County awarded for healthy community initiatives

Photo: Councillor Bill Tonita, Alison Mould and Jennifer Wilson accept the ChooseWell award, on behalf of Strathcona County.

Strathcona County is the proud recipient of another ChooseWell Healthy Community Award, in the category of Developing Healthy Policies in a Community. Strathcona County is recognized for several planning initiatives that support a healthy community, including community garden partnerships, new walking trails and active promotion of community cycling trails.

“We are proud to be recognized for our planning efforts that offer residents healthy choices for all life stages,” says Mayor Rod Frank. “One of Council’s priorities is to build strong communities to meet the diverse needs of our residents. Through partnerships and careful planning, we enjoy healthy activities through improved trails, community gardens and the merging of local history and information about hidden gems within our newly launched cycling map.”

Initiative highlights include working with 20 schools and 14 community groups to develop community gardens, as part of the successful integration of the Urban Agriculture Strategy. In addition, the newly completed Strathcona County Regional Trail is part of the Municipal Development Plan, Integrated Transportation Master Plan and Trails Strategy. As part of its commitment to promoting an active lifestyle in an exciting way, Strathcona County also launched a new cycling map of the urban trail system in summer 2018.

The ChooseWell Healthy Community Awards recognize communities that are currently participating in the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association’s Communities ChooseWell initiative. These awards celebrate the efforts and achievements of communities and wellness champions across Alberta in promoting healthy eating, active living and creating conditions that support people to live well.

The award ceremony took place on Thursday, October 25, 2018 during the annual conference in Jasper, Alberta.

Set in the centre of Alberta’s energy and agricultural heartland, Strathcona County is a thriving, successful and vibrant community of over 98,000 residents. Strathcona County is made up of the urban area of Sherwood Park and a large adjacent rural area of farms, acreages and smaller hamlets. It is home to 75 per cent of refining in Western Canada. With a focus on economic, governance, social, cultural and environmental sustainability, Strathcona County is committed to balancing the unique needs of its diverse community.

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Contact: Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595