This just in from Edmonton Zone President Mike Cava:

Hi All

Mother nature has provided an excellent example; grass is getting greener, leaves are starting to bud out, that things will carry on in spite of COVID-19.

I hope that this email finds you healthy. The situation has been changing daily, with no clear vision going forward. We have been receiving information from international, national, provincial and local levels. There have been some complaints that the CSP did not come out with a policy statement quickly enough. There has also been complaints that the CSP has gone too far. For those of you who are unhappy with the CSP’s response, please try to understand that our first priority is the health and safety of our membership (think “scene approach, ensuring no further dangers!”). We also understand that individual members have different levels of risk tolerance.

Based on this, this is what we know:

  1. As per the direction of the provincial government, all summer events will be cancelled or postponed; this includes 5 Peaks events, the MS150, the ITU, the Sourdough Raft race, Bingos, the Awards Banquet and the annual general meeting.
  2. As the vast majority of members will not have worked their normal two fundraising/summer events this season, we are modifying the policy to say that you must work a total of 3 events over the 2 year period; 2019-21 seasons.
  3. As we are currently doing no fund raising during this period, the zone executive has severely trimmed our budget.
  4. The National Altitude conference and the spring division meeting are both cancelled.  There will be some Microsoft Teams meeting to get the “Business” portion of the meetings completed.
  5. National has cancelled all 2020 fall recert classes. Patrollers who register this fall will have their certification extended to December 2021.
  6. National has cancelled all of the Instructor/ Instructor Trainer classes for 2020.
  7. We are planning on have a Fall rookie class. Depending on how the pandemic progresses, the format of the course may have to be changed.
  8. We are currently planning on patrolling during the upcoming 2020/21 season at all of the resorts served by the Edmonton Zone.

As there will be no recert classes this fall, we have been asked to provide some continuing education opportunities. With minimal opportunities to use our Advanced First Aid skills, since the early end of the 2019-20 season, there is the possibility that we may  get rusty. We have heard your concerns and brought these concerns to National. Locally, we are looking at various ideas and we are always open for more. Please let us know of your ideas/ concern

Stay Active. Stay Healthy. Stay Safe.

Your Executive Team

Edmonton Zone Communications During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Many of you will have questions as we navigate through these uncharted waters. Please address these to the relevant Zone Executive member or Patrol Leader. Contact details for these can be found here.

As 2020 progresses, there may be a number of important communications from the zone executive. Please take the time to read and, if necessary, respond to them.

Uncertainty shouldn’t get in the way of having fun (this individual is a professional cabinet maker on a closed circuit, please do not attempt whatever it is he appears to be attempting!).
COVID-19 Update from Zone President Mike Cava