January 9, 2026 – CALGARY, AB – Following several months of site preparations and a successful regulatory approval process, the Calgary Stampede and Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) are pleased to mark the start of construction on the Autograph Collection Hotel on Stampede Park alongside Truman and Marriott International. This is the first of three planned hotels to get underway in The Culture + Entertainment District.

“Just seven short months after announcing Truman’s investment, we are thrilled to see construction begin on the Autograph Collection Hotel on Stampede Park,” said Kate Thompson, President and CEO of CMLC. “Truman’s $330M investment in this first hotel on Stampede Park and in The Culture + Entertainment District, and the speed with which all parties acted to prepare the site for construction, speak not only to industry confidence in our shared vision for the district but also the significance of the demand for these hotel rooms.”

The 13-storey, 320-key hotel is a full-service, premium lifestyle hotel offering meeting and ballroom spaces, a range of elevated food and beverage offerings, a terrace with pool, jacuzzi and outdoor bar, and indoor swimming pool and fitness club. “Truman is proud to officially break ground on our first hotel project, which also happens to be the first full-service convention-oriented hotel in downtown in a quarter century,” said Tony Trutina, Chief Operating Officer of Truman. “As a family-owned Alberta-based business, we see the potential of The Culture + Entertainment District and are thrilled to collaborate alongside CMLC, the Calgary Stampede and Marriott International to deliver much-needed hotel rooms and a one-of-a-kind hotel experience on Stampede Park. We look forward to sharing more about the hotel’s amenities and unique experiential offerings in the coming years.”

In 2025 alone, the BMO Centre hosted upwards of 327 events, including 47 first-time conferences, with 205 major events booked between now and 2032, all generating significant demand for Calgary’s hotel sector. Meetings and conventions business at the BMO Centre, and across Calgary, will only increase as hotel capacity in the area grows.

“The Marriott Autograph Collection hotel marks an important next step in building on the success of the expanded BMO Centre at Stampede Park, strengthening Calgary as a world-class destination for conventions, meetings and events,” said Joel Cowley, CEO of the Calgary Stampede. “Having a hotel of this calibre just steps away from the BMO Centre will enhance the hospitality we are able to offer delegates and make Calgary more competitive in securing major conventions and events, which will result in greater economic impact being generated for Calgarians and Albertans.”

Ward 8 Councillor Nathaniel Schmidt said, “This groundbreaking significantly advances our shared vision for this district, and for our city’s position on the global meetings and conventions stage. Developments like this are exactly the kind of project our city needs to deliver as we prepare to welcome our two millionth Calgarian.”

The Autograph Collection Hotel on Stampede Park – expected to open in 2028 – and the W Calgary and JW Marriott Calgary located at 15 Ave and Macleod Trail – now in the regulatory approvals process– together will provide more than 700 new hotel rooms within a five-minute walk of the BMO Centre.

“Marriott continues to expand our hospitality options in Canada to meet the diverse needs of guests, owners and developers,” said Tim Reardon, Regional Vice President, Western Canada at Marriott International. “With the expanded BMO Centre opening in 2024, Calgary has become an incredibly fast-growing market for the hotel industry, and we are delighted to work with Truman, the Calgary Stampede and CMLC to bring these three elevated hotel experiences to Calgary.”

Site preparations for the Autograph Collection Hotel, including demolition and utility work, began in July 2025, enabling foundational construction to begin early this year. In the coming months, Calgarians can expect to see increased construction activity on-site, beginning with excavation. Construction is being delivered by Truman. Occasional closures of Flores LaDue Parade will be required to facilitate construction, which will be coordinated closely with all C+E District partners and communicated to visitors through The C+E Access Map.

Learn more about the Autograph Collection Hotel, the W Calgary and the JW Calgary at cedistrict.com/projects/hotel-development

Grande Prairie, AB (December XX, 2025) – The Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre Grande Prairie announces the launch of POM Club, the region’s first premium hotel club floor experience, introducing an elevated way to stay for travelers seeking added comfort, privacy and thoughtful enhancements during their visit to Grande Prairie.

Designed as a distinct experience within the hotel, POM Club brings together enhanced guest rooms, access to a private Club Lounge, a dedicated fitness space and curated amenities that support rest, focus, and ease throughout a guest’s stay.

POM Club guest rooms and suites include a collection of enhancements designed to elevate the stay, including:

• Access to the POM Club Lounge featuring complimentary snacks, refreshments, and evening small bites and drinks service
• Access to a dedicated club floor fitness studio
• Elevated sleep experience with premium linens, aromatherapy diffuser and sound machine
• Evening turndown service
• Premium Aveda bath amenities
• Nespresso in-room coffee experience

“POM Club introduces a level of elevated hospitality that has not previously existed in Grande Prairie,” said Heather Hamilton, Senior Vice President, Hotels with Pomeroy Lodging. “It reflects how today’s travelers are looking to stay, with more intention, more comfort, and spaces that support both productivity and relaxation.”

POM Club welcomed its first guests in October 2025, adding a thoughtfully designed club floor experience to meet the region’s growing business and leisure travel needs.

If you would like more information on POM Club at Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre or to book a reservation, please visit: .

Richmond, B.C. (Jan. 5, 2026) — B.C. employers will see no change to the average base premium rate from WorkSafeBC in 2026. For the ninth consecutive year, WorkSafeBC has set the average base rate at $1.55 per $100 of assessable payroll.

Annual base premium rates are driven by provincial injury rates, return-to-work performance and the resulting cost of claims, as well as investment returns.

Each year, the costs in some industries go up, some go down and others stay the same. In 2026, 39 per cent of employers in B.C. will experience a decrease in their industry base rate, 47 per cent will see their industry base rate increase, and 14 per cent will see no change. 

Given the economic uncertainties facing the province, WorkSafeBC made changes to the maximum increases and decreases in 2026 rates for B.C. industries, which have normally been capped at 20 per cent. For 2026, rate increases were capped at 10 per cent, while rate decreases were allowed to reach up to approximately 40 per cent. This change is intended to provide greater rate stability for B.C. employers during challenging economic times.

Maintaining rate stability through surplus funds

WorkSafeBC’s sound financial position in recent years has enabled improvements in the workers’ compensation system for injured workers, while keeping rates stable for employers.

WorkSafeBC’s rate-setting approach includes mechanisms to return surplus funds to employers when the funding level exceeds its target. In 2026, WorkSafeBC is returning an estimated $570 million of surplus funds to employers by pricing premium rates below system costs.

The average base premium rate of $1.55 in 2026 is 15 per cent less than the average cost rate of $1.83, with the difference funded by the surplus.  

Between 2019 and 2026, WorkSafeBC projects that $3 billion of surplus funds will have been returned to employers by pricing premium rates below the cost to run the workers’ compensation system.

Looking ahead

Looking at the year ahead, WorkSafeBC is continuing to see upward claim-cost pressures and a continued reduction in the surplus. If these trends continue, it could lead to a moderate increase in premium rates in the near future. WorkSafeBC will continue to closely monitor cost pressures and keep rates as stable as possible.

The preliminary rates for 2027 will be announced in July of this year.

The Workers Compensation Act requires WorkSafeBC to set premium rates annually for employers to pay for the workers' compensation system. Premiums fund the costs associated with work-related injuries or diseases, health care, wage loss, rehabilitation and administration. 

The workers’ compensation system is independently funded by employer premiums and investment returns. WorkSafeBC does not receive any funding from the provincial government.

Key facts:

• Some of the key sectors benefiting from rate reductions this year include:

• Sawmills (-40 per cent)
• Framing or Residential Forming (-39.9 per cent)
• Dairy Farming (-32.2 per cent)
• Restaurants (-25.6 per cent)
• Prehospital Emergency Health Care (-23.5 per cent)
• Retirement Homes (-13.4 per cent)

Backgrounders

• Media Backgrounder:   

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On December 11th, the provincial government opened the portal for businesses to apply for a new security rebate. Eligible businesses will receive up to $2,500 per location. This financial assistance can be used for the purchase and installation of security equipment or property damage repairs. Purchases and installations made from August 23, 2024 on are eligible.

Eligible upgrades, repairs, and expenses include:

• security and doorbell cameras
• alarm systems
• motion detectors
• window protection
• anti-graffiti film and paints
• security fencing and lighting
• broken windows
• broken doors and locks
• damages from forced entry or arson
• insurance deductibles related to damage repairs
• graffiti removal
• replacement of signage and cash systems
• temporary boarding or fencing to secure premises until permanent repairs can be made

This program is aimed at small businesses. To be eligible, businesses must have 75 full time equivalent (FTE) employees or less (eg. 150 employees working half time is the equivalent of 75 full time employees) at the location they applied for. A total of $10 million has been allocated to this program, it is first-come first-served.