Page 46 - 03-May-2024

Sponsored Feature
With room for everyone
Building innovative, sustainable communities
THE EDMONTON REGION has seen unprecedented growth in the past few years, as people relocate from within Canada and farther afield to take advantage of the region’s economic stability and affordability. As the population grows, the need for diverse, sustainable forms of housing has also grown.
“We continue to expect to see thousands of people moving into Edmonton each year over the next few years,” says Brad Armstrong, vice president of Qualico Communities. “We need places to grow, and we need all styles of development to meet that growing need.”
As a third-generation family- owned business, Armstrong explains, Qualico is deeply invested in building better cities, and helping Edmonton be a more vibrant, sustainable and well- connected community. Whether it’s high-density developments in the heart of the city, or sustainable suburban communities in Stratchona County, Qualico is building communities for residents of all backgrounds and at all stages of life.
“We believe in building communities where you can
raise your family, and where we ourselves would be proud to live as well,” says Armstrong.
That includes communities like Bremner, located just northeast
of Sherwood Park. The area has
“Given its
location on the doorstep to Alberta's industrial heartland, we saw an opportunity here to introduce pure hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas.”
– Brad Armstrong, vice president of Qualico Communities
been identified as Strathcona County’s next urban growth area — where the community will expand as more people move to the region. To meet the long- term needs of the region, Qualico is developing an innovative, sustainable, community model designed to stand the test of time. Developed in partnership with ATCO, Qualico’s Bremner community is slated to become Canada’s first hydrogen-heated community.
Hydrogen is a safe, reliable and low-carbon- emission energy source, Armstrong explains, which
is already being used elsewhere in the world as a reliable heating source for homes. It is seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels, which could play an important role in addressing climate change while also stimulating the Alberta economy.
To demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as
an energy source, Qualico is working with Sterling Homes to build HomeOne, a proof-of-concept pure hydrogen home in Sherwood Park.
“It’s a great way for people to see how this concept will work,” says Armstrong.
The community is still in the early stages of