EDMONTON — A missing man who was last seen swimming in the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton late Friday evening remains missing as emergency crews search the river.

According to Edmonton police, a group of four male friends were at Dawson Park when two of them decided to go for a swim in the river at a boat launch in the area. One of the swimmers, a 25-year-old man failed to return to shore.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services and police officers were dispatched to help locate the missing swimmer at approximately 11:30 p.m. Friday.

The search of the river and areas around it continued into Saturday morning, police said in a statement.

“The river search, which stretched from Parkland County to Fort Saskatchewan, has been unsuccessful in locating the male, at this time,” Edmonton police said.

The swimmer is described as a black man, approximately five feet tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes.

Police are advising people to practice caution when seeking respite from the heat around the North Saskatchewan River.

EDMONTON — The provincial government released new guidelines Friday to help preschool, daycare, and out-of-school care operators plan for Stage 3.

Stage 3 begins on Canada Day in Alberta and marks the first day nearly all public health restrictions will be lifted, including the provincial mask mandate and full capacity at restaurants, bars, and retail outlets.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will still have to quarantine.

Most restrictions on child care operations will be removed including mask use by staff and strict cohort size limits.

Child care providers will no longer have to ask parents to check children’s temperatures before coming to the program centre or do it themselves.

“Children 0-11 years of age are not currently eligible for immunization against COVID-19 and remain the only age cohort in Alberta that is unprotected,” the guidelines read.

“To support ongoing safe operations, operators should follow this guidance.”

The updated guidelines encourages child care centres to continue practicing physical distancing, avoid physical greetings like hugs or handshakes, and maintain rooms to avoid congestion or clustering of people.

Masks are only required to be worn by children should they develop symptoms of COVID-19 or if they are in Grades 4 or higher.

Additionally, the use of masks by program staff while in child care facilities is no longer encouraged by the province. Instead, the new guidelines say individual staff can consider whether to wear one or not “based on a staff member’s personal assessment of their risk of contracting COVID-19.”

While child care providers are still encouraged to keep program groups small and separated from each other to minimize opportunities for COVID-19 spread, the requirement for cohorts of only 30 people has been rescinded.

The new guidelines permit audiences of parents and family members at performances or celebrations at child care facilities while respecting performing arts guidelines that specify the need for distancing.

Shared spaces and equipment, like play structures or sports equipment, is permitted to be shared by more than one group so long as proper sanitizing occurs. Previously, equipment was limited to one group and shared spaces or structures that could not be disinfected were not to be used.

Parents will still be required to fill out a copy of the Child Alberta Health Daily Checklist to help screen for symptoms of COVID-19.

If there is a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19, an Alberta Health Services contact tracing investigation will occur and a temporary closure of the facility may be required.

Contact tracers will ensure all close contacts are symptom free, however, fully-vaccinated staff or parents will not be required to quarantine so long as they do not present symptoms.

EDMONTON — Hundreds of Edmontonians rallied and demanded action from all levels of government Friday evening following the attack of two Muslim sisters in St. Albert earlier this week.

The incident was the latest in a series of hate-motivated incidents police in Edmonton and across Canada are investigating.

The rally was organized by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM).

Amira Shousha, NCCM regional lead for Alberta, said in an interview that the rally was meant to showcase the Muslim community’s anger that street attacks continue to happen in Canada.

“We are all here to show solidarity to the ones who have been hurt and to verbalize our distaste for what is happening,” she said.

The group hopes to see all levels of government work together on an action plan to protect racialized Albertans and rid communities across Canada of Islamophobia.

Shousha said the NCCM is calling on all levels of government to form a new bipartisan committee to create coordinated responses to Islamophobia with representation of all ethnic and religious communities.

“We won’t let hate win,” she said. “We want to be able to go out on a walk with our family and not be hurt.

“These attacks are getting worse, they’re getting more bold. And now, most recently, there was a weapon involved in the last attack.”

While the UCP provided funding to help give places of worship security upgrades and a motion at the Alberta legislature recommending the bylaws regarding street harassment and hate crimes be reviewed passed, Shousha said racialized communities need stronger action now.

“(Those) are great first steps,” she said. “We are all on edge. Myself as a Muslim hijabi woman, I am taking extra precautions to make sure that I am not alone when I am, even just in broad daylight, going for a walk.”

She said that there were concerns that even people who wanted to attend the rally would not be safe.

“That anxiety is not new, but it is getting to a level that is really intense,” Shousha added. “That fear shouldn’t be in our community.”

Myriam St-Germain said she attended the rally to help show support for those affected by hate and demand change so that no one has to feel fearful when they want to go out in public.

“We are all human beings. We should live in peace together side-by-side and support each other,” she said.

 “We don’t want another tragedy,” she added. “We don’t want them to win.”

HATE-MOTIVATED ATTACKS IN THE REGION

There have been at least eight apparently hate-motivated attacks on Muslim women within the Edmonton area since the end of last year that have been reported.

According to data provided to CTV News Edmonton from the Edmonton Police Service (EPS), hate-motivated crimes involving people are already on pace to surpass the amount committed in 2020.

In 2021, there have been 21 hate-motivated crimes involving people and 23 involving property, EPS says.

According to EPS, the total in 2020 for hate-motivated crimes involving people was 23 and 37 involved property.

For 2019, there were 30 hate-motivated crimes involving people and 27 involved property.

Earlier this month, a woman in her 50s was out for a walk when she was approached from behind and thrown to the pavement. 

In April, police said an Edmonton Muslim family was targeted in a road rage incident where a driver allegedly “made a profane gesture” at a woman wearing a hijab. 

In March, an Edmonton man was charged in connection with three apparent hate-motivated incidents including verbally abusing a teenager who was wearing a hijab while waiting at a transit centre and hurling insults a woman wearing a burqa.  

In February, police said a woman in a hijab was threatened by a man at the Century Park LRT station. 

And in December last year, an Edmonton man was charged after what police called a “hate-motivated” attack on two Somali women in the Southgate Centre parking lot. 

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Matthew Black

EDMONTON — Soaring temperatures predicted in Alberta over the next seven days are posing possible risks when it comes to health safety and potential wildfires.

Dr. Michael Zakhary, medical officer with Alberta Health Services, says the best thing to do in the case of extreme heat is to stay indoors and to keep watch for symptoms of heat exhaustion such as heavy sweating, nausea, and feeling dizzy or weak.

“Even healthy Albertans need to be vigilant about their heat safety, specifically when temperatures rise,” said Dr. Zakhary.

Dr. Zakhary says babies and younger children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and those are on certain medications to treat high blood pressure, for example, are considered a higher risk group for adverse outcomes of heat events.

Those experiencing homelessness also remain at high risk when it comes to serious health effects caused by the heat.

Several Edmonton community centres have put out requests for water bottle donations this week in order to help Edmonton’s most vulnerable stay hydrated.

On Thursday, the Bissell Centre received several pallets of water bottles. Scarlet Vjornson, marketing and communications coordinator at the Bissell Centre says it is extending hours to hand out water bottles this weekend.

“Sundays we usually operate on minimized hours so we’ve extended those to full time hours and plus, we’ll be 100 per cent open on Canada Day,” said Vjornson.

RISK OF WILDFIRES

The heat wave also poses a risk for forest fires throughout the province. Recreational fires are banned in western Alberta where an out-of-control wildfire burned in Yellowhead County.

Josee St-Onge, an Alberta Wildfire spokeswoman, says it is asking Albertans to check albertafirebans.ca before they head out.

Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) will not be implementing a fire ban over the weekend. EFRS told CTV News on Friday that due to precipitation since spring and a strong greenup, Edmonton is currently at a much lower risk than it was in April and May.

When it comes to keeping safe during the heat wave, experts advise Albertans to apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30, take breaks from heat, and drink plenty of water.

With files from CTV Edmonton’s David Ewasuk. 

EDMONTON — Alberta reported around 100 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday as the province marked the milestone of surpassing four million vaccine doses administered.

As of Friday, 71.3 per cent of Albertans aged 12 and over have received at least one dose and 34.3 per cent are fully immunized.

The province completed approximately 6,100 tests raising the provincial positivity rate from 1.38 on Thursday to 1.79 per cent.

The province has approximately 1,500 active infections.

Last Friday, the province’s active case count was 2,336.

The province reported technical issues on Friday preventing a full online update, including hospitalization and ICU data.

No COVID-19 data updates will be provided on weekends anymore.

The next data update will be posted online on Monday.

FIRST DRAW CLOSES FOR VACCINE LOTTERY

Premier Jason Kenney thanked everyone who received their COVID-19 immunization.

“This tremendous achievement is made possible thanks to millions of people working together to ensure that COVID-19 no longer controls the lives of Albertans,” the premier said in a statement.

“Thank you to every single Albertan who has made the right decision and got their vaccine shot. We will keep rolling out vaccines as we safely open for summer.” 

Tyler Shandro, minister of health, said vaccines were a distant thought less than one year ago but now the province is progressing to fully reopening on Canada Day.

“Four million doses is an amazing accomplishment and we won’t stop here,” Shandro said. “Book your appointment as soon as you can to help us safely reopen.”

All Albertans over the age of 12 are eligible to receive their COVID-19 inoculation at a pharmacy or through Alberta Health Services.

At 11:59 p.m. on Thursday the province closed registration for the first $1 million vaccine lottery prize. The winner will be announced on July 1 when the province moves to Stage 3 of the reopening plan where no public health restrictions will be in place.

Albertans can continue to register to enter the two remaining $1 million draws and other prizes including all-inclusive vacations and Calgary Stampede packages.

Anyone who receives at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine who is an Alberta resident and is over the age of 18 can register to enter the lottery. Albertans only need to enter once.