Natalie Joly
5 St Anne Street T8N 3Z9 Saint Albert, AB, Canada

In light of the conversation in our community over the last few days, I am truly heartbroken to post that we have had 6 more COVID-related deaths in #stalbert o...ver the New Years' weekend. We cannot afford to take unnecessary risks. This virus has to be brought under control! Please continue to follow the health guidelines. Six more families saying goodbye virtually and unable to hold a proper funeral. My thoughts and prayers are with those family and friends. Total cases - 1675 (up 69) Recovered - 1406 (up 116) Active - 248 (down 53) Deaths - 21 (up 6) #t8ntogether See more

Full disclosure: I was in an off-grid cabin about an hour out of town with my immediate household for Christmas. Nowhere near other people. Thank you, Mayor Heron, for making this statement - It's not an easy job to be the spokesperson for a city lead by independent councillors.

Our last meeting of the year is packed, but the motion I'm most looking forward to hearing is about expanding outdoor skating... In a year where we’ve had to make some heartbreaking decisions, this is a motion that has me excited. Mayor Heron has been pushing Admin for expanded skating options - including on the river - for years, and she has responded to Administration’s latest response with motions to: Construct a small Freezeway Loop in Lions Park for the 2020/2021 winter... season. ($8,000) Construct a small Freezeway Loop in Rotary Park for the 2021/2022 winter season. ($34,000) Hire a consultant who is certified in ice structures on natural ice surfaces to assist the city to design and implement skating on the Sturgeon River in 2022. ($11,000) This year more than ever, we’ve seen the importance and value of outdoor recreation, so my best guess is that we’ll able to skate loops with our families starting in January. The new MDP is also available online (YAY - public hearing to follow next year), we're talking masks for hopefully the last time before our bylaw is completely rescinded, we're wrapping up the budget, etc. Our staff have been particularly outstanding this year, and it feels good to get to the end of the year. https://www.nataliejolyforcouncil.com//last-weeks-regular-

Midwifery in a residential neighbourhood: This application is a departure from St. Albert’s traditional separation of businesses and residential developments. I hope that as many residents as possible, especially those in Akinsdale who would be more directly impacted, will share their thoughts at this open house.

Christmas is not cancelled! Extended family meals & parties with friends are normally my favourite parts of the season, but I also understand the spirit that is captured in those events - love, warmth, and giving - is what gives them meaning. My Christmas will be a quiet one, but will still be filled with joy. On that note, I've heard from many residents looking for ways to show their spirit through giving, so please consider joining T8N100Men in their support of Stop Abuse... in Families Society, St. Albert Seniors Association, St. Albert Food Bank through the City's Crisis Fund. It's a tough year for many people and organizations, and your support will go a long way. https://stalbert.ca//coun/mayor-messages/helping-together/

Stay safe, St. Albert.

Budget deliberation starts at 2pm on Tuesday. Although there are just over 20 motions on the table, I don’t expect this to be a long meeting. More contentious items include: -How and to what level we fund FCSS programs. -Reconsidering the $98,000 pickleball sound fencing that was unanimously rejected in April. If this fails again, there will be a proposal to fund a $10,000 1-day sound study. -Funding the remaining trail connection along the river by Oakmont.... All budget motions are available online, linked here. Please contact Council if you have thoughts about any of these motions: https://stalbert.ca/cosa/finance/pms/

I got everything I wanted for Christmas this year - Who could ask for more than a partner with a wicked sense of humour and breakfast with our kids?! In this strangest of holiday seasons, I hope that everyone in our community is managing the best they can and finding joy in the small things. I look forward to us all celebrating together in 2021!

Like school boards, Council and our Emergency Advisory Committee (EAC) learned of the newly announced restrictions live with everyone else in the province. We've already received many questions about what they mean for outdoor ice rinks, indoor recreation facilities, and Municipal Enforcement staff. The short answer is that we don't know yet, but will actively seek clarification and reconvene when we know more. This link goes to the EAC response immediately after the announcements: https://youtu.be/Qwta0DpSJDo?t=4972

We're on track to having ice ready in record-setting time! One of the most important parts of life in 2020 has been getting outside, so thank you to City staff for making outdoor rinks a priority this fall - And thank you to Mother Nature for cooperating with cold weather! From the City: ... The City annually floods 14 outdoor boarded rinks and 16 social ice surfaces throughout the City. In 2020, work has started on the flooding of these surfaces earlier than normal, and all surfaces are projected to be publicly available on the following timelines; Staffed outdoor rinks (Alpine, Flagstone, Gatewood, Larose and Willoughby) beginning November 25 Unstaffed outdoor rinks and social rinks beginning as soon as December 2 Lacombe Lake Park rink open around Christmas time (in alignment with weather conditions) As sites are opened the city website will be updated, nets will be placed on ice surfaces and lights will be turned on from 4 pm to 10 pm daily. Current status of outdoor rinks can be found on the city website at https://stalbert.ca/rec/facilities/sports/rinks/

Shopping local is more important than ever, so please share your local finds by entering the St. Albert and District Chamber of Commerce #ShareTheCheerShopHere gift basket draw! My finds this week include books from The Bookstore On Perron Street (bought online & delivered free!) and gorgeous cups from Shop Wares in St. Albert Place. Fun fact: I'm ineligible to enter through this account, but I'm still going to be the biggest possible #SupportStAlbert cheerleader! Contest details here: https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net//Contest-Rules

Today, I found out that a friend's 5yo tested positive for covid-19. They are part of a school outbreak with at least 5 confirmed cases. My friend's other two kids are presumed positive, as is my friend. The 5yo's teacher is also positive, and very ill. I want to do everything I can to limit risk to others, like my friend's family and mine, but I'm struggling about where to draw the line... As a councillor, there is no such thing as a "work cohort" - we see different people ...and different groups of people every day - so I'm cautious when deciding when in-person meetings are appropriate. I'm thankful that I have the ability to attend meetings and meet with residents virtually, but I've occasionally been made fun of for doing so, which is disheartening. I have also chosen to meet in-person a handful of times, but I'm not sure how appropriate it is to continue to do so. I'm acutely aware of how big my personal bubble is... With three kids in two different schools, I've decided to only meet friends in "safe" places, distanced around a campfire (but not since August) or out for distanced walks, and not very often. It's all very isolating, and I'm tired. With that... I would like to hear from residents about what I can do, and what I can do better, to support our efforts to protect the health of our community and reduce risk to vulnerable persons or essential workers. I also want to continue supporting local businesses and encourage others to do the same. And I'm worried about the mental health of everyone as we navigate this pandemic. I'd love to hear how residents are supporting each other and our businesses through this challenging time. ETA: For anyone interested, my friend spoke with CBC. Overnight, they got the text confirmation that her husband is also covid+. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63

Win a propane fire pit for your next outdoor get-together! Attend our virtual Cultivating Care in our Community event. #StAlbert #T8NTogether https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cultivating-care-in-our-communi

An important message for parents, but also everyone in the community.

I’ve been hearing for years that residents want a burial option that doesn’t have the high environmental impact of modern internment or cremation. From the attached article: Natural burials forgo the use of chemicals. The deceased is laid to rest without embalming, in a grave without a reinforced cement liner. Caskets are made from natural materials, such as wool or untreated wood. Right now, the only option that I’m familiar with that doesn’t have a significant environmen...tal impact is heading to Lethbridge where natural burials are permitted. Edmonton is in the planning stages of offering this option at Northern Lights and South Haven cemeteries. On Monday, we'll consider a motion that would send us on the path of allowing this type of burial in St. Albert. The site would be in our existing municipal cemetery next to River Lot 56, and would cost $20,000 to get started and another $20,000 in a couple of years for a memorial plaque board to replace traditional gravestones. I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts about this service and investment. https://www.cbc.ca//green-burials-alberta-edmonton-funeral

20 Albertans died because of this virus in the last day. Hospital admissions, including ICU admissions, are rising. Please, please do everything in your power to reduce risk for our communities, our families, and our essential workers.

Anyone have an opinion about continuing the Youth Ride Free Transit program as a permanent service? The Students Ride Free [pilot] Program aims to encourage youth to ride transit and become lifelong customers. With 84,000 trips between March 2019 and October 2020, the pilot has been a success. On Monday, Council will hear Administration's recommendation to make this program permanent. This is expected to reduce our revenue by about $4,200 in 2021 and twice that in subsequent years if ridership increases to pre-pandemic levels. I’m so supportive of this recommendation that I made a budget motion to do the same before I knew Admin was making this proposal!

Today, I watched the live-stream of the St. Albert Legion Remembrance Day ceremony from my driveway. It was so strange. I'm also reflecting through learning about our history through documentary, including from this 2017 short from director Alex Lazarowich: "[This film] explores the role of Canadian Cree code talker Charles "Checker" Tomkins during WWII. Digging deep into the US archives it depicts the true story of Charles' involvement with the US Air Force and the developments of the code talkers communication system, using the Cree language as a vital secret weapon in combat."

[My experience with symptomatic covid-19 testing] Earlier this week, we heard that asymptomatic covid-19 testing is now available in St. Albert. This is wonderful news to help with proactive testing. Special thanks to local pharmacies prioritizing testing for teachers as we approach the start of an unprecedented school year. Unfortunately, symptomatic residents face long drives if they choose to be tested, like I did on Friday. ___________________...Continue reading

It's that time of year where sidewalk clearing becomes essential for those who rely on pedestrian access to move around. In my neighbourhood, a few of us were out on the weekend helping neighbours who are unable to shovel the heavy snow - I've heard of similar offers throughout the city made to those who have physical limitations or pandemic-related isolations that prevent them from shovelling. That said, our Municipal Enforcement group does play a role in ensuring that we have safe sidewalks and this is reflected in our bylaws - thank you to everyone for reporting unsafe conditions through our Spruce It Up app or online (https://stalbert.ca/serve/report/)!

During today's Council meeting, we will be discussing advocacy for local covid-19 testing sites. As of about 11am today, there were no asymptomatic testing sites in St. Albert. There also aren't any symptomatic testing sites, which is outrageous considering the requirements for students starting school in the next couple weeks. Advocacy is especially important as schools open up in the next couple weeks because any child or teacher who is symptomatic (including a runny nose ...or headache) are not permitted to attend school and are legally required to self-isolate. With testing facilities only available outside St. Albert, parents will have long drives to have these tests done. Those without access to personal vehicles will be further burdened. I know many residents have already started this advocacy work, and I hope to see a local testing site sooner than later. Asymptomatic testing sites: https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/news/asymptomatic-testing.php School screening questionnaire: https://www.alberta.ca//edc-covid-19-screening-questionair

Ten active cases in St. Albert. My thoughts are with those managing active illness, and my hope is that our residents will continue to make choices that reduce the risk of transmission for all our community.

When I'm not reading agenda packages & research papers... This might be my favourite interview since being elected. Thanks to the St. Albert Garden Club for introducing me to the fun of growing mushrooms.

Thank you to everyone in our community for their continued commitment to protecting the health of their neighbours through physical distancing, hand-washing, and the use of masks in indoor or crowded places. That said, regarding our temporary face-covering bylaw, I'll say it again: It's not ok to harass people who are not wearing masks. It's not always obvious why someone is exempt from the bylaw and it is our responsibility to show kindness to those who are likely uneasy abo...ut being seen without a mask. My brief final debate and comments on the need to show kindness are linked in this post. https://youtu.be/f7vg46QlPe8?t=16453 All exemptions are listed in Section 4 of the bylaw: https://stalbert.ca//bylaw_32-2020_-_face-coverings-bylaw. (My opening debate about why I supported the bylaw are linked in the comments.)

St. Albert Council has directed our staff to prepare a bylaw to require masks in indoor City facilities. The vote passed 5-1, with one absent. We're waiting for more info before considering expanding the bylaw to private businesses accessible to the public, like Calgary has done. We don't know the details of how this will work or the exemptions that will be in place - and we can propose amendments once we see the draft bylaw - but we will share these details as they become available. If exemptions like Calgary's "People who are caregiving for or accompanying a person with a disability where wearing a face covering would hinder the accommodation of the person’s disability" are not in the draft, I'll move to have it included. (The best part of Zoom meetings is dog visits.)

Without any clear direction on when masks should be worn from our own CMOH, apart from vague messaging without caveats, should municipalities follow the lead of Nova Scotia's CMOH? This is frustrating and I don't know how I'll lean when Council discusses this issue Monday morning. (For clarification for many residents who have reached out with their thoughts - From what I understand, a municipality is unable to mandate mask-wearing in provincial facilities like schools.) Reading: Nova Scotia makes masks mandatory in most indoor public places http://ctv.news/YqfooEC ETA: The agenda report for our Monday meeting was released this afternoon. https://stalbert.ca.legistar.com/View.ashx

I called a special meeting Monday July 27th 9am to discuss mandatory masks. We owe our public the debate. I'll be looking for triggers such as # of cases, # of hospitalizations, curve trends to initiate & remove a mandate. Q: should masks be mandatory in all indoor public spaces?

Masks. How do we encourage those who can wear masks to do so, without stigmatizing those who cannot wear a mask and who shouldn't be required to disclose why they cannot? Earlier this week, I stopped by St. Albert Place for the first time since staff returned. Although I wore my mask into the building and to the area I was visiting, I took it off when I arrived at my destination out of habit. I was reminded that this is a habit I need to break when I came to the office door ...of our CAO where he and another staff member were - rightly - wearing masks in a meeting where they were unable to physically distance appropriately. Neither commented on my lack of a mask (I was at the doorway, so not particularly close), but It was a good reminder that vigilance is what will keep infections down and protect our community. Yesterday, I made better decisions and kept my mask on for the duration of a meeting I had as a Homeland Housing board member. That said, I worry about stigmatization of already vulnerable persons as it relates to mandatory masks; HIV Edmonton made this point recently (screenshot attached). In this week's Gazette, we heard how masks can create barriers and/or be a risk for some with hearing loss. Yesterday, I heard from a contact about how wearing masks bring them back to when, as a victim of rape, they were choked to the point of unconsciousness. It is none of my business to know why someone can't wear a mask, but... We need to figure out how to kindly drive home the point to people like me, who can wear masks, that properly-used masks reduce the risk to our community. Thanks to Kevin and Trevor for being the examples I needed to see. (Photo from the June 6 Farmer's Market, before I had a properly-fitting mask. Please be patient while we all learn the best ways to protect each other!)

I love this collaboration, and am so impressed with the students who participated in this show and the teachers who helped inspire the work. Thank you to St. Albert school districts for understanding the value of the arts and making these kinds of initiatives a priority.

From the City: "How can you bee a good neighbour? With bees being so important to our survival, it’s important to educate ourselves on how we can help out.... -If you have native bees in your yard, leave them be so they can pollinate, and their population numbers can increase. Come fall, the bees will have finished their lifecycle. -Build or purchase a solitary bee house, which serves as a bee’s permanent home for eleven months and its nesting site. -Create a pollinator garden in your yard to encourage pollination and to provide bees with a safe habitat. It’ll also bring color and beauty to your home! -Be a little messy with your yard. Some bee species nest underground, so leaves, wood chips and other organic material make for a great habitat. -In your garden beds, avoid using weed cloth or heavy mulch and reduce the use of pesticides/herbicides to help preserve the health of our bee populations."

Does anyone have thoughts about St. Albert building & operating a 10-person "youth transitional home" for homeless youth? On Monday, the Community Living Standing Committee is seeing the recommendations of the Mayor's Taskforce on Homelessness for the first time, and this is on the list. The proposed facility would cost an unknown amount to build (there may be grant opportunities) and about $650,000/year to operate. Although I've personally known many youth, including friends... and family, who have experienced different types of homelessness, I hadn't considered the municipality getting into this business. Possible locations proposed by the committee include St. Thomas Street downtown, at Village Landing (behind Save-On), or at the Bernard Drive church site. I would appreciate any perspective on this as I prepare for the discussion on Monday morning. Full report here: https://stalbert.ca.legistar.com/View.ashx See more

Ireen is a legend! Thank you for all that you've done, and everything you continue to do for your community. And... Stop Abuse in Families Society is a cornerstone of social agencies in St. Albert. If you or anyone you know is experiencing abuse, please check out this incredible organization.

Swimming lessons update: There are no private lessons, for anyone, and First Aid/Lifesaving programs are on hold for a while. Everyone is welcome to register in regular swimming lessons, but caregivers must attend in the water for classes up to Swimmer 2. For higher levels where the participant needs support, a caregiver would also have to be in the water. I hope this clarifies some of the questions that were asked in previous posts. I'm not sure when registrations will open,... but I'll share when I see an announcement. From the City: "With the ability to only offer a limited number of programs, it is not possible to offer the full compliment of programs and services. With these limitations, Special Needs, or other private lessons will not be offered with the initial offering of programs and services. However, we will look to offer these programs in the coming months as we reopen facilities, assess demand and ramp up to a full compliment of program offerings. Individuals with Special needs are welcome to register in any of our programs that will be offered in the Phase 1 re-opening. With physical distancing guidelines in place, caregivers will be required to attend in-water with all participants up to and including Swimmer 2. Any participant in Swimmer 3 or higher that requires in-water support, a caregiver would have to attend. Dry-Land Preschool Programs, Lifesaving and First Aid programs will not be offered in the initial opening of FPRC, due to the physical distancing and safety restrictions. Staff are considering modified delivery options for the First Aid and Lifesaving programs to be potentially offered in late Fall 2020 or Winter 2021."