Sherwood Park Minute: Issue 99

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

📅 This Week In Sherwood Park: 📅

• On Tuesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a Priorities Committee Meeting. The Strathcona County Seniors Advisory Committee (SAC) will provide the Priorities Committee with its 2025 annual update, highlighting progress on its mandate to support seniors’ well-being. Key activities included advising on housing needs to inform the affordable housing strategy, supporting Seniors’ Week and seniors’ centre planning, and providing input on recreation, culture, and community safety initiatives. The Committee emphasized the importance of accessible communication, suggesting a centralized Arts and Culture hub and ongoing engagement mechanisms to ensure seniors’ voices guide County initiatives. SAC also noted alignment with the Healthy Aging Strathcona County Framework and highlighted support for programs addressing social prescribing, transportation, and community supports. The Committee’s recommendations encourage continued inclusion of seniors in planning, engagement, and policy development to improve outcomes and promote meaningful participation.
  
  
• The Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) will also provide Council with an update. In 2025, the Committee focused on improving accessibility across the community and within County operations. The Committee engaged with community organizations and stakeholders to identify challenges and opportunities related to rural access, business accessibility, food security, election accessibility, and family resources. They provided input on policies and strategies, including the Community Safety and Wellbeing Strategy, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, Inclusive Hiring Policy, and the Accessibility Framework. The Committee also advised on the design and renovation of County facilities to ensure inclusivity. Their work emphasized embedding accessibility into public services, technology, transit, and workplaces, creating environments where people with diverse abilities can participate independently and fully. 
  
  
• Council will hear updates from several external organizations. The River Valley Alliance will share progress on completing the final 25 km of trail, while Trans Mountain will provide an overview of pipeline operations and ongoing optimization work. Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) Society will update attendees on their programs and thank the County for its support. The Nature Conservancy of Canada will present local conservation projects and explore opportunities for collaboration within the county. Attendees will have the chance to engage with presenters, ask questions, and review related materials. Overall, the event aims to inform residents about ongoing initiatives, foster community engagement, and highlight partnerships that support local services and environmental stewardship.
  
  
• Strathcona County has once again been recognized as a top employer in Canada and Alberta, reflecting the strong workplace culture and commitment of its public servants, according to Ward 4 Councillor Bill Tonita. With a population exceeding 103,800, Tonita noted that the County relies on skilled staff to manage growth, including new communities like Cambrian and Bremner, as well as existing infrastructure such as roads, utilities, transit, and recreation facilities. The awards from Forbes and Alberta’s Top Employers are based on employee feedback, highlighting that staff feel supported, respected, and proud of their work. Strathcona County also ranked 39th in Canada and second in Alberta in The Globe and Mail’s Most Livable Cities report. Tonita emphasized that what sets the County apart is how employees are valued, encouraged to grow, and able to see the tangible impact of their work. He suggested that the ability to attract and retain talent comes from more than compensation - it comes from an engaging and collaborative work environment.
  
  
• Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan MP Garnett Genuis has introduced a private member’s bill, Bill C-260, aimed at preventing coercion in Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID). The proposed amendment to the Criminal Code would prohibit government employees and other non-medical practitioners from suggesting MAID to individuals who have not requested information about it, while not affecting doctors or nurses providing care. Genuis explained that the bill was inspired by discussions at the UN Conference on Disabilities, where concerns were raised about people with disabilities being inappropriately encouraged to consider MAID when accessing public services. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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