Two months for deal on bus passes

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Two months for deal on bus passes

Users of Prince Albert transit services will save 25 per cent on their bus passes for the months of October and November.

The City made the announcement on Sept. 22, saying that some unplanned and unscheduled breakdowns are the reason.

“We are doing everything we can to bring back reliability to our transit system and this discount is a small appreciation to the transit users who have been impacted by the disruptions.” said Mohammad Kraishan, Engineering Services Manager for the City of Prince Albert in a news release.

The discount is offered as a way to thank users for their patience.

Passes can be purchases at vendor locations throughout the City. Locations are:

    City Hall – 1084 Central Avenue

    Crescent Heights Pharmacy – 2805 6th Avenue East

    Gray’s Chemists – 681 15th Street West

    PBCN Petro Canada – 3451 2nd Avenue West

    Riverbank Development Corporation – 1350 15th Avenue West

    Saskpolytechnic – Student Lounge at Technical Building

    Medical Pharmacy – 1335 Central Avenue

Community Paramedic learns on the job

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Community Paramedic learns on the job

After 20 years working in the Emergency Medical Services field, Mike Dansereau is still keeping his skills sharp and learning new ones.

Dansereau, one of a group of paramedics to be honoured with a Governor General Exemplary Service Medal (20 years) said it was a surprise to get the medal.

“It was pretty much a surprise, we don’t keep track of awards all that often,” he said. “It’s been so busy it did catch me by surprise when I heard about it initially.”

In the description of why he got the award, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan said there were multiple reasons to acknowledge Dansereau’s work.

He continually demonstrates the skills required to be an excellent community paramedic including new treatment skills, he collaborates with an array of health professionals, his patient’s families and makes a health care plan for his patients.

“There’s always continuing education and there’s always an evolution to the job no matter which position you’re in,” said Dansereau.

He has worked as a Community Paramedic for about a year now, which involves a different type of care. He will see patients in a care home then consult with their doctor on a treatment plan or prescriptions.

This allows the patient to be left in the home rather than being taken to a hospital.

“We take care of the elderly in care homes mainly. It’s quite an interesting position. I kind of like it,” he said.

Most people that need care will end up spending some time waiting before seeing a doctor but the Community Paramedic concept cuts out the waiting time.

“We phone the family doctor right from their bedside after we do the assessment and they’re usually able to prescribe something or there is blood work that we can draw up while we’re there,” explained Dansereau.

For the last year, he has also done work on behalf of Public Health, administering COVID-19 tests and now helping administer vaccines as well. He and others in the Community Paramedic program can go to the person needing the test or vaccine if they are not mobile.

Dansereau trained at SAIT in Alberta but then chose to move to Prince Albert, his home town, so he could work and live near family. He even delivered the Daily Herald during Grade 6.

“My parents have always been here so I wanted to get my career in the area where my parents and all their friends live. I got to take care of some of them in the 20 years I’ve worked here,” he said. “It’s been an interesting career.”

One part of his work with Parkland Ambulance that he likes to focus on is the team aspect of the company and the job.

“We don’t like to individualize ourselves,” he said. “With Parkland, it’s a team effort and we have a very awesome team that we work with here.”

Dansereau was presented with his medal by Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty at Government House in Regina on Sept. 15.

City will discuss potential app during budget talks

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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City will discuss potential app during budget talks

The pros and cons of a downloaded app along with exactly what it should do will be part of City Council’s fall budget discussions.

Along with several other items, council voted in favour of putting the idea on the table following a presentation by Kiley Bear, acting Director of Corporate Services.

“It has value and there’s opportunity there,” said Bear during an Executive Committee meeting on Monday, Sept. 20.

She explained that certain city services like registering for youth activities, transit info – especially live tracking of the buses – or airline arrivals and departures are accessed frequently on the City’s website.

“An app brings them together in one location so you can find them easier,” explained Bear.

The City’s web traffic numbers show that 69 per cent of users are on a mobile or tablet.

An app also allows for push notifications, allowing residents to opt into notices that they see as alerts rather than an email or text.

Staff talked to the City of Moose Jaw, which is using an app already, and said they have seen a steady uptake of the app they launched in late 2020 with 7,157 downloads (representing 21.7 per cent of the population.)

Two options are currently being looked at by staff in the IT and Communications department.

The first, called My Civic Mobile App is what Moose Jaw uses. The app allows people to make a request for service. The website and app together create a database that allows staff to follow the requests and track their progress to completion.

It is GPS enabled and pinned to a map. The estimated cost to implement this version is $8,529 along with an annual $12,000 maintenance budget.

Alternatively the Citizen Portal, the option favoured by the department, goes further and allows users to create an account and customize their dashboard to the information they are interested in.

Examples used are one resident wanting only information on garbage and recycling times and road closures while another may opt to see their utility bills.

The estimated cost to implement this version is $10,000 along with an annual $19,000 maintenance budget.

Council voted in favour of sending the request to the budget discussions, but Councillors Blake Edwards and Don Cody were both opposed.

Homicide victim identified

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Homicide victim identified

Prince Albert Police have confirmed the identity of a man killed over the weekend in a homicide.

John Joe Besskkaystare , age 25, was found dead on the 2900 block of Second Avenue West early Sunday morning.

Prince Albert Police Service were called to the site shortly after 1:00 am on Sept. 19.

The following day, second-degree homicide charges were announced against Clarissa Campbell, age 43 and Chandler Laliberte, age 22.

Both have already made their first court appearance where they were remanded into custody until their next court appearance on Oct. 4.

No other arrests are expected.  

Two charged in Sunday homicide

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Two charged in Sunday homicide

Two people are facing charges following a homicide early Sunday morning in Prince Albert

Prince Albert Police have charged 43-year-old Clarissa Campbell and 22-year-old Chandler Laliberte of Prince Albert with second degree murder.

Early on September 19, officers were called to a disturbance in the 2900 block of 2nd Avenue West and found a 25-year-old male deceased.

Both of the accused were arrested in a home in the 400 Block of 9th Street East the same morning.

Campbell and Laliberte both made their first court appearance in Provincial Court on Monday, Sept. 20 and were remanded into custody until their next court appearance on October 4.

Police said there are no outstanding suspects and no further arrests are expected.

QR code allows view of vaccine record

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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QR code allows view of vaccine record

People who have created a MySaskHealthRecord account can now view their record of having received the COVID-19 vaccine with a one page record that includes a QR code 

A Quick Response (QR) code is similar to a bar code but holds more information. 

“This is the next, improved, version of Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 vaccination record,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said in a news release. “It has been something that travelers, businesses and organizations have been asking for.

The code is not the only acceptable proof, however, as the card given when people receive their vaccine is also considered proof to meet the newly announced health measures. 

Wallet cards showing vaccines administered will also be considered acceptable proof of vaccination to meet the conditions of the recent public health measures.

The new one-page format replaces the COVID-19 vaccination record launched in Saskatchewan in August, which does not include a QR code. 

The new format also includes the individual’s name, type of vaccine administered, date, country of issuance and lot number.

While cards may be useable at restaurants and other venues, the QR code certificate is planned to align with the federal government’s work on a national solution that includes the level of proof required to cross a border when travelling internationally. 

The certificates are not required yet, but by October 1, venues including restaurants, bars, gyms and events will be required to have attendees show proof of vaccination

By giving people access to the new format earlier, the government is hoping residents will have the time to retrieve the information needed and become familiar with the process. 

Businesses that will be checking for proof of vaccination can opt to download and use the free QR code verifier app. The app will be able to scan the customer’s code and will show green if vaccinated and red if they are not. 

The app will be available for download on both Google Play or Apple App stores.  

The province says the information is secure, and is not viewed/saved/retained in the scanning process.  

“Fully vaccinated” means 14-days after receiving:

 – the second of two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna) or AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD (all interchangeable between the two doses), or 

  – 1 dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.

By the end of September, citizens may also, if they choose, acquire for free the Saskatchewan Vaccine Wallet app (SK Vax Wallet) from Google Play or Apple App stores to download their vaccine record and have it easily accessible in the SK Vax Wallet app on their phone. 

To get your COVID-19 vaccination certificate with QR code through MySaskHealthRecord (or to create a new account), visit www.ehealthsask.ca/MySaskHealthRecord/MySaskHealthRecord/. Once an account is created, individuals may access their COVID-19 vaccination record as well as their complete immunization history, lab test results, including COVID-19 tests, and other health history. It may take up to 24 hours for your record to be updated, after your account is activated.

To see how to access your QR code, click one of the following links:

Mobile: https://youtu.be/CTAeJJUIUn8

Desktop: https://youtu.be/0GCS4EICK7o

SHA activates 2nd phase surge plans

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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SHA activates 2nd phase surge plans

All hospitals in Saskatchewan are entering the second phase of readiness in anticipation of an even higher number of COVID-19 patients in the next six weeks.

The SHA made the announcement on Sept. 17, with the changes effective immediately.

“All teams are required to identify and activate, without delay, slowdowns that will enable staff to assess the high priority COVID services and ICU and acute care services within our hospitals and across our system,” said Scott Livingstone, CEO of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

In order to meet the demand for COVID treatment, there will be a reduction in elective procedures – among others – so that staff can be re-tasked to COVID patient care.

The staff that will be re-tasked right now are SHA staff, but some doctors that have private practices along with the training needed to work with COVID patients could also be used.

“It is targeted to those that work within the SHA and with us, whether they are family physicians, primary care providers in rural Saskatchewan that provide services today in hospital or long term-care facilities,” Livingstone said.

Hospitals in smaller communities are more likely to see alternate level patients moved from larger centres to free up beds in those communities for critical care and ICU patients.

The province will increase its ICU bed capacity from the normal 79 to 175, a large bump from the 130 it is at now. Of the 175 ICU beds, 125 are estimated to be COVID patients while the remaining 50 would be likely to be non-COVID.

Hospitals will have flex capacity for a total 350 non-ICU patients, an increase of 95 from the previous 255.

Projections on any case numbers and the likelihood all beds will be needed are based on no other intervening measures, but yesterday the province re-instated the mandatory indoor masking rule for public places and will limit access to services such as restaurants, concerts and bars for unvaccinated people starting October 1.

Delta is 200 per cent more contagious than original variations of COVID-19, and that has impacted the speed at which cases have been seen in the health care system.

“The rate of increase in our ICU census right now, is increasing at six times faster than we saw in wave three,“ said Derek Miller, Site Commander of the provincial Emergency Operations Centre overseeing the pandemic.

Miller said the peak has not been reached yet as there is a two-week lag between being infected and hospitalization, if it occurs. The system is at a critical juncture and the highest pressure point is not far in the future.

“The danger we face is that this will escalate to the point where many Saskatchewan residents won’t be able to reliably access critical care or emergency services,” Livingstone said. “That point is not far off. We already know that our ICUs and emergency rooms are operating at over capacity.”

Victoria Hospital bypass

In Prince Albert, Victoria Hospital has been on bypass off and on for some of the last several days as the beds are filled with COVID patients, primarily from the North East and North West regions.

“Bypass means a planned approach to make sure that all patients that need ICU services are managed in a way that balances services across the province,” SHA chief medical health officer Dr. Susan Shaw said. “For patients needing ICU, they will not go first to their nearest hospital if it is on bypass, they will be taken to another hospital in the province first.”

Last Friday, seven patients had been diverted from Victoria Hospital to other locations in Saskatchewan in the previous week.

“The pressure on our hospitals is a direct result of the ongoing pandemic of the unvaccinated,” Livingstone said. “The result is that many Saskatchewan residents will now go without the health services they need to preserve their quality of life.”

Age of patients

As Delta has surged across Saskatchewan, and other parts of Canada, health care staff have noticed a change in the demographics of those admitted to hospital.

“The Delta variant just does not care about your age, it just cares that you are not vaccinated in terms of putting you at risk,” said Shaw. “Most patients in ICU due to COVID last week were not elderly and they certainly were not chronically unwell. They were unvaccinated.”

She attributed the age change to the high uptake of the vaccine from people in the higher age groups.

Potential for triage

In the spring of 2021, the province update its triage protocol in the event the demand for beds exceeded capacity of staff to treat patients, a move Shaw said was necessary.

“It would be irresponsible to not have a framework and it would be irresponsible to not talk about and prepare people to think about it,” Shaw said.

The plan involved input from a variety of perspectives beyond a pure medical decision and essentially allows medical staff to allocate care based on the likelihood of the survival of the patient.

“It’s evidence informed. It’s been reviewed by the Human Rights Commission,” said Shaw. “It uses criteria that are based on medical evidence. It looks at who is most likely to survive an intensive care admission and if we ever get to the point we have to use it, referrals will be made”

A doctor and an ethics team have an initial discussion on treatment available and then refer the information to physician and ethicist in another facility before a decision is made, she explained.

“At this stage of pandemic, we have not formally activated triage but as I said before, that does not mean that decision are not being made today that have a direct impact on patient care,” Livingstone explained. “We are seeing procedures postponed almost each and every day because we do not have an available ICU bed if that patient requires post-surgical intervention.”

Mental health and addictions services will be maintained as will cancer treatments.

Staff will be redeployed to areas that are facing increasing increased demand and patients will start noticing the impact next week, said Livingstone.

Four people charged in Bruno drug bust

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Four people charged in Bruno drug bust

Sub: One woman from Little Red, one from La Ronge, one wanted in Prince Albert.

A suspicious vehicle let Humboldt officers to a discovered of 1.16 kilograms of suspected methamphetamine, 37.9 grams of suspected GHB, drug trafficking paraphernalia and ammunition, brass knuckles and pepper spray.

Four people were arrested and charged, including Trinity Mackenzie, age 20, of Little Red River Cree Nation, Tyra Dawn Ratt, age 20 of La Ronge who was also wanted on outstanding warrants from Prince Albert.

On September 14, 2021 at approximately 1:30 p.m., Humboldt RCMP officers were patrolling in Bruno and saw a suspicious parked vehicle.

Officers approached the vehicle, which had four occupants in it, and observed a weapon in plain sight.

The vehicle was subsequently searched. Officer located and seized 1.16 kg of suspected methamphetamine, 37.9 grams of suspected gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), drug trafficking paraphernalia, as well as ammunition, brass knuckles and pepper spray.

The four occupants were arrested.

Charges were as follows:

Trinity Mckenzie is charged with:

– 1 count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

– 1 count, possession of property obtained by crime, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code

– 1 count, obstruct police officer, Section 129(a), Criminal Code

– 1 count, fail to comply with probation order, Section 733.1(1), Criminal Code

– 1 count, fail to comply with release order, Section 145(5)(a), Criminal Code

McKenzie was also arrested on warrants from Saskatoon Police Service. She has appeared in court and will next appear on September 20, 2021.

Tyra Dawn Ratt is charged with:

– 1 count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

– 1 count, possession of property obtained by crime, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code

– 1 count, obstruction, Section 129(1), Criminal Code

– 2 counts, possession of a prohibited weapon, Section 91(2), Criminal Code

– 2 counts, fail to comply with release order, Section 145(5), Criminal Code

Ratt was also arrested on warrants from Prince Albert Police Service and Saskatoon Police Service. She has appeared in court and will next appear on September 20, 2021.

Victor Bairos age 54, of Saskatoon is charged with:

– 1 count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

– 1 count, possession of property obtained by crime, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code

– 1 count, possession of weapon contrary to order, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code

Bairos has appeared in court and he will next appear on November 22, 2021.

Lindsay Siemens, age 58, of Saskatoon is charged with:

– 1 count, possession for the purpose of trafficking, Section 5(2), Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

– 1 count, possession of property obtained by crime, Section 354(1)(a), Criminal Code

– 1 count, possession of weapon contrary to order, Section 117.01(3), Criminal Code

Siemens has appeared in court and he will next appear on November 22, 2021.

and he will next appear on November 22, 2021.

Man missing from near boat dock

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Man missing from near boat dock

Prince Albert Police are asking for the public help in locating Stephen Stieb, age 39, who has been missing for several days.

Stiebe was last seen in the area of the boat launch, near the 300 Block of River Street West earlier this week.

He is described as being approximately 6’5” tall with brown hair and hazel eyes. He weighs between 250 and 275 pounds.

Anyone with information about Stieb’s location is asked to contact Prince Albert Police at 306-953-4222.

Indoor dining, bars, entertainment and gyms will all require vaccine proof

Susan McNeil, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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Indoor dining, bars, entertainment and gyms will all require vaccine proof

Proving you are vaccinated or are negative for COVID-19 will be required in Saskatchewan as of October 1 in some businesses and for all government employees.

The province announced on Sept. 16 that new measures were needed to control the spread of the virus and to ease the burden on the health care system.

“For the past several months our government has been among the most patient in terms of providing our residents with the opportunity and access to the vaccines,” said Premier Scott Moe on Sept. 16.

“We have remained patient as a government and we have exhausted all these avenues because we know how effective vaccines can people when people choose to take one. But today that patience has come to an end. If you are unvaccinated and living in Saskatchewan, it’s time to get your shot.

He said that waiting for the 20 to 30 per cent of residents who remain unvaccinated has gone on long enough, before announcing restrictions on how unvaccinated people can go to locations such as restaurants or events.

“Now it is unfortunately going to create consequences for you,” said Moe in a Facebook address. “The vast majority of Saskatchewan people that have done the right thing are tired of those that have chosen not to do the right thing. Our province is not going to wait for you as we move forward.”

Proof required

Effective October 1 a provincial requirement for proof of vaccination or negative test will be implemented for public access to a list of establishments, businesses and event venues that bring groups of people together, including:

-Indoor dining at restaurants;

-Nightclubs, bars, taverns and other licensed establishments;

-Event and entertainment venues, including conference centres, casinos, movie theatres, concert venues, live-music venues, museums, and indoor facilities hosting ticketed sporting events;

-Indoor fitness centres, and gyms.

Proof of vaccination will not be required for the following:

-Retail businesses, including grocery stores;

-Places of worship;

– Fast food restaurants offering takeout and delivery;

-Health care services, professional services, or personal services;

– Hotels or other lodging;

-Facilities hosting non-ticketed amateur sporting events, including youth athletics and recreational leagues;

-Business meetings and places of business closed to the general public, unless otherwise directed by the business or employer;

– Private gatherings held at an indoor public residence.

Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the proof of vaccination or negative test requirement.

A QR code will be launched on Sept. 20 to prove vaccination but people can also use the card they received when they got their vaccine or a screen shot of their digital vaccination record.

How the proof of negative test requirement will work is still being developed but will involve a negative PCR or rapid antigen test. The government will work immediately to provide rapid tests to be used at home.

“The idea that any resident or family will be able to easily obtain these rapid tests is the goal,” said Moe.

The province is planning to have the tests available from several locations operated by the Saskatchewan Health Authority and partner agencies.

Hospitalizations include all ages

Dr. Saqib Shahab gave an update on the situation in the hospitals, saying that all ages are being impacted, but the serious cases are in the unvaccinated population.

“Delta is twice as transmissible, twice as severe and is causing hospitalizations in the unvaccinated like never before.” Shahab.

The largest percentage of unvaccinated people are young people with 30 per cent not taking up the vaccine.

However, hospitalizations with Delta are happening in every age group.

At the moment, the age break down of COVID hospitalizations is: one under 11, two in the 12 – 19 group, six in their 20s, 12 in their 30s, 15 in their 40s, 21 in their 50s, 27 in their 60s, 27 in their 70d and 18 in those 80 and older.

Results of increased immunization will be apparent in about six weeks, but the reduction brought on by mandatory masking should be evident in the next five or so days, he said.

 The start of the school year is also making a huge difference in the case numbers and the difference between the 2020 year and the 2021 year is the amount of COVID in the community.

“When we started school in 2020, case numbers were very low,” said Shahab “This time, school has started when case numbers are very high. It is astounding to see that 98 per cent of children who test positive are in households who are unvaccinated.”

Children that are 12 in this calendar year are eligible to be vaccinated.

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