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Major
Centre
Moose Jaw. An Urban Centre with Historic Charm, a wealth of
heritage and culture and a name remembered around the world.
Location
175 Kilometres from the U.S. Border, nestled in a picturesque
valley where the Moose Jaw River and Thunder Creek
meet.
Primary Industries
Agriculture, including cereal, pulse, and special crops, cattle and hogs;
manufacturing and processing; mining; service and retail.
Main Businesses
CPR, XL Foods, Mosaic Company, The Canadian Salt Co.,
Saskatchewan Minerals, Doepker Industries Ltd., Bombardier,
Yara Belle Plaine Inc., General Cable,
and Moose Jaw Refinery.
Related Information
Economic Highlights
Home of
the Snowbirds, Canada’s Flight Aerobatic Demonstration Team,
NFTC (NATO Flying Training in Canada Program) and the
Saskatchewan Headquarters for the CPR.
Moose Jaw is a
thriving, vibrant and progressive community with positive
economic indicators. Our predications remain strong for
increases in employment, commercial development and
tourism. The following is a sample of the economic
highlights for the region to July 2008.
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The population of the City of Moose
Jaw in 2007 was 34,156 according to Saskatchewan Covered
Health Statistics.
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The average house price for 2007 was $129,043 up 28%
over 2006. The average selling price of a home in June
2008 was $186,000 up 27.7% over June 2007. The number
of houses sold in 2007 increased by 37% over 2006.
Moose Jaw still remains one of the most affordable
housing markets among prairie cities with a population
above 25,000.
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The value of building permits issued in 2007 was
$40,859,200, an all time high. This represents an
increase of 13.5% over 2006. There were 261 residential
permits issued worth $24,738,700. The Industrial,
Commercial and Government sectors accounted for 60
permits totaling $16,120,500.
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According to numbers released by the City of Moose
Jaw, 190 residential lots were sold by the City in 2007
and an additional 18 lots were sold by Moose Jaw
realtors.
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The City sold out of lots in 2007. Ninety-four lots
will be available for construction in the Westheath
subdivision in 2008. In addition builders own a number
of lots where they have sales for new homes for the 2008
construction season. The City has approved the
development of 600 lots in the new West Park subdivision
which will be ready for construction in 2009.
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According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Rental
Market statistics released in December 2007, Moose Jaw’s
vacancy rates fell from 4.7% in 2006 to 1.6% in 2007.
The average rent was $522.
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·The 2008 KPMG Competitive Alternatives Study ranked
Moose Jaw #1 for cost competitiveness for the North
American Midwest, 4th in Canada and 12th overall for
twelve operations among the 136 cities studied from the
ten countries included in the analysis.
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Terra Grain Fuels, a $140 million dollar ethanol
plant just 23 kilometres east of Moose Jaw is nearing
completion. The project generated 150 construction jobs
and will commence operations in mid 2008 employing 40
full-time workers.
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Financial Post Markets - Canadian Demographics,
estimates 2008 retail sales of $600.68 million, 38%
above the national average.
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School enrolment within the City showed 1,632
students in the Holy Trinity School Division #22 and
4,210 students in the Prairie South School Division
#210.
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SIAST Palliser Campus opened a $3.9 million upgrade
for five multi-functional Smart classrooms and a
redeveloped instrumentation division.
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2007 Statistics Canada figures indicate the City has
1,079 employers and a labour force of 19,000 workers
between the ages of 15 and 65 with a participation rate
of 70.1% and an unemployment rate of 6.8%. This
represents an increase of 6.7% or 1,200 jobs over 2006
in the City alone.
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Training of employees was a priority for employers
and educational institutions in 2007 as $223,758 was
contributed by government and $589,709 was contributed
by business to fund 32 employee skills development
projects.
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Moose Jaw has proven to be a very attractive and
competitive place to live and do business. 2008
Financial Post Markets - Canadian Demographics estimates
per capita income at $26,123 with average household
income of $61,291 – 10% below the national average.
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In January of 2008 BMO Bank of Montreal opened a new
6,500 square foot, full-service branch in Moose Jaw
featuring Moose Jaw’s first drive-through Automated
Banking Machine.
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The City of Moose has announced that it is
proceeding with the development of a $61 million
downtown multiplex project consisting of a WHL standard
ice facility and an eight sheet curling rink. An indoor
soccer facility will be located at the outdoor soccer
fields at Hamilton Flats.
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Local Investors, Neil and Todd Montgomery purchased
the 00 hundred block of River Street West with plans
from a multimillion dollar hotel, restaurant and
shopping development reminiscent of the historic 1920’s
era.
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In June 2008 Temple Gardens Mineral Spa announced a
75 room, multi-million dollar expansion which will bring
its capacity to 254 guest rooms.
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The Prairie South School Division recently sold a
parcel of land, the former Ross school, to developers
who plan to introduce condominiums and townhouses
overlooking Hillcrest Golf Course.
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Mosaic Company has announced annual increased
capacity at Belle Plaine of 120,000 and 360,000 metric
tonnes by 2010 and 2012 respectively and a further
expansion of 1.5 million metric tones 2014 – 2017 at a
total cost of $2.0 Billion.
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Yara Belle Plaine Inc.,
formerly Saskferco had plans for an $84 million expansion
prior to its sale to Yara International ASA (Yara) for
approximately Cnd. $1.6 billion.
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Moose Jaw Refinery has plans to expand in 2008
introducing an expanded range of refined fuel products.
Sales outside of Canada increased by 84% in 2007.
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TransCanada held an open house in Moose Jaw to
inform the public of their plans to build a
polygeneration plant in the RM of Pense. This will be
the largest industrial project in the history of
Saskatchewan. The project is slated to begin
construction in the fall of 2009.
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Investors have purchased the old Castle Winery
facility. Presently several options for development of
the building are being considered.
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A $19.3 million dollar expansion to the Moose Jaw
Union Hospital has been approved by the City. The
provincial government has committed to complete the
feasibility study for the project.
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A new manufacturing business, Best Building, opened
in Moose Jaw in 2007. The business expects to create up
to 30 new jobs.
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Doepker Industries has expanded their operations in
Moose Jaw with the purchase of a new 100,000 square foot
facility.
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Simpson Seeds undertook an expansion for a new pulse
splitting line at their Highway #1 location. One of
only five in Canada, the plant will split red lentils,
chickpeas and green lentils.
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Sasko Windows was recently purchased and is now
being marketed for use as a wood milling facility with
the necessary electric and ventilation requirements.
The building may also be used for office and storage.
Regional
Activities
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Eyebrow has completed an economic
revitalization strategy focusing on oil and gas
opportunities, and a downtown revitalization plan has
been developed. The village is attempting to acquire
additional land for commercial and industrial use.
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The Resort Village of Sun Valley has seen population
growth and is opening up new lots to meet demand.
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The RM of Eyebrow has seen an organic
meat processor start up at Tugaske (Westbridgeford
Meats) with plans for expansion. A feedlot is proposed
north of Keeler.
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Three residential lots sold recently
in Marquis and two more are being serviced.
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The Village of Mortlach has seen a
number of new businesses open recently. They are
working on an agreement with a sports trailer
manufacturer that will initially create 14 new jobs.
They have purchased land to develop 20 new residential
lots.
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The Village of Pense has a new
condominium development underway.
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Saskatchewan Minerals is expanding at
Chaplin and a new clean coal project has been
announced. New housing is being planned to accommodate
for the new growth.
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The RM of Moose Jaw has had many
requests for residential lots. A new warehouse is being
built at Snowdy and a developer is planning a new
subdivision in the RM.
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The Town of Rouleau sold out of lots
in 2007. Three new lots are being serviced.
For More Information Phone: 1 (306) 693-7332
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