Dutch food logistics and cold storage leader NewCold is investing $222-million into a new facility in Coaldale it will span 320,000 square feet.Supplied/Office of the Mayor Tucked between sunflower fields and prairie skies has long been known for its agricultural charm family-run businesses and community hockey nights it’ll also be known for something else: a state-of-the-art cold storage facility that’s reshaping Canada’s food logistics landscape placing us on the global map for agri-logistics innovation,” says Mayor Jack Van Rijn He describes the facility as “one of the most advanced and visually-striking structures in southern Alberta” – and a bold signal of Coaldale’s evolving role in the national supply chain And it’s not just about the scale or design – the economic impact is already being felt These roles include overseeing operations as the facility uses proprietary automated systems that “use 50 per cent less energy than traditional cold storage systems.” The Coaldale cold storage centre is automated energy-efficient and can store up to 56,000 pallets of frozen food Its automated storage and retrieval systems can retrieve or load a pallet in just six minutes from any location in the facility.Supplied/Office of the Mayor The demand stems from the increase in e-commerce related to meal-kit services and online food shopping, as well as a growing need for temperature-sensitive storage for pharmaceuticals and other biomedical materials “investors are recognizing the potential for cold storage assets to deliver stable returns and are actively seeking opportunities in Canada,” says Fred Cassano the current state of the world economy and see-sawing of tariff decisions by U.S President Donald Trump may dampen the enthusiasm The cost and scale of these projects could be heavily affected by rising material prices “The imposition of new tariffs could lead to higher costs for imported materials and equipment to build facilities profitability and operational efficiency,” says Mr Canadian businesses importing produce from the U.S or using American cold storage supply chain solutions could seek alternative markets “[This could] potentially give Canadian facilities a competitive edge if they adapt more quickly than their U.S NewCold is bringing more than jobs and automated cold storage to Coaldale It’s also investing in the long-term logistics of transporting fresh and frozen food in southern Alberta This is one outcome of the interest in investment “The cold storage trend also reflects the growing convergence between real estate and infrastructure as companies look to play their part in supporting e-commerce growth and meeting the logistical needs of a changing economy,” he says “This [investment] will provide Alberta food producers with streamlined access to export markets improving supply chain efficiency and helping them grow their business at home and abroad,” says Michael Keeler site manager of the NewCold Coaldale facility CPKC is partnering with another leader in cold-storage logistics. In January, U.S.-based company Americold announced a US$79-million investment in a first-of-its-kind cold storage facility along the Saint John It’s a unique partnership with the railway and DP World – a multinational Dubai-based maritime logistics company – and the first in the world to combine marine and rail importing and exporting with cold storage solutions The state-of-the-art Coaldale facility has the capacity to store up to 56,000 pallets of frozen food “It will be equipped with NewCold’s proprietary automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) capable of retrieving or loading a pallet in just six minutes from any location within the facility [without humans],” says Mr Sustainability is integrated into every aspect of NewCold’s operations “The energy-efficient model is designed to dramatically reduce energy use compared to conventional cold storage through a combination of vertical design automation and advanced insulation,” he says “By consolidating storage and distribution in one high-performance location streamline transportation and support more sustainable growth for Alberta’s food producers.” Van Rijn doesn’t underestimate the importance of such a large and wide-reaching investment in the town he loves “With its cutting-edge technology and commitment to sustainability NewCold’s presence in Coaldale reinforces our position at the heart of Canada’s premier food corridor,” he says “We’re proud to support a project that not only strengthens our local economy but also sets a new benchmark for innovation in the food logistics industry.” Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. 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Or sign-in if you have an account A mayor of one southern Alberta town says the Alberta government’s photo radar ban along provincial highways will have a significant impact on next year’s municipal budget Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience saying photo radar sites should be focused on traffic safety and not be used as “cash cows.” Mayor Jack Van Rijn said municipal officials have had to take “a hard look” at next year’s budget to see where they could cut services and events to make up for almost $600,000 in lost revenue Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Noon News Roundup will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Along Highway 3, Coaldale has three photo radar sites through the town of just under 10,000 residents, but by April 1, photo radar along provincial highways will be banned. Every shortfall of $80,000 or so represents a one per cent tax hike for Coaldale, said Van Rijn, so to keep services at their current level without finding savings would result in a tax increase of roughly 7.5 per cent. “Our administration team is working hard to see where money could be saved in other areas,” said Coaldale’s mayor. “The last thing we want to do is cut services.” While Coaldale could still set up photo radar in school, playground and construction zones, the municipality leases the equipment so the expense wouldn’t be justified, said Van Rijn. The municipality will instead have community peace and RCMP officers use a hand-held radar gun, he added. A uniform speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour in Coaldale along Highway 3 — where speed limits currently vary from 50 to 70 kilometres per hour — will help non-residents keep a constant speed, said the mayor. Those living outside the community get over 70 per cent of the speeding tickets along the provincial highway, he said. “I’m satisfied that will help the safety aspect,” Van Rijn said about the speed limit change. In Taber, another southern Alberta town with photo radar, a decision was made before the province’s Monday announcement to discontinue photo radar use in 2025, said Mayor Andrew Prokop. Taber has contracted with the Lethbridge Police Service to do photo radar. “It just didn’t become cost effective in the long run,” said Prokop, a former Taber Police Service officer. Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shanin Mehdizadeh said he and other Alberta chiefs were disappointed with the province’s decision to drastically curtail photo radar use. “There have been reductions in speed and collisions and all the safety things that we are looking to accomplish without having police officers,” he said. Residents of the southern Alberta city have consistently told Lethbridge police at town hall meetings and through surveys that they want more photo radar, not less, said Mehdizadeh. Coaldale, Taber and Lethbridge are among the 24 Alberta municipalities still using photo radar, which generated $145 million last year. Municipalities can apply for additional photo radar spots on an “exceptional basis” starting in April, following a four-month transition period that started Dec. 1. Over the next four months, every remaining photo radar spot and sites deemed ineffective or outside of school, playground and construction zones will be removed, said Dreeshen. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account CalgaryNewsCoaldale RCMP seek public aid tracking down campaign sign vandalsBy CTVNewsCalgary.ca StaffPublished: April 07, 2025 at 6:51PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved • New handi-bus features adaptable seating and key supporters joined the Coaldale and District Handi-Ride Association (CHRA) as it unveiled its new accessible handi-bus with ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb the new bus features an access ramp instead of a lift making boarding easier for individuals using walkers or wheelchairs It also includes a winch system for safe and controlled entry accommodating up to sixteen passengers and one wheelchair or twelve passengers with three wheelchairs—more than doubling the capacity of the previous vehicle The purchase of the new bus was made possible through a generous $182,400 contribution from the Government of Canada’s rural transit solutions rund along with a $25,000 contribution from the Coaldale Community Wellness Association a $10,000 contribution from the Kinsmen Club of Coaldale and a $5,000 community grant from the Town of Coaldale “Today’s ribbon-cutting marks an exciting step forward in the CHRA’s mission to provide accessible transportation for those who need it most” the new bus will ensure that Coaldale residents continue to have a reliable and inclusive transit option for years to come.” extended gratitude to the Government of Canada on behalf of the town for their generous support in making the project possible and was grateful for the collaboration and generosity that made the new handi-bus a reality Infrastructure and Communities Canada for recognizing the importance of accessible transportation in rural communities and for helping to fund this vital service through the Government of Canada’ s rural transit solutions fund,” said Van Rijn “I also want to express our deep appreciation to the Coaldale Community Wellness Association and the Town of Coaldale for their financial contributions Their commitment to the well-being of our residents is what makes Coaldale such a strong and caring community,” he added noting the new bus will provide greater independence and mobility for those who need it most “We are committed to better connecting all communities across the country – rural and urban,” said George Chahal on behalf of the Honourable Nathaniel Erskine-Smith “Expanding public transit options through vehicle purchases such as the Coaldale and district handi-bus will help all residents navigate their communities and access essential services with more ease.” The CHRA continues to provide rides on weekdays from 8:00 a.m with some flexibility for medical appointments such as dialysis treatments Riders are encouraged to book their trips at least two days in advance by calling 403-360-5917 You must be logged in to post a comment Have you felt the financial impact of Trump's tariffs yet View Results By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 9 LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com The first phase of the MPE Link Pathway between Coaldale and Lethbridge has been completed A group of bicyclists riding through a ribbon crossing the path near the trailhead in Coaldale completed a ceremony Thursday featuring speeches from numerous dignitaries representing different levels of government and the St The pathway is part of the Trans Canada Trail Network which was started in 1992 and now has 29,000 kilometres of pathways When completed the pathway will provide the region “with a unique and new experience, allowing users to experience our beautiful region in its full glory,” says website http://www.linkpathway.org The pathway, with an expected completion date sometime in the fall of 2025 depending upon funding, is a $6.8 million project that will provide a link from the Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale to Henderson Lake in Lethbridge. Total length of the pathway will be 15 kilometres. The second phase will be a tunnel at Highway 512, commonly known as the Jail Road. Speakers at the event included committee chair Henry Doeve, vice chair and architect Alvin Fritz, Coadale mayor Jack Van Rijn, Lethbridge County Reeve Tory Campbell, Lethbridge East MLA Nathan Neudorf, Lethbridge city councillor John Middleton-Hope, Eric Dyson of MPE Engineering and George Lohues of SMRID, who told the gathering the district originally wasn’t interested. But Lohues said the committee was determined to succeed and convinced SMRID to come onboard. Groundbreaking on the first phase was June 13 of last year. That phase is a 3.4 kilometre long stretch from the Malloy Drainage basin at the west end of Coaldale to Highway 512. The MPE Link Pathway generally follows SMRID right-of-ways and a gathering at the ceremony heard of a plan by SMRID to set up interpretive boards and signage to show how irrigation works and future generations where their food comes from. Speakers talked about the collaborative nature of the pathway and the efforts that have been involved in getting it to its current stage. Fritz recalled riding his bicycle at the age of 12 decades ago from Lethbridge to Coaldale to swim in the main ditch under a weir and how a similar pathway between Chestermere and Calgary gave a boost to efforts to build the pathway here. He added body chemistry changes in the outdoor environment and the hope and goal is that the pathway will provide “rest for the soul” for those who use it. Fritz called the pathway a dream since 2009. His firm was engaged to provide an integrated development strategy for the project. It secured a grant to work with Coaldale and Lethbridge County and had to nurture unity and working together. They recognized the southeast lateral creates “a really beautiful connection between Birds of Prey and Henderson Lake and we thought ‘wow, you’ve got an anchor at each end. What a beautiful opportunity for a pathway,'” Fritz recalled. SMRID was contacted, he said, noting how Lohues has been a huge supporter. As the concept was delved into deeper, they learned Chestermere was doing the same thing following the western irrigation district “and that really helped boost the whole thing forward because we could point to the western irrigation district and ‘oh my goodness, there’s a path that follows the canal all the way back to Calgary from Chestermere’ and it just gave us a whole new sort of boosted vision,” Fritz said. He noted being off the highway “is just a wonderful thing for a pathway because you’re not having to deal with all of the traffic.” Van Rijn said “this remarkable addition to southern Alberta invites us all to cycle, run or walk along the picturesque canal system and through the beautiful fields” in the agricultural heartland of Alberta. “This pathway is a testament to dedication and collaboration brought to life through extensive research, community engagement, environmental assessments and stakeholder co-operation,” Van Rijn said. He said the pathway will provide a safe and efficient means of travel between Coaldale and Lethbridge. “We look forward to seeing Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, Coaldale and SMRID to come together to create a unique greenway that southern Albertans can enjoy for decades to come,” he added, saying the pathway will provide users not only safe access to an idyllic landscape but also a chance “to learn about the region and local economy as they travel through some of the most productive agricultural lands in the country.” Campbell said the project has been a challenge and he’s learned through his time on County council that if something is hard, it’s probably worth doing and the pathway is perfect example of that. He said “this is a shining example of how we collaborate, how we can overcome those obstacles and find a way to get things done.” Middleton-Hope noted the pathway “showcases vision, innovation, collaboration and leadership between the town, the County, the Government of Alberta and the City of Lethbridge.” He said Coaldale is working hard to put the town on the map with its downtown development, new cold storage facility, state-of-the-art rec centre, water treatment project and the pathway. Neudorf said his wife has been on the pathway committee from the start and his family have been strong advocates for the pathway. An avid runner who laces up in cities he visits, Neudorf said every city that is thriving has a pathway similar to the one being built here, noting they bring communities together. The pathway “helps build community,” he added. Doeve, an avid cyclist who acted as emcee and wore a shirt resembling a tuxedo for the occasion, said after the ceremony the project is about the journey. “I’m just so excited,” said Doeve, expressing appreciation for all the community involvement in the project. “The journey was what it is. . . it was something we needed to continue on with, persevere and push it through. We just had a lot of face-to-face meetings and people couldn’t resist something as good and the legacy that this leaves behind,” Doeve said of the work involved in getting different parties together to begin building the pathway. The name was chosen because it links communities, he said. And there are further possibilities once the pathway reaches Lethbridge where it can connect to the city trail network. “We’re hoping we can link more communities and just continue this process,” Doeve added. “There’s no reason to stop now,” he said. As a cyclist, he sees such pathways as an opportunity that brings people together, Doeve said. CalgaryNewsThe community’s ‘living room’: New civic plaza officially opens in CoaldaleBy CTVNewsCalgary.ca StaffPublished: February 21, 2025 at 7:55PM EST CalgaryNewsFire crews respond to massive Coaldale recycling plant fireBy Quinn KeenanPublished: July 29, 2024 at 7:59PM EDT The Alberta government will allow seven Alberta communities to pilot the limited use of golf carts along municipal roads The province says the communities asked for and have been approved to pilot their use with legislation already in place allowing for it “Pilot projects like this allow new and innovative uses of existing or new modes of transportation and expands on municipalities already having the ability to allow registered off-highway vehicles to operate on their roads,” the province said in a news release on Thursday is one of the first communities to pilot the limited use of golf carts on municipal roads our council will be able to pass a golf cart bylaw that gives residents living near our local golf course the ability to drive their carts to and from the course,” Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn said in a statement on Thursday The province touted the move as a way of “enhancing the mobility of Albertans and increasing recreational options,” and says pilot projects will allow it to see if there safety issues that need to be addressed and Alberta must be ready with forward-thinking ideas on how to test new transportation-related solutions or activities,” said Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen “Off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and e-bikes have been popular with Albertans for years and pilot projects like this one hold the key to unlocking new modes of transportation for everyone.” Alberta Municipalities has advocated for golf carts to be allowed on municipal roads “Many communities have been asking for this for a few years,” said Tina Jones The province points out that three provinces — British Columbia Ontario and Saskatchewan — already have legislation in place allowing golf carts to be used on select municipal roads The other six communities with pilot projects are the County of Lacombe stipper@postmedia.com A Dutch firm says its first advanced automated cold storage warehouse in Canada is getting closer to completion and will revolutionize the southern Alberta agriculture corridor by boosting sustainability in the supply chain NewCold’s $222 million state-of-the-art food storage facility in Coaldale’s industrial park is slated for a late-June opening date The firm has 22 warehouses on three continents offering a combined capacity of more than 1.5 million pallet positions Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn was pleased with the relative speed in which NewCold agreed to open up shop in the southern Alberta community of more than 8,900 people with other regions in Canada wanting to do similar projects Grain and oilseed millers are predicted to see sales volumes and margins decline in 2025 according to Farm Credit Canada’s food and beverage report “From the time we were first introduced to the executive of NewCold it took 10 months … for them to be committed to the Town of Coaldale,” he said they are trying to build one right now in Ontario and they’ve been at it for two-and-a-half years and they (hadn’t) even got to the development permit stage yet.” Van Rijn made the comments at a ‘state of the region’ address in Taber earlier in 2025 “It goes to show you through the guidance of our MLA Grant Hunter in red tape reduction in how we can move forward in getting a project the size of this in southern Alberta,” he said The facility will sit on 37 acres of Coaldale’s industrial park and is 320,000 square feet and 150 feet high The cold storage facility has the capability of storing 56,000 pallets of frozen vegetables McCain’s has leased 100 per cent of the first phase of this facility,” said Van Rijn The automated facility will be capable of loading or unloading a semi truck in six minutes or less without a human hand touching it There have been 230 people building the facility with an estimated 50-60 being employed when it becomes fully operational “This facility is inclined to reduce the carbon foot print associated with traditional cold storage It uses 50 per cent less energy by employing cutting-edge insulation techniques and fully-automated processing,” said Van Rijn In getting the product out to global markets with financial assistance from the Alberta government will partner with Coaldale to invest in the extension of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) connectivity to the property a necessity to reduce the environmental footprint Coaldale (did) not have a spur line that major centres have,” said Van Rijn adding one of the town’s engineers went to work looking at five spots where spur lines would work by the south end of Coaldale’s industrial park in three days we had five offers to purchase on five different locations the spur line could go,” he said “It just goes to show the commitment of our business sector (We) had five owners in three days signing a commitment that they would sell to the Town of Coaldale for the spur line.” The spur line to the NewCold facility is 2.6 kilometres long with costs of the $8 million project shared between NewCold and the Town of Coaldale 50/50 There is potential for other spur lines to come up in the Coaldale area if other industry comes calling The spur line gives businesses ready access to export their products with ease and security either domestically or internationally The investment will go into municipal rail lines to develop Coaldale into an export hub “The facility is a game changer for Coaldale and all of southern Alberta This NewCold investment is the largest singular investment in the history of our community,” said Van Rijn the second phase is something they are very tight lipped about when it’s going to occur This particular (phase) is 100 per cent leased out and they needed that commitment before they started entertaining the second phase Our hope is that the construction teams will just stay there and keep building but we don’t have any confirmation on that at this point.” Newsletter Sign Up - Receive free Western Producer newsletters Breaking ag news stories and commodities markets snapshots delivered daily right to your inbox Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Canterra buys pedigreed seed firm Alliance Seed Parrish & Heimbecker acquires bulk marine export terminal in Quebec City Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | © 2025 Western Producer Publications Limited Partnership "(Required)" indicates required fields Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on March 8, 2025. Young Coaldale world champion wakesurfer Greyson Hantke has been making waves in the sport since learning to get up on board when he was five years old at Stafford Lake. “My parents have done it for a while for sure but never as something big,” said Hantke. “I’ve always been on the boat … growing up, and one day when I was about five, I just said I wanted to try it and then there I kinda loved it and so now I’m here.” He grew up surfing on Stafford Lake before they moved to Texas last year for more wakesurfing practice “My coaches are down there,” said Hantke. “We only do go out with them and so it’s like whenever you’re just free riding, it’s still like (a) little bit of practice.” Hantke improved in the sport by taking the approach of if the trick isn’t landed immediately, there’s more times it can be tried. Hantke sees the approach more as practice than something to get angry at. It was at the age of six he competed in his first competition. “Oh, back then, (there) was not a care in the world,” said Hantke. “Just going out there (and) having fun. It was amazing.” He finished third at the Centurion’s World Series of Wake Surfing in 2023. “Going to worlds was really scary and I was super nervous,” said Hantke. “It was very nerve-wracking and it was yeah kinda crazy.” He had more confidence going to worlds the second time and won the Youth Boys category last fall. “I really wanted to come back to that redemption and so it was amazing,” he said. Going down to Texas to train helped him in the lead up to the victory last October. “I gotta surf all-year long and it was amazing and so that really helped for sure,” said Hantke. His goal this year is win another junior world title. The fear and scaredness is what helps him on the water. “It really drives me to go harder and do better,” said Hantke. Hantke will work towards earning himself a spot in a Pro Skim division which is competing with all the best wakesurfers in the world. Hantke feels the sport has become popular. “They started doing World Series in 2013 and there was not that many people then,” said Hantke. “From 2013 to 2025, it’s definitely changed a lot and there’s definitely a lot more people coming.” He signed on with Centurion boats as a sponsor. A Dutch firm says its first advanced automated cold storage warehouse in Canada is getting closer to completion, and will revolutionize the southern Alberta agriculture corridor by boosting sustainability in the supply chain Zebra mussels could be incredibly damaging to Alberta’s waterways and irrigation districts if the invasive species were to make its way to Alberta it took 10 months… for them to be committed to the Town of Coaldale,” he said In getting the product out to global markets, NewCold, with financial assistance from the Alberta government, will partner with Coaldale to invest in the extension of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) connectivity to the property You’ll also receive industry and policy information all in one convenient email delivered right to your inbox One email delivered 6 days a week for ranchers May contract talks alarm sugar beet growers Bunge’s merger with Viterra stalled by US-China trade tensions Industry believes green pea supplies are over-reported Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | © 2025 Everything you love about Alberta Farmer Express and more breaking news alerts and a customizable newsfeed in one seamless experience