The Slab continuing with a new partnership

The Slab, a youth-specific gathering space, will continue to be offered this fall - thanks to a new partnership between Strathcona County and the Boys and Girls Club of Strathcona County.

The Slab was designed as a prototype to gather ideas about the kind of drop-in space that may work for youth in Strathcona County. Over the summer, The Slab space allowed for testing, learning and evaluating what kind of youth drop-in space might resonate for rural and urban youth.

According to the County’s Social Framework public engagement, only 61% of youth aged 11-17 feel like they belong and are connected meaningfully to others in the community. The Slab enabled investigation into how the County can further bolster feelings of connection for youth in the community. This was explored through innovative projects, events and mentorship with the youth.

From June until August 31, Strathcona County successfully hosted a mix of programmed and marquee events four days a week, outside of the Community Centre. The Slab summer interns and volunteers assisted with running the space and encouraging youth to participate. Over the summer, 224 youth attended activities at The Slab, with an average of 10 to 20 youth (between the ages of 12 to 17 years) attending each day. Activities included a summer stage, board games, recreation area and karaoke.

To continue this momentum, the County is now partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Strathcona County to continue to offer Slab activities over the fall. Key learnings over the summer are being applied to The Slab’s fall programming, including meeting youth at where they naturally gather. In support of this, The Slab will run Thursday evenings at select urban and rural locations throughout the County.

Free busing will be provided to The Slab events, with pick up locations at both the Boys and Girls Club, as well as the original Slab location at the Community Centre. Consent forms for transportation must be signed by a parent or legal guardian in advance.

More information: call the Boys and Girls Club at 780-416-1500.

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