Author: Gateway Gazette Contributor

Alberta Wildfire is hiring 200 additional firefighters, invoking a fire ban, implementing off-highway vehicle (OHV) restrictions, increasing fine violations and funding $20 million more in community FireSmart initiatives, all to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season during COVID-19. Alberta Parks is also instituting a fire ban in all provincial parks and protected areas. These early preparedness…

The province is launching a charitable giving matching donation program to increase support to charities responding to COVID-19. Starting April 15, the Alberta government will match, dollar-for dollar, donations up to $2 million to Alberta-based charities and non-profit organizations with COVID-19 fundraising campaigns. Organizations will be waiving any administration fees associated with campaign donations. “Alberta’s…

What strange times we are living in. I know that all of us are navigating uncharted waters these days. Whether we are working from home while caring for kids, in quarantine from a recent trip, or part of the vulnerable population who must rely on family and friends for everyday things – it is likely…

Albertans are encouraged to say “thank you” to that special volunteer during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25. This year’s theme is “It’s time to applaud this country’s volunteers.” The province provided $65,000 to Volunteer Alberta to support 77 applications for community celebrations to recognize volunteers. Instead of gatherings and events, communities have alternate plans to mark…

Safe Kids Week 2020 Postponed In light of public health directives to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Parachute has moved to working online. As an organization committed to preventing injuries and saving lives, we know how important taking these steps are.  Due to the current situation with COVID-19, Safe Kids Week 2020 has been…

April 19, 2020 The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the shooting in Portapique, Nova Scotia: “I was saddened to learn about the senseless violence in Nova Scotia, which claimed the lives of multiple people, including one member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Cst. Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran…

Government is providing funding to support secure access to food for vulnerable Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time of urgent need for community supports, there is a strong demand placed on food banks and charitable organizations providing access to food. In an effort to protect vulnerable Albertans, government is providing $5 million to…

April 19 at 4:45 p.m. There are now 1,198 confirmed recovered cases of COVID-19 in the province. A total of 241 new cases have been reported, bringing the total number of cases to 2,803. Four Albertans have died since the last report, bringing the total number of reported deaths to 55. Latest updates Cases have…

Life in Alberta has been turned upside down with the COVID-19 outbreak. Home has always been where the heart is. Now it’s where we spend more and more time, working, learning, playing, eating and wondering when things will get back to normal. With the answer unclear, your family may need to find a new normal…

The Alberta government has launched an online resource to help strengthen the food supply chain and fill agriculture and agri-food jobs. Keeping Alberta’s food supply chain safe and intact is a priority. The new Agriculture Jobs Connector website is a tool for Albertans to find essential agriculture work opportunities and for essential agriculture businesses to…

Only half of small business owners are confident their business will survive if current conditions last until the end of May Toronto, April 15, 2020 – Ninety per cent of small businesses want governments to provide hardship grants to help cover rent and other costs and help them deal with their mounting debt according to new…

A temporary expansion to the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary will help one of Alberta’s busiest hospitals meet patient needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alberta-based Sprung Structures has donated a temporary structure to Alberta Health Services (AHS) that will add up to 6,000 square feet of treatment space. This will create about 100 more care…

Handheld device to support testing in rural, remote communities EDMONTON – Albertans will soon have faster, more convenient access to COVID-19 testing through a new partnership between Alberta Health Services (AHS) and a Canadian technology company. Spartan Bioscience Inc. is in the late stages of developing an innovative handheld, rapid-testing device for COVID-19, which can…

Small businesses can seek free advice, coaching and information on COVID-19 resources and supports. Business Link will serve as a one-stop shop to help small businesses learn about and connect to available COVID-19 supports based on their unique business needs. Business Link can provide one-on-one guidance to Albertans who operate a small business or are…