EDMONTON – A group protesting COVID-19 restrictions and vaccines crowded outside Edmonton’s largest hospital Monday afternoon despite officials warning them not to obstruct health care operations.

Approximately 150 protesters gathered near the front steps of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, held anti-vaccine signs and challenged health care staff about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Counter-protesters stood across the street, reminding those on the steps of the hospital that they were blocking access to a health care facility.

Premier Jason Kenney and Mayor Don Iveson expressed concerns about the protest and encouraged enforcement if services are disrupted.

“Today’s protests must in no way obstruct the important operations of our hospitals, including the arrival and departure of emergency vehicles and workers. Blocking an ambulance is most definitely not peaceful protest,” Kenney said. “In Alberta, local law enforcement is fully empowered to enforce the law in a timely fashion, including the potential use of the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.”

Iveson and the Edmonton Police Service, which will attend the protest, said disruptions will not be tolerated.

More hospital protests are expected across Canada on Monday.

NURSE EXCHANGES WITH PROTESTER

Benita Pedersen, an organizer of the rally, said the location was chosen to ensure their message was heard.

“In order for us to be effective in making our voices heard, we had to move to a location where we were sure to be noticed,” Pedersen said.

Pedersen challenged a nurse leaving the hospital saying, “Any system that is forcing employees to take a vaccine is wrong. That’s a form of tyranny.”

“No, it isn’t,” responded Rebecca Riches, a nurse working on a COVID-19 floor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

“If you see what we are dealing with in there, you would understand,” Riches said.

“It is bad,” she added. “Don’t tell me it’s not as bad as it is.”

The counter-protesters across the street said they felt it was important to show healthcare workers their support.

“The vast majority of Canadians support the healthcare system,” one counter-protester said. “They want everyone to get vaccinated. It’s not a question of choice. It’s a question of supporting the community.”

“Healthcare workers are stressed,” said Albert Knobbs, another counter-protester, president and founder of the Alberta Activist Collective. “Right now morale is crucial.

“None of us want to be here,” he added, “(but) these protests are unacceptable.”

A photo taken prior to the scheduled start of the protest at the Royal Alexandra Hospital on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 (CTV News Edmonton/John Hanson)

HEALTH CARE STAFF ‘DEEPLY TROUBLED’

The union representing nurses and allied health care workers in Alberta says that while it recognizes Canadians’ right to peacefully protest, physically blocking access to facilities to “hamper access” to care is concerning.

The United Nurses of Alberta said in a statement that it is in no way affiliated with the Canadian Frontline Nurses protest group and that it denounces the protests.

“UNA is a union representing Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and allied health care workers in Alberta,” the group said. “It has a democratic structure and duly elected officials.

“Throughout the pandemic, UNA has stood consistently on the side of science. We have advocated for evidence-informed public health measures to stem the spread of COVID-19 such as social distancing, masking, and vaccination.

“It is demoralizing for nurses and other health care workers risking burnout and COVID-19 infection in hospitals and other health care settings to see people who oppose vaccination efforts interfere with access to health care facilities.”

In addition, the UNA says it is “deeply troubled” that “even a few” workers have participated in these protests.

“The few health care workers involved in these anti-vaccination protests take attention away from the important vaccination efforts by nurses and other health care workers across Canada,” the union said.

Heather Smith, UNA president, called the protests outside health facilities as “insensitive” and questioned the “appropriateness” of them happening.

“Health care workers for the past 18 months have risked a whole lot and put off a whole lot, in terms of personal things,” Smith said in an interview with CTV News Edmonton. “Many of those people inside (the hospitals) will actually be caring for COVID positive patients.

“Today in Alberta is not the time to be (protesting) in a public way that could in fact make a horrible, horrible situation even worse.” 

EDMONTON – Alberta exceeded 800 COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time since January and set a new pandemic record for ICU admissions with nearly 200 patients.

Hospitals across the province are now caring for 803 patients with COVID-19, 198 of whom are in intensive care units.

Alberta typically has a total of 173 ICU beds, but Alberta Health Services opened 93 surge beds to deal with the growing number of hospitalizations amid the fourth wave, AHS president and CEO Dr. Verna Yiu said last Thursday.

Of the 198 patients in ICU, 90.4 per cent are unvaccinated or only have one of two doses.

The province added 4,740 new COVID-19 cases since Thursday, increasing active infections to 18,395.

Since Thursday, 18 died from COVID-19. The death toll now stands at 2,462.

EDMONTON – Dancers gathered in Churchill Square Sunday to work up a sweat and raise money for the Alberta Cancer Foundation at the 10th anniversary of Zumbathon.

Zumba is a Latin-inspired fitness program that involves rhythms like salsa, cumbia and hip hop.

Sunday, over 60 instructors led dancers in the fundraiser, with donations going towards the Patient Financial Assistance Program at the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

“So people that don’t have benefits or don’t have sick time can access this fund… just to live and it’s an amazing program,” said Michele Park, a Zumba fitness instructor.

Over the years, the event has raised over $25,000.

“It’s about having fun, dancing in honour of people that we’ve lost, people that are survivors and people that are going through it (cancer) right now,” said Park.

Around 200 people were expected to attend Sunday’s event, according to Park.

EDMONTON – The Lamont Fire Department honoured its longest-serving member Sunday, as the service celebrated its 70-year anniversary.

The department was officially formed in 1951 after a large fire in the town.

“A big fire burned out the centre of the town, (there was) no fire equipment, no fire department, that was in June of 1950,” said Bob Mitchell, a firefighter.

In 1951, Lamont had under 400 residents, according to Mitchell. That’s when he was asked to join the newly-formed service.

Now 70 years later, at 89 years old, Mitchell is still an active member of the department.

“I’m still active but I don’t go out on calls, my legs gave out,” said Mitchell.

“He’s almost a legend in his own right,” said Scott Calder, chief of the department. “He’s really almost like a fatherly figure to all of us.”

Calder believes Mitchell has the best attendance record of the firefighters at the service, he only misses Tuesday night training if it’s severely icy or a blizzard is raging.

“Probably one of my favourite things about Bob is Bob always has a story,” added Calder. “He’s got 70 years’ worth of incredible stories of incidents or people that he’s got to meet and experiences.

“It’s just so incredible to sit down with him and have a cup and hear some of the things he’s seen or witnessed in his time.”

Mitchell did consider retiring when his wife died 20 years ago.

“But where do you go? That’s where all your friends are,” said Mitchell. “The camaraderie is tremendous in the Lamont Fire Department.”

The fire hall has changed over the past 70 years. Initially the building was shared, with space for the town office and a jail cell, according to Calder.

The newest change for the building was unveiled Sunday, it now goes by the name Robert A. Mitchell. The department voted to name it in honour of the only surviving original member of the service.

“Tremendous, that’s something I never expected,” said Mitchell.

“It’s quite amazing, overwhelming, that anybody could serve that long and an honour to be received when you’re still alive,” said Herman Sieker, a retired department deputy fire chief.

Mitchell is also believed to be one of the longest serving firefighters in Canada. According to Sieker, the record is held by Walter Thomas in Fort Saskatchewan.

“Walter served on the Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department for 70 years, 6 months and 3 weeks,” added Sieker. “Bob is just past 70 years.

“He’s an inspiration, all the young firefighters joining aspired to do what Bob has done and serve that long.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Amanda Anderson

EDMONTON – Two new flags will be permanently displayed at St. Albert Place to help better reflect the diverse residents of the municipality.

Treaty 6 and Metis Nation flags were raised Sunday after a dedication ceremony as part of the city’s commitment to reconciliation. The flags mark the newest additions to the building’s display, marking a total of five permanent flags.

Mayor Cathy Heron said the flags now proudly fly outside St. Albert city hall and is long overdue.

“(These flags) help recognize the important role played by all Indigenous peoples here in St. Albert,” she said. “Today’s ceremony represents another step towards our collective journey towards reconciliation in our community and reflects our relationship as Treaty people.

“Today is also a time for all of us who call this place home to renew our pledge, individually and collectively, to continue to learn and to explore our truth and to foster reconciliation through truth and action.”

Council chambers displayed the pair of flags throughout this term, but Heron said flying them outside marks a more meaningful and public display.

Installing permanent flags is one recommendation included in the city’s Payhonin Reconciliation report, initiated by St. Albert city council in collaboration with Indigenous leaders. 

Vernon Watchmaker, grand chief for the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations, said St. Albert represents a major centre for many Indigenous people who live or work in the area. He hopes the flags will be physical reminders of the role everyone in the community must play in reconciliation.

“We are the people of the land,” Watchmaker said. “It is the land that connects all of us.

“Our chiefs and ancestors entered into a peace and friendship treaty,” he added. “From the beginning, it’s always been about living in harmony and co-existing with one another.

“We are hopeful that the city continues to foster inclusivity. To be a bridge of understanding and respect.”