EDMONTON — Sixty-five per cent of eligible Albertans have now received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the province reported Friday. 

Alberta recorded 187 new cases as active cases rose to 1,655. 

Hospitalizations continued to gradually rise up to 90 on Friday, including 19 COVID-19 patients receiving care in intensive care units.

Three new deaths were reported Friday, bringing the province’s pandemic death toll to 2,328. 

The province reported a 2.41 per cent test positivity rate after completing about 8,285 tests. 

​The next data update is scheduled for Tuesday.

“Thank you to all Albertans who have taken the step to get fully protected with two doses of vaccine,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, in a statement. “Getting vaccinated doesn’t just protect your health but also the health of your family, friends and neighbours.”

Alberta confirmed that 113 cases of COVID-19 had been linked to the Calgary Stampede, which occurred from July 9 to 18.

EDMONTON — A major crash in downtown Edmonton has tied up traffic late Friday afternoon.

The intersection of Jasper Avenue and 109 Street is closed in all directions. Other roads in the area are affected as well.

Multiple vehicles are involved in the collision, including a truck that appeared to have rolled.

An SUV also struck a barrier on the sidewalk along Jasper Avenue.

Cheryl Voordenhout, an EPS spokesperson, told CTV News Edmonton that preliminary investigation into the accident showed a woman allegedly stole a water truck and struck multiple vehicles in the area before ultimately rolling onto its side.

The spokesperson added that several people have reported minor injuries.

Police say the driver of the stolen truck is in custody and has been taken to hospital to be assessed.

The EPS major collisions unit remains on scene investigating. 

More to come… 

EDMONTON — Personal information belonging to Albertans has been leaked online and posted for sale after a health care company was hacked, CTV News has learned. 

Ontario-based Homewood Health told CTV News it was hacked earlier this year and has recently begun contacting affected companies and agencies whose information may be compromised, including several in Alberta as well as in B.C. and Ontario.

It’s not clear how many Albertans were affected by the breach. 

CTV News has confirmed at least some of the information leaked online is authentic, though the bulk of the data is still on the auction block at Marketo, a site that describes itself as a “leaked data marketplace.”

The data appeared to draw hundreds of bids from prospective buyers.

“An investigation is currently underway and actively involves external cybersecurity and privacy experts working in consultation with law enforcement and provincial privacy authorities,” reads a statement from Homewood Health.

“These experts are working diligently to understand how the information was obtained and what information has been affected.”

Alberta’s Workers’ Compensation Board and the City of Spruce Grove told CTV News they were among those affected by the leak. 

“We are still confirming the extent of the breach, but understand it includes information supplied by WCB-Alberta employees who accessed support from their employee and family assistance program,” reads a statement from WCB-Alberta, noting an investigation is ongoing.

“We have been assured that the provider is taking the appropriate steps to investigate and respond.”

The City of Spruce Grove says it was informed Friday morning that it was affected by the breach. 

“The information accessed was general in nature about the City and not related to personal information,” reads a statement from the city.

Homewood Health says it will be notifying those affected by the breach but wouldn’t specify how many people that would be. 

It previously told CTV News Vancouver that state-sponsored Chinese hackers Hafnium, who victimized thousands of companies earlier this year, were likely behind the breach. 

The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta says it was initially unaware of the breach but has since been in contact with Homewood Health and is awaiting an official report. 

‘LEAKED DATA MARKETPLACE’

Marketo, which has the same name as an online marketing company by Adobe but bears no connection, calls itself a “leaked data marketplace” but it’s perhaps more accurate to describe it as an online clearinghouse for stolen information.

The first and most prominent listing currently on its website is for Homewood Health, and it showed nearly 300 bids have purportedly been made for the information so far.

When CTV News contacted the site, a representative countered Homewood’s description of events, insisting they researched the weaknesses of Homewood Health and other companies and attacked them directly, insisting they did not acquire the data as part of the Hafnium hack. 

“I got to say it right away that we just sell company data. We do not have the intention to harm customers or clients of this company,” wrote a spokesperson identifying themselves as Mannus Gott. “If the company understands and is willing to accept responsibility for the leak, there will be no publication. Otherwise, we are not responsible for the safety of this data.”

They say on Thursday, some of the data will be sold and the rest will be published.

A Homewood Health representative told CTV News Vancouver the hackers had tried to extort the company over the information, characterizing it as a “dark web” scheme, but the Marketo website can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. 

“This isn’t only on the dark web, Marketo group’s site exists on the clear web too, so it’s very easily accessed,” explained online threat analyst Brett Callow, who works for Emsisoft on Vancouver Island.

“These types of incidents are extremely common and there are about 2,500 organizations that have had their data stolen and published on sites like this — and that just within the last couple of years.”

With files from Penny Daflos

EDMONTON — The municipal district of Greenview has declared an agricultural disaster due to drought conditions.

The district is in northwest Alberta and encompasses areas south of Grande Prairie to Grand Cache and east to Fox Creek, including Valleyview, DeBolt, and Two Creeks.

Greenview Council declared the disaster at their meeting on Tuesday. In a statement, the municipal district said drought conditions within multiple areas of Greenview have “significantly impacted” agricultural producers.

“A prolonged record-breaking heatwave peaked at the end of June and continued into early July, delivering consistently high heat, heavy winds, and a significant lack of moisture,” the district said.

“These conditions combined have impacted crop and livestock producers across areas of Greenview.”

Many agricultural producers are facing crop failure, premature ripening of crops, poor yields and quality, the district added. Some producers have been forced to reduce as much as 75 per cent of harvesting.

“Declaring an agricultural disaster raises awareness of the conditions and adversities faced by some in our agricultural community and shows our support,” said Reeve Dale Smith, in a statement.

EDMONTON — Prior to smashing and bashing each other in an all-female battle in Spruce Grove Thursday, linebacker Alicia Gladue led both teams in something rarely seen on a football field.

Before kickoff – Gladue, a young Cree and Dene woman from Northern Alberta – gathered all players and coaches in a circle, where she lit a traditional Indigenous smudge for both teams to share.

“I just bless my body. (With the smoke) I go over my head so I can think good things, go to my ears so I can hear good things, go to my mouth so I can say good things,” Gladue explained.

Gladue is a captain with the Fort McKay Northern Spirits, based in the First Nation community about an hour north of Fort McMurray.

Her team travelled to the Fuhr Sports Park west of Edmonton, for a game with the West Edmonton Raiders Thursday night.

“It’s gets my anger out. It’s good for my mental and physical health,” Gladue said of football.

And a smudge, she said, puts her in the right mind to compete.

“It could be a blessing, or it could be to let go of the negativity. I think it’s good to calm yourself with good vibes,” she explained.

‘EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY PROUD’

The idea of sharing the smudge came after Raiders coach Ryan Schulha asked his opponents about a ceremony he saw at a game a few weeks earlier.

“They were extremely, extremely proud to extend an invitation to allow us to come and learn a little bit and join the smudge circle. I’m very excited to learn more about their culture and have football be that catalyst,” Schulha said.

A coach of both girls and boys teams, Schulha believes football leaders should always be striving to be more inclusive. He called Thursday’s ceremony an “opportunity” for his players to learn and grow respect for Indigenous people.

“Do we have a long way to go? Yeah. We know that, but every little bit and every step forward helps.”

Northern Spirits coach Dylan Elias lets his players decide when and how to smudge, and was proud they chose to share with their opponents on Thursday.

“I think there’s been a lot of negativity in the news in the last couple of months especially around residential schools and missing and murdered Indigenous women,” Elias, who is Metis, said.

“So I think for the other team to reach out and want to be part of the ceremony, is really important for bringing people together, and if this thing is going to work we gotta come together as humans, and that’s what the sport of football does.”

Racism on the field is something Elias said his team has “felt” before but Thursday’s ceremony was a an important step.

The Northern Spirits are a new team, and with the closest field an hour away, it’s not an easy commitment. Elias said his girls are growing in pride, both in their play and in sharing their culture.

“After a football camp we had in 2019, there was a big push from the kids in the community. They wanted their own team.”

Feeling different on a football field is not new to Raiders running back Camryn Lauer. It’s a male-dominated sport, and inclusivity is still a work in progress, she said.

So Lauer was happy to take part in the smudge and learn more about her opponents.

“I will say it’s better just because we do get these opportunities, but there’s still more to work on. Being a female in the sport of football can be difficult sometimes, but it’s growing and it’s getting better,” Lauer said.

The Raiders won the game 36-0.