For over 30 years, Community Futures Entre-Corp (CF Entre-Corp) has been driving economic growth in southeast Alberta. Now, with support from PrairiesCan’s Rural Opportunities Fund (ROF), CF Entre-Corp is ensuring rural businesses, entrepreneurs, and municipalities have access to Alberta’s growing aerospace sector through the Rural Aerospace Development (RAD) project.
Aerospace and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are rapidly emerging industries in Alberta, but rural businesses often lack the networks and resources available in urban centers. The RAD project is bridging this gap by connecting rural entrepreneurs to industry opportunities, funding, and mentorship.
Propelling rural Alberta’s aerospace sector forward
The RAD project aims to support the aerospace sector in multiple ways:
- Entrepreneur Support: Helping small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) navigate the aerospace industry and supply chain.
- Calgary Aerospace Innovation Hub Access: Connecting rural businesses with industry mentors, funding, and market opportunities.
- Marketing and Outreach: Promoting aerospace opportunities through a virtual roadshow, online resources, and success stories.
- Rural Aerospace Internship: Supporting the Village of Foremost in hiring interns to work at the Foremost UAS Test Range, providing youth with hands-on experience.
- National Aerospace Competition: Successfully securing the bid to host the 2025 Aerial Evolution National Student UAS Competition in Medicine Hat, Alberta—the first time Alberta will host this event.
The role of PrairiesCan’s support
The RAD project was made possible in part with a $300,000 PrairiesCan investment through the Rural Opportunities Fund, which enabled CF Entre-Corp to hire an aerospace subject matter expert (Rural Aerospace Development Manager) and implement key project components.
Roger Haessel, Rural Aerospace Development Manager, highlighted the impact of this support:
“The Prairies Rural Opportunities Fund through Community Futures Pan West has been an exceptionally good experience. Unlike many grant programs, ROF is targeted and designed with the needs and capabilities of rural regions in mind.”
Looking ahead
With the project already yielding success—bringing top aerospace talent to Alberta, expanding industry partnerships, and integrating rural small- and medium-sized businesses into the aerospace supply chain—its long-term sustainability will depend on continued investment. CF Entre-Corp, along with PrairiesCan, remains committed to ensuring rural Alberta remains an active participant in this growing and critical industry.
Community Futures Entre-Corp’s Rural Aerospace Development program (length: 3:27 minutes)
Transcript: Community Futures Entre-Corp’s Rural Aerospace Development program
[Upbeat music begins]
Title on screen: Community Futures Entre-Corp Business Development. Rural Aerospace Development Project.
[Video begins with a drone flying over a field]
Narrator: Community Futures Entre-Corp is a not-for-profit organization, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, funded by the federal government.
[Video transitions to a man wearing personal protective equipment in a farm field inspecting a drone as it lays on the ground].
Narrator: For over 35 years, we've been dedicated to developing and diversifying the economy in southeast Alberta.
[Video transitions to a still shot of a large group of people posing for a photo with a drone resting on the ground].
Narrator: Entre-Corp’s Rural Aerospace Development project supports the growth of the aerospace industry in rural Alberta by integrating local businesses into the broader innovation ecosystem.
[Video transitions to a montage of clips featuring various technicians using tools to work on drones and other aerial devices].
[Video transitions to a man (Steve Donovan) talking directly to the camera].
Text on screen: Steve Donovan. Operations Manager. Foremost UAS Test Range.
Steve Donovan: We anticipate the growth of the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) industry out here. They say that there's over 500 and growing just in Alberta. That’s small and medium business drone service companies out here. And it's only going to, you know, grow exponentially even more, as we advance over the next decade or two.
[Video transitions to more clips of people working on and flying drones].
[Video shows a pair of hands pointing to a computer screen showing an aerial view of an area of land].
Narrator: Entre-Corp helps entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises grow in the aerospace ecosystem. Entre-Corp has partnered with the recently launched Calgary Aerospace Innovation Hub to assist rural aerospace companies in accessing various hub services on a virtual basis.
[Video shows various people working on drones].
[Video transitions to a man (Morley Paterson) taking directly to the camera].
Text on screen: Morely Paterson. Product Manager, Unmanned Vehicle Applied Dynamics.
Morley Paterson: We’re really experiencing an aerospace renaissance. Many of the large challenges that have traditionally been reserved for government agencies are now being solved by small companies.
[Video transitions to a person maneuvering a joystick and then shows a 3D rendering of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being moved around a computer screen].
Narrator: In rural Alberta, Community Futures, in partnership with the Village of Foremost, is empowering youth through the Rural Aerospace Internship Program at the Foremost UAS test range.
[Video shows clips of several youth working on and operating drones].
Narrator: This initiative opens doors to diverse experiences in the aerospace industry.
[Video transitions to young man (Ayden Rooks) standing in front of a truck and talking directly to the camera].
Text on screen: Ayden Rooks. Rural Aerospace Intern, Foremost UAS Test Range.
Ayden Rooks: The opportunities that the RAD internship program has provided me is just exceptional. I wouldn't have got this in any other company and it (isn’t) just working at one specific thing.
[Video transitions to a clip of a drone being flown in the air, and then to an aerial view of the UAS Test Range].
Ayden: Like I've talked to many of my other friends that are working at different companies, and they're just working on one thing all the time.
[Video transitions back to Ayden talking directly to the camera].
Ayden: This is given me an opportunity to see in the real world what available opportunities there are and all the different companies that are in Canada, not to mention just in Medicine Hat.
[Photos of Ayden Rooks and Steve Donovan working together are shown on screen].
Ayden: I just appreciated heavily the opportunity that Steve and Foremost UAS range have given me here.
[Video transitions back to Ayden Rooks talking directly to the camera].
Ayden: And then I'd also like to thank Community Futures for their opportunity and funding my position at the Foremost UAS Range.
[Video transitions to a drone hovering above ground].
Narrator: Entre-Corp will host the National UAS Student Competition in 2025, bringing lasting benefits to rural Alberta.
[Video transitions to a clip of a UAV flying in the air, then shows clips of people working on UAVs with tools].
Narrator: This initiative will drive innovation and growth in the aerospace sector, while showcasing the region's potential.
[Video transitions to a woman (Sue Chapman) sitting in an office and talking directly to the camera].
Text on screen: Sue Chapman. Coordinator, National Student UAS Competition, Aerial Evolution Association of Canada.
Sue Chapman: And we're really looking forward to our 16th competition to be held here in beautiful Medicine Hat, with this wonderful Prairie hospitality.
[A picture of a large group of people huddled together for a picture in front of a drone is shown on the screen].
[Video transitions back to Sue Champan talking directly to the camera].
Sue: These fabulous facilities, the enthusiasm from the Medicine Hat Committee and, just the vibrance that you feel from the community. We're really looking forward to introducing you to our teams.
[Video transitions to a clip of a person operating a drone that is flying in the air].
Narrator: The Prairies Rural Opportunities Fund (ROF) through Community Futures
Pan West has provided exceptionally positive experience.
[Video transitions to a rocket being launched into the air].
Text on screen: Watch the full video at “AtlantisEnergy: Arvo Aerospace – Hybrid Rocket Launch ” on YouTube.
Narrator: Unlike many grant programs, ROF is specifically targeted and designed to meet the needs and capabilities of rural regions.
[Video shows three people stepping back and smiling as they look up towards the sky, then transitions back to the rocket flying higher in the sky].
Narrator: This focused approach empowers our communities and fosters sustainable growth.
Text on screen: Supporting aerospace businesses in rural Alberta. Rural Aerospace Development. Community Futures Entre-Corp Business Development.
Text on screen: Proudly supported by: Prairies Economic Development Canada.
[Canada wordmark is shown].
[Music fades].
