Sherwood Park Minute: Issue 91

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

📅 This Week In Sherwood Park: 📅

• There are no Council meetings this week, on account of the Christmas holidays. The next meeting will take place on January 13th, 2026.
  
  
• Strathcona County Council narrowly approved the 2026 budget with a 5-4 vote, implementing a 4.88% tax increase. The $504-million budget includes $31.66 million in added capital spending, continuation of the three-year houselessness pilot, and delays the opening of Fire Station 7 to 2029 to manage short-term costs. Utility rates will rise due to higher wastewater charges, with urban residents seeing an 8.12% increase and rural residents 5.48%. Council also removed the traffic and pedestrian safety improvement program from the capital budget, while motions to add to reserves or cut road and salary costs were rejected. Some Councillors opposed the overall budget, citing affordability concerns. Projections show continued tax increases through 2029, ranging from 5.02% to 5.57% annually, to sustain municipal operations and capital projects.
  
  
• Strathcona County and the City of Beaumont are pushing back against proposed changes to provincial electoral boundaries outlined in an interim report from Alberta’s Electoral Boundaries Commission. The draft plan, which plans to equalize constituency populations ahead of the next provincial election, would split Beaumont along 50th Street and shift part of the city into the Strathcona-Sherwood Park riding. Both municipalities argue the proposal prioritizes population counts at the expense of community identity, municipal alignment, and long-term planning. Strathcona County says its economic, service, and planning ties align more closely with Fort Saskatchewan, while Beaumont is more closely linked to Leduc and Leduc County. Beaumont Mayor Lisa Vanderwaak cautioned that creating a hybrid riding spanning parts of multiple municipalities could weaken effective representation. Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank confirmed the County will formally object, urging the Commission to consider growth patterns and functional regions alongside population balance. 
  
  
• Alberta Lieutenant Governor Salma Lakhani toured the Strathcona Food Bank on December 15th to see firsthand how the organization supports vulnerable populations. During her visit, she learned about the Food Bank’s partnerships with local businesses, its focus on providing fresh and culturally appropriate food, and initiatives that repurpose food waste, including programs with local schools. Lakhani also heard about the $7.3-million Nourish Centre under construction, which will offer cooking classes and a community space to foster connections alongside food support. The Food Bank has seen a surge in demand, preparing 625 hampers in one month to support over 2,000 individuals, with high numbers attributed to inflation, rising grocery costs, and local disruptions like the teachers’ strike. Lakhani praised volunteers and concluded her visit with a personal donation to the food bank. 
  
  
• Strathcona-Sherwood Park MLA Nate Glubish addressed a recall petition launched against him, emphasizing his respect for the democratic process and his commitment to representing all constituents. He highlighted his achievements since 2019, including securing over $100 million in provincial funding for local school priorities. These include the new Forest Grove school replacing Sherwood Heights/École Campbelltown, the new École Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif for the Francophone community, and St. Carlo Acutis High School in Camrose. Glubish stressed that these projects were delivered through the United Conservative government and noted that local NDP representatives opposed the budgets funding them. While acknowledging that some constituents may disagree with his government, he reaffirmed his commitment to serving the community with integrity and diligence and invited residents to contact his office with questions or concerns.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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