EDMONTON – Ward Dene is the only district whose boundaries remain unchanged after the city’s renaming and redrawing process.

Previously Ward 4, Dene makes up the northeast corner of Alberta’s capital city, from Belvedere in its most southwestern corner, to the Clover Bar and Horse Hill areas in the east and north.

The ward has five councillor candidates, including the incumbent who served for the last four years.

Dene refers to various tribes and people that settled along the North Saskatchewan River and who live there now. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, the Cold Lake First Nations and the Dene Tha First Nations are Dene communities in Alberta.

Dene is pronounced DEH-NEH.

Tricia Velthuizen (Supplied)

Tricia Velthuizen made a run at Edmonton city council in 2017, failing to earn the seat in what was then called Ward 4.

“This time, I feel it even more strongly that we need change. I don’t think that council is being very engaging or responsive with Edmontontians. I’ve heard that at the doors, as well, without me having to say anything,” she told CTV News Edmonton. “City council has its own agenda but that doesn’t necessarily match up with what Edmontonians want.”

A provincial government press secretary, Velthuizen is firm in her belief that decisions by elected officials “shouldn’t be made in a vacuum.” She pointed to the city reworking decisions to offer e-bike rebates and stop grass cutting as examples where the public wasn’t originally heard.

Velthuizen doesn’t support defunding police because of the number of community safety concerns she has heard while door knocking, believes the city can’t continue overspending and raising property taxes, and wants to reduce red tape for businesses.

“Being an elected official at any level is a lot of work and takes a lot of time. I’m not scared of either of those,” she promised.

Lana Palmer (Supplied)

Lana Palmer, an oral surgeon originally from Brazil, decided to run in Ward Dene because she was unsatisfied by decisions being made at city hall and thought she could bring a voice of moderation to the table.

“I don’t believe we need to be radical to be successful. I just think we need to be smart and strategic,” she told CTV News Edmonton.

One of the things she is unimpressed with is the city’s expenditures; Palmer says tax increases aren’t possible in the current economy and Edmonton, instead, needs to find efficiencies.

Another: Edmonton’s bus network redesign, which she says is less accessible and convenient for seniors, youth, and other commuters who now face longer walks to stops and more connections.

Palmer calls herself pro-business and promised to reduce red tape facing entrepreneurs if elected. She also believes meaningful employment is “the root” of tackling social problems, and that innovation is the key to diversifying. For example, the business owner and mother of three suggested declaring Edmonton a cryptocurrency friendly city — in similar fashion to Miami or Innisfil, Ont. — would attract interest, talent and investment.

Aaron Paquette (Supplied)

“I made a few promises in my first run and we got them done, but there’s some things that I’ve been working on that are in the process of happening and I want to see them through,” Ward Dene’s incumbent candidate, Aaron Paquette, told CTV News Edmonton.

Those things include more than $1 billion in infrastructure projects — from site rehabilitation, to alley and neighbourhood renewal items.

“There’s been a traditional feeling in the north that City Hall has forgotten about the north part of the city,” Paquette said.

“What I’m really proud of, in one term, I’ve been able to reverse that and the northeast is getting an unprecedented amount of investment that had neve been seen in our corner of the city before.”

Beyond keeping those projects on track, if he were elected for another term, Paquette says his effort would be dedicated to keeping the tax rate stable, encouraging higher levels of government to crack down on the largest polluters, and addressing homelessness.

“It’s actually not a crisis of homelessness, it’s a crisis of mental health. And getting people into bridge housing with wrap around supports helps people deal with their issues,” he commented.

The dad, artist and entrepreneur called serving as councillor “one of the biggest honours of my life.”

Gerard Mutabazi Amani (Supplied)

Gerard Mutabazi Amani was born in the Dominican Republic of the Congo and fled the country as a refugee during the Second Congo War. Eventually he settled in Edmonton, learning English and becoming involved in severa community and youth groups, including founding the Diaspora African Youth Association (DAYA). Formally, he studied business administration and international relations.

He said he decided to run for Edmonton city council because working with the community is a calling and a passion.

“As someone who’s from a refugee and newcomer standing, I really know what it’s like to not have clothing, to know what it’s like to not be in shelter,” he told CTV News Edmonton.

“I have much experience and knowledge from life experience, from helping in the community and education experience to help transform the Ward Dene community and Edmonton in general.”

He has special interest in affordable housing and public transportation and said he wants to make council a more collaborative and diverse group.

“The people I talk to, most of them don’t know who the city council is or what it does.”

Andy Gudanowski (Supplied)

Andy Gudanowski is no stranger to election campaigns, having run several times in both municipal and provincial contests as an Independent.

The efforts were unsuccessful. However, Gudanowski is undeterred and, in fact, has only grown his platform. He estimates the entire program is between 600 and 800 pages long, 200 of which are dedicated to COVID-19 response.

While community health takes centre stage in Gudanowski’s platform, he also has ideas about reducing crime and increasing collaboration to address homelessness.

He called offering himself up as city councillor his duty.

“[I’m] not looking for a job or something,” Gudanowski told CTV News Edmonton. “I’m just doing this because I see people who need people like me.”

Gudanowski is retired but previously worked as a security guard. The father of four is also studying natural medicine currently.

EDMONTON – Edmontonians rallied, planted trees, and reflected as they observed Canada’s first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Flags were lowered at the legislature to half-mast and a new flag for truth and reconciliation was unveiled. As well, a new tree was planted on the grounds to represent growth, stability, renewal and life.

Indigenous groups say a reconciliation garden is set to be planted at the same site.

Hundreds of plants were given away at Hawrelak Park by Edmonton’s Root for Trees initiative to plant wildflowers or trees as an act of reconciliation.

“I’m so grateful and honoured that Edmontonians are coming out to support Root for Trees, and to support Indigenous communities and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation,” said Ashlyn Renner with Root for Trees. “This is the first time we’re doing something like this with Root for Trees, and I’m so happy that it turned out so well.”

For the past 75 days, gatherings at three unmarked gravesites in the Edmonton area hosted events.

“A lot of healing, telling stories, reconnecting to tradition and culture,” Lorelei Mullings said. “My ancestors, those unmarked graves, I think about them today. I’m their voice.”

Runners and walkers made their way from Kinsmen to Hawrelak Park in the Orange Shirt Day Run. Participants raised funds for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.

A ceremony at Enoch Cree First Nation commemorated the lives lost at all residential schools and honoured those buried at its unmarked gravesite.

“We really wanted to bring out the awareness and utilize this day for the intent and purpose of those individuals who attended residential schools and Indian hospitals as well,” Andrea Jenkins said.

For Jenkins, Sept. 30 represents a day of remembrance and learning.

“I don’t want to say celebrate. This isn’t really a day to celebrate,” Jenkins said. “Canada has a very dark history with what has happened to Indigenous people.

“So today is about honouring. Being a daughter and granddaughter of residential school survivors and knowing of the atrocious things that have been done to Indigenous people, it’s really important that this day is fully recognized.”

Ottawa set Sept. 30 as a day to reflect on the legacy of residential schools. The federal government passed legislation in June allowing federal employees and people working in federally regulated workplaces, like banks, the day off.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) put forward creating a statutory holiday to help public commemoration and awareness of the damaging and intergenerational effects the residential school system had and continues to have as one of its 94 calls to action.

While the federal holiday was observed, it was left to individual provinces and territories to decide whether it would be an official statutory holiday.

Many in Alberta criticized the province for not recognizing the holiday, including the Assembly of First Nations Alberta regional chief.

“If you find that you have the day off,” Jenkins said, “Utilize it to learn more. Ask questions.

“There are a lot of things online, tools that you can access,” she added. “A lot of people say these things (like residential schools or the Sixties Scoop) were never done. We have to start believing. These things are real. These stories are real. These incidents are real.”

EDMONTON – Some family physicians in Alberta say they are dealing with an increasing number of aggressive, misinformed and untrusting patients who want a note exempting them from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

Two of three Calgary doctors who spoke to The Canadian Press also said some people have yelled racist comments at them after they declined to write a note because the patients did not have health conditions known to cause serious side-effects to a shot.

“They mostly comment on my brown skin and hijab” said Dr. Sakina Raj. “I’m also Muslim … so they come to religion and they get personal with that.

“It’s really scary because I feel sometimes they were so abusive verbally, that they could harm us. But I still am kind to them. I calm them down nicely. I’m too experienced to be stressed by them.”

Raj said since Premier Jason Kenney announced a proof of vaccination program to try to turn back a crippling fourth wave in the province, safety has become such a concern that Sehet Medical Clinic is now dealing with new patients wanting an exemption only on the phone.

Raj and another Calgary physician said more than three patients a day are asking their clinics for an exemption. Dr. Mukarram Zaidi said one patient tried to bribe him with $200.

“He comes and says that he would like to have a note and he will be compensating for that,” Zaidi said.

When Zaidi declined, the patient became aggressive and began talking to him louder about ethics, he said.

Zaidi said few people are eligible for an exemption. They include anyone diagnosed with myocarditis or pericarditis – inflammation of the heart or its membrane – or someone who has a confirmed anaphylactic allergy to an ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine.

This particular patient did not meet those criteria.

“I was really upset with it,” Zaidi said.

Raj said she has thought about calling police during a few consultations.

“Before, there were individuals coming in without a mask, kind of arguing, but this vaccine proof has brought it to another level,” Zaidi added.

Zaidi and Raj said racist comments and an aggressive tone are regular occurrences these days, but they don’t want to focus on that. What’s most concerning to them is that misinformed patients are walking into their clinics.

Some patients tell stories about family members in other countries having outlandish reactions to the vaccine. Others say their religious leader has told them not to get a shot. Zaidi said some patients don’t want to hear any scientific information at all.

“What boggles me is that they come in, trust me for everything else besides COVID. They allow me to examine them for everything else. It frustrates me to understand the mentality of these individuals.”

If patients are worried about having an allergic reaction, the doctors direct them to take an allergy test, which some patients decline to do.

Dr. Memoona Butt, another Calgary physician, said she gets most frustrated with patients who read information about the virus from unverified sources.

“Some people are saying that they don’t want any foreign particle or any chemical injected into their body. A number of patients are also worried that we are putting some chips in their system,” Butt said.

The three doctors said colleagues across the province have successfully persuaded the vaccine-hesitant to get their shots by walking them through what’s involved and addressing their concerns.

“I also tell them that Canada’s independent drug authorization … has high standards and a rigorous review process,” Butt said.

Raj said she worries about her patients who don’t want to be vaccinated.

“Some of them are smokers, or have underlying lung conditions, or they’re diabetic. If they catch COVID, they might end up in (an intensive care unit).”

She said her clinic has been calling patients to educate them on why they need to get their shots.

“We have seen how interactions with patients on this topic may become emotional and difficult,” the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta wrote in a statement to doctors.

The college, which regulates the practice of medicine in the province, says doctors can ask patients to leave if they become abusive.

“You and your team are not expected to tolerate this type of behaviour,” the statement says.

Raj said the best advice she gives to her patients is to keep an open mind.

“I still want to help them.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 30, 2021.

EDMONTON – An ICU physician in Edmonton says more people are dying in Alberta from COVID-19 than other parts of the country because the province’s hospitals have been overrun for so long.

Dr. Darren Markland is an ICU doctor and says the healthcare system is in desperate need of help.

“As a physician I take pride in my ability to deliver really good care, but our system is completely overwhelmed, and as a result we’re seeing people who would have a chance to get through this if we had the time and resources to follow through,” said Markland.

He says too many medical staff members are being put in positions they are not properly trained to handle.

“When you work at 180 per cent capacity and you do so for a prolonged period of time, things are going to start to break down,” Markland said. “We are seeing damage that is being reflected in our mortality curves.”

The physician says they have not implemented triage protocol yet, and the only way to ease the overload is to have the province implement a ‘fire breaker’ lockdown right now.

“We’re too late for anything else, we’ve held on until the absolute brink,” said Markland. “Now we’re desperate, we are desperate, we need help.”

Premier Jason Kenney said Tuesday that more time is needed to see what impact the newest restrictions have, and that stricter restrictions would be met with non-compliance by unvaccinated Albertans.

“We have put in place robust measures, provincial-wide mask mandate, capacity limits, restrictions on various kinds of discretionary activities, most importantly the Restriction Exemption Program which has helped substantially to increase vaccination coverage in the province,” said Kenney.

“We will continue closely to monitor the situation and take additional measures if necessary.”

Alberta reported 34 COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, 1,084 people are in hospital and 268 people are in ICU.

EDMONTON – As Canadians prepare to observe the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, one residential school survivor hopes the new holiday will help the country heal together.

More than five decades ago, Harvey Burnstick spent time at St. John’s Indian Residential School in Wabasca Lake, Alta.

That residential school closed in 1966, but still, Burnstick has been thinking about his time there a lot lately. 

Discoveries of unmarked graves at former residential schools across Canada earlier this year brought the subject into the national spotlight and for survivors like Burnstick, old memories.  

“All these stories coming up now,” he told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday. “It’s starting to sink in.” 

Burnstick said he saw other students try to escape the residential school, but he never did. A fact he said he was happy about after seeing the punishments his peers had to endure when they were caught.

Now, the residential school survivor wants to use the knowledge of the past to help improve the future.

“I’m not sure what we can do to go back and fix things, but we can move on, right? Maybe we can heal together,” said Burnstick. 

‘IT SHOULDN’T BE A HOLIDAY’

While Burnstick remains hopeful the new holiday will serve as a source for healing, one Indigenous elder in Edmonton says when it comes to true reconciliation for her people, it misses the mark. 

“To have the words ‘truth’ and ‘ reconciliation’ together, at this time, doesn’t work for me,” Taz Augustine told CTV News Edmonton.

“I think it should be a national day of acknowledging genocide,” she said. “For us Indigenous people, it’s the national day of grieving and sorrow.”

The idea for having a day to acknowledge the legacy of residential schools and the trauma caused by them was one of 94 recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report, which was released in 2015. 

When Bill C-5 passed with unanimous support in Ottawa on June 3, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was created, giving federally regulated employees a paid holiday on Sept. 30.

“It shouldn’t be a holiday per se, or a day off for people to celebrate or do things that they feel like doing,” said Augustine. 

NOT A PROVINCIAL HOLIDAY IN ALBERTA

Alberta is among several provinces not recognizing Sept. 30 as a statutory holiday. Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario have also made that choice.

Last month, the province said it’s up to individual employers whether to implement the holiday.

Augustine said she’s glad Alberta will not recognize it.

“I haven’t sat and talked to the premier himself to understand why he’s not acknowledging it, but part of me says I’m glad he isn’t,” she said. “It should be a national day of mourning and so the title itself is offensive to many of us.”

The Indigenous elder said while the federal holiday has its flaws, it’s at least a step in the right direction.

“It’s a seed planted. If it raises the questions in people’s mind of, ‘Why are we doing this day, what’s this day?’ If it at least raises the question in people’s minds it’s a seed planted.”

On Wednesday, the executive director of the Confederacy of Treaty Six Nations told CTV News Edmonton she’s disappointed the province has decided against observing the holiday.

“I just think the province has a lot of work to do with respect to Indigenous relationships,” Doreen Cardinal said.

According to Cardinal, simply acknowledging the holiday isn’t enough.

“I don’t want it to just become lowering flags and wearing Orange Shirts. We actually have to do some kind of action.”

She suggested Canadians could honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation by reading the Treaty Six Agreement, as well as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.

As for Burnstick, he’s glad the day now exists.

“I’m very honoured that the people recognized it,” he said. “I know some people don’t like to hear about it, but it happened.”

CITY WORKERS, POLICE, SCHOOLS OBSERVING HOLIDAY

While the Government of Alberta will not recognize Sept. 30 as a provincial statutory holiday, some non-federally regulated employers in the province will.

Last week, the City of Edmonton announced it would observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. City employees will be given a day of leave with pay.

Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson said the decision is part of the city’s commitment to the Indigenous community to recognize past wrongs and build bridges for the future.

The Edmonton Police Service, Edmonton Public Library, and the City Auditor will also provide employees with a day of leave with pay.  

Edmonton Public Schools held an event on Wednesday morning meant to honour the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

Public and Catholic schools in Edmonton will be closed on Thursday so staff and students can observe the holiday.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Dan Grummett & Kyra Markov