EDMONTON — The majority of Alberta was placed under an air quality advisory by Environment Canada as wildfire smoke worsens.

Nearly all of southern and central Alberta were placed under a special air quality statement Saturday afternoon as wildfire smoke continues to impact visibility and create poor air quality.

“Wildfire is a constantly-changing mixture of particles and gases which includes many chemicals that can harm your health,” the advisory read.

“Be air aware,” the weather agency added.

Exposure to wildfire smoke can cause symptoms like coughing, throat irritation, headaches, or shortness of breath. Those with cardiovascular conditions or lung diseases, such as asthma, are at a higher risk of symptoms.

The weather agency recommended reducing time spent outdoors and finding an indoor place that is cool and ventilated.

Environment Canada placed areas from Banff National Park, Grande Prairie, Lac La Biche, Cypress Hills, Calgary, and Waterton Lakes National Park under the air quality advisory.

Many of those same regions are also under a heat warning as temperatures soar above 30 degrees with little respite forecasted in the overnight hours. Saturday marked the second day in a row Edmonton broke the record high.

“If your home is not air-conditioned, be sure the house doesn’t get too warm when doors and windows are closed to keep out smoke. Exposure to too much heat can also result in illness.

“If you open the windows you may let in more polluted air.”

EDMONTON — The Edmonton International Airport (EIA) welcomed news of a vaccine mandate from the federal government.

According to the federal mandate announced Friday, Canadians looking to travel by air, rail, or boat this fall will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October.

“Health, safety and security are our top priorities and that of course includes the health and safety of our employees,” Steve Maybee, EIA vice president operations and infrastructure, said in a statement to CTV News Edmonton.

In addition to travellers, Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic Leblanc and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra shared they expect Crown corporations and federally-regulated agencies, like Canada Post and the Bank of Canada, to also implement vaccine mandates.

The pair of ministers also noted it will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation space to be fully immunized against the virus.

“We have seen how devastating COVID-19 has been to our transportation and tourism sectors. We must protect the hard-won gains made by Canadians. Canadians deserve to feel confident when traveling that the environment around them is safe,” Alghabra said. “We need to regain public confidence in travel.”

The federal government said accommodations for those who cannot be vaccinated, like enhanced testing and screening,  will be implemented alongside the mandatory vaccinations.

Maybee added that the airport is waiting for further information from Transport Canada about the details of the vaccine directive.

“We will work to implement any federal regulation that it puts in place,” he said. “Our first step will be engaging our employees and working with them to help everyone understand what may be required.

“We have already publicly supported vaccination drives to help the travel and tourism sector recovery from the economic impacts of the pandemic.”

Once further information is made available, Maybee said the airport will do what it can to help educate passengers and employees about federal requirements.

DESIRE TO GET BACK TO NEW NORMAL

Jeffrey Sunquist, president and CEO of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce, said mandatory vaccines for travellers and vaccine passports will likely be something the business community in the city will support.

“We’ve been a strong advocate of whatever mechanism will enable the economy to get back on track,” Sunquist said. “Whether that is a vaccination passport which can provide consumer and business confidence in having a health work place and being able to have people travel.

“We need an efficient means to move people and goods.”

The main concern for him is getting tourists back to Edmonton to help drive foot traffic throughout the city, its businesses, events, and attractions.

“The visitor economy is exceptionally important for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region,” Sunquist said. “Whether it is sporting events, conventions, these things all require confident consumers, businesses, and promoters so we can get people back in market.

“There’s a desire to get back to whatever the new normal is,” he added. “People are ready to move forward, but doing forward in a very pragmatic and safe way.”

With files from CTV News’ Sarah Turnball

EDMONTON — The opioid crisis in Edmonton is forcing some to take action themselves as they train others to use life-saving naloxone kits.

The community of Alberta Avenue is training residents on how to use the kits and the business association in the area is encouraging its 200 members to stock naloxone kits.

“Three weeks ago we had 10 overdoses on Alberta Avenue, all within a one block radius of each other before noon on a Tuesday,” said Jay Ball, executive director for the Alberta Avenue Business Association.

A local pharmacy is helping distribute the kits and providing training.

“The challenge is that once we are closed (at night), the need is still out there,” manager Pryank Patel said.

Patel shared how people will often break-in to the locked garage bins looking for prescription opioids, only to find empty bottles.

Data released by Alberta Health showed that in the final week of July there were 162 opioid-related calls paramedics responded to in Edmonton, the highest amount for any week on record.

That number represents more than triple the amount of calls during the same week last year.

Keith Kakeeway, a member of the local street team says he often encounters people who are unresponsive – even in the area park.

“We’ve run into some problems, mostly overdose problems,” Kakeeway said.

He estimates having to revive around 50 people – in the past year alone.

“It’s never gotten easier to use one of these (naloxone kits),” he added.

Ball said only a handful of businesses have signed up so far but the association hopes more will join the program.

They hope the more kits and training is distributed, the better the odds they can help someone in need.

“That’s the other reason I do this, somebody doing this for me is what saved my life,” Kakeeway said.

EDMONTON — A new wildfire burning west of Edmonton in Parkland County prompted an emergency alert Friday evening.

County officials say the fire is burning in the area of Township Road 522 and Range Road 63, west of Horen, Alta. As of 9:30 p.m. Friday, Parkland County said the fire was estimated to be 12 hectares in size and classified as out of control.

“The fire is burning in a southeastern direction,” Parkland County said on social media. “Avoid the area. If you live in the area, be prepared for possible evacuation.”

The county is asking motorists to avoid Township Road 522 from Highway 759 to Highway 22 to allow fire crews room to work.

“Smoke in the area may limit visibility on roadways. Use extreme caution.”

Fire crews are on scene and responding to the wildfire.

More to come… 

EDMONTON — Students attending Edmonton Public Schools will have to wear a mask until a COVID-19 vaccine is available for all kids.

Edmonton Public made the decision after a meeting with its trustees on Friday as vaccines are unavailable for those attending kindergarten to Grade 6 and vaccination rates are not high enough for older students eligible for vaccination.

Superintendent Darrel Robertson said that a re-entry plan for in-person learning will be released on Monday and that parents will have until Thursday to choose whether their children will participate in online or in-person learning.

“Masking is a really great enabler to allow us to reintroduce some things like the semestered system to our division but it also helps us to reintroduce some of the other things like sporting events, considering the use of lockers,how kids are moving in the school, (and) clubs,” Roberston said.

Last year, around 28 to 33 per cent of students learned online – depending on the quarter of learning. Robertson said of the families who have registered for next year, fewer families have registered for online learning as compared to last year so far.

“I think the reintroduction of masking in our division will also help to keep that number low,” he said.

The district decided to switch back to regular semesters for Grades 7 to 12 for 2021-22. Last school year students were placed on a quarterly system because of the pandemic.

According to Robertson, many kids struggled to keep up with the revised academic semester structure.

During the meeting, trustee Michael Janz asked if the school district has the legal authority to implement measures beyond provincial health orders.

Robertson explained that instruction from the minister of education said the district has the authority but constituents should be consulted and informed of why measures are being implemented.

Edmonton Catholic will also release its plan for in-person learning on Monday. Year-round learning students already returned to class this week following the same precautions against COVID-19 transmission as last year.