Author: Gateway Gazette Contributor

Albertans can now access 20 million free, non-medical face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 People can visit one of almost 600 A&W, McDonald’s Canada, or Tim Hortons drive-thrus in the province to receive four non-medical masks. Masks are free and no purchase is necessary. Albertans are encouraged to pick up masks for…

Nominations for the 2020 Minister’s Seniors Service Awards will recognize Albertans who are investing time, energy and resources to help seniors during the pandemic. COVID-19 has changed how Albertans live their daily lives, and seniors have been deeply affected. Across Alberta, countless individuals and groups, including seniors themselves, have stepped up in new and innovative…

A comprehensive re-entry plan for the upcoming school year allows schools and parents to prepare for learning while putting student and staff safety first. The plan offers guidance on a wide range of operational issues including hygiene and health requirements, student learning, transportation and diploma exams. It also addresses mental health and psychological supports for…

Pharmacists have been working hard to manage drug supplies and make sure Albertans have access to the medications they need during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 15, pharmacists in Alberta can begin to give out larger quantities again, up to a 100-day supply. To handle the critical drug supply issues that affected Alberta and…

Local businesses have joined forces to donate 200 high-tech ventilators to Alberta Health Services, supporting life-saving treatment for all Albertans. Calgary advanced technology firm Exergy Solutions designed and built the ventilators. Suncor Energy provided financial support to make the donation possible. A cross-industry team of partners from across the province worked together to ensure the…

In response to the recent challenges faced by Alberta’s beekeepers, Agriculture and Forestry is introducing a new Canadian Agricultural Partnership program. The program will include up to $1 million to help beekeepers offset the costs of increased colony replacements due to COVID-19. The program, available this summer, will be retroactive to cover issues faced in…

Ten up and coming Alberta artists and performers have been awarded 2020 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta 2020 Emerging Artist Awards. The awards celebrate and promote artistic excellence in Alberta in mediums such as theatre, music, technology, literature and visual arts. Since 2003, 20 Distinguished and 63 Emerging Artists have been recognized and $1,230,000 has been…

New relaunch supports and commercial tenancy measures to help Alberta’s small- and medium-sized businesses during economic relaunch. The government will continue to provide Alberta’s businesses and non-profits with additional supports as they deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These new programs complement Alberta’s existing business supports, which are the most comprehensive in Canada.…

Health partners are building a safe biorepository to preserve COVID-19 samples long-term to support world-class medical research in combatting the virus. The new biorepository is now safely collecting, cataloguing and storing samples in sophisticated refrigeration equipment. There will be two hubs – one at the University of Alberta and the other at the University of…

More cancer patients are turning to alternative therapies than you think. According to a 2019 study from the UT Southwestern Medical Center, about one-third of cancer patients actually use complementary and alternative treatments. A cancer diagnosis typically requires conventional treatment methods like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Cancer patients, however, usually have a hard time with…

The Alberta government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to assess the feasibility of a new passenger rail service between Calgary and Banff. The service would run between Calgary International Airport and Banff, with potential stops in between. “Our government is creating an environment where investors and job creators…