COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic created a lot of hardship and uncertainty for graduates of Beaver Brae Secondary School. That all changed last night as graduates got to receive their diploma, walk across the stage and celebrate the end of their high school career in front of their family, friends, and school staff.

'Perseverance' was the word best used to describe the 2021 Beaver Brae graduating class as students were subject to lockdowns, mask-wearing, physical distancing, and online learning. The students persevered through it all and were able to graduate.

The province continues to see the number COVID-19 vaccinations rise with over 3.9 million doses having been administered in Alberta.

Seventy-one per cent of the provincial population has now received one dose of the vaccine while 31.5 per cent of Albertans are now fully immunized. 

There were 92 new COVID-19 cases reported on Wednesday, June 23 with a positivity rate of 1.5 per cent. The province now has 1,676 active cases.

New COVID-19 cases are in the triple digits the same day as restriction loosenings are being announced.

As of Wednesday morning, 123 new COVID-19 cases are being announced. 

New cases include:

Parents can now officially give their Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine appointment to their eligible children.

Eligibility is expanding for second-doses. As of Wednesday, those who received their first dose on or before May 31 are eligible, and on Thursday that moves to June 6.

As most of the province receives its first and second COVID-19 vaccines, many are wondering what is safe for them to do.

Manitobans are living in a vaccinated world, but what does that world look like? While this is still uncertain, some changes are coming this weekend to Manitoba's Public Health Orders in response to high vaccine uptake and lowering case counts.

Manitobans will be getting back to worshipping together this weekend, although limits are still in effect.

Dr. Brent Roussin and Premier Brian Pallister made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday morning. A number of restrictions will ease, including on worship gatherings, beginning at 12:01 a.m Saturday, June 26.

Indoor faith-based gatherings will be open to 25 per cent capacity to a maximum of 25 people. The new health orders state that masks must be worn at all times for worshippers indoors.

There will be different health orders for Manitobans to follow coming this weekend, one order for everyone, as well as extra privileges for those who are fully vaccinated.

Strong hints have been dropped this week for the first stages of reopening Manitoba, and on Wednesday, those hints will lead to new orders.

Manitoba's Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Brent Roussin and Premier Brian Pallister are sharing the latest Public Health Orders during an 11 a.m. press conference Wednesday. The current orders expire at midnight on Saturday.

Exploring Cochrane and area means literally having an adventure in your backyard.

There are numerous adventure packages that residents can partake in right on their doorstep.

From paddleboarding lessons to interpretive raft trips on the Bow River right in Cochrane to horseback riding, rock climbing, and the Wolf Dog Sanctuary just outside of town.

The adventure package providers are looking to put the lost summer of 2020 behind them and are excited to be able to get back to work providing adventures for one and all in 2021.

Linden Christian School's valedictorian is looking back on her school experience while looking forward to her bright future.

Tamara Nelson from Linden Christian School says the thing she is going to miss most about high school is the relationships she's made.

"I'm really going to miss seeing my friends and my teachers every day," Nelson says. "It's really crazy and it's a little sad but I think I'm ready for the next chapter in my life."

Provinces west of Ontario, have announced their plans to fully re-open in the coming weeks. Ontario has taken a more cautious approach to reopening and won’t see a full reopening comparable to western provinces until at least the end of next month.

In a media briefing yesterday Dr. Kit Young Hoon Medical Officer of the Northwestern Health Unit commented on the possibility of an accelerated Step Two start date.

“Our case numbers are low and our vaccine coverage rates are high. I think reopening earlier would not necessarily pose a major risk for our area,” said Young Hoon