Red Deer Minute: Student Protest, Patients Diverted, and Immunization Policy Approved

Red Deer Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Red Deer politics

This Week In Red Deer:

• It’s not going to be busy down at City Hall. There is just a single meeting this week. The Public Art Commission will meet on Wednesday.
  
  
• The State of Local Emergency is set to expire next week on February 15th. The Emergency Advisory Committee of City Council approved a recommendation to allow it to lapse, given the declining active case counts of COVID-19.
  
  
• For our female readers looking for a reason to connect with fellow Red Deerians, look no further than “Galentine’s! Friends, Wine, Charcuterie & Chocolate!” hosted by Wine, Women, and Well-Being on February 9th. The event features several delicious delicacies including handmade chocolate, perfectly paired wines, and more. [Editors Note: We don't do sponsored posts, we just thought this was interesting!]

Last Week In Red Deer:

• Parents were outraged after students at the Bowden Grandview School were apparently locked in a boot room for hours by the school's administrators for not wearing a mask. School administrators claim this was not the case. The school reverted to online learning for Friday and Monday so a plan could be put in place should students protest mask mandates again. The move from the school’s administration comes in the wake of an increasing number of students protesting mask mandates.
  
  
• A surge in patients requiring emergency surgeries forced the Red Deer Regional Hospital to divert all new patients in need of urgent procedures - with the exception of the most life-threatening situations - to Calgary and Edmonton. Alberta Health Services (AHS) attributed the move to an uptick in surgeries happening at the same time the hospital is battling a shortage of anesthesiologists and operating room nursing staff.
  
  
• City Council approved an immunization policy that came into effect immediately and applies to all members of Council as well as volunteers appointed to Council boards and committees. Per the new Council policy, if a member of Council or volunteer appointed to a Council board or Committee is not fully immunized, they must provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test to attend in-person meetings or events when representing the City.

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