A conduit to strengthen future trade

A province-wide initiative to strengthen Alberta’s transportation and logistics sector,  the Alberta Logistics Centre of Excellence (ALCoE) will launch in the spring of 2026 through Mount Royal’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

More than $5.6 million in funding support from the Government of Alberta ($2.65M), the Government of Canada through PrairiesCan ($1.5M), and the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) ($1.5M), was announced at a March 20 event on the Mount Royal campus. MRU is stepping up as the lead educational institution behind this provincial hub for applied learning, industry-embedded academia and resilient trade infrastructure.

This investment will build a better transportation and logistics sector by bringing industry, government, academia and talent together to address industry ecosystem fragmentation, trade disruptions and workforce shortages.

Transportation and logistics play a major role in Alberta’s economy. In a global landscape of trade volatility, regulatory change and major market shifts, the importance of a dynamic and resilient trade strategy has never been more clear. The ALCoE seeks to answer this need by sharing applied knowledge across both in-person and online programs.

“Strengthening how we move goods is essential to supporting our city’s growth,” says Calgary’s mayor Jeromy Farkas. “The Alberta Logistics Centre of Excellence represents the type of strategic investment needed to create local jobs, keep our region competitive and build a more efficient and connected transportation and logistics network.”

The ALCoE builds on the province’s existing strengths — including multi-modal transportation infrastructure, inland port capabilities and continental trade corridors — while addressing emerging challenges such as technology adoption, workforce shortages, trade disruption and increasing regulatory complexity.

Applied programming, proof-of-concept initiatives and cross-sector collaboration will allow the ALCoE to support companies and talent across Alberta in adapting to a rapidly changing global environment. It will act as the catalyst for MRU to be an active contributor as well as an educator, and reaffirm Alberta’s trade resilience through technology integration, skill development and industry-savvy strategy.

Why MRU is the perfect conduit

Mount Royal has an important focus on supply chain management through the Bissett School of Business, and is cultivating the visionary and enterprising talent Alberta needs through the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The ALCoE will help leverage these hubs of knowledge, research and teaching, while also providing work-integrated learning opportunities for students.

"As the lead institution under this initiative, MRU will provide training and micro-credentials aligned with evolving industry needs and designed to adapt alongside the shifting global market,"  says Dr. Tim Rahilly, PhD, MRU’s president and vice-chancellor.  "To address evolving industry needs, government, industry and academia are uniting to bring applied knowledge to both in-person and online programs. By prioritizing experiential learning and industry engagement, MRU is developing talent, building capabilities and implementing practical, real-world solutions. Along with our partners, we are pleased to share this commitment to the future of Alberta’s transportation and logistics sector."

Through work-integrated learning and industry engagement the Centre will cast MRU as an active partner in building capability, sourcing talent and implementing real-world solutions.

From learning to leading

Incorporating applied programming and cross-sector collaboration, the ALCoE will also drive trade adaptability across Alberta and beyond.

“Calgary’s global connectivity, skilled workforce and large‑scale distribution capabilities position our region to lead in building resilient supply chains and generate opportunities in emerging areas like advanced manufacturing,” says Brad Parry, CEO, OCIF and president and CEO, Calgary Economic Development. “The ALCoE will help local companies solve industry-relevant challenges, strengthen our talent pipeline and accelerate innovation in the sector — driving long‑term economic growth and diversification for our province.”

MRU will implement programming that directly addresses skill gaps around tariff strategy, technology adoption and executive capability. The Alberta government, PrairiesCan, and OCIF’s generous contributions reflect a united belief in the future of Alberta’s transportation and logistics sector, and lead the way by putting students first.

“The transportation and logistics sector sits at the centre of how Alberta trades with the world. At a time of rising trade uncertainty, technology disruption and workforce pressures, companies need practical ways to adapt as the pace of change accelerates,” says Tom McCaffery, executive director of the ALCoE. “The Alberta Logistics Centre of Excellence will help industry leaders test new technologies, develop talent and build the strategies needed to strengthen supply chains and ensure Alberta remains competitive in global trade."

Additional details regarding programs, partnerships and participation opportunities will be announced in the coming months.