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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Signal Hill, AB

Home Care Signal Hill, AB

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Canadians, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in our country have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Signal Hill gets harder without someone by their side. However, as seniors grow older, sometimes they cannot live independently without someone by their side to provide care. Unfortunately, many older Canadians aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Signal Hill, AB is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Signal Hill, AB

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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“I highly recommend choosing this company. Excellent care toward their clients and willing to answer any questions. Reliable, friendly and supportive!”

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“Very friendly and reliable people! Easy to work with and provide exceptional care. Would recommend to anyone!”

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“ABC provides very caring, reliable and qualified support. I would highly recommend them. With their excellent staff, they make the process for getting care as easy and worry free as possible.”

Greg W.
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“Very happy with the exceptional care.”

Candace R.
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“ABC provided great care and we would highly recommend and will use again.”

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“Friendly staff and reliable service, would highly recommend!”

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“Great people! Calgary needed this service and now it’s here”

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“So professional and caring! I am very happy with the care provided to my loved one. Would highly recommend them.”

Pamela W.
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“Always Best Care was amazing all around. The care our loved one received was fantastic. They were reliable, considerate and kind. I highly recommend their service for your family member!”

Jocelyn W.
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“Very trustworthy owners with huge experience in the industry. Highly recommend”

James C.

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Signal Hill, AB?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Signal Hill, AB

Types of Elderly Care in Signal Hill, AB

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Signal Hill, AB
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Signal Hill, AB
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite activities and hobbies while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Hilltop Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Signal Hill, AB
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy other activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress helps reduce the risks of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local L'Opera Italian Restaurant or visit Signal Hill, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

When it comes to non-medical home care, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Signal Hill, AB

Benefits of Home Care in Signal Hill, AB

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

Studies on aging have found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Signal Hill, AB, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the CBC, aging in place can be more affordable than living in a retirement home, which can cost thousands of dollars a month, with no extra care included.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With ABC's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Signal Hill, AB

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, some provinces in Canada help cover costs associated with home care. Review your province's laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

 Senior Care Signal Hill, AB

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Signal Hill, AB understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Signal Hill, AB

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Signal Hill, AB

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Courtyard Care Center
  • Regent Villa
  • WellPath Partners
  • Atlantic Memorial Healthcare Center
  • Vista Del Mar Senior Livingtio chano
  • Bay Towers at Bixby Knolls
Home Care Signal Hill, AB

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Signal Hill, AB

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced ABC Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your Care Plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Signal Hill, AB 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Signal Hill, AB

Latest News in Signal Hill, AB

Conservative MP has travelled to California twice since March for 'essential house maintenance'

Calgary-Signal Hill Conservative MP Ron Liepert travelled twice to Palm Desert, Calif., since March, his office confirmed Saturday, so he could deal with "essential house maintenance issues."Liepert, who was Alberta's health and wellness minister under Premier Ed Stelmach, owns a home in the city, which is located in the Coachella Valley.A spokesperson in Liepert's office said Liepert has travelled twice since March, including during the current parliamentary recess."There has been no non-essential travel,...

Calgary-Signal Hill Conservative MP Ron Liepert travelled twice to Palm Desert, Calif., since March, his office confirmed Saturday, so he could deal with "essential house maintenance issues."

Liepert, who was Alberta's health and wellness minister under Premier Ed Stelmach, owns a home in the city, which is located in the Coachella Valley.

A spokesperson in Liepert's office said Liepert has travelled twice since March, including during the current parliamentary recess.

"There has been no non-essential travel, and he has complied with all public health guidance, including the Alberta border testing program, each time he has travelled," the spokesperson said in an email.

The spokesperson did not immediately return a request from CBC News inquiring what specific maintenance Liepert had to resolve at his Palm Desert home.

Global Affairs Canada advised Canadians against non-essential travel outside the country until further notice. Alberta also advises against non-essential travel on its travel restrictions page.

International travellers must isolate for 14 days after they return to Alberta unless they participate in the international border testing pilot.

Latest politician who travelled despite direction

Liepert is the second MP revealed to have travelled amid calls by officials for Canadians to stay home during the pandemic.

On Jan. 1, the NDP removed MP Niki Ashton from her critic roles after she admitted she travelled to Greece to see an ill relative, not informing NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh beforehand, according to the party.

"While we are sympathetic to Ms. Ashton's situation and understand her need to be with her family, millions of Canadians are following public health guidelines, even when it made it impossible for them to visit sick or aging relatives," read a statement from the NDP.

WATCH | NDP MP removed from critic roles over travel to Greece:

Various provincial politicians have also come under fire for taking trips and vacations while under strict lockdown measures, including Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips, who resigned, and Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Tracy Allard.

During his time as Alberta's health minister, Liepert faced criticism over his handling of the 2009 swine flu pandemic, with critics intimating that he mishandled the province's immunization program.

CBC News asked a spokesperson for the Conservative Party whether there might be any plans to discipline Liepert for the travel.

"Since becoming Leader, Mr. [Erin] O'Toole has continued to emphasize the necessity for all members of caucus to follow all public health guidance including travel advisories," said Chelsea Tucker, O'Toole's press secretary, in an email. "It is our understanding that all members of caucus have."

Liepert easily keeps Calgary Signal Hill a Conservative riding

Article contentFormer Alberta cabinet minister Ron Liepert’s coast to victory in Signal Hill Monday took a sombre turn as he and dozens of campaign volunteers watched the Liberals form the new government.But Liepert, who ran a strong campaign and had been door-knocking since early August, said he saw the signs of a Stephen Harper loss months ago.“I saw it right away, in the first-week of door-knocking, there really was a lot of dislike for the Prime Minister at the door, I was actually surprised by it....

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Former Alberta cabinet minister Ron Liepert’s coast to victory in Signal Hill Monday took a sombre turn as he and dozens of campaign volunteers watched the Liberals form the new government.

But Liepert, who ran a strong campaign and had been door-knocking since early August, said he saw the signs of a Stephen Harper loss months ago.

“I saw it right away, in the first-week of door-knocking, there really was a lot of dislike for the Prime Minister at the door, I was actually surprised by it.

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“But 10 years is a long time, and in this media world we live in, you’re constantly under scrutiny. And this campaign result is really just the culmination of a lot of frustrations.”

Despite the Conservative party’s crushing defeat outside of the prairies, Liepert was easily able to keep the Signal Hill seat Conservative, clearly beating out Liberal candidate and lawyer Kerry Cundal and NDP candidate Khalis Ahmed.

Liepert is well-known in Calgary’s political circles, best known for his days at the Alberta legislature, and serving for the PCs as education, health, energy and finance minister from 2004 to 2012 before spending three years in the private sector.

In spite of his popularity, Liepert admits the Conservatives nationally will have to start looking for a new leader and use the loss as an opportunity to rebuild the party over the next four years.

“There really was a lot of top-down control from the Prime Minister’s office.

“I can’t imagine Harper staying on for another term, fighting another election.

“The PCs have to broaden our appeal to include everyone, the entire middle spectrum.”

Ron Alexander, a long-time Tory and Liepert supporter in Signal Hill, agreed, adding once Justin Trudeau started leading the polls over the past week, Harper’s demise was almost certain.

“I think a lot of people will look at that and will want to vote for a winner.

“It’s very tough to carry through to a fourth mandate. And Trudeau, he’s that young, attractive, sexy candidate.

“And I don’t think Harper is doing himself any favours by saying it’s not a popularity contest, when really, it is a popularity contest.”

But Liberal candidate Kerry Cundal says, under a Trudeau government, the country can now look forward to more investment in the middle class, and infrastructure projects that will give Calgarians jobs, including the Green Line LRT.

“The big thing is jobs, from engineers to gas fitters, people need jobs and we need to create jobs through investment and infrastructure projects.”

Plans in the works to commemorate Signal Hill's 100th anniversary

As Signal Hill’s stony numbers near their first century, a local artist and a city councillor are determined to keep the site’s history alive.“It’s one of the most authentic sites of First World War history in Western Canada,” said Coun. Richard Pootmans, who has ...

As Signal Hill’s stony numbers near their first century, a local artist and a city councillor are determined to keep the site’s history alive.

“It’s one of the most authentic sites of First World War history in Western Canada,” said Coun. Richard Pootmans, who has put forward a motion that would designate the numbers a municipal historic resource.

The numbers were assembled on what’s now called Battalion Park as a symbolic exercise, before thousands of local soldiers went off to the trenches. But not everyone knows that.

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“About 15 years ago, when I saw the stones, I thought ‘Wow, what are they?’ And I asked some people, and some said they were real estate numbers; someone said they were put there to help the planes land,” said local artist Phyllis Wheaton, who has even heard theories the numbers are hockey-related.

Wheaton is leading 20 people in a concert tribute this month to commemorate the little-known history of the park.

Camp Sarcee was set up in December 1915 on land leased from Tsuu T’ina Nation. The military expanded from a summer-only camp to prepare soldiers for trench warfare, housing 45,000 troops — the second largest military site in the country — through 20 battalions.

Those battalions would be marked within the camp by vehicle-sized stone assemblies, following British military tradition. But the large numbers seen today are part of symbolic, oversized markers assembled to practise troop logistics and reinforce battalion pride before the men left in the summer of 1916. Many never returned home.

Most of the roughly 20 oversized markers were destroyed in the 1950s when the military constructed a mess hall nearby at Harvey Barracks. Today, roughly 16,000 to 20,000 whitewashed field and river stones remain, with 11 digits forming four battalion numbers that can be seen from miles away.

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Originally called Cairn Hill, the city renamed the site Signal Hill in 1982, stoking public confusion over the numbers’ purpose. And while the “113” geoglyph at the top of the hill was declared a protected Alberta Heritage Site, the other numbers were once moved.

The sloping hill needed to be upgraded, and a developer had plans to bulldoze the stones for new houses. Instead, in 1988, the city had the stones painstakingly moved 200 metres east through a string-grid method, and moved back three years later when the hill was corrected.

“The stones almost had a mind of their own, it’s almost spiritual. Because they weren’t gong to be destroyed; it was all in their time,” Wheaton said.

Local military legions then put a cenotaph and storyboards on the 39,199 square-metre field. They dedicated it as Battalion Park in 1991, and the developer set up walking paths and stairs in the surrounding park.

There are commemorations held at the park every Remembrance Day, but Wheaton is taking a creative approach to keeping the camp’s memory alive.

Alongside other local musicians, Wheaton is organizing a July 26 concert tribute called Take A Pilgrimage, through music, stories and archival photos. It’s part of the annual Herald-sponsored Historic Calgary Week, run by the Chinook Country Historical Society.

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“We’re not glorifying war; we’re simply commemorating the hundredth anniversary of Sarcee Camp, which is no longer there,” said Wheaton, who has had 20 volunteers come forward through word of mouth. “I’ve been very moved by everyone’s support.”

Meanwhile, Pootmans’ proposal for municipal designation would protect the stones, ensuring repair and upkeep follow national guidelines.

“I really look at this site as also an important nation-building exercise. The country was still pretty new in these days, and for Western Canada to contribute the number of soldiers it did to Camp Sarcee is important,” said Pootmans, who is also looking at seeking a national designation, to improve the site’s recognition and help secure funding for upkeep.

“I credit those soldiers with allowing us to live in this society with the freedoms that we do today, and I firmly believe those freedoms were earned for us by their lives.”

The remaining numbers, from the top

113: Lethbridge Highlanders, only parcel designated an Alberta Heritage Site

51: Edmonton battalion

137: Calgary battalion, featuring the largest digits

151: Central Alberta battalion

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Signal Hill business owners plot next steps after devastating strip mall fire

Global News Hour at 6 CalgarySignal Hill business owners push forward as investigators work to determine cause of devastating fireMore Videos0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard ShortcutsEnabledDisabledPlay/PauseSPACEIncrease Volume↑Decrease Volume↓Seek Forward→Seek Backward←Captions On/OffcFullscreen/Exit FullscreenfMute/UnmutemSeek %0-9Next UpG...

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Signal Hill business owners push forward as investigators work to determine cause of devastating fire

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Global News Hour at 6 Calgary: May 13

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The cause of a late July blaze in a southwest Calgary shopping centre has yet to be determined, but for the business owners affected, the fire damaged their shops as well as their financial outlook.

Flames tore through one of the buildings in West Market Square, located along Sirocco Drive in the neighbourhood of Signal Hill, in the early morning hours of July 20.

The fire was extinguished but not before it left its mark on six businesses, including Rick Chuk’s restaurant that has been a fixture in the centre since 2005.

Nearly two weeks later, Chuk, the owner and chef of LeVilla Restaurant, stood outside his eatery as restoration work took place inside.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

“It’s devastating,” Chuk told Global News. “Everything’s removed and it looks destroyed. The water came down the roof.”

Despite his predicament, Chuk considers himself lucky as the majority of the damage to his restaurant was the result of smoke. Not all of his fellow business owners were as fortunate.

It will be weeks before LeVilla reopens, with plans in place for a new menu, but Chuk’s heart beaks for his employees are currently out of work.

“It’s tough. Most important is the staff that don’t have a job right now. Last time we talked to the insurance company, they told me that maybe in the middle of September, or the end of September, that we can reopen.”

The fire broke out as his business was starting to recover from the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the businesses in West Market Square that were unscathed by the July fire have opened their doors to affected businesses and provided them with space to sell their wares.

Investigators continue their efforts to source what sparked the fire.

— with files from Global News’ Cami Kepke

Target locations sit empty, a year after closures

An announcement expected soon will likely reveal new tenants have been found for two more vacated Target locations in Calgary.That would still leave two former Target stores sitting empty more than a year after the U.S.-based retailer pulled out — and one analyst says Alberta’s current economic woes are making filling those spaces a challenge.Of the six Calgary locations left vacant when Target retreated from the Canadian market last year, only two are currently being redeveloped by a new retailer. Lowe’s Cana...

An announcement expected soon will likely reveal new tenants have been found for two more vacated Target locations in Calgary.

That would still leave two former Target stores sitting empty more than a year after the U.S.-based retailer pulled out — and one analyst says Alberta’s current economic woes are making filling those spaces a challenge.

Of the six Calgary locations left vacant when Target retreated from the Canadian market last year, only two are currently being redeveloped by a new retailer. Lowe’s Canada is in the process of converting the former Shawnessy and Signal Hill Target locations, two of a total 13 leases previously owned by Target that Lowe’s scooped up as part of its cross-Canada expansion plans. Both the Shawnessy and Signal Hill Lowe’s stores are expected to open this summer.

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The Target sites at Market Mall and Chinook Centre — both of which are owned by Cadillac Fairview — are empty, although an announcement may be forthcoming. Janine Ramparas, a spokesperson for the landlord, said in an email that there are “exciting plans” for the spaces, but declined to say more.

Market Mall manager Darren Milne went a step further, saying the mall hopes to be able to make an announcement “later in May” about who will be occupying the former Target space.

That would leave the vacant Target locations in Sunridge Mall and the Forest Lawn Shopping Centre unoccupied. Sunridge Mall — which is owned by Primaris, a division of H&R REIT — is “working feverishly” on trying to secure a tenant for the space but is not able to announce anything yet, said mall general manager Devon Hutt.

Hutt added the current economic climate in Alberta is making the task challenging.

“There’s a lot of space out in the market these days, and then when you tack on what’s going on in the city and the province — well, it’s taking a while,” Hutt said.

Michael Kehoe of Fairfield Commercial Real Estate in Calgary said filling the 133 stores across Canada that were vacated all at once due to the failure of Target Canada was always going to be difficult for landlords. Having that many large-format retail real estate spaces come on the market at one time is unprecedented in Canada, he said.

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“It’s a once in a lifetime occurrence — we’ll never see it again, I don’t think,” he said.

But in Kehoe’s opinion, the crash in oil prices and resulting downturn in the Alberta economy has aggravated the situation. While desirable locations like Market Mall and Chinook Centre are always attractive to prospective tenants, less high-profile locations are likely to sit on the market for a longer time.

“We have a bit of a red flag on Alberta right now, as people wait and see what’s happening with the economy and oil prices,” Kehoe said. “For some of the other lesser lights (Target locations), it will be a long haul, and the spaces are likely to be subdivided and the space recycled with smaller box store tenants.”

A recent Statistics Canada report showed retail spending in Alberta totalled $6.1 billion in February, down 0.4 per cent from January and 1.8 per cent from a year earlier.

Not everyone agrees the economy is playing a role in keeping former Target sites shuttered, however.

Kole Magnowski, a retail associate with Barclay Street Real Estate in Calgary, said the overall retail vacancy rate in Calgary currently sits at a “healthy” 3 per cent, up from 2.7 per cent at the end of 2015 but still lower than other major markets like Vancouver, Edmonton and Ottawa.

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“When people look at big, large empty locations like Target they think it must be a sign of the poor economy in Calgary. We don’t think that’s the case. It’s just that it takes a very, very long time to fill a large footprint like Target,” Magnowski said.

He added that while Calgary’s retail vacancy rate is expected to increase slightly over the next quarter, the suburban, small-unit format is still in high demand. He said that’s actually typical of past downturns in Alberta.

“If people are thinking outside of oil and gas, they look into other industries. Sometimes people who are getting laid off look into opening a store they’ve thought about for many years,” Magnowski said.

Target Canada filed for bankruptcy in January 2015, less than two years after entering the market. It had closed all of its stores by April 12, 2015, leaving more than 17,000 layoffs Canada-wide and 2,000 layoffs in Alberta in its wake.

In March 2016, after months of wrangling in the courts, the company announced it had reached a settlement with its creditors and former landlords. Creditors are expected to vote on the proposal on May 25.

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