Local, Online, and Booming: The Business Shift Happening Across Alberta

Central Alberta is experiencing a marked change in the way business is conducted. Many local operators are now looking beyond the storefront and are adopting digital tools to operate things more efficiently. This is not merely about following the fashions. It’s about enhancing their way of reaching customers, their operations and their services.

Small and medium businesses are using digital strategies to make smarter decisions and stay competitive. Local stories, backed by growing national data, show that online tools are no longer just an add-on, they’re now a key part of the business model.

More Efficient Workstreams

Online tools are helping businesses operate with fewer delays and less overhead. For many small companies, that means faster order management, automatic communication, and better use of space and time. A key result of this shift is better customer handling across industries, including the online gaming sector.

Even in industries with international visibility within gaming, like online casino entertainment platforms, users are becoming more selective. When people compare trusted online casinos, the decision is no longer based on flashy offers alone. They now look for consistent customer service, clear complaint resolution, and visible licensing, all signs that operations behind the scenes are run with the same care expected from any modern business.

This expectation is also being transferred to the local businesses who are learning that speedy service, legible records, and stable systems are more important than ever. The model of good digital operations established by these larger platforms is influencing customer habits all over the world.

A Larger Customer Base

As the internet has opened up e-commerce tools to more people, the concept of selling only within one’s local community is becoming obsolete. Many small businesses that used to only do business in local retail locations are now receiving orders from across the province and in some cases the country.

This change was not the result of a random change of mind, it was the result of the steady growth of sites such as eBay and Amazon over the last decade. Noting the sudden surge in online shopping brought about by a change in consumer habits, the Avanta report says more small and mid-sized businesses were able to grow quickly as a result.

Organizations have become exposed to national and international buyers and therefore, need the space and infrastructure to handle increased volumes of orders. What was previously just a pipe dream for a small Alberta-based producer is now not only possible, but expected.

Logistics: The Demand Behind the Growth

Online growth means more customers, but it is also more pressure. As businesses are expanding into digital sales, many are experiencing a sudden jump in demand for products which places stress on the way stock is stored, managed and delivered. This is particularly the case with small and mid-sized operations that previously only traded locally or in small volumes.

Once an online store is open, the potential of selling nationally or even outside the country, becomes real. But that growth doesn’t simply mean fulfilling orders. This can be affected by whether there is sufficient space to store inventory and whether staff members are able to move orders fast enough to satisfy customers’ expectations.

Businesses are also expected to control returns and complaints without any delay. This shift has caused some Alberta businesses to rethink their set up. It’s not enough to have a back room with shelves and some packing boxes anymore. Larger warehousing, improved dispatch systems and faster coordination between departments are becoming the norm.

Alberta’s Push to Make Digital Work

To help Alberta businesses keep up with these demands, the province has invested $3 million into the Digital Economy Program. Managed by Business Link in partnership with Digital Main Street, the program aims to bring more small companies online with one-on-one support. ShopHERE, a no-cost platform within the program, gives eligible businesses help with setting up and promoting online stores.

Daniel Vandal, the Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, announced the program alongside Alberta representatives. Only about one in three Alberta small businesses had the ability to sell online when the program launched. That gap left many at risk of losing ground as consumer habits shifted toward digital shopping.

The program doesn’t just provide tools, it offers real training. Through its Digital Service Squads, recent graduates across Alberta assist local businesses in learning how to use these systems effectively. With roughly 4,800 businesses expected to benefit over two years, the goal is to raise the province’s digital maturity without putting pressure on companies to figure it out alone.

This push is already being felt. From Calgary to Central Alberta, businesses are using these resources to shorten the learning curve and give their customers a better, faster, more modern experience.

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From Underdog to Top Broodmare

Published on November 28, 2025

Todayville

WATCH From Underdog to Top Broodmare (video)

Executive Producers Jeff Robillard (Horse Racing Alberta) and Mike Little (Shinelight Entertainment)

What began as an underdog story became a legacy of excellence. Crackers Hot Shot didn’t just race — she paved the way for future generations, and in doing so became one of the most influential producers the province has known.

The extraordinary journey of Crackers Hot Shot — once overlooked, now revered — stands as one of Alberta’s finest success stories in harness racing and breeding.

Born in humble circumstances and initially considered rough around the edges, Crackers Hot Shot overcame long odds to carve out a career that would forever impact the province’s racing industry. From a “wild, unhandled filly” to Alberta’s “Horse of the Year” in 2013, to producing foals who carry her spirit and fortitude into future generations.

Her influence ripples through Alberta’s racing and breeding landscape: from how young stock are prepared, to the aspirations of local breeders who now look to “the mare that did it” as proof that world-class talent can emerge from Alberta’s paddocks.

“Crackers Hot Shot, she had a tough start. She wasn’t much to look at when we first got her” — Rod Starkewski

“Crackers Hot Shot was left on her own – Carl Archibald heard us talking, he said ‘I’ll go get her – I live by there’. I think it took him 3 days to dig her out of the snow. She was completely wild – then we just started working on her. She really needed some humans to work with her – and get to know that people are not scary.” — Jackie Starkewski

“Crackers Hot Shot would be one of the top broodmares in Albeta percentage wise if nothing else. Her foals hit the track – they’re looking for the winners circle every time.” — Connie Kolthammer

Visit thehorses.com to learn more about Alberta’s Horse Racing industry.

Also Interesting

Historic Return: NHL Confirms Player Participation in 2026 Winter Olympics

Published on November 16, 2025

Duane Rolheiser

The NHL has officially confirmed the inclusion of its players in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, following a 12-year absence that left the fans craving the excitement of the real best-on-best international hockey. The announcement is a historical event, as it goes back to the Olympic arena where the hockey powerhouse nations of the world will eventually be faced with their complete NHL prowess.

The ruling has not only shaken the hockey fraternity but also the sports fraternity at large, as it has generated early predictions, betting debates, and revived rivalries. Also, such large websites as GGBet, where many fans place their bets, have also been on the lookout, offering odds and analysis on which country will win gold.

A Long-Awaited Comeback

Since the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, NHL players have not been given the chance to play in the Olympics. The spectators have since witnessed world championships that, even though competitive, did not have the superstar appeal of Olympic hockey. This decision of the league in selecting the players to Milan-Cortina is a recreation of the desires of the NHL and the international arena to become one again.

The 2026 tournament will be the one offering the excitement, talent, and passion that will be fitting among NHL players. These legends, such as Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Leon Draisaitl, could play with young players like Jack Hughes and Tim Stützle – that sort of experience and youth.

The Tournament Breakdown

The event in hockey will take place between 11 and 22 February 2026, and the team count will be 12, which will be divided into three groups:

● A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France.
● B: Italy, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia.
● C: Latvia, Denmark, the US, Germany.

The teams will be playing three pre-elimination games followed by play-off, which will lead to the final match, and a gold medal will be given on February 22.

Slovakia is going to play against Finland, and Sweden against Italy. Team USA starts playing on February 12, and Team Canada plays against Czechia. The matches would all be at either the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena or the Rho Ice Hockey Arena, both in Milan.

Why This Moment Matters

It is not only entertainment but a legacy that the NHL has gone back to the Olympics. To the league, it reestablishes itself as the world body in professional hockey. To players, it makes their lifelong dream of playing in the national team a reality in the biggest sporting arena. And to fans, it revives the magic that made such moments as Crosby scoring his Golden Goal in Vancouver 2010 unforgettable.

Nevertheless, beyond the ice, such a move will make the NHL more global and strengthen the new generation of sportsmen. The Games of 2026 are expected to achieve a huge global following, whereby fans in North America, Europe, and other continents will be reached.

Looking Ahead

As the opening of February 2026 approaches, the teams are plotting, investigating, and preparing to contest a tournament that numerous people are calling the most competitive Olympic hockey tournament to date. The already existing dream is Canada vs. USA, Finland vs. Sweden, and national pride will clash against the NHL-type talent.

Final Thoughts

It is not a sports story, but a cultural phenomenon because NHL players are returning to the 2026 Winter Olympics. It is an embodiment of unity, excellence, and the unadulterated affection of hockey. The fans all around the world are eagerly awaiting the days when the puck will drop in Milan and they will be watching a show that has been 12 years in the making.

The tournament will not be remembered for the successive gold medals, but rather for the first face-off to the final gold medal celebration. It can be either your country that wins; it could be just watching the magic, but in any case, one thing is certain: the Olympics are back, and the game has never been this alive.