Sherwood Park Minute: Saffron Centre, Community Grants, and a Strategic Plan Survey

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

This Week In Sherwood Park:

• On Tuesday, at 9:00 am, there will be a Council Meeting. The meeting will begin with a closed session, wherein Council will discuss a Contractor Status Update, the Collaborative Economic Development Framework, a 2025 Education Tax Update, and 2025 Property Tax Relief. At 2:05 pm, Council will begin the public portion of the meeting. There will be a public hearing to gather feedback on the adoption of the Daly Lands Area Structure Plan. Then, Councillors will discuss providing funds to the Rotary Club of Sherwood Park to fund a bronze plaque recognizing 120 Years of Rotary.
  
  
• The County is updating its Strategic Plan and is requesting feedback. The plan is focused on four main goals: responsible development, economic prosperity, municipal excellence, and a healthy, safe community. Residents can share their input through an online survey open until April 29th. The updated plan will be finalized by Council in December 2025 and released publicly in early 2026.
  
  
• Strathcona County’s annual Pitch-In campaign runs from April 21st to May 4th. Residents and groups are invited to take part by cleaning their neighbourhoods. Last year, over 1,300 volunteers dedicated more than 950 hours to cleaning up the community. More information and registration is available online.

Last Week In Sherwood Park:

• The Sam Steele Memorial Statue in Sherwood Park was destroyed by fire, and an arrest has now been made. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find the statue engulfed in flames near Athabascan Avenue and Broadmoor Boulevard. Police credited a quick report from a member of the public for helping them respond and apprehend a suspect swiftly. The RCMP expressed disappointment over the loss of a monument that held community significance.
  
  
• Applications for Strathcona County’s Community Connection and Community Change Grants were opened and will remain open until Thursday, May 1st. Community Connection grants offer up to $300 to support local events like block parties and street concerts. Community Change grants provide up to $2,000 for projects that aim to promote social well-being, such as time capsules or community improvement efforts.
  
  
• Leaders shared plans with Strathcona County Council for a new Saffron Centre facility to meet growing community demand and better support survivors of sexual violence. The current space is no longer adequate for their 36 staff, and a larger, trauma-informed building is proposed to include features like a sensory room, family waiting area, and increased accessibility. Demand for services has surged by 70% over the past five years, with a six-month waitlist for counselling. In 2024, the Centre supported 795 clients, delivered 579 educational presentations, and received 134 child and youth referrals. A capital campaign to fund the multi-million dollar project will launch in late 2025 or early 2026.