Friday on TR: The struggle for childcare workers in the Omicron wave; Level 3 restrictions coming at midnight
Coming up on today’s Tantramar Report:
With schools in online learning mode, daycares have been busier than ever helping families where working from home is not an option. CHMA’s David Gordon Koch speaks with an early childhood educator about what life has been like so far in the Omicron wave.
And also:
New Brunswick is moving into Level 3 of its winter plan, with slight variations, tonight at midnight. The move comes as Public Health announces the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 has grown to 104, with 9 people in an ICU and 3 people on ventilators.
Four more people succumbed to the disease yesterday, bringing the death toll in New Brunswick to 178.
Case counts, though admittedly underreported, continue to climb. There are over 6600 active cases confirmed through PCR testing in the province. More than half of those are in two zones… Zone 2 – the Saint John region – has over 2400 cases, and Zone 1, has nearly 1900 cases.
UPDATE: FARMERS’ MARKET DELAYED SATURDAY, 2pm-4pm
Due to the forecasted Friday night storm, the Sackville Farmers’ Market is delaying opening tomorrow in order to let vendors and customers get dug out. The market will run from 2pm to 4pm, at its winter location on Lorne Street.
Along with grocery stores and other retail, the market is not affected by new level 3 restrictions coming into effect at midnight tonight.… Continue
Friday on TR: Sackville CAO on the unknowns of amalgamation; Resident turned away from rapid test pickup
On Friday’s Tantramar Report, we talk to CAO Jamie Burke about the knowns and unknowns when it comes to Sackville’s impending amalgamation with Dorchester and surrounding areas.
We’ll also hear from one Sackville resident who was turned away from a rapid test pick up site in Port Elgin on Wednesday, the day the province announced it would no longer hand out test kits to anyone without symptoms and an appointment.
And we hear from CHMA’s new local reporter David Gordon Koch about how local Sackville institutions are being affected by isolating workers.
That, and these other stories:
Winterfest cancellation, by-law changes on council agenda for Monday
Sackville town council will have its first meeting of the year on Monday, January 10th. Council will be asked to approve changes to the street traffic and parks bylaw, and hear about pandemic related changes to upcoming town events, such as the cancellation of the Winterfest festival, which was slated for February.
Southeast Regional Service Commission planner Lori Bickford will present 2021 figures on building permits in the town, which have more than doubled compared to 2020.
The commission issued 52 permits in 2021, with a total construction value of $5.4 million. In 2020, they issued 44 permits worth $2.1 million.
Mt A closes campus to general public
Mount Allison has announced it will be closing its campus to anyone but students, staff and faculty in an effort to control the spread of the Omicron variant. … Continue
Mount A announces hiring of new chaplain
Mount Allison University has hired a new chaplain.
Reverend Ellie Hummel has joined Mount Allison as multi-faith chaplain and spiritual care coordinator, the university announced on Tuesday.
Her work at Mount Allison begins on March 7.
Hummel is an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada, according to a media release from the university.
She previously worked as chaplain and coordinator of the multi-faith and spiritual centre at Concordia University in Montreal.
She worked at Concordia for more than 20 years, and previously oversaw congregations in rural Saskatchewan, the university said in the release.
“Throughout my career I’ve had the opportunity to work with people from many spiritual, religious, and philosophical backgrounds, and learned the importance of connecting and learning with others, particularly students,” Hummel was quoted as saying.
The chaplain position at Mount Allison has been vacant since Reverend John Perkin retired in the summer 2020 after 27 years as the school’s chaplain.
Anne Comfort, vice-president of international and student affairs, said the role of the chaplain is to support students, faculty and staff of all faiths.
“Many students are coming to Mount Allison from interfaith backgrounds,” Comfort was quoted as saying. “They need to be able to see themselves here and feel supported in their spiritual, as well as their academic endeavours.”
Mount Allison University initially stated Hummel was the first-ever female chaplain in the history of Mount Allison, but that statement was later removed from a revised version of the media release.… Continue
Wednesday on TR: Higham on Horizon’s newest hire to help the Sackville hospital, and Mesheau’s reaction to forced amalgamation
Listen to Tantramar Report for the following stories:
Horizon Health hires a former administrator to help restore service at the Sackville hospital
Horizon Health has hired a recently retired executive director and former nurse to help retain and recruit health care workers at the Sackville Memorial Hospital. Nancy Parker has taken on the interim, part-time role at the hospital.
Members of the Rural Health Action Committee are confident that Parker is a solid choice for the job, according to co-chair John Higham. Tantramar Report spoke with Higham on Tuesday to find out more.
Mayor Shawn Mesheau on forced amalgamation
Just before Tantramar Report closed up shop for 2021, we spoke with Sackville mayor Shawn Mesheau to get his reaction to news from the provincial government, announcing they had ignored a proposed alternative to forced amalgamation of Sackville, Dorchester, and surrounding areas.
As we embark on the year that will see the town of Sackville dissolved and reformed as a larger entity, the so-called Entity 40 — we revisit that conversation on Tantramar Report.
Mount A hires new chaplain
Mount Allison University has hired a new chaplain. Reverend Ellie Hummel will be joining Mount Allison as multi-faith chaplain and spiritual care coordinator starting on March 7th. Hummel is an ordained minister with the United Church of Canada. She previously worked as chaplain and coordinator of the multi-faith and spiritual centre at Concordia University in Montreal, and before that oversaw congregations in rural Saskatchewan.… Continue
Tantramar Report Year in Review: Charlie Burke, Mount Allison Students’ Union
2021 has been eventful on the Mount Allison campus, and MASU president Charlie Burke joins us on Tantramar Report to take a look back at the year that was supposed to see a return to a more ‘normal’ daily life, but has been marked by many changes. We talk about Mount A’s progress in addressing the persistent problem of sexual violence, about loss of services at the Sackville hospital, and what reconciliation means on campus.… Continue
7 confirmed, 2 presumptive cases at Mt A, as school announces online classes in January
Just over a week ago, Mount Allison University was discussing plans to return to full capacity in its classrooms for 2022. But with new cases on campus, as well as the arrival of Omicron in New Brunswick, those plans have changed.
Late Friday afternoon, University president Jean-Paul Boudreau announced to students and staff that the school would move classes online for at least the first two weeks of the January term.
On Saturday morning, another missive from the university went out, updating the case count at the school. There are currently nine cases, seven confirmed and two presumptive cases from those who tested positive with a rapid test, and are awaiting confirmation via lab PCR testing.
The university says that anyone potentially exposed to the virus in a class or exam will be contacted directly by the school as soon as possible. But it also advises students who have been on campus in the past two weeks to implement regular rapid test screening, and to avoid facilities with vulnerable populations.
In addition to the move to online classes until at least January 24, Mount Allison is also ramping up mask requirements for 2022, requiring them to be worn inside and outside on campus, with exceptions only for eating and drinking.
The university’s residences will still be open on January 3 for the return of students, but the school is advising those who can to remain home as long as possible. Online classes will begin January 10 and run till at least January 24.… Continue
Wednesday on TR: Mt A reports 5th case; a look at proposed new pedway project; the case for reviving NB Trails Association
Listen to Tantramar Report for the following stories:
Mt A reports five cases and cancels in person exams
Mount Allison University is reporting another case of COVID-19 in its off campus community, making five active cases currently at the school. In response to the recent cases and the arrival of the Omicron variant in New Brunswick, Mount A is making major changes to operations, including cancelling all in person exams scheduled for the rest of the week. Students planning to travel home for the break are being asked to do so as soon as possible. The library will move to online service, and the athletic centre and Owens Art Gallery are closed. Access to campus is being restricted to staff, students and faculty only. More at the web story here.
The latest on a $2 million pedway proposal
At Monday’s Sackville town council meeting, CAO Jamie Burke told councillors that town staff had already reached out to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the recently revived proposal for a pedway over the Transcanada highway where it bisects the Transcanada Trail. Burke said the town’s plan is to consult the provincial department, and then come back to council for a formal endorsement of the project if necessary. Last week, the Sackville Footbridge Working Group told council they had secured a $1 million anonymous donation to go towards the construction of the pedway, about 50% of the projected cost.
Interview with former head of NB Trails Association, Jane McCulloch
Tantramar Report speaks with Jane McCulloch, the former executive director of NB Trails and national director of trails for the Trans Canada Trail, now working as a private consultant.… Continue
Mt A cancels in-person exams after fifth case of COVID-19 reported
Mount Allison University is reporting another case of COVID-19 in its off campus community, making a total of five active cases currently at the school.
In response to those cases and the arrival of the Omicron variant in New Brunswick, Mount A announced major changes to operations on Tuesday, including cancelling all in person exams scheduled for the rest of the week. Students planning to travel home for the break are being asked to do so as soon as possible. The library will move to online service, and the athletic centre and Owens Art Gallery are closed. Access to campus is being restricted to staff, students and faculty only.
The first off-campus case was reported by the school on Friday, December 10, followed by three cases in people living on campus on Monday, December 13. Tuesday’s new case off campus makes five total active cases at the university, and all involved are currently self-isolating according to a letter from President Jean-Paul Boudreau Tuesday.
The university recently announced plans to lift capacity restrictions on its classrooms in January, a move which may now be reconsidered in light of active cases and the government of New Brunswick’s new restrictions inspired by the discovery of the Omicron variant in the province.
Spokesperson Laura Dillman said Tuesday morning the university was still analyzing the details of the government’s recent announcement. Dillman said, “Mount Allison is part of a weekly call with Public Health and the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour and will be asking for clarification on the PSE sector.”… Continue
Mount A reports three cases, Port Elgin school moves online for the week
Mount Allison University is reporting three presumptive cases of COVID-19 that were identified through rapid testing. Three people who live on campus reported positive rapid tests results directly to the university and are currently self-isolating and awaiting a PCR test to confirm results.
In an email to staff and students on Monday evening, VP International and Student Affairs Anne Comfort says that at this point, these cases are not deemed to be connected to a case in the off campus community identified last week.
Comfort says that all known close contacts of the positive cases are also self-isolating and awaiting testing. The university is delivering rapid test kits to all residents and delivering meals to all those self-isolating.
The university is encouraging students in residence who are without symptoms to take a rapid test, and prohibiting visitors in residence, including other Mount Allison students.
Rapid test kits are available at the Mount Allison Students Union office or the Wellness Centre, both located in the student centre. Rapid test kits are also available on Tuesdays from 10am to 2:30pm in the Tantramar Civic Centre parking lot.
Port Elgin Regional School online all week
On Monday, Port Elgin Regional School had an operational day due to a COVID case in the community, and the school will continue on at home learning for the rest of the week.
Due to shared bussing, this resulted in three bus cancellations on Monday affecting students at Salem, Marshview and Tantramar Regional High School.… Continue
Tantramar Report: Black Duck to open a specialty grocery store, incoming Mount A students must declare vax status on campus
Locals on Bridge Street have been eying a mysterious new “Quality Grocery” sign hanging next to the Black Duck Café. The storefront, which is also owned by the co-owners of the Black Duck (Sarah Evans and Alan Barbour), has been vacant for years. Barbour and Evans have been working away at the space, with the blinds closed, but Barbour says that Sackvillians can expect a soft opening of a new specialty grocery store any day now. The store, so far unnamed beyond “Black Duck Quality Grocery,” will be stocked with frozen or refrigerated foods from the Black Duck’s kitchen, specialty food products, and local farmers’ unsold produce from Saturday’s market. Barbour also dreams of using any leftover produce in the Black Duck’s kitchen, to prevent food waste.
The Sackville Memorial Hospital is back open as of 8am this morning, but will be closed overnight this Monday, September 6th, due to a lack of available physicians.
Students at Mount Allison University are required to disclose their COVID-19 vaccine status both online through the Connect portal, and in person at a drop-in verification site. Mount Allison passed a mandatory mask and vaccine policy weeks ago, which required all students and staff to get the jab or be required to undergo regular testing and increasing public health measures. Before October 1st, all students need to indicate whether they’ve had two shots or not, which will determine what their everyday classroom experience will look like.… Continue