So, we’ve been here in the ‘Park’ for 4 weeks now. It’s not a place where one usually goes on vacation. Most people leave here and go to Jasper, Banff, the Okanagan…somewhere else. But since we are on permanent vacation, this is where we are. I hear the collective “Why?”
Well, I grew up here, south Edmonton and the ‘Park’ more or less. Edmonton was smaller back in the day and the ‘Park’ was a small hamlet just a few miles east. My family moved here in the early ‘60s and I stayed until 1979 when I graduated from University. This was where I spent my formative years. I made life-long friends and still have some family here.
Sherwood Park is in Strathcona county and if you are not familiar with Alberta, Strathcona county is where all the refineries and gas plants live along with Agrium plants, Celanese, Dow, and anything else that’s even remotely connected to the petroleum industry and sits just on the eastern side of Edmonton. There’s a lot of money here county-wise and the ‘Park’ being the main residential area benefits greatly.
It has changed a LOT since I lived here but it is still classified as a hamlet albeit with 100,000 more people. It is pretty much a suburb of Edmonton these days but Strathcona doesn’t like to share so it remains separate from the metropolis on it’s borders. When I was here, much of the ‘Park’ was bush and farmers’ fields and it was a great place to be a kid. In the winter, you’d just lace up the skates and go play some hockey on the closest slough down the block. Now the bush is man-made and the sloughs have been turned into small lakes for the residents to enjoy. It’s a myriad of twisty little designer streets, schools, rec centers, all surrounded by Costco, Save-On, Home Depot, and fast food chain restaurants.
Still, it’s quite pleasant here and while it may not be quite as I remember it, the ‘Park’ has a nice feel to it. The people here are friendly, down to earth, and always smile and say ‘hi’ when we pass them on the street. That’s the Alberta I remember and I’m glad it hasn’t changed. The weather has been very nice with the occasional passing storm in the evening, and it’s been enjoyable hanging out with friends. Teresa, not having spent much time here, has commented “Well, this is certainly different from Vancouver!”.
Yes it is.
