Sherwood Park Minute: Buy Canadian, Updates Requested, and a Hydrogen Fuelling Station

Sherwood Park Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Sherwood Park politics

This Week In Sherwood Park:

• There are no Council meetings this week. The next meeting will take place on April 1st.
  
  
• Strathcona County is investing $350,000 to explore hydrogen as a fuel source for heavy-duty municipal vehicles, including transit buses and trucks. As part of the Alberta Zero Emissions Fleet Fuelling project, the County is collaborating with Edmonton and Emissions Reduction Alberta to build a mobile hydrogen fuelling station, set to launch this spring. A second station is planned for 2026, and at least one county truck will be converted to run on both hydrogen and diesel this year. Officials aim to compare hydrogen fuel cell performance with battery electric vehicles, particularly in Alberta’s harsh climate.
  
  
• The redevelopment of the Clover Bar Lodge is moving ahead, after Strathcona County Council approved a six-storey building on Fir Street featuring 104 affordable housing units. The project, led by Heartland Housing Foundation, replaces the original plan for townhomes and removes the requirement for underground parking due to a high water table. A traffic impact study will be submitted soon as part of the development permit process.

Last Week In Sherwood Park:

• Strathcona County and Parkland County hosted the SMR Canada 2025 Summit, bringing together over 400 industry and government delegates to discuss the future of small modular reactors (SMRs) in Alberta. SMRs are compact, cost-effective nuclear reactors that provide reliable energy with minimal environmental impact. Capital Power and Ontario Power Generation are assessing three potential Alberta sites for SMR development, including Alberta’s Industrial Heartland in Strathcona County. A feasibility study is considering infrastructure, economic impact, and community engagement, but regulatory approvals and construction are expected to take years. Mayor Rod Frank emphasized the importance of innovation and sustainable energy in Strathcona County’s future, highlighting the region’s history of industrial success. He suggested that over 70% of Albertans have a positive attitude toward nuclear energy, making SMRs a viable topic for discussion.
  
  
• Strathcona County Council passed a motion to adopt a "buy Canada-first" approach in response to ongoing US tariffs. Mayor Rod Frank emphasized the need to prioritize Canadian suppliers to support local businesses and reduce supply chain disruptions. The motion, passed unanimously, calls for a review of procurement policies to ensure purchases align with Canadian and Alberta-based sources or nations with free trade agreements. Frank described the escalating trade dispute as harmful to local economies and stressed the importance of economic self-reliance. A report on the procurement review is expected by the end of April, with further analysis on tariff impacts to follow in June.
  
  
• Council has formally requested updates from the provincial government on the status of a new courthouse and the expansion of Strathcona Community Hospital. A motion introduced by Councillor Lorne Harvey directs the Mayor to write letters to the Justice and Health Ministers, emphasizing the urgency of these long-promised projects. The courthouse, originally intended as a temporary facility, suffers from outdated infrastructure and accessibility issues, while the hospital lacks critical services such as overnight care and a maternity ward. Council members expressed frustration that previously allocated provincial funds for both projects have been repeatedly delayed. The motion passed unanimously, and local MLA Nate Glubish is expected to provide an update on Budget 2025 at a Chamber of Commerce event on March 19th.