Agri-tourism event in Lac La Biche will kick-off workshop series encouraging development

Residents of the Lac La Biche region who have an interest in starting their own agri-tourism business may find plenty of helpful information at the ‘Cultivating Economic Growth & Agri-Tourism Kick-Off Event.’

LAC LA BICHE – Residents of the Lac La Biche region who have an interest in starting their own agri-tourism business may find plenty of helpful information at the ‘Cultivating Economic Growth & Agri-Tourism Kick-Off Event,’ which will be held at McArthur Place on Aug. 27 from 4-7 p.m.  

Heather Stromquist, Lac La Biche County’s manager of economic development tourism, explained that the kick-off event is an information session about the future workshop series that will start later this year and wrap up in early 2025.  

Through the kick-off event and, more specifically, the subsequent workshop series, Lac La Biche County’s commitment is to establish a sustainable and collaborative platform that will contribute and spark the growth and development of agriculture, agrifood and agritourism in the region with a web-based resource toolkit.   

“The kick-off will be an opportunity to meet the project management team, view the workshop topics and sign-up for them in advance,” Stromquist told Lakeland This Week. “It is also an opportunity for interested stakeholders to network, build relationships, collaborate and share ideas.” 

Stromquist continued by saying the format of the future workshops will be interactive and provide participants with firsthand knowledge and experience from industry professionals in the region, while also providing additional valuable networking opportunities. It will also generate conversations to determine additional information that would be of value to include in the upcoming workshop series, based on stakeholder interest. 

According to Travel Alberta, $10.7 billion dollars in visitor spending occurred in Alberta in 2022, with $29 million spent in Alberta every day with an overall contribution to Alberta’s GDP of $8.4 billion. The information also states that $1.5 billion dollars in tax revenue was generated and this, in turn, provided a $919 annual tax savings per household in Alberta, while also providing nine per cent of employment overall in Alberta. 

“The visitor economy benefits every Albertan,” said Stromquist. 

Lac La Biche County’s strategic plan identifies economic growth as a priority goal and more specifically, the municipality aims to ensure physical and technological infrastructure is in place to support current and future business, industry, and agriculture.  

Lac La Biche County has 247 farms with over 101,000 acres of crop land with gross farm receipts estimated at approximately $35 million in 2021, a 9.97 per cent increase from 2016.  

Agritourism and agrifood businesses in the Lac La Biche region include Christy Creek Honey, Orchard Fresh Syrups and U-Pick, Orchard Fresh Fruit Winery, the Pasture + Market restaurant located at the Lac La Biche Golf & Country Club, the Lac La Biche Farmers Market, the Rich Lake Farmers Market, Wildly Eweneek Cabins – A Lakeland Escape, Sand Springs Ranch, and more. 

“With tourism being a significant economic driver in Alberta and more specifically in the Lac La Biche Region, it is not surprising that several agritourism and agrifood champions have already established themselves and interest from others is growing,” said Stromquist. 

Lac La Biche County will be hosting the Cultivating Economic Growth and Agri-tourism Kick-off and the subsequent workshop series with support from the Government of Alberta Small Community Opportunity Program (SCOP). The County received a $72,077 grant from the province through the program for this initiative.  

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