Southeast Saskatchewan is home to a broad
and rich resource base, which includes oil & gas, lignite coal,
potash and some of the most fertile agricultural lands in the province.
As the regional resource sector’s primary service centre,
Estevan features one of the country’s strongest and wealthiest
economic bases. As a result, the community has become the regional
service centre for a population of nearly 50,000, providing phenomenal
retail, recreational, educational and health care facilities and
opportunities.
Estevan has become known as the Energy Capital of Saskatchewan;
this distinction is based on an extraordinary resource base that
is serviced primarily out of Estevan. Two nearby coal mines provide
fuel for the two local power stations responsible for generating
nearly half of Saskatchewan’s base load power. While the two
mines and two power stations provide stable employment for nearly
800 residents, the oilfield is a significant contributor of economic
wealth and prosperity. Home to more than 200 businesses directly
related to the oilfield, Estevan is the primary service centre for
the hugely popular Bakken oilfield. There are in excess of 7,000
oil wells within a 160 km. radius, most of which are owned and serviced
by companies based out of Estevan.
The tremendous opportunity available in the Estevan area has led
to a community known as the youngest in all of Saskatchewan and
also as the city ranked #1 in all of Canada in terms of discretionary
income. The average household income is 114% above the national
average and Estevan is also home to the highest level of average
household liquid assets of any Saskatchewan city. The City of Estevan
and RM of Estevan # 5 are both committed to local economic growth
and prosperity and as such, have developed a positive working relationship
that has led to numerous agreements in order to best facilitate
business development. Both municipalities have serviced land available
for development and are prepared to work with developers to meet
the community`s goals and needs.
Top Employers
Sherritt Coal: 370
SaskPower Boundary Dam Power Station: 300
SaskPower Shand Power Station: 100
PennWest: 100
PetroBakken: 60
NAL Resources Ltd.: 25
Educational Facilities
Southeast Regional College
The SRC provides Basic Education, Introductory University
courses and a full slate of technical courses. The College also
features the Energy Training Institute (ETI); this $14 million facility,
to be located in the new Glen Peterson Industrial Park, was established
as a unique business division of Southeast Regional College, in
an effort to keep pace with the ever expanding training needs of
the energy industry. To meet this demand, ETI provides a diverse
variety of technical, environmental, and safety-related courses.
For more information, see http://www.southeastcollege.org/programs/eti.html.
Academy of Learning
With Academy of Learning`s hands-on
approach to training, employees can define what they have learned
and apply their new found skills immediately. Their unique method
of learning means that employees can be trained or their skills
upgraded during and after business hours or on weekends. For more
information, see http://www.academyoflearning.com/SK/Home/Locations/Estevan.aspx
Estevan Comprehensive School
Estevan Comprehensive School`s mission has always been the promotion
of: Excellence, Commitment and Success with the underlying belief
that if students make a commitment to pursue excellence they will
achieve individual success. The ECS offers a full slate of technical
courses, business education courses and fine arts courses.
Transportation Infrastructure
The transportation infrastructure surrounding Estevan
provides investors with unlimited opportunity. Three major highways,
as well as, the main CPR line pass directly through the city providing
access to both east-west and north-south corridors, and the airport
provides commercial flights to and from Regina four times a week.
Highways
Highway 39: Saskatchewan`s only 24 hour port of entry
from the United States is located 40 km`s from Estevan along Hwy
39, which receives on average, 5,780 vehicles per day.
Highway 47: Estevan`s closest port of entry into the
United States is located only 15 km`s south on Hwy 47. This highway
also leads directly north to Hwy 1 (140km`s). Receiving in excess
of 3,000 vehicles per day at Estevan`s border, this highway serves
as a primary route for the local oilfield.
Highway 18: Serving as the secondary east-west corridor,
Hwy 18 receives an average of 1,600 vehicles per day.
Railways
CP Rail at Estevan provides direct rail connections
to east and west mainlines at Brandon, Mb. and Moose Jaw, Sk. These
links handle the flow of grain and other commodities to the coastal
waters of Vancouver, Thunder Bay, Montreal and all points in between.
CP Rail handles coal from the Estevan-Bienfait area to thermal electric
stations in Manitoba and Ontario in unit trains of 114 cars or in
single car lots.
Estevan is situated approximately 25 rail miles from
Portal, North Dakota on the CP Rail Weyburn Subdivision with direct
connections to the former Soo Line Railroad. Now known as the CP
Rail System Heavy Haul US, this line offers direct rail service
to the US Midwest with major terminals at Minneapolis, Chicago and
Kansas City.
Airport
The Estevan Municipal Airport is located six km`s
north on Hwy 47, ad 1.6 km`s east. The airport is capable of landing
70 passenger jets and has a Limited Approach Beacon for landing
in poor weather conditions.
Runway 08-26 is 1,524 meters (5,000`) long with pilot control runway
lights, Precision Approach Path Indicator lights and Runway Identifier
Strobes.
Runway 15-33 is 914.1 meters (3,000`) long and also lighted for
night use.
The airport receives commercial service every
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; for more information, see
http://swanbergair.com.
