The Pulse: Sept. 1, 2021

Classes are about to begin across the Edmonton region and school divisions are taking different approaches in their efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including whether students and staff will be required to wear masks.

The provincial government relaxed many public health restrictions over the summer — removing mask requirements for most places except public transit and school buses, capacity limits for social gatherings, and physical distancing requirements. However, some school divisions, like the Edmonton Public School Board (EPSB), have instituted their own restrictions, noting the danger the virus poses to children under 12 who are not yet able to get vaccinated.

EPSB is one of a few in the area fully mandating masks be worn by students, staff, and visitors in all areas of schools, with a few exceptions. The board's 2021-2022 Back to School Plan notes that a survey conducted by the board found that 96% of students and 92% of parents said masks were important for feeling safe, and that mandating them would allow schools to bring back activities that were previously suspended during the pandemic.

"With the extra level of safety that masks provide, we can reintroduce such things as field trips, volunteers and special in-person events," says the plan.

Some divisions are also considering a recent uptick in new cases, including among school-aged children.

The provincial government reported 7,074 new cases between Aug. 23 to 29, bringing the total active cases to 11,426, the highest since May 24. Of the new cases, 1,348 were among Albertans five to 19-years-old.

Edmonton Catholic Schools initially planned to not require masks for students from kindergarten to Grade 3, and only require masks in common areas outside of classrooms for the rest of students. However, on Aug. 30, its back-to-school plan was updated to make masks mandatory for all students in both classrooms and common areas.

"Since the release of our Back to School Plan on August 16, there has been a significant upward trend of COVID-19 cases among school-aged children," says an update to the plan.

St. Albert Public Schools and Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools also updated their plans to include stronger restrictions, including requirements that students and staff wear masks in all areas inside schools.

"In the past two weeks, daily COVID cases have tripled in St. Albert," St. Albert Public Schools said in an Aug. 30 press release. "As positive cases continue to rise across the province, our re-entry plan will now include masking requirements in an effort to make sure our return to school is as safe as possible."

• The city will begin issuing fines for speed violations on new 40 km/h streets. Since the new default speed came into effect on Aug. 6, more than 3,000 speed violations have been issued. The grace period ends with the return to school on Wednesday.
• The Edmonton Elks released offensive lineman Jacob Ruby for breaching COVID-19 protocols. On Monday, Elks president and CEO Chris Presson also told 630 CHED they had been able to trace the origin of the team's outbreak. The Elks 10-day quarantine ended on Tuesday.
• On Tuesday, advocates organized a march to bring awareness of overdose deaths and to demand immediate action from the province to address the drug poisoning crisis. One solution proposed by Albertans for Ethical Drug Policy is to add safe consumption sites across Alberta and implement drug checking services.
• Edmonton businesses are concerned that the reinstatement of the city's mask bylaw will lead to conflicts with patrons. Edmonton Independent Hospitality Community co-chair Kris Harvey said there has been pushback from guests over the rules and called on residents to be respectful.
• Indigenous knowledge keeper Roxanne Tootoosis died over the weekend from complications with the Delta variant. Tootoosis taught at MacEwan University as the first full-time Indigenous knowledge keeper and facilitator. She was fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• The Peyto Glacier is melting at an unprecedented rate. Scientists warn this could eventually leave some Prairie rivers running dry in August and September. The glacier feeds the North Saskatchewan River.
• Some academics are warning that the massive restructuring undertaken by the University of Alberta — including the creation of colleges — could threaten the institution's culture of collaboration.
• In an op-ed for the Edmonton Journal, Mayor Don Iveson asked Canadians to "ask hard questions about targets and timelines to end homelessness" and "demand bold commitment on affordable housing" during the fall federal election.

Edmonton is among three Canadian cities selected to host the first Biome Summit 2021, which is being organized by Quebec-based global healthcare company Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada and C2 International. It aims to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and drive innovation in healthcare across the country.

"(The summit) is significant to our local health innovation sector because it will help showcase the expertise we have and all the incredible and innovative work that happens every day in our healthcare facilities," University Hospital Foundation president and CEO Dr. Jodi Abbott told Taproot.

Abbott, who will be attending the summit series, said that the event is an excellent opportunity to "promote collaboration between stakeholders, and continue to support the vital work being done to transform cardiovascular health care."

The multi-city event will feature expert roundtables and virtual community sessions broadcast Sept. 13-14 from Edmonton and Oct. 6-7 from Toronto. These sessions will build to an in-person and virtual summit in Montreal on Oct. 21 and 28.

"(This) will allow participants to connect from all over Canada, engage on burning questions in cardiovascular care and create a dialogue intended to map out clear actions to help solve the challenges around cardiovascular disease and care," Novartis Canada said in a news release. "Our aim as a company is to reimagine healthcare through innovation, and to do so effectively we believe partnership and collaboration is critical."

Every week in the lead up to Edmonton's municipal election on Oct. 18, we're rounding up the news and announcements you need to know to stay informed.

Policies and campaign updates

• Mayoral candidate Kim Krushell committed to protecting and preserving the city's neighborhood renewal program as part of her core services and maintenance platform pillar. Krushell helped establish the program as a city councillor in 2009.
• Mayoral candidate Mike Nickel published his policy on crime, safety, and community policing, which is meant to work in tandem with his policy on homelessness. Council candidate Haruun Ali tweeted about the policy and said more emphasis should be placed on supportive housing and safe injection sites.
• In response to the city's re-introduced mask mandate, mayoral candidate Amarjeet Sohi instructed his campaign door-knockers to wear masks, cancelled his Ritchie campaign barbecue, and will limit upcoming indoor events.
• Mayoral candidate Michael Oshry pledged to accelerate the development of Blatchford in a recent blog post.
• A bus stop advertisement for council candidate Rhiannon Hoyle was vandalized last week. Many people on Twitter shared their support of Hoyle in the wake of the incident.

Weighing in on the campaign trail

• Former Alberta Urban Municipalities of Alberta (AUMA) president Barry Morishita told CTV that Edmontonians should expect a high turnover in upcoming elections, which he theorized to be a result of COVID-19 and many veteran politicians not running for re-election.
• Cryptocurrency might be a municipal election talking point, reported Global News. Ward Dene candidate Laura Palmer has promised voters she will build a "cryptocurrency-friendly city."
• Edmonton Journal columnist Keith Gerein offered his thoughts on crime in Chinatown and how the neighbourhood must battle social stigma to pursue economic resurgence.

A list of all of the candidates who have announced they are running in the Edmonton municipal election is available here.

Learn more about Taproot's effort to ground our election coverage in what is important to Edmontonians on our People's Agenda page.

Photo: Edmonton's Chinatown. (Shawna Lemay/Instagram)