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.

This includes groups who happen to gather by chance in parks, green spaces, businesses or in areas like the dog or bike park. 

Groups of 50 or more in an outdoor space and 15 or more indoors can, and will, be ticketed under provincial restrictions. 

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.

This includes groups who happen to gather by chance in parks, green spaces, businesses or in areas like the dog or bike park. 

Groups of 50 or more in an outdoor space and 15 or more indoors can, and will, be ticketed under provincial restrictions. 

Business Compliance Needed
The Town of Hinton is receiving reports from concerned citizens regarding social distancing protocols and cleaning in local businesses. We strongly stress the business compliance and encouragement of customers to comply is absolutely essential. Businesses may receive random patrols for distancing compliance, with potential Provincial Infraction tickets issued, without notice.

We are all in this together, in the effort of protecting our most vulnerable. 

Hinton Emergency Operations Centre

Phase 1 is now Fully in Place

This phase will allow some businesses and services to reopen and resume operations with two metre physical distancing requirements and other public health guidance in place.

This includes: 

• Post secondary institutions will continue to deliver courses however how programs are delivered whether online in-person or blended will depend on what restrictions remain in place at the time of relaunch. *
• Retail businesses such as clothing, furniture, and book stores *
• Some personal services such as hairstyling and barber shops *
• Museums and art galleries *
• More scheduled surgeries and dental procedures *
• Physical therapy, chiropractic, optometry, and similar services *
• Daycares with limited occupancy *
• Removal of SOLE
• Re-opening of play structures and skate park
  • Considered use at own risk
• Summer camps with limits on occupancy. (This could include summer school.)*
• Rules and guidance for the use of masks in crowded spaces, especially on transit. *
• Dine-in restaurants , cafes, lounges and bars to 50per cent capacity* 
• Nightclubs, Movie Theatres, gyms, pools, recreation centres and arenas will remain closed. *
• Public attendance at businesses, facilities and events that have close physical contact will not be permitted, including*: 
  • arts and culture festivals*,
  • major sporting events* and
  • concerts*

Provincial Restrictions Remain

The Province of Alberta's Public Health Emergency has a significant number of Public Health Orders which remain in effect. Find the list here, or view the list below or image above for further information. 

• Mandatory 14-day isolation for returning international travellers or close contacts of people with confirmed COVID-19.
• Mandatory 10-day isolation for people with symptoms that are not related to a pre-existing illness or health condition: cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose or sore throat.
• Restrictions on gatherings and restricted services are now legally enforceable and subject to fines.
• New operational protocols, including limited visitation, are now enforceable for all nursing homes, designated supportive living and long-term care facilities, seniors lodges and any facility in which residential addiction treatment services are offered.
• New outbreak standards are now in place for operators, managers and staff at all congregate health settings, including all hospitals, nursing homes, designated supportive living and long-term care facilities, seniors lodges and facilities in which residential addiction treatment services are offered.

Using Outdoor Spaces

Sharing the path
People of all ages and mobility enjoy the outdoor paths. Please be considerate and aware of all path users.

All cyclists should be using their bell when passing others on the paths. When you are approaching someone, ring your bell, slowdown, and pass off path when safe to do so.
If you are using the paths and you hear a bell, please slow down, look around, and move off path if you need to.

Runners please allow enough room to safely pass others.

Hinton Town Council

Town of Hinton Administration

HKFS to Reopen
On July 6, 2020 Hinton Kids for Success will re-open to the public for full-day care. We will be open for care for ages 5-12 from July 6 to August 28, and then offer regular services with the start of the new school year. Our program capacity will be 24 children, and we will operate upstairs at the West Fraser Guild.

Hours: 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: The West Fraser Guild (821 Switzer Drive, Hinton AB)
Registration: online - please visit hinton.ca/hkfs  or call 780-865-6036

2020 Discovery Camp Cancelled

In 2020, Hinton Kids for Success will run in place of Discovery Camp, as we are not able to offer the same Discovery Camp experience due to lower group sizes, outing limitations, and smaller capacity. However, we still are able to provide full-day, all-summer care through Hinton Kids for Success, just with a smaller capacity - we will still make the summer as fun and adventurous as possible!

 Waste Management Pilot Conclusion

Before the pandemic began impacting Canadian communities (in fact, just one week before we went into our Emergency Operations Centre), we were beginning a Waste Management Pilot project in East Hardisty. Since then, the project has been continuing, though it hasn’t been front and centre in the face of pandemic needs.
 
As administration prepares to bring a report on conclusions to Council, we’re asking residents of East Hardisty in particular to share their feedback. Visit Hinton.ca/Bins to learn about the project, and click this link to our exit survey (available from June 4 to June 13).

ComServ Issue 1 Now Available

To aid is residents understanding of all of community services current status, plans, and programming, ComServ, a new newsletter from Community Services and Strategic Services at the the Town of Hinton, will be issued every other week on Friday mornings starting tomorrow (May 29,2020).  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 viewed online at Hinton.ca/ComServ.

Town Facility Closures/Changes

Please use the above table for information purposes. The Town of Hinton is working to bring our own openings in line with the Provincial guidelines, decisions, and recommendations. Further updates will be provided as new decisions are reached. Please consult Hinton.ca/COVID to review current closures. For a detailed listing of Community Service statuses, please view CommServ.

Community Playgrounds Information Page Available
The Town of Hinton has published a new webpage with information regarding parks in Hinton and their statuses. View the page here: Hinton.ca/1010.

All community playgrounds / structures have been reopened. This does not include washrooms, outhouses, or seasonally closed facilities. All facilities that have been reopened are considered "use at your own risk". The Town does not maintain sterilization of playground structures. Individuals using parks as asked to continue to use physical distancing to inhibit potential spread.

Learn More

The next scheduled COVID-19 related update is Thursday, June 4, 2020. 

Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 28, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 25, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 14, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 07, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (May 01, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 30, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 23, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (April 16, 2020)

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.