Week of July 11, 2024

County Police Officer (ARCH008605)

40 years ago (July 11, 1984)

“Archaeological find in Strathcona County”

40 years ago the Strathcona Science Park along the North Saskatchewan River just outside of Sherwood Park featured an innovative Archaeological Centre which drew people to the park. The Archaeological Centre featured a museum and laboratory space to foster learning about the thousands of years of use of the site. A moveable boardwalk allowed the public to observe the ongoing archaeological excavations happening around the park. Evidence uncovered at the site, including cooking hearths and stone flakes, suggests the site was used for over 4,000 years as a seasonal camp and place for replenishing stone tools. The site includes raw materials for tool making such as stone, Saskatoon bush stems, and chokeberry wood. Archaeologists also found flakes, the waste product of forming knives, scrapers, and projectile points from rock fragments. Few finished tools were found suggesting the site was used for generations to make tools before groups would move on to use the implements elsewhere.

30 years ago (July 14, 1994)

“Sherwood Park RCMP among least busiest detachments in Alta.”

30 years ago Sherwood Park RCMP ranked 60th out of 63 among Alberta RCMP detachments based on criminal caseload per member. Sherwood Park police officers were proud of their ranking stating “we want to be the quietist because it shows the quality of life here.” The detachment also recognized the success of community-based policing initiatives in keeping down crime in Sherwood Park. 30 years ago Sherwood Park had the largest community policing unit in Alberta which included initiatives like Crime Watch, victim services, home security checks, and bike patrols.