Many families living in Strathcona County have moved here from somewhere else, and may be interested in learning more about our municipality and its history. In 2016, Strathcona County recognized 20 years as a specialized municipality. Here are some tools to help build understanding of what it means to be a specialized municipality.

Information package and activity booklet

For Grade 6 teachers: You can use this package to talk to students about the uniqueness of our municipality. It is intended to complement the existing Grade 6 local government curriculum. We hope you find the information and activities both useful and engaging for your students! Though the package is tailored to the Grade 6 curriculum, teachers and students of any grade level are welcome to use it.

For further information, please contact Léanne Labossière at leanne.labossiere@strathcona.ca or 780-400-3822.

Specialized Municipality activity booklet (286.1 KB)

Historical Videos - The past where we live

For teachers of upper elementary, junior high and senior high: You can use these videos, The past where we live, to introduce students to Strathcona County and its history.

1. The first video, Strathcona County: A specialized municipalitydescribes how Strathcona County as a municipality has formed over time; it could be used alone or as a sister piece to the Specialized Municipality activity booklet produced for the Grade 6 curriculum. (9 minutes)
2. The second video, Strathcona County: A rich and plentiful country, depicts the natural resources that have drawn people to this area. (11 minutes)

 The past where we live historical videos

As well as the videos, you will also find lots of additional information and accounts of local history at www.strathcona.ca/history.

Further information: Lori Clapp, lori.clapp@strathcona.ca, 780-416-6762

Education Programs at Gallery @501 are based on the exhibitions scheduled throughout the year in the gallery. Programs are tailored to the grade level, and connect to a variety of subject matter within the Alberta Curriculum. The focus of our Education Programs is to provide an interconnected, multidisciplinary approach to learning.

Flexible Solutions for Physical Education

Strathcona County is proud to partner with schools to offer Swim@School, a family of swimming and water safety programs designed to help students of every age and ability stay physically active and safe in, on, and around the water. Each program is taught by fully certified swimming and water safety instructors who are passionate about your student’s learning and enjoyment. Whether you want a single opportunity or a session of lessons, want to bring a single class or the entire school, all courses are designed to maximize the instructional time, student-to-instructor ratio, and overall experience for you and your students.

Kindergarten Programs

From learning the building blocks of swimming skills, to reinforcing socialization, turn-taking, and classroom skills, the Red Cross Swim Preschool program will start your students on the road to personal development. Join us for a session of singing, splashing, playing, and learning as your students develop physical literacy skills in our unique aquatic environment.

Elementary Programs

The Red Cross Swim Kids program is an excellent way to teach students a valuable life skill and it is designed to meet curricular phys-ed requirements. We have a variety of lesson formats available, from 6 to 10 weeks, depending upon the season you choose. Please note that this program does fill quickly and is based on a first-come, first-served basis.

Jr/Sr High Programs

We are pleased to introduce our Jr/Sr High Sport Program which has been built on the Canadian Sport for Life model. Join us for one field trip or set-up a session as we seek to introduce your students to a variety of aquatic sports, encouraging them to find meaningful recreation opportunities that will engage them and keep them active and healthy for life. Taught by our certified instructors, you can choose from a variety of options to ensure your students have an opportunity to experience all the benefits of an aquatic physical education. Some of the sports you can select include:

• Water Polo

• Stroke Improvement

• Diving

• Underwater Hockey

• Sport/Triathlon Swimming

• AquaZumba

• Kayaking/Boating

• Lifesaving Sport

• And more!

Adapted Programs

We are pleased to offer specialized programming for classes dedicated to complex needs. We provide lower ratios and lower stimulus times to ensure your students have the opportunity to experience the best swimming and water safety program available. For more information, please contact us and ask to discuss school opportunities for adapted aquatics.

Faculty Programs

Is your staff looking for a unique health and wellness opportunity for professional development days? Our team of swimming and water safety experts will work with you to create a program to make PD days a success. Choose from great options like underwater hockey, inner tube water polo, a dip in the hot tub or steam room, or develop swimming skills from floating to stroke improvement.

How Do I Book?

1. Reserve Today
   Several dedicated time slots for schools looking for swimming and water safety programs are available. Contact the aquatic programming team to find an available time slot or wait-list for a future opportunity.
    
2. Gather Registrations
   Once your reservation has been confirmed, you will receive all of the information you need to enroll each of your students. Simply follow the directions and complete the registration forms. Once everything is ready to go, deliver you registration package to Emerald Hills Leisure Centre and we will take it from there.
    
3. Attend Your Lessons
   Our team of dedicated aquatic professionals will complete your registrations and prepare for your upcoming arrival. Once everyone is changed and on the pool deck, sit back and relax as your group is taken through a brief safety presentation and whisked away for their swimming program.