EDMONTON — After dozens of hospitals in Alberta have faced staffing shortages that created reduced service levels or temporary closures, health officials will provide an update about Alberta Health Services (AHS) emergency capacity.

In a media release sent Thursday evening, AHS says it will provide an update on acute care and emergency department capacities at facilities across the province.

The update is scheduled for Friday morning at 10:30 a.m.

Dr. Verna Yiu, AHS president and CEO, and Deb Gordon, AHS vice president and chief operating officer, are expected to provide the update.

At least 20 AHS hospitals and care centres – including McLennan, Fairview, Rocky Mountain House, Consort, and Elk Point – have been forced to reduce service levels since Jan. 1.

Rural Alberta has faced the majority of closures or service disruptions, while even Edmonton’s largest hospital, the Royal Alexandra, has faced bed closures.

Tyler Shandro, health minister of Alberta, has maintained that staffing shortages have occurred due to residual pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic and staff vacation schedules.

The official opposition has called the situation “unprecedented” and “dangerous” to Albertans. Rachel Notley, leader of the official opposition, has been calling on the government to create a plan to help keep Alberta’s hospitals open without reductions in service.

More to come…

EDMONTON — Growing up on a hobby farm on the northwest coast of British Columbia, Tracy Brindley has lived with many dogs in the past, but none quite as fashionable and fearless as Moose.

The one-year-old yellow Labrador sports his own beekeeping suit, co-inspects the hives, and even helps deliver honey produced by his owner’s urban bee colony in Edmonton.

Brindley says it all started when Moose showed interest while she was outside inspecting her backyard bees.

“I’d put him inside and he would be barking and his nose would be shoved against the glass,” said Brindley. “I was just a little nervous about bringing him out here because he was so curious all the time, and then I thought, ‘You know what? Maybe I could get him a bee suit.”

The white head-to-toe uniform keeps beekeepers protected against stings during inspections.

After no luck finding a dog bee suit online, Brindley decided to fit Moose with a beekeeping veil she already owned, which he’s been sporting ever since.

“Now when I do inspections he can come out with me. He can come right up to the hive,” said Brindley.

Brindley says Moose has never been stung, despite his curious demeanor. She will often find him at her heels during inspections, which involve exposing hundreds of honey-making bees.

“A few times I’ve looked behind me and he’s right there and it’s really hard to leave an open hive inspection and put your dog inside,” said Brindley.

Aside from keeping his owners company while they tend to bees, Moose tags along to deliver honey to friends and family. Brindley says this season she wants to create an addition to Moose’s beekeeping gear.

“I’m hoping to design a harness that can hold the honey jars.”

Moose not only delivers the honey, he also gets to taste it.

“When I have a honey jar I can’t scrape any more honey out of, I give it to him and he gets as far in there as he possibly can,” said Brindley. “He’s a lab, they love food, but especially honey.” 

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s David Ewasuk.

EDMONTON — Alberta reported 106 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths on Thursday.

Active cases increased by 27 to a total of 676 and the death toll grew to 2,320.

There are 93 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, including the 26 patients in ICU.

The province reached another vaccine milestone on Thursday as 75 per cent of eligible Albertans have received one dose. More than 61 per cent are fully immunized.

Since Jan. 1, 96 per cent of all Alberta COVID-19 cases were unvaccinated or contracted the disease within two weeks of their first shot, Dr. Deena Hinshaw said on Thursday.

EDMONTON — A tornado warning was issued for Wetaskiwin County Wednesday night, as severe thunderstorms rolled through the region.

At 9:06 p.m. a rotating severe thunderstorm that had the potential to produce a tornado was located near Knob Hill, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The tornado warning was lowered to a severe thunderstorm warning at 9:27 p.m. A severe thunderstorm can produce large hail, damaging winds and torrential rain.

The storm is moving northeast at 35 km/h and could affect the communities of Knob Hill and Yeoford.

EDMONTON — Some local restaurants are choosing not to partake in this year’s foodie fest due to safety concerns and financial circumstances.

Taste of Edmonton, Canada’s largest outdoor food festival, will be held in Churchill Square featuring 52 local food vendors and 19 new restaurant vendors.

The annual food festival will be held at reduced capacity. Despite the festival being a favourite for many local restaurants, some businesses are choosing not to take part.

“I think Taste of Edmonton is a really great promotional event that is good in the summer but this year with the pandemic and sales being down, it is really hard to justify the higher fees that go in with it,” said Henry Song, owner of Bouk Fresh Korean Kitchen.

Restaurants who chose to be part of the festival were required to make the commitment last December.

“The biggest things for small businesses like us is that I have to give you that money in advance,” Song added.

The decision to not commit to the downtown event was based off of financial uncertainty. For Song, he says his restaurant’s revenue has decreased by approximately 30 per cent.

“How do you commit to that?” Song said. “How do you know what the summer is going to look like?”

Amsale Sumamo, owner and chef of Langano Skies, said it was difficult to make a decision on whether or not to participate in the festival during the height of the pandemic. Despite the festival being a good promotional opportunity for the Ethiopian restaurant, she said it was too difficult to decide months prior.

“We have been hit really badly. I mean, every restaurant industry had been hit really bad,” she said.

Despite the decision for some restaurants not to participate, the festival is completely sold out for restaurant and food truck partners. There is currently a wait list for the 2022 event.