Sherwood Park Minute: Issue 69

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

📅 This Week In Sherwood Park: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 2:00 pm, there will be a Council meeting. The agenda includes two Notices of Motion. The first requests a report on alternative funding sources for Volunteer Strathcona beyond the current Social Framework Community Grants program. The second calls for a report on swimming lesson registrations at Strathcona County facilities, detailing resident and non-resident participation, including a comparison with other jurisdictions and any suggested improvements.
  
  
• At 5:00 pm, there will be a Public Hearing to gather feedback on several amendments to land use and development plans. One proposal would rezone about 8.31 hectares from Agriculture to Rural Residential/Agriculture in Ward 6. A change to the Cambrian Crossing development plan is also proposed. It would shift the location of medium-density housing closer to commercial and employment areas. The adjustment would swap that site with another area currently set aside for lower-density housing such as single and semi-detached homes. Still another proposal would change the zoning of about 8.1 hectares of land south of Township Road 534 near Oldman Creek from agricultural and public utility use to various residential and conservation zones. This rezoning is intended to support future housing developments, including single-family homes, townhouses, and medium-density residential areas, as well as environmental conservation and stormwater management.
  
  
• Strathcona County RCMP have released their 2025-26 Community Safety Plan, with domestic violence listed as the top priority following a rise in reported cases and concern from residents. A public survey showed 70% of respondents ranked family violence and crimes against persons among their top three issues. In May alone, the RCMP recorded 74 domestic violence files. The detachment plans to address this through mental health education, school programming, and continued use of the regional police and crisis team. Other priorities include rural and urban property crime, drug offences, and impaired driving. The RCMP will expand educational programs, increase check stops, and target hot spots through patrols and presentations. Officers will also receive updated training on drug enforcement and mental health response. The plan emphasizes early intervention, public education, and data-driven enforcement. 
  
  
• Heartland Housing Foundation has secured $8.84 million in provincial and federal funding to support the redevelopment of the former Clover Bar Lodge site in Sherwood Park. The funding will cover one-third of the total cost for the 104-unit near-market housing project, with the remaining balance expected to come from grants, low-interest loans, and private partners. Demolition is set for spring 2026, with construction targeted to begin that summer. The project responds to a growing waitlist for affordable housing in Strathcona County, where more than 200 households are currently waiting. Heartland Housing also received approval for a land transfer in Fort Saskatchewan for future development. The not-for-profit plans to use repeatable designs across multiple projects to reduce construction time and costs. The Foundation said support from all levels of government will be essential to meeting the region’s affordable housing needs.
  
  
• Strathcona County’s popular Summer Day Centre Program at the Wilderness Centre has drawn praise from families and staff for connecting kids with nature while teaching outdoor skills. Children aged five to 17 participate in week-long day and overnight camps that include shelter building, plant identification, campfire cooking, and social learning. The youngest campers learn sharing and conflict resolution, while older youth explore leadership and emotional regulation. Camp leaders say the focus is on more than just survival skills, with programs helping build confidence and environmental respect. Parents say the experience is valuable for keeping kids active and engaged in nature. Although summer camps are fully booked, registration for fall programming opens in mid-August. Strathcona staff say they’re excited to welcome a new wave of outdoor learners eager to step outside their comfort zones and into the woods.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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