HYLO - A group of people who turned out for a recent open house held at the Hylo community hall were given a sneak peek into a proposed $98 million year-round food-growing facility set to be built close to the small rural community of about 200 people in northeastern Alberta near Lac La Biche.
The project – and several expansion projects to follow – could result in more than 150 new jobs for the region, say officials with the company behind the plan.
The open house was held primarily to showcase a large agricultural project that is part of the overall plan. The project, called Mrs. G’s Produce Company, is a creation of a company called Red Wolf Corporation. The agriculture and horticulture plant is proposed for a 16 acre parcel of land inside an larger, 138 acre piece of land called Little Valley Ranch. The site has CN Rail frontage and is located about five kilometres west of Hylo and 20 kilometres from downtown Lac La Biche.
According to Buzz Brown, the chief operating officer for Red Wolf, the project is currently in the “advanced planning stages,” with design and feasibility studies already completed.
With the necessary permits and partnerships in place, construction for Mrs. G’s Produce Company, could begin as early as next March, he said.
Brown says the development is planned in three phases over a five-year period. This phased approach, he said, ensures a sustainable rollout, supporting both immediate and long-term community food security needs.
“The full development is planned to span five years, with initial operations expected to start within the first 12 to 18 months,” Brown told Lakeland This Week.
The first phase, he explained, involves establishing utilities, supporting infrastructure, as well as building a campus of six garden farm systems and six mushroom farm systems.
During phase two, construction of a 40,000 square foot vertical farm system will take shape. This facility, Brown said, will focus on high-efficiency, year-round food production. Phase three will see the addition of a 20,000 square foot vertical farm system, which will be supported by a four-Megawatt hour (MWH) natural gas cogeneration system.
“This system will provide power and heat for the entire campus, as well as expanded water and waste management infrastructure,” he said.
During the open house, those who were in attendance spoke with representatives from Red Wolf , and were given information about the project through presentations.
The purpose of the event, Brown explained, is to provide insight into job opportunities, highlight the sustainable practices involved with the facility, as well as offer a platform for community engagement and feedback.
“The open house is an opportunity to share our plans for Mrs. G’s Produce Company with the community, including its economic and environmental benefits,” he said.
Charlyn Moore, a councillor for Lac La Biche County who attended the open house, and said such a facility will be good for the area.
“It’ll be really great to bring some jobs in, some new industry, diversification’s great,” Moore said.
Lac La Biche County councillor granted a section of municipal land to the project earlier in 2024, and have met publicly and privately with the Red Wolf group to discuss the proposal, and possible expansions in the municipality and in the neighbouring County of Athabasca.
Once Mrs. G’s Produce Company is up and running, Brown went on, the facility will generate over 160 full-time jobs across management, operations, IT, and sales, prioritizing local and Indigenous hiring. There will also be various economic spinoffs, and these include increased demand for local goods and services such as transportation, supplies and construction.
Mrs. G’s will grow a variety of fresh produce, including lettuce, leafy greens, herbs, and mushrooms. This food, which will be grown throughout the year, will find its way onto the shelves of grocery stores and other markets.
“Distribution will occur through partnerships with grocery stores, local markets, and direct-to-consumer channels,” he said. “The facility operates 365 days a year with calculated yields and cultivation schedules.”
The plant will also use sustainable practices for growing food. As Brown explains, solar power is used to generate much and sometimes all of the required power for Mrs. G’s Produce Company systems greenhouses, and mushroom growing facilities.
Brown said the company is developing a closed loop ecosystem which will ensure that any water that is used remains in the system, and therefore the environment inside the facility is free of viruses, bacteria, pests, and other contaminants.
Red Wolf Corporation is also taking into consideration how the area near the facility will be affected due to increased traffic, and Brown explained that the company is addressing this concern by collaborating with the Lac La Biche County planning and development department.
As part of the company’s development application package, he added, a Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) will be conducted. Brown went on to explain that this study will outline the potential effects of increased traffic on local roads and determine the necessary infrastructure improvements.
“Red Wolf is committed to meeting all requirements outlined in the TIA to ensure the community’s road network can accommodate the development without undue strain,” he said.
Additional projects
Mrs. G’s is one of three projects Red Wolf Corporation is working on getting off the ground in Lac La Biche County and Boyle. These other projects include a slaughterhouse called Broken North Cattle Company, which Brown says is planned for development on another section of Little Valley Ranch, as well as a transfer station in Boyle.
The parcel of land on which the proposed site for the transfer station is located is near the municipal airport in Boyle. The land is owned by the province of Alberta, not the Village of Boyle, and according to Brown, Red Wolf Corporation is in ongoing discussions to determine how to secure this land for the transfer station.
“Our team is actively engaging with provincial authorities to explore options for securing the land, ensuring the project aligns with both community and regulatory expectations,” he said. “These discussions are progressing positively, and we remain optimistic about reaching a suitable arrangement.”
The transfer station project-which Brown says is currently in the site selection and planning phase-was initially going to be located in the Hylo area. However, as he explains, after a thorough review, Boyle emerged as a preferred location due to its proximity to major transportation networks, which he says supports efficient logistics and aligns better with project objectives.
With regards to the Broken North Cattle Company, Brown said that is also in the planning stage. He said the company is developing that business – a large-scale livestock abattoir – to be federally licenced in order to sell meat outside Alberta to other provinces and other countries.
Securing rail connections directly to the project sites are also part of the process.
“While a railway connection is being explored as part of its logistics framework, feasibility studies will determine the practicality and alignment with project goals,” he said. “The goal is to establish a hub for high-value agricultural businesses, contributing to economic growth and job creation in the region.”
While the estimate cost of Mrs. G’s is $98 million, it has yet to be determined what the attached price tag will be for the transfer station and slaughterhouse, as those are still under review. As to where funding is coming projects, Brown says those will be sourced from private investments, government grants, and financial institutions.
Skepticism is normal, says planner
Brown and Red Wolf representatives have heard some concerns about the planned projects. They’ve also heard a lot of positive comments ... and some skepticism about the overall size of the project and how it will be funded. He understands skepticism often arises from the scale and complexity of such a project, adding that investors prefer to see tangible milestones such as permits or initial infrastructure development before committing.
“We remain focused on building trust through transparency and consistent progress,” he said. “Now that we have the Title Transfer Certificate, potential investors are showing serious interest in the project, and we are now at liberty to work with potential customers, vendors, and service providers with a real project in hand.”
More open house presentations and more discussions with elected officials are planned as the project progresses.
