From the Province

"Effective Friday, March 27 at 1 p.m., vehicle access to Alberta’s provincial parks and recreation areas is temporarily suspended at access points. We know this news will disappoint many people. #COVID19 is serious and people should stay home.

If a vehicle is required to reach your destination, don't go. Don't leave vehicles on roadsides or private property. Walking, hiking, biking, horseback riding and OHV use with physical distancing are still permitted on designated trails.

We are thankful for your cooperation and look forward to resuming normal operations in the future. More info: https://bit.ly/2WL5gg1"

Recreation and entertainment

Albertans are prohibited from attending all public recreation facilities and private entertainment facilities, including:

• gyms, swimming pools, arenas
• science centres, museums, art galleries
• libraries, community centres, children’s play centres, bowling alleys
• casinos, racing entertainment centres, bingo halls

Albertans are prohibited from accessing retail, clothing and gaming stores, including book stores, hobby stores and antique stores. These businesses may choose to offer online shopping and curb-side pick-up.

The 15-person (provincial) limit does not apply to certain services or facilities, including:

• grocery stores
• shopping centres (access is prohibited to retail stores listed above)
• health care facilities
• airports
• the legislature
• other essential services

These facilities must still follow risk mitigation strategies.

The 15-person (provincial) limit does not apply to public transit, providing 2 metres of social distancing is observed.

Restaurants, cafes and bars

All dine-in services are prohibited. Take-out, delivery and drive-through service is still permitted.

Albertans are prohibited from attending bars and nightclubs, where law prohibits minors.

Restaurants in a food court may stay open for take-out only (no seating).

Licensed facilities are permitted to deliver liquor (PDF, 112 KB)

Not-for-profit community kitchens, soup kitchens and religious kitchens are exempt at this time, but risk mitigation strategies must be followed.

Other

All passenger ropeways, like gondolas and chairlifts, are closed until further notice under the Safety Codes Act.

Personal services

Albertans are prohibited from accessing close contact personal services, including personal services facilities, cosmetic enhancement services, wellness studios and clinics, non-emergency and non-critical health services.

Personal services facilities and cosmetic enhancement services include:

• esthetics
• manicure
• pedicure
• body waxing
• make-up
• body, nose and ear piercing
• tattoos
• artificial tanning and spray tanning
• hairstyling
• barbering
• facial treatments
• eyebrow and eyelash treatments
• laser hair and tattoo removal
• cosmetic skin and body treatments

Wellness studios and clinics include:

• floatation tanks
• colonic irrigation
• massage
• reflexology

Non-emergency and non-critical health services provided by regulated health professionals or registered professionals include any non-emergency or non-urgent:

• dentistry
• physiotherapy
• massage
• foot care and podiatry
• acupuncture and acupressure
• chiropractic services
• naturopathy

The Town of Edson Emergency Management Plan has been activated and there has been a partial activation of Edson’s Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC).

This allows our senior staff to meet regularly to implement strategies to protect and support our residents, staff, and to support Alberta Health through this incident. The ECC activation also allows for greater coordination between agencies and puts dedicated staff in place to help plan and implement strategies on a larger scale.

Council is taking this action to ensure we are prepared in the event additional steps need to be taken.

*NEW (March 23rd, 2020)- The Town of Edson is now recommending residents limit groups to less than 10 people. This is beyond what the province is recommending at this time, however, it is believed to be a prudent step at this time. 

Public spaces and trails are still open and free to use for those that are able during this COVID-19 crisis. Outdoor activity is still encouraged as long as groupings are kept at 10 people or less.

Currently, Town of Edson maintained playgrounds are still open to the public, however, social distancing is mandatory. If you are considering going to an outdoor playground, we recommend cleaning your and your child’s hands with hand sanitizer before and at the end of your playground visit before travelling home, and immediately washing your and your child’s hands with warm soapy water when you get home.

As well a reminder that the TAGS to Edson drive trail loop is closed due to pipeline work being done in the area.

Please enjoy the outdoors responsibly and watch for updates as new regulations and restrictions continue to be updated daily.

___

Until further notice, the Town of Edson has enacted the following closures/cancellations:

• Repsol Place – Facility closed to the public and removal of ice for the season.
• Town Office – Closed to the public. Please watch official channels for more information on electronic billing and payments.
• Emergency Services Building (Fire Hall) – Closed to the public and special measures taken to ensure the continuation of emergency response. No change in level of service.
• Public Works Building – Closed to the public. Pound will remain operational with special measures put in place for staff safety.
• ParentLink  – Closed until further notice.
• Town Programming – Fitness classes, swimming lessons, etc. will be cancelled. Cancelled programs will be refunded. The tax clinic is also on hold with plans to finish the remainder of the current files. For alternative options, please contact Community Development at 780-723-4403.
• Landfill/Lagoon – Will remain open.
• Airport – Will remain open with limited access for the general public.

As the situation is evolving there may be changes/additions to the above list as updated information becomes available.

Updated April 1st, 2020 - As COVID-19 continues to cause havoc around the world, the Town of Edson is taking steps to ensure the community is in the best position to deal with the pandemic now and in the future. With this in mind, a number of difficult decisions were required to help remain fiscally responsible to our taxpayers.

“This crisis is taking a huge toll on our residents and businesses,” said Edson CAO Mike Derricott. “We understand the difficulties our community is facing, and we know it’s our responsibility to treat this pandemic, and the financial burdens it is creating, with the care and attention it deserves.”

At this time the Town of Edson has temporarily laid off 18 employees. This includes lifeguards and some full time and part time staff from recreation facilities and the ParentLink Centre. Vacant positions are also not being filled at this time.

On top of the layoffs, all remaining staff are moving to a 0.9 schedule moving forward. This temporary measure will mean a reduction in hours, reducing wage expenses by about 10%.

“We understand this move will have a very big impact on Town staff,” said Mayor Kevin Zahara. “Council thanks them for their continued dedication during these tough times. It’s our hope that by making these moves now, we’ll be able to pass on some savings to our taxpayers and reduce further staff impacts in the future.”

While these moves have been supported by Council, they still require approval through the budget process. It’s expected some of these measures will be implemented at the April 7^th, 2020 meeting of Council., with the larger budget discussions happening April 14^th, 2020.

Derricott adds that Administration has been working very hard to come up with an emergency budget to bring forward. “Along with the savings in wages from the staffing adjustments, further operational cuts are anticipated to help reduce the tax burden at this time. This will have service level impacts and will be discussed at the Council level.”

“This isn’t a decision we take lightly,” concluded CAO Derricott. “We have made every effort to balance the needs of our organization, the taxpayers, and our staff. It’s hoped that these unprecedented moves will allow us the flexibility to assist our business community, keeping more people employed, and ensuring the Town of Edson remains viable into the future.”

• COVID19 Business Supports Partnership Release (March 30th, 2020)

Town of Edson Supports

During the March 24th Emergency Advisory Committee meeting, Council received reports from various departments and had in depth discussions on ways the Town of Edson can move forward to responsibly deal with the crisis and potential fallout. The following measures were reviewed, but still require official Council approval.

Utility Penalty Deferral - In these extraordinary times, the Town of Edson recognizes that steps need to be taken to help residents and businesses stay on their feet. If approved, this measure would mean no penalties will occur for non-payment on utility bills for the months of March through July. While those payments will still need to be made, customers will have until the end of 2020 to catch up on those balances. Penalties will be reinstated in August, but for new balances only. This will allow customers to spread out those payments over a number of months if necessary.

Please note that automatic payments for utility and tax accounts will continue unless the account holder contacts the finance department with further instructions.

Tax Due Date Adjustment - Council is also looking at pushing back the property tax payment due date. Tax notices will still go out as normal, however, the payment deadline will now be September 30^th, 2020.

The COVID-19 situation does have a profound impact on the Town’s budget. As such, Council is also taking a very close look at finances to ensure proper steps are taken to maintain an acceptable level of service while being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers in this difficult time. More details will be forthcoming as Council reviews the budget at an upcoming meeting.

211 Support - The Town of Edson would like to remind everyone that there are supports available in these difficult times. Please call 211 to speak to a live person who can assist 24 hours a day. 211 can help connect residents to social supports and referrals, including mental health assistance. This free resource is available by call, text, or online chat at https://www.ab.211.ca/.

Local Business Supports

Community Futures West Yellowhead is available to chat with via phone or email should you have any concerns or questions about your business during this time.

780-865-1224, or email nrobbins@albertacf.com

The Edson and District Chamber of Commerce is also available via phone or email. 

780-723-4918, or email edsonchamber@gmail.com

The Town of Edson Planning department is working hard to keep up to date on recent changes and can assist or direct by calling 780-723-4402 or emailing engineeringandplanning@edson.ca.

 

Provincial Supports

• Alberta Government Announced Support Plans 

Please see the link below for details on how to register and apply for MyAlberta Emergency Isolation Supports.

https://www.alberta.ca/emergency-isolation-support.aspx - Eligible working Albertans can receive a one-time emergency isolation support payment of $1,146 if they are required to self-isolate or are the sole caregiver of someone in self-isolation and they have no other source of pay or compensation.

For further supports see :  https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-supports-for-albertans.aspx

Economic Developers Alberta is conducting an online survey for Alberta businesses to help determine trends and resources required. This can be found at https://edaalberta.wufoo.com/forms/r19ded0919ea64b

The Alberta Urban Municipalities Association is also keeping a summary of supports available. Their guide can serve as a helpful resource to inform local not-for-profit organizations,  local businesses, and stakeholders about the supports that are available. The Guide will be updated weekly and can be found through the AUMA online hub for COVID-19.

 

Federal Supports

The Government of Canada has outlined their Economic Response Plan. It contains supports for individuals and businesses. Follow the link for the official release.

• Canada Economic Response Plan

Highlights of Canada Economic Response Plan (from Community Futures West Yellowhead)

• If you owe taxes, you will have until August 2020 to pay those taxes.  You still need to file but the deadline is now extended to June 1^st.  It is important that even if your business is closing that you still stay on top of your CRA and tax obligations.  If you are concerned about paying this obligations, please call CRA at 1-800-959-5525 for businesses. It may be faster to get details through your CRA account.  Your accountant can also answer questions but please remember, they are also small business owners and are working in tax season to also manage their small businesses, their staff and their families.  Please be patient. 
  
  
• Canada-US border is shut to non-essential travel.  If you are an export-import business, please contact the BDC as they are working with Export Canada on this every changing issue.  BDC also has a business credit program that is available for applications online.  https://www.bdc.ca/en/pages/special-support.aspx?special-initiative=covid19
• Wage subsidy for small business employers at 10% (now updated to $75%).  If you are still paying your workers and not laying them off, this will be available for 3 months. 
  
  
• Self-employed individuals can apply for employment benefits at $900 bi-weekly (every two weeks) up to 15 weeks.  You are able to apply online and receive funds by direct deposit.  Medical documentation is not required.  This will start in early April.
  
  
• Emergency support benefits will be for those who are not eligible for EI for up to 14 weeks.  This is especially important for small business owners who are not eligible for EI.  Please do not visit Service Canada offices in the region as it is not guaranteed that they will be able to serve you in person.  Details on how to apply is at this link https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html or you can call at 1-833-381-2725. 
  
  
• Banks and mortgage lenders are offering mortgage deferrals for a 6 month period.   You are going to be able to skip a payment but you need to contact your bank directly.  Please do not go to the banks but use email and phone to contact your local banker.  They will have messaging and tools to help you do this.  Please be patient as our banking partners are trying to help you as much as possible and stay on top of current information.

 

Links to business support programs and associations

Helping understand the challenges and opportunities associated with running your business operations during the COVID-19 outbreak.

• COVID-19 Continuity - Resources for Business Leaders

Federal Government Support for Canadians and Businesses

• https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html#Helping_Businesses_Keep

Business Development Canada – Support for Entrepreneurs

• https://www.bdc.ca/en/pages/special-support.aspx?special-initiative=covid19

Export Development Canada – Support for Exporters

• https://www.edc.ca/en/campaign/coronavirus-covid-19.html

Western Economic Diversification (WD) – Support for Businesses

• https://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/20051.asp

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Pandemic Preparedness Guide to help create a business continuity plan

• http://www.chamber.ca/resources/pandemic-preparedness/BusinessPrepGuidePanPrep2020

Canadian Federation of Independent Business – Small Business Guide- Keeping You and Your Employees Safe

• https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/tools-resources/covid-19-coronavirus-business

Economic Developers Alberta supports

• http://www.edaalberta.ca/page-1635680

Tips for Alberta Business and Community Leaders to Address the Social and Economic Fallout from the Coronavirus

• http://www.edaalberta.ca/resources/Documents/Coronavirus%20Socio-Economic%20Impact%20Tips%20for%20Alberta%20Business%20and%20Community%20Leaders.pdf

Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Alberta (CPHR Alberta)

• CPHR Alberta has launched a free webinar series for HR professionals facing the many challenges presented as the coronavirus pandemic evolves. As the situation changes and escalates, HR professionals are making difficult decisions affecting our employees and organizations.  From March 31 – April 23 they will host two webinars per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 pm - 1 pm MST. Click HERE for webinar topics and to access registration.
• https://www.cphrab.ca/cphr-alberta-webinar-series-hr-pandemic-essentials

*Please note that this is an evolving situation. Check original sources for the latest information.

The Alberta Government is providing $30 million to municipalities, charitable and non-profit organizations to provide help to individuals, seniors, families and other vulnerable Albertans who are isolated or impacted by measures to contain COVID-19.

We encourage agencies and groups to contact us at the Town of Edson FCSS office (Civic Centre-605-50 Street) to discuss this process and the services you are hoping to provide or enhance to support vulnerable Albertans in our community during this critical time.  We also encourage you to align with other organizations and groups and submit applications together if it makes sense to do so, as combining volunteer groups will increase capacity and help avoid exhausting your valuable volunteers.    

Some examples of eligible and needed services include but are not limited to; at-home help for seniors, crisis and helplines, food security issues (such as meal and grocery delivery), emotional and mental health counselling or any other identified community issues.

Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta (FCSSAA) will be managing the awarding and distribution of these grants to organizations for all areas of the Province outside of Edmonton and Calgary, and your local Edson FCSS representatives noted below will support local organizations through the application process.   

Please note, your applications are to be submitted to your local FCSS office at the Town of Edson, and we will submit them to FCSSAA on your behalf.  Submissions must be done electronically. Please call us to discuss your ideas today! 

Application Documents

FCSSAA COVID-19 Funding Guidelines

FCSSAA COVID-19 Funding Application

Contact Information

Primary Contact Name: Tanya Byers, Community Development Manager, Town of Edson           
Primary Contact Telephone: cell: 780-725-1200 office: 780-723-4403
Primary Contact Email: tanyab@edson.ca

Secondary Contact Name: Alicja Broda, Community Development Coordinator, Town of Edson
Secondary Contact Telephone: 780-723-8616
Secondary Contact Email: alicjab@edson.ca

With the Civic Centre closed to the public, the Town of Edson would like to remind residents of alternative options for bill payments and provide an update on the program registration refund process.

Bill Payments

The Town of Edson offers several options for payments of tax and utility bills. Please choose one that suits your needs.

• Set up pre-authorized payments to have your bill paid by automatic withdrawals from your bank account.
• Pay through your financial institution, including online, over the phone, in person, etc. Check with your bank to see what options are available. More details at www.edson.ca/pay.
• Pay online with credit cards through OptionPay (www.edson.ca/pay)
• Use the Drop box outside the Town Office.
• Mail in your payments to PO Box 6300, Edson, AB, T7E 1T7

Program Refunds

Refunds are being done for all cancelled programming due to the COVID-19 closures. Refunds will be made directly to individual ActivNet accounts. Cheques can be mailed out upon request. If you have any questions please contact Repsol Place at 780-723-7665.