Youth invited to share ideas for creating a thriving community

Strathcona County is inviting youth, parents/caregivers and youth service providers to share ideas on how the community can best work together to meet the needs of its youth and young adults, between the ages of 14 and 29. Feedback will help with future planning and service delivery that enables youth and young adults to thrive in Strathcona County.

Initiated by Council, the Youth Needs and Assets Assessment will explore existing opportunities for youth and young adults in the County, while identifying areas for improvement. The final report will present recommendations and policy proposals for Council’s consideration by fall, 2019.

“Youth and young adults represent one quarter of Strathcona County’s population,” says Mayor Rod Frank. “It’s important for us to take time to listen carefully to what youth have to say about creating the community they want to live in.”

Three surveys, open until June 16, invite feedback from three stakeholder groups including youth and young adults (ages 14 to 29), parents/caregivers of youth and young adults, and organizations/agencies that support youth and young adults in Strathcona County. Strathcona County is partnering with Elk Island Public Schools and Elk Island Catholic Schools to administer the surveys within the junior and high school settings. Surveys are available online at strathcona.ca/YouthVoice or can be completed in-person at upcoming events including Victim Services Outdoor Movie Night (May 31), Pride in the Park (June 1), The Slab (until June 16) and Sherwood Park Farmer’s Market (until June 16).

Residents are also invited to share their ideas during an in-person conversation at a World Café on June 12, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Community Centre (401 Festival Lane, Sherwood Park).

The Youth Needs and Assets Assessment is another important milestone for Strathcona County’s Social Framework. Survey responses from the 2016 Community Talk public engagement noted only 61 per cent of youth (between the ages of 11 to 17) feel like they belong and are connected to others in Strathcona County. The results of the Youth Needs and Assets Assessment will provide Council with valuable insights on how to best meet the Social Framework’s four key outcomes of affordability, access to programs and services, connectedness and inclusion, and safety.

Visit strathcona.ca/YouthVoice or call 780-464-4044 to take the survey and to learn more about the Youth Needs and Asset Assessment.

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 hydrocarbon processing in Western Canada. Strathcona County is a leader in environmental conservation, and 55 per cent of its land is within the UNESCO Beaver Hills Biosphere. 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