Alberta
For all those parents concerned their children will “fall behind” in school due to COVID-19
If you’re a parent with children in school, there’s a good chance you’re concerned about their educational prospects for the remainder of this year. Suddenly the entire province is home schooling and online learning has completely taken over the curriculum. How will they adapt and finish the year as strong as they started? How will they finish all the units and cover all the material they were supposed to? How will they make up for all those hands on learning experiences they would have ‘enjoyed’ in the presence of their teachers and classmates? How can they possibly avoid falling behind?
Here are some comforting thoughts from the long time Superintendent of Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools in Southern Alberta. They were written specifically for the families of CTR in Southern Alberta, but they really do apply to everyone concerned about education right now.
From Dr. Scott Morrison, Superintendent, Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools
Falling Behind
I’d like to address what I expect will be a very natural educational concern for Alberta’s parents and students, especially parents of very young children and Grade 12 students thinking about post-secondary.
I think a lot of parents and students are worrying about “falling behind”.
Everything’s changed! The students have to learn in a new way, and the need for parents to assist their kids in the current circumstances many parents find themselves in, well, it’s a burden no educator would ever place on parents given any other option. Our parents rely on our teachers to teach and they make their incredible contributions to the world in other ways. It’s not fair to ask them of this at all.
This is why I’m so pleased Alberta educators have been given such reasonable guidelines with respect to learning expectations, given our present circumstances. The marching orders regarding the time students need to devote to learning represents a reasonable balance between the need to “cover” the curriculum and the ability of students to actually “learn” that curriculum given our present circumstances. Alberta school divisions need to design a new system that is practical for most students and their parents. We need the Goldilocks approach, not too hot and not too cold…it needs to be just right.
I can tell you for a fact that every teacher in this province will be hardwired to try and accomplish too much, at first. Parents will be hardwired to do the same, at first. Many will be overwhelmed, at first.
It may be a rough start, because traditional school teachers, are trained to expertly teach, but they do that in classrooms with kids in front of them. Teachers can’t word process, hyperlink, podcast, webcast, or Zoom every element of the art and craft of teaching like they would in their classrooms. Teachers will begin using these technologies almost immediately, but the obvious challenge is students without access to a device and/or a reliable internet connection.
I can also tell you that our teachers are brilliant and will listen, adapt, and improve as they learn from both their students and their parents. The quality of education will improve month after month as our teachers use their expertise, passion, and compassion to adjust distance learning to parallel whatever circumstances they encounter. An increasing use of technology will assist as long as the person on the sending end, the teacher, is actively involved in planning, grading, and making day-to-day decisions about slowing down or speeding up.
Let me get back to my opening point. Everyone knows we can’t expect Alberta students to accomplish as much as they would have in their regular classrooms. The fear will be “falling behind”.
However, “behind” is a relative term. To be behind means someone needs to be in front of you. Who will be in front of the overwhelming majority of the students in the province of Alberta? Will it be other Canadian students? No. “Normal” education is shutting down nationally right now. Will it be American students? No. “Normal” education is shutting down in North America right now. Will it be students in other nations? No. “Normal” education is shutting down internationally right now.
So, for some perspective, I offer this. The entire world will lose four months or more of “normal” education due to this crisis. Teaching approaches, curriculums, and expectations will be naturally adjusted on a local, provincial, national, and international level, and we won’t even know it’s happening. Everyone involved with K-12 and post-secondary education will adjust to the new normal, and normal is not behind.
Peace, Dr. Scott Morrison
Superintendent, Christ The Redeemer Catholic Schools
COVID-19 projections suggest Alberta peak coming in several weeks: Kenney
The Government of Alberta is working with partners to increase pipeline capacity in pursuit of its goal to double crude oil production and increase exports to the United States.
Alberta is a strong partner to the United States, currently delivering more than 4.3 million barrels per day to the U.S. The province is committed to increasing Alberta’s crude oil production and preserving and adding pipeline capacity, supporting North American energy security as well as enabling increased U.S. production.
The Government of Alberta is taking immediate action to accelerate its plan to increase pipeline capacity to get more product to market and more value for its product.
A critical step towards achieving this goal includes working directly with industry. This is why Alberta’s government has signed a letter of intent with Enbridge, which will form a working group with the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission (APMC). The working group will evaluate future egress, transport, storage, terminalling and market access opportunities across the more than 29,000 kilometres of the Enbridge network in support of moving more Alberta oil and gas to Canadians and American partners.
“The world needs more Alberta oil and gas, and we need to make sure Alberta is meeting those needs. Our objective of doubling oil production aligns with Enbridge’s plans to enhance its existing pipeline systems and we look forward to partnering with them to enhance cross-border transport solutions. This will also allow us to play a role in supporting the United States in its energy security and affordability goals.”
The working group will focus on preserving and optimizing egress, developing opportunities to expand along Enbridge’s current footprint, and developing new solutions to improve global market access and maximize the value of Alberta’s commodity. Additionally, it will work with government to cut red tape and streamline regulations and permitting approvals. It will also assess opportunities for shared investment and benefit to both Albertans and Enbridge by leveraging BRIK (Bitumen-Royalty-In-Kind) barrels.
“A strong and growing Alberta oil and gas transport and storage network will allow the Government of Alberta to maximize the economic benefits for all Albertans from our bitumen and natural gas royalties. We must also pursue regulatory reform where needed so Alberta can continue to be an attractive place for companies to invest.”
“Enbridge has 75 years of experience delivering Alberta’s energy, safely and cost-effectively to support the region’s economy, unlock export value and help meet North American demand. We’re prepared – and exceptionally well-positioned – to work with producers and governments to deliver capacity as production ramps up, providing cost-effective, scalable, executable solutions now and through the decade that support North American energy security, reliability and affordability.”
Refocusing acute care leadership for the future
Alberta’s government is bringing in the expertise and experience needed to continue refocusing the health care system for the benefit of all Albertans.
Alberta’s government is committed to refocusing the health care system so that Albertans can access the health care services they need when and where they need them. The work to transform the system is making significant progress, particularly with the recent launch of Primary Care Alberta in November 2024, and the continued advancement in establishing Alberta’s new acute care provincial health agency.
Acute care, which includes hospitals, emergency services and surgery care, is a significant part of the health care system, providing critical care to Albertans when they need it most. Acute Care Alberta, the new acute care provincial health agency, will work to speed up access to high-quality care, reduce wait times and make sure the patient’s journey through the system is efficient and effective across the province.
As progress is made to establish Acute Care Alberta, Alberta’s government is appointing Dr. Chris Eagle as chair and interim president and CEO. This appointment will take effect Feb. 1 to coincide with the establishment of Acute Care Alberta as a legal entity. Dr. Eagle’s focus will be on preparing the organization for its first day of operations later this spring. His appointment to the position is pending finalization of his contract.
Dr. Eagle has significant experience supporting and leading health care organizations and projects across Alberta, including his time as president and CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS) from 2010 to 2013. His extensive experience in the health field will allow him to guide the work to operationalize Acute Care Alberta.
To help support Dr. Eagle’s work and to lead AHS through its transition from a regional health authority to a hospital-based service provider, Andre Tremblay, deputy minister of Alberta Health, has been appointed interim president and CEO of AHS.
“Acute care is the most complex part of the health care system, and it’s critical that we have the right leadership in place to see this work through and make positive changes to the health care system for Albertans now and into the future. I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to Athana Mentzelopoulos for the work she has done during her time leading Alberta Health Services.”
Tremblay brings a wealth of public service and health care delivery experience to the position. With more than 20 years of public sector leadership, he has served in several senior leadership positions. Prior to joining Health in June 2023, Tremblay has been deputy minister at Education, Agriculture and Forestry, and Transportation. This is also his second leadership role at Alberta Health, having previously served as an associate deputy minister. He was also previously appointed as the deputy clerk of executive council and deputy secretary to cabinet. In his role as interim president and CEO, Tremblay will not receive a salary. His salary as deputy minister will remain the same.
Tremblay will continue as deputy minister through this critical period of transition and change for Alberta’s health care system. He will also oversee the recruitment of a permanent president and CEO for Acute Care Alberta. He is best positioned to continue leading efforts to refocus the health care system while supporting the transition of Alberta Health Services to an acute care service provider.
While in the interim role, Tremblay will work with AHS leadership to oversee operations, support staff transitions to Primary Care Alberta and establish Acute Care Alberta as a legal entity ahead of its operationalization this spring. Throughout this work, Albertans will continue to access acute care services as they always have and there will be no impact to front-line health care workers.
The AHS board of directors will begin the search for a permanent president and CEO immediately, and more details will be provided once the hiring process is complete.
“I am excited to take on this role and support the efforts to refocus Alberta’s health care system and to create an improved acute care system that will make sure Albertans have access to the best health care services they need, no matter where they live in the province.”
“We are at a critical time in the work that is underway to refocus the health care system. I am confident we can continue to make great strides to achieve the goal of making health care better for everyone in Alberta. I want to thank Athana Mentzelopoulos for her hard work, commitment and leadership during her time in the role.”
“We have made great progress refocusing the health care system and I am eager to take on this new role and support the work being done to improve health care across the province. I look forward to leading AHS as it transitions to a service delivery provider and engaging with front-line workers and staff across the system in the coming months.”
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