CALGARY — Hockey Canada has unveiled the jerseys its teams will wear next year at the Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing. 

Three versions of the Nike jerseys were released Tuesday, all featuring a maple leaf as the centre crest. 

The crisp white version features a red crest, red stripes on the arms and bottom, and red lettering on the back, while the red sweater uses a black maple leaf, black lettering and black stripes. 

The third jersey is a black-on-black design with a black maple leaf outlined in red on a black base. 

Canada has traditionally been a powerhouse in Olympic hockey, with the women’s team winning silver at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018 after dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 shootout decision to the Americans in the championship game. A men’s team devoid of NHL talent took bronze from South Korea. 

The Beijing Olympics run from Feb. 4-20. The Paralympics are set for March 4-13.

“The red, white and black of the jerseys represent Canada’s rich history as the most successful country in Olympic hockey,” David Shoemaker, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee said in a statement. 

“Canada’s 22 hockey medals, including 13 gold, are a testament to the excellent work of Hockey Canada and the quality of Canada’s athletes. 

“I can’t wait to cheer on the men’s and women’s teams at the Games.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 23, 2021. 

The Canadian Press

EDMONTON — Alberta’s ombudsman says she doesn’t have the power to investigate a complaint about the decision to consolidate ambulance emergency dispatch services in the province.

The complaint was filed by the cities of Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

The municipalities have contended that the decision to consolidate the dispatch services to save the government money could put the lives of people in their communities at risk.

In a release late Friday, Ombudsman Marianne Ryan says the decision was technically made by Alberta Health Services, which her office is prohibited by law from investigating.

When the United Conservative government announced the consolidation in August 2020, then health minister Tyler Shandro said the province’s dispatch system would allow for better co-ordination of all ground ambulances and air resources.

At the time, the four mayors of the municipalities, none of whom are now still in office, said they were blindsided by the decision and would fight the change.

“While the issue being complained about clearly affects many Albertans, I am bound by my governing legislation to only investigate matters that are clearly within my jurisdiction,” Ryan said in the release.

“Given the substance of the complaint has been widely reported in the media and that it relates to an issue affecting a great many Albertans, I advised the mayors that I would be making a public statement.”

Last February, a judge granted an interim injunction sought by Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services after the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo stopped transferring emergency medical calls to the provincial dispatch centre.

The municipality, which includes Fort McMurray, stopped transferring calls after its council decided the provincial ambulance dispatch service was putting patients at risk due to delays and confusion.

A lawyer for Wood Buffalo had argued it was in the public interest for the municipality to keep handling emergency medical calls through its own dispatch centre.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2021

The Canadian Press