Village News

Byelection Date and Time

BYELECTION INFORMATION
This is your chance to vote for the vacant Village of Carmangay Council seat on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at the Carmangay Senior Citizen Club between 10:00am and 8:00pm. You must be a citizen of the Village of Carmangay and bring 1 piece of ID with you.
To keep election staff safe the following requirements will be in place.
-Only 1 person at a time will be allowed in the building.
-Those waiting to vote will be required to wait at the front of the building to allow for safe entrance and exit out of the side entrance of the building of those voting.
-a mask will be required (there will be some available for those that don’t have one).
-each person will be provided a pen which they can take home to minimize possible transfer of the virus.
-hand sanitizer will be provided and the voting booth will be wiped down between uses.
A copy of this will be mailed with the candidates biographies today to Carmangay households.
The candidates in alphabetical order are:
Sue Dahl
Doug Fraser
Maureen Travers
Please come out and vote!
December 3, 2020 in Village News

Council Update for Byelection Candidates

Below are the long-term challenges that are facing Carmangay that Council and administration have been trying to find solutions to.  It is hoped that this will help inform the public and byelection candidates and we move forward together to find solutions.

Focus on New Commercial Businesses and Invigorating the Home Market

There has been some good recent progress in building up the number of commercial properties in Carmangay from the time 25 years ago when it accounted for about 40% of the tax base.

 Residential Taxes  Commercial Taxes  Residential Taxes w Inflation  Commercial Taxes w Inflation
1994  $         62,830  $         49,888  $         99,623  $         79,102
2000  $       102,024  $         12,567  $       144,599  $         17,811
2010  $       249,820  $                  –  $       291,065  $                  –
2017  $       262,461  $         28,289  $       273,301  $         29,457
2019  $       258,284  $         45,205  $       258,284  $         45,205

This Council has held the line on residential taxes and the amount that the Village has collected has gone down in the last few years.

The number of homes has gone down by 20 in the last 2 decades from 160 in 2000 to 140 in 2019, which is a reduction of 12.5%.

 Number of Homes
1994 117
2000 160
2010 135
2017 140
2019 140

This means that the remaining homeowners need to account for this loss to support the cost of utilities as well as taxes for services and infrastructure.  Bare lots as well as properties turned back to the Village under tax recovery produce significantly lower to no tax and utility revenue.

Focus on New Revenue Opportunities and Cost Savings

Administration has looked for new ways to create revenue and keep residential taxes the same or lower.  These include;

  • The current Village of Carmangay staff have done water and sanitary projects for other municipalities as well as outside groups. This has provided some additional revenue that allows the Village to reduce the cost of its own work.  It is the hope of administration to continue to expand these opportunities.
  • The Telus tower will provide new lease and tax revenue to the Village of Carmangay of just under $10,000 per year.
  • The Solar Farm which is 100% covered by capital grants and will cut the cost of electricity to the Village by at least $13,000 per year and more as electricity rates climb. There is additional capacity as well that can be used if expansion of Village buildings or infrastructure is considered.
  • Working with the other 4 Villages to find ways to lower costs and get more value. These include online data storage for archived files, using the same accounting system as well as working together on hydrant flow testing and other infrastructure work.  This is hoped to be expanded moving forward.

The Focus on upgrading the Water and Sanitary Infrastructure

Carmangay has an aging infrastructure that has required ongoing investment of capital grants to start to remediate.  As an example, the pumping station pumps that were recently replace were from the 1970’s.  Some of the fire hydrants are from the 1950’s as are some of the sanitary lines.  The existing water plant is about 2/3 to ¾ through its lifecycle.  Additionally, the water flow of approximately 185 gallons per minute is far from sufficient for fire suppression which requires a minimum of 600 gallons per minute but should be closer to 1,000 gallons per minute.

November 27, 2020 in Village News

Meet Your Candidates

Below are the submitted biographies and platforms of the candidates that will be posted as they are received.  A mailout of the same information will be sent out the week of November 30, 2020.

Sue Dahl

Hi. My name is Sue Dahl. I moved into the Carmangay area in 1993 when Steve Dahl and I moved onto the family farm together. Though our marriage didn’t last, my love for Carmangay and its people did, so I relocated into the village with my two children. We rented for a short time before purchasing our home on Carman Street.

I have worked within the Village of Carmangay for the last twenty years. First at the Grange Hotel, for about 17 years, and then for 3 years as Administrative Assistant in the Village Office. I have been an active member of the Fire Department since 2002, am a director on the Ag Society and a director the Curling Club.

I have questioned this council’s actions since the day they were elected. Everything from money management, to transparency to accountability. For these reasons, I feel I need to step up to try and make a difference for the benefit of the community. That is why I am running for the vacant Village Council position.

Doug Fraser

Hello, my name is Doug Fraser and I am running for Village Councillor.  I have lived most of my life in Carmangay and I love the community I live in.  I have been married to same wonderful woman for forty three years and raised two sons who are married and blessed me with six grandchildren.

I have been a member of our Fire Department and sat on the Fire Association.  I presently sit on the Community Centre Board and I am a member of the Lions Club and of the Ag Society.

I would like to represent our community as a member of Council.  I know it is hard to please everyone but I will look at every situation and base my vote on the positives and negatives for the good of our community.

My youngest grandson made me a button and sent it to me that says Vote Papa, so I ask you to “Vote Papa”.

Maureen Travers

Hello, I am Maureen Travers, widow of the late Michael Travers.

My husband and I arrived in Edmonton from England in 1968, Michael had accepted a Junior professorship in the Department of Art and Design at the U of A.

I accepted a position on the Review Panel to update the MGA.  I studied Municipal Law and was appointed to the public affairs bureau – I prepared promotional material, designed Government souvenirs for the Premier to present on trips, and the winning float at a Klondike Days.

I studied for my certificates in Municipal administration from the U of A, moved south to Cowley to be their Administrator, I received the Ernest Newman Award, and became Strathmore’s administrator, then Town Manager.  Afterwards, I went to work for Revenue Canada.

I moved to Carmangay from Saskatchewan over 2 years ago with my husband Michael Travers, who did not know he had cancer, from which he passed away in August 2019.  I take this opportunity to thank the Carmangay fire department for looking after Michael, and all the residents of Carmangay who were so kind, and helpful in my bereavement.

When we drove into the village, we immediately felt at home – a Railway crossing, Lots of beautiful trees, a great mixture of houses, windmills – then wow!  A sunset that could outdo my stained-glass windows.

If I can be of assistance to other candidates, or you let me know!  This election – will be a run up to next year’s general election!  Thank you to the other candidates and thank you for reading this article.

November 25, 2020 in Village News

Byelection Candidate Information

There is a vacancy on Carmangay Council that will necessitate a byelection.  At the upcoming October 20, 2020 Regular Council meeting, Council will set the nomination period as well as the election day for the upcoming byelection.

Prospective candidates for the vacant Council position will be eligible to run per the Local Authorities Election Act as described;

Qualification of candidates 21

(1) A person may be nominated as a candidate in any election under this Act if on nomination day the person

(a) is eligible to vote in that election,

(b) has been a resident of the local jurisdiction and the ward, if any, for the 6 consecutive months immediately preceding nomination day, and

(c) is not otherwise ineligible or disqualified.

Addtionally;

Ineligibility 22

(1) A person is not eligible to be nominated as a candidate in any election under this Act if on nomination day

(a) the person is the auditor of the local jurisdiction for which the election is to be held;

(b) subject to subsection (4), the person is an employee of the local jurisdiction for which the election is to be held unless the person takes a leave of absence under this section; RSA 2000 Section 22 Chapter L-21 LOCAL AUTHORITIES ELECTION ACT 20

(c) the person is indebted to the municipality of which the person is an elector for taxes in default exceeding $50, excluding from that amount

(i) any indebtedness for current taxes, and

(ii) any indebtedness for arrears of taxes for which the person has entered into a consolidation agreement with the municipality, unless the person is in default in the payment of any money due under the agreement;

 

All candidates are encouraged to review the following information prior to submitting nomination papers.

What Every Councillor Needs to Know – A Council Member Handbook

This guide was produced by the province for potential candidates.

Bylaw 795 Council Code of Conduct

This bylaw is required by each municipality in the province of Alberta to describe the intended conduct of Councillors.

Bylaw 745 Council Remuneration Bylaw

This bylaw describes what a Councillor can expect for remuneration in the role.

2019 Audited Financial Statements

This document is required annually by all municipalities and describes the financial activity of the Village of Carmangay in 2019.

 

October 14, 2020 in Village News

VCREMP COVID – 19 Update: June 24th, 2020

June 24, 2020

RE: COVID-19 Update 60 (New Information in BLUE)

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership updates will now be release once (1) day a week, on Wednesday’s unless urgent messaging comes from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health or Government Officials, or AHS on regional cases.

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partners are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Alberta. The latest Government of Alberta media releases can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx

All Vulcan County Fire Halls are closed to the public until further notice. The municipal offices of Vulcan County, the villages of Arrowwood, Carmangay, Champion, Lomond and Milo remain closed to the public while business operations are continuing. The Town of Vulcan municipal office remains open, however, we are urging the public to use municipal websites, email and telephone to answer their inquiries.

As cases have now been confirmed within the Vulcan County region, it is imperative to follow proper personal hygiene and cleaning practices. Please follow these guidelines and watch your municipal websites for further updates.

Everyone, even persons not exhibiting symptoms or requiring mandatory self-isolation, is strongly encouraged to limit outings to a minimum and stay home; observe social distancing and avoid touching your face without first washing your hands.

The Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership has put together a series of videos on COVID-19 related themes:

With the confirmation of a confirmed case within our region, please remain vigilant in the practices that have been established.

Cases in Alberta and Vulcan County

The Government of Alberta is taking aggressive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Albertans are asked to be vigilant to prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.

For today, 44 new cases have been confirmed bringing the total number of cases to 7,825. There has been a total of 153 fatalities as a result of COVID-19. There have been a total of 7,134 recoveries to date, with 538 active cases. There have been a total of 409,352 tests completed in Alberta.

There are three confirmed cases within Vulcan County or the urban municipalities within its region. Vulcan County is in the Calgary Health Zone here 67% of all confirmed Covid-19 infections are located in Alberta.

Alberta uses modelling to anticipate the number of COVID-19 cases over the coming months. Revised modelling was provided on April 28th. This helps us make decisions and prepare hospitals to care for critical and acute patients. A Sprung Field Hospital has been completed at Foothills Hospital should the province realize a spike in Covid-19 hospitalizations.

Alberta Relaunch Strategy – Phase Two

Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations starting June 12 with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
Business operators, sport and recreation services can determine if they are ready to open and ensure all guidance for workplaces is met.

What can open with RESTRICTIONS:

  • K-12 Schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
  • Libraries
  • More Surgeries
  • Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture, and reflexology
  • Personal services (esthetics, cosmetics skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, artificial tanning
  • Movie theatres & theatres
  • Community Halls
  • Team Sports
  • Indoor Recreation, fitness and sports, including gyms and arenas
  • Pools for leisure
  • VLTs in restaurants and bars
  • Bingo halls & Casinos (but not table games)
  • Instrumental concerts
  • Provincial campgrounds at full capacity

Events and Gatherings can be Larger in Stage Two

  • 50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
  • 100 people maximum: outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies
  • No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
    • worship gatherings
    • restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
    • casinos
    • bingo halls
  • More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
    • a household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
    • performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers) o sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues) o people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.

Still Not Approved in Stage Two:

  • Social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
  • Regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12. Classes will resume September 2020
  • Vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission)
  • Major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts)
  • Nightclubs
  • Amusement parks
  • Hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only)
  • Major sporting events and tournaments
  • Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won’t be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy.

The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health- care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.

Guidance on Outdoor Activities

With the weather warming up, everyone is eager to go outside for fresh air.
Albertans are encouraged to enjoy outdoor activities, as long as you follow all public health orders to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.

Provincial Measures and Indicators of COVID-19 Regional Risks

There are two indicators the Province is using as measures on how regions are doing, with three classifications:

  • Open
    • low level of risk, no additional restrictions in place
    • less than 50 active cases per 100,000
  • Watch
    • the province is monitoring the risk and discussing with local government(s) and other community leaders the possible need for additional health measures
    • at least 10 active cases and more than 50 active cases per 100,000
  • Enhanced
    • risk levels require enhanced public health measures to control the spread
    • informed by local context Currently our regions falls within the open category.
Federal Government
  • Tassi, Minister of Labour, announced changes to extend time periods for temporary layoffs to allow employers more time to recall laid-off employees.
  • For employees laid off prior to March 31, 2020, the time period is extended by six months or to December 30, 2020, whichever occurs first.
  • For employees laid off between March 31, 2020, and September 30, 2020, the time period is extended until December 30, 2020, unless a later recall date was provided in a written notice at the time of the layoff.
  • Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, today announced $16 million in federal investments to support the tourism industry across Atlantic Canada.
  • Minister Joly also announced financial assistance totaling over $30M for tourism in Quebec, in addition to existing measures. 

Alberta

  • Environmental reporting temporarily paused by the government during the provincial public health emergency will resume on July 15, four weeks earlier than planned.

811 Health Link

Once again, people experiencing 7symptoms are to take the online self-assessment. As a further reminder, 811-health link is for those who are feeling ill and seeking advice. DO NOT call 811 to report non-compliance of Public Health Orders; these can be reported to the Environmental Health Complaint Link or by calling (403) 943-2288.

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others

  • Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2643
  • Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322

Local Programs and Initiatives

Vulcan County – Health & Wellness Foundation
Vulcan – Medical Recruitment
Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society

Above information sourced from:
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70009006E7A24-0CB0-DB76-8FDE7FAC19DBB875

June 24, 2020 in Community, Emergency Services, Village News

VCREMP COVID – 19 Update: June 18th, 2020

June 18, 2020

RE: COVID-19 Update 60 (New Information in BLUE)

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership updates will now be release once (1) day a week, on Wednesday’s unless urgent messaging comes from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health or Government Officials, or AHS on regional cases.

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partners are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Alberta. The latest Government of Alberta media releases can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx

All Vulcan County Fire Halls are closed to the public until further notice. The municipal offices of Vulcan County, the villages of Arrowwood, Carmangay, Champion, Lomond and Milo remain closed to the public while business operations are continuing. The Town of Vulcan municipal office remains open, however, we are urging the public to use municipal websites, email and telephone to answer their inquiries.

As cases have now been confirmed within the Vulcan County region, it is imperative to follow proper personal hygiene and cleaning practices. Please follow these guidelines and watch your municipal websites for further updates.

Everyone, even persons not exhibiting symptoms or requiring mandatory self-isolation, is strongly encouraged to limit outings to a minimum and stay home; observe social distancing and avoid touching your face without first washing your hands.

The Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership has put together a series of videos on COVID-19 related themes:

With the confirmation of a confirmed case within our region, please remain vigilant in the practices that have been established.

Cases in Alberta and Vulcan County

The Government of Alberta is taking aggressive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Albertans are asked to be vigilant to prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.

For today, 35 new cases have been confirmed bringing the total number of cases to 7,530. There has been a total of 152 fatalities as a result of COVID-19. There have been a total of 6,938 recoveries to date, with 489 active cases. There have been a total of 349,836 tests completed in Alberta.

There are three confirmed cases within Vulcan County or the urban municipalities within its region. Vulcan County is in the Calgary Health Zone here 67% of all confirmed Covid-19 infections are located in Alberta.

Alberta uses modelling to anticipate the number of COVID-19 cases over the coming months. Revised modelling was provided on April 28th. This helps us make decisions and prepare hospitals to care for critical and acute patients. A Sprung Field Hospital has been completed at Foothills Hospital should the province realize a spike in Covid-19 hospitalizations.

Alberta Relaunch Strategy – Phase Two

Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations starting June 12 with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
Business operators, sport and recreation services can determine if they are ready to open and ensure all guidance for workplaces is met.

What can open with RESTRICTIONS:

  • K-12 Schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
  • Libraries
  • More Surgeries
  • Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture, and reflexology
  • Personal services (esthetics, cosmetics skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, artificial tanning
  • Movie theatres & theatres
  • Community Halls
  • Team Sports
  • Indoor Recreation, fitness and sports, including gyms and arenas
  • Pools for leisure
  • VLTs in restaurants and bars
  • Bingo halls & Casinos (but not table games)
  • Instrumental concerts
  • Provincial campgrounds at full capacity

Events and Gatherings can be Larger in Stage Two

  • 50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
  • 100 people maximum: outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies
  • No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
    • worship gatherings
    • restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
    • casinos
    • bingo halls
  • More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
    • a household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
    • performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers) o sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues) o people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.

Still Not Approved in Stage Two:

  • Social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
  • Regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12. Classes will resume September 2020
  • Vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission)
  • Major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts)
  • Nightclubs
  • Amusement parks
  • Hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only)
  • Major sporting events and tournaments
  • Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won’t be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy.

The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health- care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.

Guidance on Outdoor Activities

With the weather warming up, everyone is eager to go outside for fresh air.
Albertans are encouraged to enjoy outdoor activities, as long as you follow all public health orders to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.

Provincial Measures and Indicators of COVID-19 Regional Risks

There are two indicators the Province is using as measures on how regions are doing, with three classifications:

  • Open
    • low level of risk, no additional restrictions in place
    • less than 50 active cases per 100,000
  • Watch
    • the province is monitoring the risk and discussing with local government(s) and other community leaders the possible need for additional health measures
    • at least 10 active cases and more than 50 active cases per 100,000
  • Enhanced
    • risk levels require enhanced public health measures to control the spread
    • informed by local context Currently our regions falls within the open category.
Federal Government

Alberta

  • Bill 24, the COVID-19 Pandemic Response Statutes Amendment Act, passed first reading in the Alberta Legislative Assembly today. The bill proposes amendments to 15 acts across seven ministries to support Albertans as the province continues to reopen.
  • The proposed amendments will allow some pandemic response efforts to continue and introduce new measures to support the safe and successful reopening of Alberta’s economy.
  • The Government of Alberta has announced that following the successful reopening of the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Royal Alberta Museum, more provincial historic sites and museums will reopen on June 20 as part of stage two of Alberta’s relaunch strategy.
  • The province is also providing support to assist overnight camps for children and youth so they can be ready to open in 2021. Under the Overnight Camps (for Children and Youth) Facility Overhead Funding Program, non-profit organizations that own or operate overnight camps and meet criteria will be able to apply for a one-time grant to help with ongoing facility costs so they can open next year.

811 Health Link

Once again, people experiencing 7symptoms are to take the online self-assessment. As a further reminder, 811-health link is for those who are feeling ill and seeking advice. DO NOT call 811 to report non-compliance of Public Health Orders; these can be reported to the Environmental Health Complaint Link or by calling (403) 943-2288.

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others

  • Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2643
  • Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322

Local Programs and Initiatives

Vulcan County – Health & Wellness Foundation
Vulcan – Medical Recruitment
Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society

Above information sourced from:
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70009006E7A24-0CB0-DB76-8FDE7FAC19DBB875

June 18, 2020 in Community, Emergency Services, Village News

VCREMP COVID – 19 Update: June 16th, 2020

June 16, 2020

RE: COVID-19 Update 60 (New Information in BLUE)

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership updates will now be release two (2) days a week. All updates moving forward will be released on Tuesday and Thursday of each week, unless urgent messaging comes from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health or Government Officials during their daily updates.

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partners are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Alberta. The latest Government of Alberta media releases can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx

All Vulcan County Fire Halls are closed to the public until further notice. The municipal offices of Vulcan County, the villages of Arrowwood, Carmangay, Champion, Lomond and Milo remain closed to the public while business operations are continuing. The Town of Vulcan municipal office remains open, however, we are urging the public to use municipal websites, email and telephone to answer their inquiries.

As cases have now been confirmed within the Vulcan County region, it is imperative to follow proper personal hygiene and cleaning practices. Please follow these guidelines and watch your municipal websites for further updates.

Everyone, even persons not exhibiting symptoms or requiring mandatory self-isolation, is strongly encouraged to limit outings to a minimum and stay home; observe social distancing and avoid touching your face without first washing your hands.

The Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership has put together a series of videos on COVID-19 related themes:

With the confirmation of a confirmed case within our region, please remain vigilant in the practices that have been established.

Cases in Alberta and Vulcan County

The Government of Alberta is taking aggressive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Albertans are asked to be vigilant to prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.

For today, 35 new cases have been confirmed bringing the total number of cases to 7,482. There has been a total of 151 fatalities as a result of COVID-19. There have been a total of 6,882 recoveries to date, with 449 active cases. There have been a total of 349,836 tests completed in Alberta. 

There are three confirmed cases within Vulcan County or the urban municipalities within its region. Vulcan County is in the Calgary Health Zone here 67% of all confirmed Covid-19 infections are located in Alberta.

Alberta uses modelling to anticipate the number of COVID-19 cases over the coming months. Revised modelling was provided on April 28th. This helps us make decisions and prepare hospitals to care for critical and acute patients. A Sprung Field Hospital has been completed at Foothills Hospital should the province realize a spike in Covid-19 hospitalizations.

Alberta Relaunch Strategy – Phase Two

Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations starting June 12 with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
Business operators, sport and recreation services can determine if they are ready to open and ensure all guidance for workplaces is met.

What can open with RESTRICTIONS:

  • K-12 Schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
  • Libraries
  • More Surgeries
  • Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture, and reflexology
  • Personal services (esthetics, cosmetics skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, artificial tanning
  • Movie theatres & theatres
  • Community Halls
  • Team Sports
  • Indoor Recreation, fitness and sports, including gyms and arenas
  • Pools for leisure
  • VLTs in restaurants and bars
  • Bingo halls & Casinos (but not table games)
  • Instrumental concerts
  • Provincial campgrounds at full capacity

Events and Gatherings can be Larger in Stage Two

  • 50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
  • 100 people maximum: outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies
  • No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
    • worship gatherings
    • restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
    • casinos
    • bingo halls
  • More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
    • a household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
    • performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers) o sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues) o people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.

Still Not Approved in Stage Two:

  • Social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
  • Regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12. Classes will resume September 2020
  • Vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission)
  • Major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts)
  • Nightclubs
  • Amusement parks
  • Hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only)
  • Major sporting events and tournaments
  • Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won’t be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy.

The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health- care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.

Guidance on Outdoor Activities

With the weather warming up, everyone is eager to go outside for fresh air.
Albertans are encouraged to enjoy outdoor activities, as long as you follow all public health orders to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.

Federal Government
  • Prime Minister Trudeau (PM) announced that applications for the “Surplus Food Rescue Program” opened today for businesses that have an excess of food due to the impacts of COVID-19.
  • Minister of Finance Bill Morneau announced that as of Friday, June 19, 2020, applications will be accepted so that more small businesses can access the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)COVID-19 Relief | Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) | EDC. Owner-operated small businesses that had been ineligible for the program due to their lack of payroll, sole proprietors receiving business income directly, as well as family-owned corporations remunerating in the form of dividends rather than payroll will become eligible this week.
  • The federal government has reached an agreement with the United States to extend border restrictions until July 21.
  • The federal government has announced that the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will be extended through the summer for an additional 8 weeks, meaning the program will be available for a total of 24 weeks.

811 Health Link

Once again, people experiencing 7symptoms are to take the online self-assessment. As a further reminder, 811-health link is for those who are feeling ill and seeking advice. DO NOT call 811 to report non-compliance of Public Health Orders; these can be reported to the Environmental Health Complaint Link or by calling (403) 943-2288.

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others

  • Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2643
  • Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322

Local Programs and Initiatives

Vulcan County – Health & Wellness Foundation
Vulcan – Medical Recruitment
Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society

Above information sourced from:
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70009006E7A24-0CB0-DB76-8FDE7FAC19DBB875

June 16, 2020 in Community, Emergency Services, Village News

VCREMP COVID – 19 Update: June 10th, 2020

June 11, 2020

RE: COVID-19 Update 60 (New Information in BLUE)

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership updates will now be release two (2) days a week. All updates moving forward will be released on Tuesday and Thursday of each week, unless urgent messaging comes from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health or Government Officials during their daily updates.

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partners are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Alberta. The latest Government of Alberta media releases can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx

All Vulcan County Fire Halls are closed to the public until further notice. The municipal offices of Vulcan County, the villages of Arrowwood, Carmangay, Champion, Lomond and Milo remain closed to the public while business operations are continuing. The Town of Vulcan municipal office remains open, however, we are urging the public to use municipal websites, email and telephone to answer their inquiries.

While the number of daily confirmed cases is remaining relatively flat, it is imperative to follow proper personal hygiene and cleaning practices. Please follow these guidelines and watch your municipal websites for further updates.

Everyone, even persons not exhibiting symptoms or requiring mandatory self-isolation, is strongly encouraged to limit outings to a minimum and stay home; observe social distancing and avoid touching your face without first washing your hands.

The Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership has put together a series of videos on COVID-19 related themes:

With the confirmation of a confirmed case within our region, please remain vigilant in the practices that have been established.

Cases in Alberta and Vulcan County

The Government of Alberta is taking aggressive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Albertans are asked to be vigilant to prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.

For today, 40 new cases have been confirmed bringing the total number of cases to 7,316. There has been a total of 149 fatalities as a result of COVID-19. There have been a total of 6,788 recoveries to date, with 379 active cases. There have been a total of 317,402 tests completed in Alberta.

There is a confirmed case within Vulcan County or the urban municipalities within its region. Vulcan County is in the Calgary Health Zone here 67% of all confirmed Covid-19 infections are located in Alberta.

Alberta uses modelling to anticipate the number of COVID-19 cases over the coming months. Revised modelling was provided on April 28th. This helps us make decisions and prepare hospitals to care for critical and acute patients. A Sprung Field Hospital has been completed at Foothills Hospital should the province realize a spike in Covid-19 hospitalizations.

Alberta Relaunch Strategy – Phase Two

Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations starting June 12 with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
Business operators, sport and recreation services can determine if they are ready to open and ensure all guidance for workplaces is met.

What can open with RESTRICTIONS:

  • K-12 Schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
  • Libraries
  • More Surgeries
  • Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture, and reflexology
  • Personal services (esthetics, cosmetics skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, artificial tanning
  • Movie theatres & theatres
  • Community Halls
  • Team Sports
  • Indoor Recreation, fitness and sports, including gyms and arenas
  • Pools for leisure
  • VLTs in restaurants and bars
  • Bingo halls & Casinos (but not table games)
  • Instrumental concerts
  • Provincial campgrounds at full capacity

Events and Gatherings can be Larger in Stage Two

  • 50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
  • 100 people maximum: outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies
  • No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
    • worship gatherings
    • restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
    • casinos
    • bingo halls
  • More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
    • a household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
    • performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers) o sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues) o people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.

Still Not Approved in Stage Two:

  • Social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
  • Regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12. Classes will resume September 2020
  • Vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission)
  • Major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts)
  • Nightclubs
  • Amusement parks
  • Hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only)
  • Major sporting events and tournaments
  • Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won’t be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy

 

The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health- care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.

Canada/US Border Closure

An agreement has been reached between Canada and the United States to keep the border closed to all non-essential travel for another month.

The extension on the existing agreement means that the border restrictions will stay in place until June 21, even as parts of both countries begin gradually reopening. The agreement, as it stands, exempts the flow of trade and commerce, as well as vital health-care workers such as nurses who live and work on opposite sides of the border. Tourists and cross-border visits remain prohibited.

Guidance on Outdoor Activities

With the weather warming up, everyone is eager to go outside for fresh air.
Albertans are encouraged to enjoy outdoor activities, as long as you follow all public health orders to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.

Federal Government
  • The Prime Minister announced that the federal government will implement a limited travel exemption at the Canada-U.S. border. This exemption will allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to enter the country. The exemption includes spouses, children, parents or guardians. The Prime Minister noted that the 14-day quarantine rule still applies to those entering the country.
  • Canadians with disabilities will be sent a one-time tax-free payment of up to $600 to help offset the financial pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new financial aid will go to all who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, as of June 1.
  • The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) indicated that it intends to tighten rules for offering mortgage insurance, starting July 1, after forecasting declines of between 9% and 18% in home prices over the next 12 months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Changes include:
    • CMHC is establishing a minimum credit score of 680 instead of the current 600;
    • CMHC will limit total gross debt servicing ratios to its standard requirement of 35% annual income, compared with the current threshold of 39%.
    • CMHC will limit total debt servicing to 42%, compared to the current 44% .
  • Health Canada is recalling six types of hand sanitizers sold in Canadian stores that are made with industrial-grade ethanol. The recall, issued on June 6, advises anyone with the products in their home to stop using them immediately and consult a healthcare professional if they experience health concerns.

Alberta

  • Today, the provincial government distributed 20 million masks at 600 Tim Hortons, McDonald’s and A&W drive-thrus across Alberta. The Government of Alberta is also planning to supply masks to places of worship, as well as provide another round of 20 million masks in the future.
  • On June 6, Alberta Health Services relaxed visitation guidelines at hospitals in Alberta. Details include:
    • For outpatient and emergency department/urgent care, patients may now have one person accompany them.
    • For acute care settings, patients may now have two people accompany them.
    • For end of life situations, two visitors are now permitted if there is sufficient room to allow for physical distancing.
  • The Government of Alberta is looking for more landlords to participate in the Alberta-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program, which the province has committed $67-million towards.

811 Health Link

Once again, people experiencing 7symptoms are to take the online self-assessment. As a further reminder, 811-health link is for those who are feeling ill and seeking advice. DO NOT call 811 to report non-compliance of Public Health Orders; these can be reported to the Environmental Health Complaint Link or by calling (403) 943-2288.

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others

  • Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2643
  • Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322

Local Programs and Initiatives

Vulcan County – Health & Wellness Foundation
Vulcan – Medical Recruitment
Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society

Above information sourced from:
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70009006E7A24-0CB0-DB76-8FDE7FAC19DBB875

June 12, 2020 in Community, Emergency Services, Village News

VCREMP COVID – 19 Update: June 4th, 2020

June 9, 2020

RE: COVID-19 Update 59 (New Information in BLUE)

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership updates will now be release two (2) days a week. All updates moving forward will be released on Tuesday and Thursday of each week, unless urgent messaging comes from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health or Government Officials during their daily updates.

Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partners are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Alberta. The latest Government of Alberta media releases can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/news.aspx

All Vulcan County Fire Halls are closed to the public until further notice. The municipal offices of Vulcan County, the villages of Arrowwood, Carmangay, Champion, Lomond and Milo remain closed to the public while business operations are continuing. The Town of Vulcan municipal office remains open, however, we are urging the public to use municipal websites, email and telephone to answer their inquiries.

While the number of daily confirmed cases is remaining relatively flat, it is imperative to follow proper personal hygiene and cleaning practices. Please follow these guidelines and watch your municipal websites for further updates.

Everyone, even persons not exhibiting symptoms or requiring mandatory self-isolation, is strongly encouraged to limit outings to a minimum and stay home; observe social distancing and avoid touching your face without first washing your hands.

The Vulcan County Regional Emergency Management Partnership has put together a series of videos on COVID-19 related themes:

With the confirmation of a confirmed case within our region, please remain vigilant in the practices that have been established.

Cases in Alberta and Vulcan County

The Government of Alberta is taking aggressive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Albertans are asked to be vigilant to prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.

For today, 27 new cases have been confirmed bringing the total number of cases to 7, 229. There has been a total of 151 fatalities as a result of COVID-19. There have been a total of 6,722 recoveries to date, with 356 active cases. There have been a total of 303,689 tests completed in Alberta.

There is a confirmed case within Vulcan County or the urban municipalities within its region. Vulcan County is in the Calgary Health Zone here 67% of all confirmed Covid-19 infections are located in Alberta.

Alberta uses modelling to anticipate the number of COVID-19 cases over the coming months. Revised modelling was provided on April 28th. This helps us make decisions and prepare hospitals to care for critical and acute patients. A Sprung Field Hospital has been completed at Foothills Hospital should the province realize a spike in Covid-19 hospitalizations.

Alberta Relaunch Strategy – Phase Two

Stage 2 will allow additional businesses and services to reopen and resume operations starting June 12 with 2 metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidelines in place.
Business operators, sport and recreation services can determine if they are ready to open and ensure all guidance for workplaces is met.

What can open with RESTRICTIONS:

  • K-12 Schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
  • Libraries
  • More Surgeries
  • Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture, and reflexology
  • Personal services (esthetics, cosmetics skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatments, artificial tanning
  • Movie theatres & theatres
  • Community Halls
  • Team Sports
  • Indoor Recreation, fitness and sports, including gyms and arenas
  • Pools for leisure
  • VLTs in restaurants and bars
  • Bingo halls & Casinos (but not table games)
  • Instrumental concerts
  • Provincial campgrounds at full capacity

Events and Gatherings can be Larger in Stage Two

  • 50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
  • 100 people maximum: outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding and funeral ceremonies
  • No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
    • worship gatherings
    • restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
    • casinos
    • bingo halls
  • More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
    • a household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
    • performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers) o sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues) o people could be part of a sports/performing and household cohort.

Still Not Approved in Stage Two:

  • Social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
  • Regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12. Classes will resume September 2020
  • Vocal concerts (as singing carries a higher risk of transmission)
  • Major festivals and concerts, large conferences, trade shows and events (as these are non-seated social events and/or vocal concerts)
  • Nightclubs
  • Amusement parks
  • Hookah lounges (permitted for food and drink only)
  • Major sporting events and tournaments
  • Non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won’t be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy

 

The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health- care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.

Canada/US Border Closure

An agreement has been reached between Canada and the United States to keep the border closed to all non-essential travel for another month.

The extension on the existing agreement means that the border restrictions will stay in place until June 21, even as parts of both countries begin gradually reopening. The agreement, as it stands, exempts the flow of trade and commerce, as well as vital health-care workers such as nurses who live and work on opposite sides of the border. Tourists and cross-border visits remain prohibited.

Guidance on Outdoor Activities

With the weather warming up, everyone is eager to go outside for fresh air.
Albertans are encouraged to enjoy outdoor activities, as long as you follow all public health orders to protect yourself and others from the spread of COVID-19.

Federal Government
  • The Prime Minister announced that the federal government will implement a limited travel exemption at the Canada-U.S. border. This exemption will allow immediate family members of citizens or permanent residents to enter the country. The exemption includes spouses, children, parents or guardians. The Prime Minister noted that the 14-day quarantine rule still applies to those entering the country.
  • Canadians with disabilities will be sent a one-time tax-free payment of up to $600 to help offset the financial pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. This new financial aid will go to all who are eligible for the Disability Tax Credit, as of June 1.
  • The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) indicated that it intends to tighten rules for offering mortgage insurance, starting July 1, after forecasting declines of between 9% and 18% in home prices over the next 12 months due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Changes include:
    • CMHC is establishing a minimum credit score of 680 instead of the current 600;
    • CMHC will limit total gross debt servicing ratios to its standard requirement of 35% annual income, compared with the current threshold of 39%.
    • CMHC will limit total debt servicing to 42%, compared to the current 44% .
  • Health Canada is recalling six types of hand sanitizers sold in Canadian stores that are made with industrial-grade ethanol. The recall, issued on June 6, advises anyone with the products in their home to stop using them immediately and consult a healthcare professional if they experience health concerns.

Alberta

  • Today, the provincial government distributed 20 million masks at 600 Tim Hortons, McDonald’s and A&W drive-thrus across Alberta. The Government of Alberta is also planning to supply masks to places of worship, as well as provide another round of 20 million masks in the future.
  • On June 6, Alberta Health Services relaxed visitation guidelines at hospitals in Alberta. Details include:
    • For outpatient and emergency department/urgent care, patients may now have one person accompany them.
    • For acute care settings, patients may now have two people accompany them.
    • For end of life situations, two visitors are now permitted if there is sufficient room to allow for physical distancing.
  • The Government of Alberta is looking for more landlords to participate in the Alberta-Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program, which the province has committed $67-million towards.

811 Health Link

Once again, people experiencing 7symptoms are to take the online self-assessment. As a further reminder, 811-health link is for those who are feeling ill and seeking advice. DO NOT call 811 to report non-compliance of Public Health Orders; these can be reported to the Environmental Health Complaint Link or by calling (403) 943-2288.

If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others

  • Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2643
  • Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322

Local Programs and Initiatives

Vulcan County – Health & Wellness Foundation
Vulcan – Medical Recruitment
Vulcan Regional Food Bank Society

Above information sourced from:
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=70009006E7A24-0CB0-DB76-8FDE7FAC19DBB875

June 9, 2020 in Community, Emergency Services, Village News