ST. PAUL – The Alberta Airports Management Association (AAMA) presented its Golden Runway Award to the County and the Town of St. Paul, the Town of Elk Point, and the STEP Economic Development Alliance (STEP).
The award acknowledges efforts to support the continued success of airports in Alberta, according to information from the AAMA.
The Golden Run Award presented to STEP and the three municipalities particularly recognizes the ongoing work to develop the St. Paul Municipal Airport and the Elk Point Airport.
Linda Sallstrom, Economic Development Officer (EDO) of STEP, said she is happy to see the efforts of improving the airports acknowledged by the AAMA.
The St. Paul Municipal Airport is undergoing some changes after the Government of Alberta provided $1.2 million in funding toward repairs and improvements at the airport in 2024. The funding covers 75 per cent of project costs, with the remaining 25 per cent, estimated at about $400,000, shared between the Town of St. Paul and the County of St. Paul.
STEP is also working with University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills to look at the potential of Indigenous flight training.
Sallstrom said an economic assessment report of the Elk Point Airport was completed in late 2023. The report, conducted by HM Aero, indicates short to medium-term economic opportunities for the airport, including the “medium” likelihood of the airport being able to support the agricultural and the oil and gas sectors in the region.
“The goal is to attract more activity and investment into the airport assets of the region,” she explained.
The Town of Elk Point transferred management of operations to the County of St. Paul in 2024.
County of St. Paul CAO Jason Wallsmith said the work being completed to improve the airports “is building on our commitment to regionalization.”
“It’s exciting to have received a prestigious award that recognizes our collective efforts for a regional approach,” he said.
Sallstrom agreed with the sentiment. She said there are 10 airports in the northeast, with two located in the St. Paul region.
She said the airports have different focuses, “so, it’s not about competing amongst each other. The biggest thing is about supporting and aligning with each other so that we’re all able to provide services to our region as best as we can.”
