Blog

The holiday season is a time of happiness, joy and giving. Compared to previous years, this is by far the largest number of hampers that have been given out in Strathcona County.

Organizations have the power to enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people, and Big Brothers Big Sisters is doing just that. Riley Penner and Mason Nurse share their experience with the program. 

What better way to connect your mental wellness with the great outdoors than with a wellness walk! Read more about Wellness Walks and the Strathcona County Child and Youth Coalition.

A County resident was concerned about his two dogs overheating and was looking for a cool, safe place to go. He reached out to Pet Valu on Baseline road for support and staff came to the rescue. Not only did the team take care of the pups, but they went above and beyond to also provide support for the resident. 

A new friend, a new connection, and the comfort of a shared laugh is much more important than we often realize, and we are never too young, or too old, to appreciate this. Linking Generations is driving this idea forward, making a positive impact of the health and well-being for both seniors and youth.

It takes all of us to build a strong community, and what better way to celebrate than during National AccessAbility Week. It’s a time when accessibility and inclusion are promoted across communities and workplaces and a chance to celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities, visible or invisible.

Sofia Rathjen is a community champion by no stretch of the imagination. At 13 years old, Sofia is an advocate for inclusion and representation in books. As a successful Community Change Grant applicant in 2019, she was able to use the grant funds for over 130 school library books to represent diverse stories and lives. The following is an excerpt from her English “class passion project” essay, titled “Technicolour Bookshelves”.  

In a year of isolation, upheaval and fear, volunteers are the superheroes coming to save the day. And while they may not have a proton pack or wear spandex, they will show up on your doorstep with a friendly smile and groceries in hand. As part of National Volunteer Week, the Social Action team connected with Volunteer Strathcona to learn more about the important role community volunteers have played during the pandemic.

The Gilmore Park Community League has been bringing residents closer together for over a decade. This year, they created a Glen Allan History Walk in partnership with the Strathcona County Museum & Archives to encourage connection and share the history of their neighbourhood.

Sometimes you just have to dance it out, and no one knows that better than Isaac Shabbits, the 13 year old leader behind the Boys Dance Too initiative. Read how Isaac is challenging stereotypes to encourage and support boys in dance.