The Pulse: Dec. 16, 2020

Edmonton Global is launching a new regional strategy that aims to attract foreign investment "in areas we know we can win," according to an article by CEO Malcolm Bruce.

"We can emerge from this crisis stronger and more globally competitive," he said. "It’s time for all Canadians to shift our mindsets and think globally."

"We can be leaders in the world’s evolving economy and the Edmonton Metropolitan Region can be a model for that potential."

The Alberta government has started to roll out the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Premier Jason Kenney said that an Edmonton-based respiratory therapist and an ICU nurse from Calgary were the first in the province to get the vaccine.

"I am grateful to be one of the first health-care workers in Alberta to receive the COVID-19 vaccine," said Edmonton respiratory therapist Sahra Kaahiye. "The availability of a COVID-19 vaccine is great news for us. It will help us and it will protect us."

So far, the province has received 3,900 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine. 

This week's word is "nitotem" which means "my friend" in Cree. Here's how to pronounce it.

The Cree word of the week was featured by local strategic communications agency Naheyawin in 2018. Republished with permission!

• A controversial home in Mill Creek Ravine is up for sale. Neighbours, park users, and environmental groups were against the construction of the property three years ago.
• More than a dozen Edmonton tech companies joined forces to raise over $150,000 for Edmonton's Food Bank this year.
• According to the city, 393 warnings and 38 tickets were issued over the weekend to enforce COVID-19 restrictions. All of the warnings and tickets were to do with not wearing a mask.
• Raccoons have arrived in Edmonton, according to CBC News. "I think raccoons will be prevalent in Edmonton within the decade," said conservation biologist Cassady St. Clair.
• Vinesh Pratap is now the co-anchor of Global Edmonton's morning and noon news.