Hinton Emergency Operations Centre

The Hinton Emergency Operations Centre remains active, receiving guidance from both the Province and Local Agencies on statuses and needs. The below information represents a digest of relevant information considered important to pass on to local audiences. 

CONSULT THE PROVINCIAL WEBSITE FOR UP TO THE MINUTE STATUS
BY CLICKING HERE.

Healthcare Workers to be first to Receive Vaccine

The first 3,900 doses of Pfizer vaccine will arrive in Alberta during the week of Dec. 14. The vaccine has now been approved by Health Canada. Immunization of seniors and other target groups is anticipated to start in early 2021.

Physical Distancing and Cleaning Practices Must Continue

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

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.

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

Town Facility Opening Statuses

All Town of Hinton Facilities are closed to the public, accepting visitors on a by appointment basis only. 

Provincial Restrictions (current)

• All indoor and outdoor social gatherings – public and private – are prohibited
• Close contacts are limited to household members only
• People who live alone can have up to 2 close contacts:
  • must be the same two contacts throughout the duration of the restriction
  • if the close contacts do not live alone, visits cannot be held at their home
• This does not apply to:
  • co-parenting arrangements
  • service visits from caregivers, health or childcare providers
  • home maintenance and repairs
  • mutual support group meetings

Provincial Restrictions (current)

Maximum of 10 people for wedding ceremonies or funeral services and must be held in a public place

• This includes the officiant, bride/groom and witnesses
• This does not include staff or organizers who are not considered an invited guest
• This applies to any facility, including places of worship and funeral homes.
• This includes services held indoors or outdoors, seated or non-seated.
• Receptions are not permitted

• Grades 7-12 at-home learning Nov 30 - Jan 11
• Grades K-6 at-home learning Dec 18 - Jan 11

Provincial Restrictions (current)

Masks are mandatory in all:

• indoor public places
• places of worship
• indoor workplaces and facilities outside the home, except:
  • when working alone in an office or a safely distanced cubicle or a barrier is in place
  • rental accommodations used soley for the purposes of a private residence
  • farm operations (exempt)

• applies to all employees, customers, visitors, delivery personnel and contractors
• includes any location where employees are present in-person
• includes all workplace locations where masks won’t pose a safety risk
• does not change current student mask requirements in schools

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

Retail services must reduce customer capacity to 15% of fire code occupancy or a minimum of 5 customers:

• Curbside pick up, delivery and online services are encouraged
• Shop only with the people you live with

• capacity limits of 15% include common areas and individual stores
• food courts open for grab and go only

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

All entertainment businesses and entities must close, including:

• Casinos, bingo halls, gaming centres

• Racing centres, horse tracks, raceways

• Bowling alleys, pool halls

• Legions and private clubs (nightclubs must remain closed)

• Art galleries, libraries and museums

• Science and interpretive centres

• Amusement and water parks

• Children’s play centres and indoor playgrounds

• Theatres, auditoria and concert halls

• Banquet halls, conference centres and trade shows

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

• Gyms and studios
• Fitness and recreation centres
• Spas, pools, indoor rinks and arenas
• Day and overnight camps
• Community halls and centres
• Outdoor recreation is permitted, but facilities with indoor spaces except for washrooms will be closed.

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

• All restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes are closed to in-person service.
• Take out, curbside pickup and delivery services are allowed.

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

All personal and wellness services must close. Personal services include:

• esthetics, manicure, pedicure, body waxing, make-up

• body, nose and ear piercing, and tattoos

• artificial tanning and spray tanning

• facial, eyebrow and eyelash treatments

• cosmetic skin and body treatments

• laser hair and tattoo removal

• Wellness services include:

• colonic irrigation

• floatation tanks

• massage

• reflexology

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

Regulated health services can remain open by appointment only as long as public health orders and sector guidance is followed.

Appointments should be limited to one-on-one services.

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

• lawyers
• mediators
• accountants
• photographers

• social, protective or emergency services
• shelters for vulnerable persons
• not-for-profit community kitchens, religious kitchens and soup kitchens

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

• No spa, pool or gym access
• No in-person dining (room service only)

Provincial Restrictions (December 13, 2020)

Places of Worship Changes

• Faith services are limited to 15% of fire code occupancy for in-person attendance:
• Services must be held at their normal location, including rental spaces like a community hall
• Physical distancing between households must be maintained
• Mask use is mandatory

• Virtual or online services are recommended
• Drive-in services where people do not leave their vehicles and adhere to guidance are allowed

• In-person faith group meetings and other religious gatherings are:
• not permitted in private homes while these measures are in effect
• permitted when conducted at a place of worship as long as physical distancing and public health measures are followed
• Faith leaders and other speakers can remove their masks while speaking if there is a distance of 2 metres. The mask must be put on again once finished speaking.
• Group performance activities, such as choir singing and playing music, are permitted if they are normal worship practices and not for the purpose of entertainment.

Enforcement

If you violate a public health order, you may be subject to a $1,000 fine.

Additionally, you can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offense.

If you are concerned someone is not following public health orders, you can:

• remind them that not following orders is against the law and puts people at risk
• submit a complaint to AHS public health inspectors online or call 1-833-415-9179

Hinton Town Council 

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.

Town of Hinton Administration

ComServ Urgent Update Scheduled for Tomorrow

Budget Meetings

Always find Hinton Council Meetings at Hinton.ca/CouncilLive

All Town Facilities Closed

On Tuesday, December 8, 2020, the Province of Alberta announced new restrictions in place in Alberta until at least January 12, 2021, in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (please familiarize yourself with all restrictions, as viewable on the Provincial Website, Town of Hinton COVID Website, or CivicSend). 

In response to these announced restrictions, Town of Hinton CAO Emily Olsen and Senior Leadership have made decision to that all Town Buildings will be closed to the public on Sunday, December 13, 2020 (PLEASE NOTE: The Protective Services Building will be closed effective Thursday, December 10, 2020).

Unfortunately, due to advertising deadlines and decision timelines, our holiday hours ad as run in this weeks Hinton Voice is out of date. Please disregard this opening schedule in favour of the above. 

These closures will make all buildings only accessible by the public on an appointment basis. In the interest of continuity of service to our community, we are below including key information for important facilities in Hinton, in one CivicSend. View it here. 

Learn More

The next scheduled COVID-19 related update is Thursday, December 17, 2020. 

Town Response to Provincial Restrictions (December 10, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (December 09, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (December 03, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update 2 (November 26, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update 2 (November 19, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (November 19, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (November 13, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (November 12, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (November 04, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (October 29, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (October 22, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (October 15, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (October 08, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (October 01, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (September 24, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (September 17, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (September 10, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (September 03, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 27, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 20, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 13, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (August 6, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 23, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 16, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 09, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (July 02, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 25, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 18, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 11, 2020)
Town of Hinton Previous Update (June 04, 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)
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