(Left to right) Cold Lake Mayor Bob Mattice; Matt Jeneroux, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Riverbend; and Cold Lake First Nations Coun. Demetri Scanie stands for a photo after making their speeches on the federal investment. – Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Matt Jeneroux, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Riverbend, announced a total of $6.6 million in funding will be coming to the area, during an event at the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Training Facility held at the Cold Lake Regional Airport on Aug. 26.

Jeneroux made the announcement on behalf of Eleanor Olszewski, Mnister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and the minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.

The funding includes a $6-million repayable investment for Etthen Energy Corporation, an energy company wholly owned by Cold Lake First Nations. The other portion of funds includes $600,000 for a separate project that will see renovations and upgrades done at an aircraft hangar at the regional airport.

“I’m happy to announce that through PrairiesCan, our government is investing $6.6 million in community economic development and diversification funding for two projects here in the Cold Lake region,” Jeneroux said.

Etthen Energy

The investment in Etthen Energy will help the company expand the development of heavy oil resources beneath reserve lands. The work will include well-site and facility construction, engineering, and the completion of work required to advance production.

The project is expected to generate opportunities for local contractors, businesses and workers, while providing Cold Lake First Nations with long-term revenue that can be reinvested in the community.

“This project is significant. It represents the evolution of Indigenous participation in the energy sector,” Jeneroux said.

The investment marked a shift from Indigenous-owned companies primarily providing services to the energy industry toward direct ownership and participation in resource development.

“It means moving from supporting industry through service-based businesses to becoming a direct participant in resource development. It’s a powerful example of economic reconciliation,” Jeneroux said.

Cold Lake First Nations Coun. Demetri Scanie said the announcement was particularly meaningful because he has previously worked with the Nation’s economic development department and the energy industry.

Scanie said Etthen Energy currently has two producing oil wells, and the federal investment will provide development capital to advance its wells, facilities and production.

“For a long time, our nation has been largely outside of the resource development. Today, Etthen is changing that. It gives Cold Lake First Nations a direct role in developing our own resources and making decisions about development and ensuring more economic benefit can flow back to the nation and our members,” Scanie said.

Revenue generated through the company is meant to support Cold Lake First Nations’ priorities, including housing, infrastructure, social programs, employment and training opportunities.

Portage College funding

The remaining $600,000 announced on Wednesday will support the City of Cold Lake’s work to renovate an existing airport hangar for Portage College’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Structures program.

The facility will give students access to hands-on instruction and specialized equipment, while responding to demand for qualified workers in the regional aerospace and defence sectors.

Cold Lake Mayor Bob Mattice said the program built upon the community’s longstanding connections to aviation and national defence.

“The establishment of the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Program allows the City of Cold Lake to play an important role in training the workforce that Canada’s aviation needs. It’s important for us to remember that this program, this is an idea that the City had along the past and previous councils coming to fruition,” said Mattice.

Graduates will be able to work on aircraft used for civilian commerce and national defence. Mattice credited the federal government and Portage College with helping the city bring its vision to life.

“It’s because of their support that Cold Lake is now home to a program that will leverage the tremendous amount of talent that we have in our area to help future technicians who will help Canada’s aviation and defense industries reach new heights for years to come,” Mattice said.

Andrew Serba, the City’s manager of economic development, communications and strategy, said the facility will create “at least one or two instructional jobs,” and could eventually lead to other opportunities in general aviation repair.

By Chantel Downes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Original Published on Aug 31, 2026 at 08:31

 

This item reprinted with permission from   Lakeland This Week   Bonnyville, Alberta

Comments are Welcome - Use the 'Join the Discussion' above any replies, - Posts are moderated so there may be a delay of a few hours to a day before a comment will appear. Emails are verified on some posts. If you use a fake address, your post will not appear and of course, we cannot tell you why your post did not appear. In other cases, we MAY correct spelling or grammar.