw possesses a developed network of financial services for business and personal needs. Services range from personal brokerage and investment to commercial financial resources for businesses and agriculturally based operations in the region from qualified professionals at the following agencies:

• Anderson DW Consulting Group Inc.
• Bank of Montreal
• Bill Harris Financial Services Inc.
• BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
• Bank of Nova Scotia
• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
• Clarica
• Closs Valgardsson Insurance and Financial Services
• Conexus Credit Union
• DM Direct Funding
• DNL Creative Resources
• Edward Jones
• Farm Credit Canada
• Forer Financial Planning Services Inc.
• Gold Key Investments Inc.
• Great West Life Assurance Company
• Heartland Financial Group
• Henderson Insurance Inc.
• Integrated Financial Services CFDA
• Investors Group
• Kosior Wealth Strategists
• Leipert Financial Group
• MD Management Ltd.
• Partners in Financial Planning
• Primerica Financial Services
• RBC Investments
• Rice Financial Group Inc.
• Royal Bank of Canada
• Scotia Bank
• South Central Community Futures Development Corporation
• Steve Gould CFP CIM FMA FCSI
• Tactical Asset Management Inc.
• TD Canada Trust
• TD Bank Financial Group
• Wellington West Capital Inc.

Food Processing

Intensified cropping and livestock production in the Moose Jaw REDA region provides many opportunities for agri-processing related development. Livestock finishing facilities and meat packing plants have not only provided an economic boost to the region, but also ensure that raw agricultural product produced within the region can continue to bring profit to the area even after the initial harvest or round up.

Some of the food processing facilities within the Moose Jaw Region include:

• XL Foods
• Fellinger & Sons Meats
• Hub Meat Market

Manufacturing

Moose Jaw’s diverse industry includes the production of transportation plastic containers, textiles, and jewellery production. Some of the prominent industrial companies in the Moose Jaw region include:

• Canaday’s Apparel Ltd.
• CTK Plastics
• Doepker Industries Inc.
• DorLite Manufacturing Ltd.
• Fifth Avenue Collection
• General Cable
• Haukaas Manufacturing Ltd.
• Kathy’s Custom Stitchery Ltd.
• Moose Jaw Asphalt
• Potters Canada
• RL Cushing Millwork Co. Ltd.
• Texas Refinery Corporation
• Trans-Canada Pipe Lines
• CJay Trailers

Military

15 Wing Moose Jaw (formerly CFB Moose Jaw), home of the Snow Birds for several decades has been the number one employer in the Moose Jaw region. A recent restructuring by the National Defence Department has changed employment levels to 800 individuals. Although staffing and infrastructure has been streamlined, the viability of the base has been strongly entrenched with the adoption of the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program. The retooling of the base and the adoption of the $2.85 billion -20 year training program will ensure that 15 Wing will continue to be an important economic and social component within the Moose Jaw REDA.

Mining

There are four large industrial facilities outside the City of Moose Jaw. Saskatchewan Minerals operates a facility producing sodium sulphate in Chaplin. Three of these companies near Belle Plaine are Mosaic Company (formerly IMC Potash), Canadian Salt Company, and Saskferco (a major producer of nitrogen fertilizers). The staffs of the three companies at Belle Plaine (16 km east) largely reside in Moose Jaw and commute to work. Saskatchewan has the largest concentration of potash reserves in the world, and Mosaic Company is one of several major mining companies in the Province.

Retail Shopping

The City of Moose Jaw boasts everything from large retailers to unique specialty shops offering an excellent selection to residents of the region. Major shopping facilities include:

• Ashdown’s Furniture & Interiors Ltd.
• Canada Safeway
• Canadian Tire
• Dollarama
• Garden Market IGA
• Giant Tiger
• The Brick
• McKarr’s Furniture
• Moose Jaw Co-operative Ltd.
• Peavey Mart
• Sears
• SportChek
• Staples Business Depot
• The Real Canadian Superstore
• Town ‘N’ Country Mall
• Wal-Mart
• Zellers
• Reitman's

Transportation

The transportation networks, which were briefly mentioned in Section 3 under the heading Geography, are major strengths in the Moose Jaw region. Major road and rail networks are easily accessible, and have benefited organizations within the manufacturing and agricultural sectors operating throughout the REDA. In addition to these obvious advantages of an optimal location along a strong and proactive transportation network, organizations have become major components of the economy within the region. Major transportation related companies in the Moose Jaw region include:

• 15 Wing Moose Jaw & NATO Flying Training in Canada
• Canadian National Railway
• Canadian Pacific Railway
• Doepker Industries Inc.
• Gibson International Carriers Inc.
• Greyhound Canada
• Hobo Express
• Keystone Bulk Transport Ltd.
• MCS Agri-Terminals
• Rockport Carrier Co. Ltd.
• Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
• Triple G Carriers

Tourism

Since the opening of the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa on June 1996, thousands of spa enthusiasts have come to Moose Jaw. In fact, in 2003 alone there were over 113,000 visitors. The spa has significantly influenced the growth of Tourism in the community. The Tunnels of Moose Jaw is a destination tourist attraction showcasing underground tunnels used for prohibited activities in the early 1900's. Historic tours regarding illegal activities are showcased in ‘The Chicago Connection’ and tours reflecting Chinese immigration are featured in the ‘Passage to Fortune’ tour. Over 455,000 tickets have been sold since June 2000. Casino Moose Jaw opened a gaming facility in 2002. The Chaplin Interpretive Centre, which is the western anchor of the Saskatchewan Bird Trail has also been a popular tourist destination, and has attracted more than 25,000 people annually.