Strathcona County, AB receives dual CAMA Awards of Excellence

Strathcona County is proud to announce it has received two awards from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA) at its annual conference and Awards of Excellence luncheon in Banff, Alberta on June 5.

Recognized in the over 100,000-population category, the County was honoured with the Environmental Leadership and Sustainability Award for the HodgePodge Lodge – Strathcona County’s Reuse Program and the Municipal Inspiring Workplace Award for its People Plan.

“It is an honour for Strathcona County to be selected for not one, but two, of these prestigious awards among our peers,” says Mayor Rod Frank. “This recognition demonstrates the County’s leadership in environmental stewardship and sustainability and our high level of employee engagement. I’m very proud of the work we do to become Canada’s most livable community. Thank you to our outstanding staff, and their contribution in supporting our 95 per cent resident approval rating for our community being a good or very good place to live.”

CAMA’s Awards of Excellence are presented annually to local governments and their chief administrators in recognition of their creative and successful programs, projects or services. By receiving recognition for these initiatives, Strathcona County continues to exemplify municipal excellence in fostering a thriving community that prioritizes environmental sustainability, with the support of highly engaged County staff.

People Plan: Inspiring Workplace Culture

Strathcona County's People Plan fosters an inclusive, collaborative and positive workplace culture, reflecting employee feedback and corporate values. The People Plan Stewardship Committee has employee representatives from all departments who bring their energy and diverse ideas to advising, planning, leading, supporting and promoting engagement activities and connection opportunities for their peers to support the desired organizational culture. Since the People Plan launched in 2018, employee engagement increased by 13%.

“The People Plan isn't a fleeting initiative; it is a legacy, a blueprint that empowers our workforce, shapes our culture and propels us toward sustained success,” says Darrell Reid, Strathcona County’s Chief Commissioner. “By involving employees across the organization in its development, it has become a collective creation—crafted by those who best understand the pulse of the workplace, our employees.” 

HodgePodge Lodge: Environmental Stewardship

The HodgePodge Lodge promotes environmental sustainability by diverting materials from landfills through reuse initiatives. With over 80 dedicated volunteers, the Lodge has diverted 244,900 kg (245t) of items from landfills since its launch in February 2023.

“Social sustainability and community connection resulting from the HodgePodge Lodge is strong, with partnerships being made regularly,” said Leah Seabrook, Manager of Waste Services. “With the introduction of the Lodge, Strathcona County now has an opportunity to expand programming into other circular focus areas like repairability (repair workshops) and sharing economy (lending libraries).”

A total of 45 submissions were received from municipalities across Canada for this year’s awards program. To learn more about CAMA’s Awards of Excellence Program and to view the full list of award recipients, visit camacam.ca/awards. To learn more about initiatives and career opportunities at Strathcona County, visit strathcona.ca. 

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Contact:  Strathcona County Communications, 780-410-6595