Cypress County elected officials set for three international trade missions

The Tokyo mission, running Oct. 10 to 17, will build on Cypress County’s participation in the event last year and focus on Japanese agricultural technology and logistics.

The county hopes to strengthen relationships with companies such as Marusan Ai, which has shown interest in investing in rural Canadian regions in soy powder and plant-based processing, as well as logistics company Kintetsu World Express to explore opportunities related to cold storage and export infrastructure.

Taking place from Oct. 18 to 22, the Chicago mission will focus on packaging and processing technology, including automation and digitalization.

The final mission, Food Ingredients Europe, runs Nov. 16 to 21 and is intended to connect the county with European ingredient suppliers and processors, including Roquette Frères in France and Andriani in Italy.

Council says those companies’ work in value-added processing and alternative grains aligns with its goal of turning agricultural products such as pulses and grains into higher-value ingredients for global markets.

Cypress County’s foreign direct investment strategy identifies Germany, Japan and the United States as key markets and includes pre-identified companies in sectors such as building materials, advanced manufacturing and logistics.

The county said the trade missions could help build a pipeline of potential investors and establish relationships that could eventually lead to new businesses and high-value jobs.

The estimated cost to send one person to Japan is $11,203.62, while the Chicago trip is estimated at $4,978.45 and Frankfurt at $5,104.32.

The county’s share is expected to be 40 per cent of eligible costs, although the estimates are subject to change.

Council then held a public hearing on Bylaw 2026/18, the county’s updated Land Use Bylaw.

The update began in 2024 and was intended to better align the bylaw with council’s strategic goals, the needs of residents and the development community, and other statutory plans.

The new bylaw cuts more than 100 pages from the document, consolidates several land-use districts, updates accessory-building regulations, provides greater flexibility for secondary suites and combines regulations for renewable and non-renewable energy systems.

The draft was circulated to adjacent municipalities, the development community and utility providers. No members of the public made presentations in support of or opposition to the bylaw during the hearing.

Council subsequently approved second and third readings of Bylaw 2026/18.

Officials thanked the planning department for completing the extensive update in-house, rather than hiring an outside consultant.

Council also approved subdivision application 26CY13 for a 6.45-hectare parcel on Range Road 21, about 9.5 kilometres west of Hilda.

The subdivision will separate an existing residence and yard from the surrounding agricultural land and create a separate title.

A second subdivision, 26CY14, was approved for a 2.3-hectare parcel directly north of the first property.

The parcel is vacant except for an existing dugout, with the remainder being agricultural land.

The council gave first reading to Bylaw 2026-23, which would rezone 5.5 acres from Agricultural District 2 to Public Services District 1.

Benchmark Geomatics submitted the application on behalf of 1499888 Alberta Limited as part of preparations for a future subdivision.

The property is adjacent to Range Road 55.

If the bylaw proceeds, administration plans to schedule a public hearing at a future council meeting.

Finally, the council heard a delegation from the Executive Director of the Medicine Hat Family Service, Celina Symmonds, on expanded outreach services to rural residents in Cypress County.

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by Jett Schwaier

Cypress County elected officials set for three international trade missions

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