High Prairie Town Council

Are you part of a stakeholder group using High Prairie Recreation services schools , community groups , councils or boards ? We would love your input into our recreation master planning. We have kept for two more weeks to ensure time for you. Your participation appreciate ! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rmplanss

Its that time of year again!! We can't wait to see how creative you can get this year! Good luck to everyone

Starting in October public skating and shinny will be starting again. All Covid-19 Arena Protocols will be in effect for these events. Public Skating and Shinny will be capped at a 50 person maximum, as per AHS Guidelines.

The Truck is having some mechanical issues today, but we have been assured that all bins will be emptied today......just later than usual.

This school year, all-day school zones in Big Lakes County and the Town of High Prairie will be in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a maximum speed limit... of 30 kilometers per hour on school days. Classes begin August 31st at Joussard School and Kinuso School and September 8th at Grouard Northland School. Learn more: https://bit.ly/33Ne7Bk

The Town of High Prairie Staff & Council congratulates Brian on your retirement and thank you for your 29 years of service!

We are looking for your input ! We would like to hear from residents in Town and surrounding area using recreational services. Please take the time to fill out the survey help us create a recreation master plan best suited for our area.

Town staff have been updated on the status regarding the traffic lights near IGA. It is a camera issue and Alberta Transportation advises that new lights have been ordered and should be installed in early August.

Tonight, thanks to the magic of technology, starting at 10 p.m., let's look up to the sky and admire the very first virtual #CanadaDay fireworks! Find out how it's possible! https://bit.ly/2VBTMtE

Happy Canada Day !

The Town Office will be open to the public on Monday June 15thThe Town Office will be open to the public on Monday June 15th

Today, the Premier announced that starting this Friday, June 12th, Alberta is entering the 2nd expanded stage of the Relaunch Strategy. This means that a number... of businesses and services may resume operation and capacity limits have been lifted on many organizations and establishments. If you own a business and have questions about the Relaunch, please visit www.alberta.ca/bizconnect For more information about the Relaunch Strategy, please visit www.alberta.ca/relaunchstrategy

Seniors week 2020

To honor the seniors in our community, our First Responders will be parading past Heritage Manor, Pleasantview Lodge and JB Wood today at 2:30 pm

Post the seniors in your family below to show them some love!

Seniors make a difference in our communities every day. From supporting family members and friends, to assisting charities and volunteering. Seniors are deeply involved in our communities and their contributions benefit Albertans of all ages.

High Prairie, Alta. On May 31, 2020 at approximately 2:00 a.m. the High Prairie RCMP responded to a traffic complaint that resulted in shots being fired at the police. No RCMP members were injured and the vehicle was recovered abandoned at the Elk Rodeo Grounds with several firearms inside. It is believed three suspects fled to JC Park. The Police Dog Services, Emergency Response Team and RCMP Helicopter were deployed to assist in the investigation. All three suspects hav...e been apprehended and are currently in custody. At this time there is no further risk to public safety.

RCMP update I am posting for Mayor Panasiuk He has been notified by RCMP that there was shots fired in HP during a traffic stop last night at approx 2am. The 3 ...suspects fled to JC park then stole quads and headed north in the direction of the Jack Pines. Police were calling in more reinforcements to help find the suspects. Please be careful today.This is all the info we have at this time. Will update when we receive more info. See more

May 26th Town of High Prairie Council Update Administration has received a letter from the chair of the Parish Cemetery Committee requesting help with repairs at their cemetery stating that many graves and head stones have shifted and deteriorated over the years. Due to costs of labour and equipment, they are only requesting help from Town of High Prairie. *Council approve Public Works to help with the Repairs at the St. Paul’s RC Church Cemetery.... Seniors Week is held annually in the month of June throughout communities in Alberta to honor seniors. This year, during these challenging times, Albertans are encouraged to consider innovative ways to recognize, celebrate and support seniors in their communities while adhering to current social distancing restrictions. *Council declared June 1st to June 7th, 2020 as Senior’s Week and will be exploring ways to recognize and celebrate seniors in the community. Council has received a letter from the High Prairie & District Children’s Resource Council’s Board Chair requesting a Council representative to sit on the board to demonstrate the Town’s commitment and support. *Council appointed Councillor Debbie Rose to sit on the High Prairie & District Children’s Resource Council’s Board and Mayor Brain Panasiuk to sit as the alternate. In 2018 Council had amended the Animal Control Bylaw 04/2018 to prohibit residential honeybee keeping. The Bylaw states that no person shall keep, or cause to keep, any bees, bovine, equine, porcine, ruminant animal within the town limits of High Prairie, unless the Town Council has approved the keeping of such animals. After this bylaw was passed a couple residents expressed their disapproval of Councils decision. Council then contacted Mackenzie Municipal Services Agency to conduct a survey in our community and do research on the impact it will have on our town. *Council approved the Bylaw Review Committee to draft a Residential Urban Beekeeping Bylaw using the Grande Prairie Urban Beekeeping Guidelines as a template for a High Prairie Beekeeping Pilot Project. *Council approved the Bylaw Review Committee to draft a Residential Urban Hen Bylaw using the Grande Prairie Urban Hen Guidelines as a template for a High Prairie Beekeeping Pilot Project.

NOTICE: The Skate Park and playground will be opening to public as of 4:30pm today. Please remember Social Distancing applies

More storefronts will be opening throughout High Prairie this week with the start of stage 1 of Alberta's Relaunch Strategy. Local businesses that are part of stage 1 are encouraged to visit the Alberta Biz Connect page for sector specific information and operating guidelines. https://www.alberta.ca/biz-connect.aspx. We encourage community members to continue to follow mass gathering restrictions and physical distancing protocols as a way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

High Prairie Town Council Update - May 5/20 High Prairie Town Council met to discuss if tax relief strategies dealing with Covid-19 related business closures and job losses are needed. Council realizes the magnitude of the pandemic situation including the low price of oil and the strain it has placed on High Prairie residents. Council made a motion to approve tax relief in the amount of one month tax payment on the Municpal portion of tax bill for all tax payers in the Town of High Prairie. Adjustment will be displayed on each tax notice and will be mailed out soon.

Interested in Alberta’s Economic Relaunch Strategy ? Join in Invitation from the Premier for you as well as members of your industry association or organization (so please feel free to share) to a Telephone Town Hall taking place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4 : Minister Travis Toews, Treasury Board and Finance... Minister Jason Nixon, Environment and Parks Minister Leela Aheer, Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Minister Jason Copping, Labour and Immigration Minister Tanya Fir, Economic Development, Tourism and Trade Minister Rebecca Schulz, Children’s Services Minister Tyler Shandro, Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Chief Medical Officer of Health 1. Please ensure you have registered for the upcoming event via the link provided in the invitation. 2. You will be called at the number you provided when you registered. 3. APlease be ready to answer your phone up to 5 minutes before the scheduled start time. If for any reason you miss the call, you can still join by using the following call in number. 1-877-229-8493 Caller ID is 115500#.

Interested in details around Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy? register and join in - Here is an invitation from Premier Jason Kenney to participate in a Telephone Town Hall regarding Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy. The Telephone Town Hall will take place Monday, May 4th from 6:00-8:00pm. You must register for the call no later than 3:00pm on Monday, May 4th. Further details for the Tele-Town Hall can be found in the Premier’s email invitation below. 1. Please ensure you have regi...stered for the upcoming event via the link provided in the invitation. 2. You will be called at the number you provided when you registered. 3. Please be ready to answer your phone up to 5 minutes before the scheduled start time. If for any reason you miss the call, you can still join by using the following call in number. 1-877-229-8493 Caller ID

Alberta Health Update May 1 We have confirmed 190 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 5,355. Of the total cases, we suspect 627 cases may be the result of community transmission, 214 have been hospitalized and 49 have been in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Currently, there are 90 cases in hospital, with 22 in an ICU. 2,161 cases have now recovered. There have been three additional deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial t...Continue reading

Our Alberta Relaunch strategy is a responsible, prudent plan to reopen businesses and services as we navigate through COVID-19, while putting the safety of Albe...rtans first. As I announced in my address 3 weeks ago, this plan must rest on a solid foundation - a foundation of mass testing, contact tracing, strict border controls, wide availability of masks, and supporting those who need to self-isolate. This safely-staged relaunch strategy will gradually lift restrictions on our economy and society through 3 stages of reopening. The dates for each stage will be determined by the best medical advice, evidence, and data as we continue to get through this pandemic. Here are the planned stages and loosened restrictions: - Early reopenings will take place as soon as tomorrow through to May 4. - Stage 1 is expected to be reached as soon as May 14. - Stages 2 and 3 will be determined at a later date, pending the future impact of COVID-19 on our healthcare system. The public health triggers that will inform how we move through each stage. The key to our relaunch is keeping a close eye on these indicators: infections, hospitalizations, and ICU rates. You can read the full Alberta Relaunch Strategy here: https://alberta.ca/ex/covid19-alberta-relaunch-strategy.pdf I want to be clear - we could never have gotten to the point of even discussing a relaunch, were it not for the actions of Albertans to proactively flatten the curve and get us to the position we are in today. I am confident that all Albertans will also ensure that this relaunch plan can succeed.

Town Council Update April 28/20 *Council approved the reopening of the Jaycee Park walking trail. The trails will be open but the rest of the park will remain closed. Council discussed the value in residents having the opportunity to walk on the trails for health benefits but to still be able to maintain social distancing.... *Council passed Bylaw 07-2020 ISADB on April 29/20. Each Municipality will need to pass their own Bylaw and sign the agreement In June of 2018, the Intermunicipal Negotiating Committee agreed to establish a joint Subdivision and Development Appeal Board subject to the adoption of the Intermunicipal Collaboration Framework. Letters of Invitation to join a regional Subdivision and Appeal Board were sent out to numerous municipalities. The municipalities included in the agreement: Town of High Prairie, Big Lakes County, Town of Slave Lake, Town of Swan Hills . *Council appointed Colleen McAloon to sit as a member at large to the Recreation Master Plan Committee. The Recreation Master Plan Committee was established in January, 2020 the purpose of this project is to develop a clear and concise plan that will provide direction to the Town of High Prairie and Big Lakes County municipal Councils and staff regarding future development, redevelopment, and enhancements of the parks system, open spaces, recreation facilities and recreation programs. At the last meeting held on March 12, 2020 that the Committee invite members at large to sit on the Committee to provide community input. Council thanks Colleen for her support to her community in applying to be the member at large. Council has confirmed May 5@7 pm to hold a Special Meeting of Council to deal with the topic of Covid 19 Tax Relief Strategies if needed.

On Thursday, Alberta's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, extended mass gathering restrictions to apply to ALL summer events or festivals. Gatherings of more than 15 people are prohibited (indoor or outdoor), and gatherings of fewer than 15 must maintain a distance of 2 metres from one another. Festivals and large gatherings can be super-spreader events, where one sick person exposes others to COVID-19 - across households, communities and even large geograph...ical distances. Examples of indoor and outdoor gatherings include: weddings funerals religious services informal events concerts arts and cultural festivals agricultural fairs and rodeos major sporting championships conferences educational seminars and workshops group volunteering initiatives All individuals found to be in violation of gathering restrictions are subject to a $1,000 penalty.

High Prairie Town Council Budget 2020 Meeting Council approved the Town operating budget in the amount of 10,627,777 and passed the tax levy bylaw on April 23/20 that will allow a balance budget. This decreased budget should result in tax savings. Council put in place changes to aid residents dealing with COVID 19 challenges including reducing penalties for late payments to 10% from 14% and have extended the tax payment deadline to September 30/20. ... Council has also made a motion for a special meeting to deal with the possibility some tax relief for property owners due to COVID 19 pandemic.

Alberta Health Services Update - April 22 /20 We have confirmed 306 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 3,401. lOf the total cases, we suspect 308 cases may be the result of community transmission, 159 have been hospitalized and 44 have been in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Currently, there are 70 cases in hospital, with 18 in an ICU. 1,310 cases have now recovered. This data helps us better understand the severity of COVID-19 in Alb...erta. It’s important to note that the community transmission cases are those that are suspected of being acquired in the community. Once public health teams have investigated these cases, they are confirmed as either being through community transmission or connected to a known case. As investigations are completed, these numbers can change significantly day-to-day. Also, we include both the total numbers of hospitalizations and ICU admissions since the onset of the pandemic, and the numbers of those in hospital or ICU on each day. Both are important parts of the pandemic picture in Alberta. Today, Sucker Creek First Nation requested information be disclosed about a single case, to make sure people have accurate information. The individual was a contact of a case in High Prairie and is currently self-isolating. There is no outbreak on the First Nation. The First Nation is well prepared, like other First Nations, and they are responding effectively, with support from AHS and Indigenous Services Canada. 4,484 tests were completed over the last 24 hours, bringing our total COVID-19 tests to 108,521, since the start of the pandemic. Sadly, we are reporting today that five Albertans have passed away in the last 24 hours. To date, there have been a total of 66 deaths in Alberta related to COVID-19. There were also two additional deaths in Brooks, in individuals who had COVID-19 tests pending. These deaths are being investigated to determine whether they were COVID-19 related. Losses of loved ones are difficult at any time, but at this time, as our ability to gather is restricted, we recognize that many of our traditional ways of mourning and offering our respects are not possible. We want to express our deepest sympathies to Albertans who are experiencing losses at this especially difficult time, whether or not they are related to COVID-19.

April 21 Alberta Health Services Update : We have confirmed 105 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 2,908. Of the total cases, we suspect 559 cases may be the result of community transmission, 149 have been hospitalized and 40 have been in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Currently, there are 63 cases in hospital, with 15 in an ICU. 1,230 cases have now recovered. 3,718 tests were completed over the last 24 hours, bringing our total CO...VID-19 tests to 100,898 since the start of the pandemic. Four Albertans have passed away in the last 24 hours in the North, Edmonton and Calgary zones. The impact of these losses is felt each time we report them. These people were valued and loved and we offer our sincere condolences to the family members, loved ones and healthcare workers who are grieving them today. To date there have been 59 deaths in Alberta related to COVID-19. Tribute to Lives Lost in Nova Scotia As Alberta, along with provinces and territories across Canada, deals with the unimaginable loss of life due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we turn our thoughts and prayers to our friends, family and colleagues in Nova Scotia. The tragic and incomprehensible loss of life in the small rural community of Portapique following a mass shooting Sunday would be difficult at any time, but feels even more heartbreaking and terrible in our current reality. Many of the lives lost are those on whom we’ve come to rely so heavily during this pandemic healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, paramedics, firefighters, and teachers.

Please feel free to share these numbers, it might help someone in need! Mental Health Help Line :1-877-303-2642 Addiction Help Line: 1-866-332-2322 Family Violence Information Line: 310-1818... Alberta's One Line for Sexual Violence: 1-866-403-8000 Kid's Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 Income supports: 1-866-644-5135 See more

Thanks to everyone who joined in to the High Prairie telephone Town Hall Meeting tonight - great to get community feedback ! Thanks to MLA Pat Rehn and Dan Williams for joining and providing Provincial updates.

Hats off to all the generous volunteers in our area !!

AHS update April 20 A total of 241 new cases have been reported, bringing the total number of cases to 2,803. Four Albertans died in the 24 hours since our last report. Once more, and with heavy hearts, we offer our sympathy to the family and friends of these people. As well, we share in the sadness and loss felt by the caregivers who did their best to help these people.... We are encouraged to report Alberta now has 1,198 confirmed recovered cases of COVID-19. Reaching a Lab Milestone: 100,000 Tests Completed Late Saturday night, Alberta Precision Laboratories marked a significant milestone in our COVID-19 response: completing 100,000 tests. As of today, 97,180 people have been tested and we have performed 101,323 tests, 4,426 of them in the past 24 hours. We were able to do this thanks to the combined efforts of teams throughout AHS and APL, such as our assessment centres, public health nurses and Emergency Medical Services. And many of them collected swabs while working outside in the wind, snow and cold. This is a truly remarkable achievement, and one everyone at AHS and APL can take pride in. Six weeks ago, we were testing dozens of COVID-19 samples a day. Now, our public health laboratories are testing thousands of samples every day. The level of diligence, expertise and teamwork required to escalate our testing capacity is once again proof Alberta boasts some of the most talented healthcare professionals in the country. Every test completed is a step towards solving the complexity of COVID-19. Every sample we collect, and every positive case we detect helps to better understand the virus, prevent its spread and keep Albertans healthy and safe. Saturday’s outstanding milestone paves the way for increasing testing capacity in the weeks ahead throughout the province. Today, we offer our thanks and recognition to the staff in our public health laboratories and the entire APL team

Town of High Prairie and Big Lakes County is committed to fully operating our core services throughout this pandemic. Following the advice of Public Health Officials, some of our hard-working team is working from home. Our FCSS are available through phone and email to ensure we continue to provide the support our community needs from EI applications to family and domestic violence support. Available to assist over the phone or through email:...Continue reading

Join High Prairie Town Council for telephone town hall meeting. Monday April 20th at 6:30 pm. Purpose of the meeting is to discuss how the Town is dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic. ... We will have the opportunity to answer any questions and hear the concerns you may have as well as provide you some information. We will give a brief presentation on what the town has done then we will open the lines to give people a chance to ask questions or make comments. Please watch for details on call in number updates on the Town of High Prairie’s Facebook page as well as here .

Thanks to the Easter Bunny for the visit to High Prairie and to all the wonderful volunteers who helped the bunny spread some Easter cheer !! Thanks to Gayla at Town of High Prairie Recreation for getting this organized and Lionel at Public Works for help with decorating, Mayor Brian Panasiuk for driving the bunny around and for the Fire Department and Town Peace Officer for joining in and making a lot of noise and leading the parade And all others who helped out !! all your volunteer time was so appreciated and well received in the community it’s community members like you all who make a difference ! Great job to all !!

The Easter bunny is ready to head out! Going west down the main drag and headed towards IGA!

It’s almost Easter Bunny time !! Watch for the bunny and listen for the sirens starting 9 AM Sunday morning. Thank you so much to our volunteer fire crew and Easter bunny support team who will be out delivering a bit of Easter cheer tomorrow morning. To encourage social distancing we have decided not to post a map. ... Please stay home and listen for the fire truck’s siren. Updates will also be posted on the discussion site as to the bunny’s whereabouts. Watch for Easter bunny sightings on the discussion groups and be ready to take a peek out your window

Alberta Health Services Update - April 9/20 We have confirmed 28 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 1,451. Of the total cases in Alberta to date, 192 are suspected to have been acquired in the community, 97 have been hospitalized and 33 admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Today, there are 47 cases in hospital, with 14 in ICU. The number of recovered cases is now at 592. Today, we must report three more deaths related to COVID-19...: a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 60s in Calgary Zone, and a man in his 70s in Edmonton Zone. We want to share our sincere condolences with the loved ones of these Albertans. We know this is a very hard day for you and we grieve with you. In total, 32 Albertans have now passed away from COVID-19. As we discussed in our update yesterday, we have been developing modelling in Alberta to help predict how COVID-19 will impact our province in the coming weeks. In the most likely scenario, we anticipate the surge of cases may be at its peak in the middle of May. While we have already done an incredible amount of work to prepare our organization to respond to this pandemic, there is still much more work to be done. Be assured, we are doing all we can to be ready to handle the cases coming our way. This includes adding capacity, freeing up resources and procuring supplies, including personal protective equipment.

Update from the Mayor ... join council on April 20 for a telephone townhall on COVID 19

Federal Covid-19 Update April 9, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Parliament will meet Saturday for yet another emergency sitting and Conservatives are prepared to return to Ottawa to consider measures that will get real help to Canadians affected by COVID-19, said MP Arnold Viersen. Conservatives have been part of Team Canada since Day 1, putting forward constructive solutions to improve government policies and programs. We look forward to the government starting to implemen...t our suggestions so that no one falls through the cracks. National Canadian cases: 20,696 confirmed (14,987 active, 5,206 recovered, 503 deceased). BREAKING House of Commons to sit on Saturday April 11 to consider new measures to fight Covid-19. NEW Additional changes to the wage subsidy will assist start-ups and new businesses. Companies now able to compare their lost revenue to January and February of 2020, and will only need to show a 15 per cent decline in March. NEW Enhancements to support Canada Summer Jobs program. NEW Conservatives propose measures to help small businesses. NEW Conservatives propose increasing support for the charitable sector, by temporarily increasing the Charitable Donation Tax Credit for 2020 and removing the capital gains tax on donations of private company shares and real estate. All national updates can be found at: www.Canada.ca/coronavirus Alberta Alberta cases: 1,423 confirmed (876 active, 519 recovered, 29 deceased). 95 cases in the North zone. NEW - Alberta investing $2 billion in infrastructure job creation NEW Alberta modifying transport regulations to keep supply chain moving

Apparently Easter Bunny is still on the essential list and will be joining us in High Prairie on Sunday !! Stay tuned

Alberta Health Services Update April 7/20 We have confirmed 25 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 1,373. Of the total cases in Alberta to date, 199 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 90 have been hospitalized and 31 admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Today, there are 42 cases in hospital, with 15 in ICU. The number of recovered cases is now at 447. Today, we must report two additional dea...Continue reading

Alberta Health Services Update April 6/20 We have confirmed 98 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 1,348. Of the total cases, 204 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 90 have been hospitalized and 31 admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Currently, there are 40 cases in hospital, with 16 in ICU. The number of recovered cases is now at 361. Sadly, again today, we must report another death relate...Continue reading

Alberta Health Services update April 5/20 We have confirmed 69 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 1,250. Of the total cases, 152 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 84 have been hospitalized and 26 admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Currently, there are 48 cases in hospital, with 13 in ICU. The number of recovered cases is now at 279. 64,806 tests have been conducted to date in Alberta. Th...Continue reading

Alberta Health Services April 4 We have confirmed 107 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 1,075. Of the total cases, 137 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 74 have been hospitalized, with 24 admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Currently, there are 39 cases in hospital, with 15 in ICU. Sadly, we must report another five deaths in Alberta today, including four from the McKenzie Towne Continui...ng Care Centre in Calgary and a woman in her 20s from Edmonton. This means 18 Albertans have now passed away from COVID-19. We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of these individuals. We feel your losses deeply. The number of recovered cases is now at 196, which is 22 more than yesterday. Our lab testing rates continue to be exceptional up to three times higher than most places in the world. This also means we are identifying more infections because of the high volume of lab testing we are doing, but thankfully, at this time, our death rates are also lower than most other countries in the world. In order to keep the rates of infection and death low in Alberta, we must strictly adhere to the protocols we’ve been given. We must all take the public health guidance seriously. Stay home as much as possible and avoid any non-essential activities. Avoid going out with any kind of symptoms at all.

To protect the health and safety of Albertans, law enforcement, such as community peace officers and police, have been granted full authority to enforce COVID-1...9 public health orders and issue fines. Public health orders that are subject to fines include: + Returning travellers who must go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days upon their return, plus an additional 10 days from the onset of any symptoms should they occur, whichever is longer. + Any individual who has been identified by Alberta Health Services as a close contact of a person(s) with COVID-19 must go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of last having been exposed, plus an additional 10 days from the onset of any symptoms should they occur, whichever is longer. + Any individual with symptoms, such as a fever, cough, sore throat or runny nose, not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition, must also go into mandatory self-isolation. + Mass gatherings must be limited to no more than 15 attendees. + Access to public recreational facilities, private entertainment facilities, bars and nightclubs is prohibited. + Visitation to longer-term care and other continuing care facilities is limited to essential visitors only. Fines, now administered through tickets, for violating an order have increased from up to $100 per day to a prescribed fine of $1,000 per occurrence. Courts will also have increased powers to administer fines of up to $100,000 for a first offence and up to $500,000 for a subsequent offence. Legislation to enable these fines will be put in place over the coming days. Learn more about enforcing public health orders: https://www.alberta.ca/restrictions-on-gatherings-and-busin

These workers are considered essential lets work together to keep them safe!

Alberta Health Services Update April 3/20 We have confirmed 107 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 1,075. Of the total cases, 137 community transmission from an unknown source, 74 have been hospitalized, with 24 admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Currently, there are 39 cases in hospital, with 15 in ICU. Sadly, we must report another five deaths in Alberta today, including four from the McKenzie Towne Continuing Care Centre in...Continue reading

Alberta Health Services Update April 2: We have confirmed 96 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 968. Of the total cases, 108 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 67 have been hospitalized, with 21 admitted to intensive care. Currently, there are 32 cases in hospital with 14 receiving intensive care. 74 cases have been confirmed in continuing care and seniors’ facilities, and we expect more confi...rmations in these kinds of facilities in the coming days. We have declared nine outbreaks at continuing care facilities across the province. The number of recovered cases is now at 174, which is 32 more than yesterday. More than 4,000 tests were completed in the last 24 hours as our lab continues to work at maximum capacity. Approximately 98 per cent of these tests came back negative, similar to previous days. With sadness, we are reporting two more deaths today one was a man in his 90s in Calgary zone, the other a man in his 80s from North Zone. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of these men and grieve alongside you. We must remember that the numbers of cases confirmed through testing are only a sample of the actual numbers of cases of this illness circulating in our population. We know we have not yet reached the peak of infections and we must remain extremely vigilant in our public health protocols. Because none of us has immunity to the illness, these are our only defenses against COVID-19. As Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, said today, we will likely have these measures in place for months to come. As hard as they are, if we let our guard down and relax the restrictions too soon, this disease will spread quickly and our health system will be overwhelmed. We are in a marathon and not a sprint when it comes to managing COVID-19. Hand Hygiene and Proper Handwashing Technique Hand hygiene remains the single most effective action to prevent the spread of any kind of infection. We want to emphasize the importance of the simple advice to wash your hands often, and wash them well. The same is true for COVID-19 prevention: proper, regular handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from contracting this virus. Washing your hands properly involves a few steps, but it’s easy to do and takes about the same time as singing the A-B-C song. This video shows you how. https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/topics/page17051.aspx

Alberta Health Services Update April 1 We have confirmed 117 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 871. Of the total cases, 94 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 62 have been hospitalized and 20 have required intensive care. Currently, there are 29 cases in hospital with 13 admitted to ICU. 41 cases have been confirmed in continuing care and seniors’ facilities. The number of recovered cases is n...ow at 142, which is 16 per cent of total infections. Sadly, we have also had two more deaths, both were males in their 80s one in Calgary Zone and one in North Zone. This continues to be very difficult news to share. Our hearts are with the families of these men and the healthcare workers who are also affected by these losses. We are reminded again today that we must take our role as individuals in this crisis, seriously. The numbers we see in these statistics are only a sampling of the illness that is circulating in Alberta. With COVID-19 now confirmed in 871 Albertans, and a growing number of cases each day, we must do all we can to reduce spread. Now is not the time to relax our measures and protocols. There is no vaccine or proven treatment for COVID-19. Our best defence against this virus is through the simple, proven actions we continue to outline: stay home if you’re sick. Clean your hands regularly with an alcohol-based rub or soap and warm water. Practice physical distancing while embracing social connectedness. And continue to find ways to support those who need our help. Today’s number of confirmed cases may seem like a substantial increase over yesterday’s update, and it certainly is cause for concern. We also know that our provincial labs were able to catch up a large backlog of tests in the past 24 hours, related to a shortage of reagent needed for testing, which has now been restocked. As a result, more than 4,500 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours, approximately 98 per cent of which were negative. Our labs are now back to working at full capacity. We continue to lead all provinces in volume of testing and we are among the highest tests per capita in the world. We are so grateful for the expertise and skill of our Alberta Precision Laboratory (APL) teams.

The Town of High Prairie flag has been lowered to half mast in memory of Shawn Auger. The Mayor, Council and Staff send our condolences to Shawn's family and friends during this difficult time.

Statement from Mayor March 31st

Alberta Heath Services Update - March 31/20 In very sad news, Alberta has experienced five additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing Alberta’s total to eight. Two deaths occurred in long-term care facilities or seniors’ housing: a woman in her 70s in Calgary, and a man in his 80s in Edmonton. The three other deaths were of a woman in her 50s in Calgary, a man in his 80s in Edmonton and a man in his 30s in North Zone. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and... loved ones of all of these people. We have confirmed 29 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 690. Of the total cases, up to 65 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 47 have been hospitalized and 17 have been in intensive care. The number of recovered cases is now at 94. It is important to understand that while the number of confirmed cases in the last few days has decreased, we must not take this as an indication to relax our protocols. There are two specific reasons for the decrease in cases. First, we have stopped testing returning travellers, who must self-isolate for 14 days whether or not they are ill. If they develop symptoms during that time, they must extend their isolation for 10 days after their symptoms started or until symptoms resolve, whichever is longer. Second, we have also had a decrease in the daily total tests in the lab over the past few days, which means we will naturally have fewer confirmed tests. Lab testing is now back to normal volumes. New Self-Isolation Rules We must continue to take this extremely seriously. Today, a uniform health guideline has been put in place across Canada regarding self-isolation: if you are quarantined because you recently came back from outside the country, or you are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19, you must remain on your own property. You are only permitted to go outdoors on your deck, in your backyard or on a balcony. Under no circumstance should you leave your property during the 14 days of self-isolation. This applies to everyone under mandatory-self isolation, including both people who are feeling well and those who have symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fever, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath.

High Prairie Town Council has been informed we have our first death from our area due to Covid19. Council would like to extend our deepest condolences and prayers for the family. We would also like to remind everyone to take the necessary precautions to stay healthy and not spread the virus. Stay safe. ... #stayathome

Alberta Heath Service Update We are saddened to report Alberta’s third death related to COVID-19. Our condolences go out to the families and loved ones directly affected by this loss. We also want to extend our support to the staff and physicians who were working so hard to care for this patient. We have confirmed 40 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 661. Of the total cases, up to 60 are suspected to be through community transmis...sion from an unknown source, 41 are in hospital and 14 of those are in intensive care units. The number of recovered cases is now at 73. Here is the breakdown of cases by zones: 408 cases in the Calgary zone 149 cases in the Edmonton zone 46 cases in the Central zone 45 cases in the North zone 12 cases in the South zone One case in a zone that is yet to be confirmed Aggressive public health measures remain in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including those for close-contact businesses, dine-in restaurants and non-essential retail services. A full list of restrictions is available online. Albertans are also prohibited from attending gatherings of more than 15 people, and they must continue to observe two metres of social distancing. This includes events both indoors and outdoors, such as family gatherings, weddings and funerals. Further details are available online. It is so very clear that we must be absolutely vigilant in our daily activities to limit the spread of this virus. We must be serious about regular hand-washing throughout the day, staying away from others and work when sick, extremely limiting our time in public, and self-isolating if we have any symptoms of illness. We know these measures are difficult. It is hard to refrain from being around the people, places and social activities we enjoy so much. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield is very familiar with isolation, having spent months away from the entire planet. In this video, he offers four tips to help us manage being socially isolated in dangerous environment https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=4uL5sqe5Uk8

Alberta Health Services Update March 29/20 We have confirmed 79 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 621. Of the total cases, 54 are suspected to be through community transmission with no link to an imported case, 38 are in hospital and 12 of those are in intensive care units. The number of recovered cases is now at 53.... To date, 20 cases have been identified in staff and residents in three different continuing care facilities. There are no new reported deaths. Alberta has had two deaths related to COVID-19. Supporting Mental Wellness Eating well and staying active play important roles in maintaining one’s mental wellness, especially during times of social distancing. Dr. Nicholas Mitchell says this is a particularly good time to be mindful of your diet and to find time in your day for moderate exercise. Dr. Mitchell says healthy food and regular activity can help people better manage stress and anxiety, and keep them well, physically and mentally.

To protect the health and safety of Albertans, mass gatherings will be limited to 15 people, and more restrictions will be placed on specific types of businesse...s. Effective immediately, attendance at certain businesses and organizations across the province will be prohibited. Restrictions will be in place for the following business: Close contact businesses including hair salons and barbershops, tattoo and piercing studios, esthetic services, as well as wellness studios and clinics and non-emergency and non-critical health services provided by regulated health professionals or registered professionals including dentistry, physiotherapy, massage; podiatry, chiropractic and optometry services. Dine-in restaurants will no longer be able to offer service. Take-out and delivery services will continue to be available. Non-essential retail services that fall into the categories of clothing, computers and gaming, and non-essential services in shopping malls and shopping centres such as hobby and toys, gift and specialty items . A full listing is available online . Workplaces that have not been ordered to close must maintain public health measures, including two metre social distancing, hygiene enforcement, and processes that ensure that any person who is ill does not attend these spaces. For details visit alberta.ca/COVID19

Alberta Health Services Update - March 28, 2020 We have confirmed 56 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the provincial total to 542. Of the total cases, 42 are suspected to be through community transmission from an unknown source, 23 are in hospital and 10 of those are in intensive care units. The number of recovered cases is now at 33. While we already have aggressive public health measures in place across Alberta and a higher rate of testing than any ot...her province in Canada, we are still observing increases in cases confirmed in every age group. As a result, today, new public health measures were introduced, including ones to limit gatherings in the province to 15 people or fewer and restrictions from accessing close contact services. A complete list of these restrictions is available here. It’s important to remember that even when a gathering is smaller than 15, Albertans must still follow all public health measures that we’ve put in place no one should be out in public, at gatherings or at work if they are ill, with any kind of symptoms and, we need to continue to stay home as much as possible, be vigilant about hand-washing, and practice physical distancing.

Albertans are generous and many are finding ways to help each other out as we battle COVID-19 together. Earlier this week, the government opened a portal where you can offer products or services. Visit www.alberta.ca/covid19offersprogram for more information.