Sherwood Park residents will continue to receive emergency medical care from local responders after Strathcona County Council voted 5-4 on May 12, 2026, to accept a new provincial contract for ambulance services. This decision ensures that Strathcona County Emergency Services will continue to provide care through its existing model, where staff are cross-trained as both firefighters and paramedics.
The move comes after the provincial government notified municipalities in March 2026 that funding for integrated fire and emergency medical service contracts would be reduced. Under the new provincial terms, municipalities that choose to maintain their current service levels must cover any costs that exceed the provincial funding benchmark. For the county, this will result in a 0.73 per cent property tax increase starting in 2027, which is estimated to cost approximately $2.3 million annually. Additional tax increases may be required in future years to account for inflation and rising labour costs.
By accepting the contract, the county will keep its current service structure, including four ambulances operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, alongside its Community Response Units. Local officials emphasized the importance of this continuity for maintaining safety, noting that the service responded to 13,156 medical calls in 2025, with 90 per cent of surveyed patients reporting satisfaction with their care.
The decision stands in contrast to other Alberta municipalities that have opted to transition away from integrated services following the provincial funding changes. Eric Lowe, president of the Strathcona County Fire Fighters Union, had previously raised concerns that rejecting the contract could have forced a provincial procurement process, which he warned might lead to a lower-cost service provider with potentially fewer resources or reduced training standards.
Mayor Rod Frank stated that while the decision was challenging and not taken lightly, maintaining the local integrated model was seen as the best way to support the safety and well-being of the community. The new contract terms will officially take effect on April 1, 2027.
