Bon Accord Overview

A snapshot of the community and surrounding region.

The Town of Bon Accord was established in 1896 by Scottish settlers. In 1964, the community was incorporated as a Village and by 1979 achieved Town status. Bon Accord is part of Sturgeon County, which is located on the northern boundaries of Edmonton and St. Albert. The region is landscaped with gently sloping hills and fertile agricultural lands.

According to its 2008 municipal census, the population of Sturgeon County is 19,165 and has grown by almost 17% over the past 10 years. Sturgeon County towns of Bon Accord, Gibbons, Legal, Morinville and Redwater are all located within the district and provide a myriad of amenities as well as historical and cultural sites. As of the last Canada Census in 2006, the population of Bon Accord was 1,534 people.

The original cornerstones of the community remain an important determinant of existing socio-economic circumstance, with nearby agriculture and agriculture related endeavors continuing to influence local development. That being said, the influence of the nearby Edmonton Garrison, the growth of Northern Alberta's oil and gas industry and the evolution of the region's tourism base has significantly shaped the community's economic character over the past thirty plus years.

Bon Accord is within easy commuting distance of the City of Edmonton as well as being close to other major population centres within the Capital Region, the Industrial Heartland, and Refinery Row in Strathcona County. However, while Bon Accord enjoys many positives from its close proximity to Edmonton and associated businesses and industries in the region, a significant challenge for the community is that it remains primarily a bedroom community heavily dependent upon residential taxes. In fact, based on recent tax rolls, well over 95% of the town's tax base is comprised of residential properties. This means that the costs of all services, including water, waste water, household waste, recycling, recreation and other programs must be predominately borne by the residential community, creating a significant burden on residents not only in terms of increased property taxes, but also in terms of higher than average water and sewer, household waste and recycling fees. This situation is unsustainable over the longer term and untenable in the short term.

While the Town of Bon Accord currently relies heavily on residential taxes and fees, the expectation of large industrial investments within the Industrial Heartland presents the Town with unique potential to identify new ways to foster economic development and to move forward to a more sustainable and economically vibrant future. Local citizens recognize the need for significant change with a more balanced approach; one that builds on Bon Accord as a great place to live and a place that offers meaningful employment opportunities for citizens of all ages. It is within this context that Town Council and Administration have initiated this important "Economic Development Plan and Implementation Strategy".