Sherwood Park Minute: Recycling Program, Pool Closure, and Emergency Services Statistics

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

This Week In Sherwood Park:

• A Special Council Meeting will be held this afternoon, at 3:00 pm. The meeting was requested by the majority of Council to discuss the decision made on March 11th, 2025, regarding a $1,625 sponsorship for the Sherwood Park Kings Athletic Club’s U18AA Female Hockey Provincial Championships.
  
  
• Emerald Hills Pool will be closed until September 2nd, 2025, to accommodate $2.5 million in repairs. These repairs, approved in the 2024 budget, include waterproofing, tile fixes, mechanical system maintenance, and improvements to accessibility features. Despite the closure, other local facilities like Millennium Place and Kinsmen Leisure Centre will offer expanded programming, including additional lane swims and water fitness classes. The pool's ceiling tiles will also be repaired in 2026, though they are currently safe.
  
  
• Strathcona County Museum and Archives (Strathma) is inviting artists to participate in their new exhibit, Drawn Together, where chalk murals will be created on the museum's lobby walls. The project is open to artists of all ages and skill levels. The exhibit will rotate three times a year, with the first series running from May to August, and an honorarium and supply costs covered for participants.

Last Week In Sherwood Park:

• Strathcona County announced that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Program will launch on April 1st, allowing residents with curbside pickup to recycle plastic containers and takeout packaging. The program shifts recycling responsibility from municipalities to producers, with residents receiving a $3.75 monthly utility credit as a result. Multi-family buildings will initially access depot services, transitioning to direct onsite collection by October 2026. The program also includes hazardous waste disposal. Council unanimously approved the initiative, with officials emphasizing its environmental and financial benefits for residents.
  
  
• Numbers showed that, in 2024, Strathcona County Emergency Services (SCES) responded to 10,129 calls, slightly fewer than the previous year. The service, which handles a range of emergencies, including fires and vehicle collisions, saw an increase in motor vehicle incidents, mainly due to harsh weather conditions. SCES also continues to provide emergency care across nearby municipalities, including Fort Saskatchewan and Edmonton. The department’s cross-trained firefighter-paramedics offer enhanced flexibility and patient care, contributing to improved career longevity. With Station 7 opening in 2028, SCES is hiring more staff to prepare for future demands in the growing Cambrian Crossing area.
  
  
• Strathcona County announced an investment of up to $350,000 in the Alberta Zero-Emissions Fleet Fueling project, partnering with Edmonton to develop a mobile hydrogen fueling station. This initiative aims to provide reliable hydrogen fuel access for heavy-duty vehicles, including transit buses and trucks, in the Edmonton region. The first mobile station is expected to start operations in spring 2025. The County is also transitioning one heavy-duty truck to a hydrogen-diesel dual fuel system in 2025.