On March 26, 2026, Strathcona County announced it is reviewing changes to provincial funding for ambulance services that could affect how emergency crews respond to calls in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The county is looking at how these financial changes will impact the community before deciding on its next steps to keep service levels steady.
The provincial agency, Emergency Health Services – Alberta, notified the county on March 13, 2026, about new rules for how medical services are paid for. The county originally had until late March to respond, but the deadline has been moved to April 30, 2026, to allow more time to study the details.
A major part of the review involves the integrated service model, where every emergency worker in the county is trained as both a firefighter and a paramedic. This system allows the same team to handle fires and medical emergencies together. In 2024, local crews responded to more than 10,000 ambulance calls while also attending to fires and vehicle accidents.
These changes are happening because the province moved ambulance oversight to a new organization called Acute Care Alberta in 2025. The provincial government now plans to find partners for new 10-year service agreements, as many current ambulance contracts are set to end on September 30, 2026.
According to Strathcona County, officials are now analyzing the provincial proposal to ensure residents continue to receive reliable emergency care. Several other cities in Alberta are also facing similar decisions about how to fund their combined fire and medical response teams.
