COVID-19 Status Update

September 17, 2020
To aid in resident's understanding of Hinton Emergency Operation Centre, Hinton Town Council, and Town of Hinton Administration responses to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic event, this update gathers recent news into one document. While emergent issues and information will continue to be shared as necessary, weekly updates going forward will use this format to gather, but also distinguish between, actions in place in the community.

Physical Distancing, Provincial Group Restrictions, and Cleaning Practices Must Continue

It is essential that residents and businesses understand that suppression activities, in particular maintaining safe distances, must be maintained.

If not maintained, transmission will rapidly rebound, potentially producing an epidemic comparable in scale to what would have been seen had no interventions been adopted.

The Town, and Province, need your help to continue to restrict your activities in the interest of community health. Distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing is absolutely crucial.

Residents, businesses, and visitors choosing to remain non-compliant on physical distancing or gathering parameters can, and should, anticipate provincial fines being levied directly moving forward.

Events or Gatherings of 200 or more in an outdoor space and 50 or more indoors can, and will, be ticketed under provincial restrictions.

To view current Provincial Restrictions, please visit the Government of Alberta's COVID web site, available here.

Hinton Emergency Operations Centre

The Hinton Emergency Operations Centre has concluded it's SOLE. As result, we now operate entirely under the restrictions of the province. As such, this section will now be used to share changes in provincial statuses relevant to the community. This is provided for ease of access - please refer to the Provincial website for up to the minute information.

Reminder: What is, and is not, Permitted in Phase 2
Events and gatherings can be larger in stage 2

50 people maximum: indoor social gatherings, including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties
200 people maximum for audience-type community outdoor events, such as festivals, firework displays, rodeos and sporting events, and outdoor performances
100 people maximum for other outdoor events and indoor seated/audience events, including wedding ceremonies, funeral services, movie theatres, indoor arts and culture performances and other indoor spectator events where people remain seated
No cap on the number of people (with public health measures in place):
- worship gatherings
- restaurant, cafes, lounges and bars
- casinos
- bingo halls
- exhibits and trade shows
More flexibility for ‘cohort’ groups – small groups of people whose members do not always keep 2 metres apart:
- households can increase their close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people
- performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers)
- sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues)
- people can be part of a sports/performing cohort and a household cohort at the same time

Still not approved in stage 2
Unless an exemption has been provided, the following are still not permitted:

social gatherings that exceed above listed maximums
regular in-school classes for kindergarten to Grade 12 – classes will resume September 2020
major festivals and concerts, large conferences and events (as these are non-seated social events)
nightclubs
amusement parks
indoor children’s play places
major sporting events and tournaments
non-essential travel outside the province is not recommended – this won't be lifted until stage 3 of the relaunch strategy

The success of Stage 2 will determine when Alberta progresses to Stage 3. Factors are active cases, health-care system capacity, hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) cases, and infection rates.

School Outbreaks Reported in Alberta

Alberta’s online map lists every school where there are two or more confirmed cases and an outbreak is declared. The map is updated Monday to Friday, on school days, and will also list schools that have shifted into scenario 2 or 3 to protect the health of students and staff. Work is underway to expand the map to include all schools where one confirmed case has been identified and alerts have been issued.

View the map here.

Across Alberta there are 62 confirmed cases in 45 schools where individuals attended while infectious and 10 schools with outbreaks.

View the CBC reporting of current statistics here.

COVID Test Results

Albertans can receive their COVID-19 test results from AHS through an SMS text message or an automated phone call. Individuals who book a COVID-19 test through ahs.ca/covid or drop in for testing at an AHS assessment centre can now choose to get their results through these methods. Anyone who does not consent to receiving results via text message or through an automated phone call will instead receive their results through a call from an AHS team member.

Learn more on the AHS website here.

Edson Forest Area Wildfire Update

The wildfire danger in the Edson Forest Area is MODERATE. There are currently no active wildfires.

In the past few weeks we had two wildfires caused by abandoned campfires which escaped from the fire ring.

The first escaped from the metal fire ring and burnt a total of 0.03 hectares. It was fortune that a member of the public reported the wildfire to 310-FIRE before it had the opportunity to spread farther.

Last weekend, another abandoned campfire near the Little Berland escaped and burnt 0.02 hectares. Members of the public helped contain the fire while Alberta Wildfire firefighters were dispatched to the scene to dig the burnt area and fully extinguish it.

Since March 1, 2020, there have been 48 wildfires in the Edson Forest Area burning approximately 4.38 ha.

Read the rest of the update on the Government of Alberta Website.

Hinton Town Council

The most recent Hinton Town Council meeting was Tuesday, September 15, 2020. It was livestreamed via Youtube.

Agenda items included a presentation from Explore Hinton, Civic Partnership policy, Rec and Parks User Fees Policy, Proposed Parks and Recreation Service Area Addition, and Recreation Parking Capacity Expansion at robb road. It will be available live at Hinton.ca/CouncilLive

The next meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2020. Residents interested in taking part in Minute with Council can click here to submit their appointment notice (more information below).

Minute with Council Access (repeated)

Early in the Town Response to COVID-19, Town Council meetings were moved to remote environments, closed to the public, and streamed online to allow for easy access by residents. However, one aspect of our Council meetings that was lost in this necessary response was Minute with Council.

Traditionally, Residents have been welcomed to speak to Council about issues, events, celebrations or concerns during Minute with Council. At the beginning of each Council Meeting, the chair of the meeting opens the floor to the public to speak and share with Council members, administration and meeting observers.

As we determine the "new normal" in this pandemic response, the Town of Hinton has established a procedure to take part in Minute with Council remotely, temporarily, as we prepare for further steps in our reopening plans.

This process is being established to avoid risks of public meeting teleconferencing, such as inappropriate or abusive interjections by anonymous or false identities.

We appreciate your understanding should this cause any inconvenience for you.

Please use this form to receive an invite code to join our proceedings remotely.
Should you encounter difficulty using the form, please call 780-865-6072.

Read more here.

Administration

Facility Opening Plans

For residents convenience, the Town of Hinton has prepared, and updated, the above image representing open statuses and plans for many core facilities.

For further reference on Community Services' statuses and updates, please view Friday's edition of ComServ (more information below).

Reopened

Athabasca Riverfront Park
Spray Park/Change Rooms
All Outhouses
Protective Services Building (RCMP)
Infrastructure Services Building
Government Centre
West Fraser Guild
Emergency Services Building

Reopened (Consult ComServ for Details)

Peoples Centre
Arenas
Pool
Courts/Other Indoor Facilities
Bouldering Wall will remain closed until precautionary measures are in place.
Hinton Municipal Library
- Phase 3 Now in Effect

In Progress

Kinsmen Park Public Washroom Facilities

Have a Say in the Decisions that Change Your Community

September 16, 2020

We have a committee that needs someone like you!

HINTON GRANT FUNDING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
With a mandate to provide recommendations in matters relating to the awarding of municipal funds under the Community Grant Program, this important committee see's members help evaluate, and where appropriate designate funds for, community programs.

LENGTH OF TERM: 1 year
MEETINGS: Approximately 4 per year

To apply, contact 780-740-8059 or Mfaiaz@hinton.ca
Applications are due by Friday, October 16, 2020

Learn more and apply online at Hinton.ca/Committees

Community Grant Program Applications
The Town of Hinton is now accepting Community Grant Program Applications for the October 16, 2020 Intake Deadline.

The CGP provides for:

One-time projects and initiatives;
Operating expenses of organizations in their development stage once per fiscal year for up to three years (within the first five years);
Events that are primarily designed and delivered for the general public that attract visitors, significantly contribute to the local economy, and promote volunteerism.

Required documents include:

Financial Statements
List of Executives/Board Members
Last Filed Annual General Return
Only Applicable to Non-Registered Groups
- a motion from eligible groups board indicating approval to sponsor ineligible group

Late/incomplete submissions will not be accepted

Visit hinton.ca/CGP to learn more.

Introducing Hinton Success Stories

September 15, 2020
#HintonFirst is back, bringing to Hinton it's first official podcast from the Town of Hinton Economic Development and Strategic Services departments. Aiming for a once a month frequency, Hinton Success Stories will bring residents a unique insight into what makes a business in our community successful, and information about the Town of Hinton's support available to both residents and businesses.

Our first episode is available now, featuring an interview with Jason Griffiths of Griffiths Ford, the Overlander Mountain Lodge, and Folding Mountain Tap Room. Also on the pod are interview Mir Faiaz, and Economic Development Officer Scott Kovatch speaking about supports offered to the business community.

Never listen to a podcast before? Stream the pod here.

Podcast Pro? Here's links to us on some of your favourite platforms:

Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Podcasts
Podcast Addict

Alexa user? We're listed in Audible and Alexa too! (currently awaiting verification from Audible)

Find the podcast website, with embedded streaming client, and where we'll soon be posting additional media like photos and transcripts, here.

ComServ 9 Available Tomorrow

To aid is residents understanding of all of community services current status, plans, and programming, ComServ, a newsletter from Community Services and Strategic Services at the the Town of Hinton, will be issued every two weeks on Friday morning.

The next edition will be released tomorrow (Friday) morning. During the pandemic, the newsletter will be issued through both it's own channel and this (News and Announcements) channel. The newsletter may also be subscribed to directly via NotifyMe, available here, or downloaded online at Hinton.ca/ComServ.

Learn More

Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 09, 2020)

Town of Hinton COVID Webpage
Town of Hinton Defer Webpage
Town of Hinton SOLE Webpage
Province of Alberta COVID Webpage
Province of Alberta - Emergency Management Act
Government of Canada COVID Webpage
World Health Organization COVID Website

Questions

Residents with questions are asked to contact info@hinton.ca. Responses may be delayed due to EOC needs.

Members of local media with questions are asked to use the Public Information Officer contact information by clicking here or call 780-865-6001 and leave a message. Messages regarding PIO response will be returned within one business day.