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
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, 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 Sherwood Park, AB is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 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.
“It's great working with them. They are very transparent and open to communicate. The flexible”
“Gladys has been my nurse for quite sometime. She is always prompt and respectful of”
“I knew Owen via community outreach, and he provided a different approach regarding their company’s”
“The staff are great. They listen to your needs and are well experienced”
“I am so impressed with Always Best Care. My entire experience thus far has been”
“It's great working with them. They are very transparent and open to communicate. The flexible hours are a huge benefit, and they are truly accommodating when it comes to aligning with your availability, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.”
“Gladys has been my nurse for quite sometime. She is always prompt and respectful of my needs. Cant say enough about her other than she is the best I could ever be fortunate enough to have”
“I knew Owen via community outreach, and he provided a different approach regarding their company’s services. The company provides wide-array services with holistic, trauma-informed care that meets our community's needs. The company also strives to provide culturally sensitive care and, if possible, match appropriate employees to their clients’ needs. I recommend that people contact their company regarding home care services.”
“The staff are great. They listen to your needs and are well experienced”
“I am so impressed with Always Best Care. My entire experience thus far has been amazing. I initially heard about this company from family friends who are using their services, and also saw their advertisement on social media. I required care for my elderly Uncle, who has early stage dementia and requires assistance at times. I called Always Best Care and spoke with Corrina, the company coordinator. She asked several questions to determine our needs and then arranged a time for Gladys, the company’s Registered Nurse to come to our home for a full assessment. It was the most pleasant visit and my Uncle felt at ease the entire time. We were given every opportunity to ask all the necessary questions to determine how much care my uncle required, the cost and what schedule would best suit his needs, and I was comfortable knowing that he would be able to remain in his own home, instead of having to go into an assisted living facility. This was so important to him. Gladys was able to provide the name of his caregiver, tell us our the caregivers qualifications and coordinate a set schedule for home visits. She reassured us this would all work within our budget. My Uncle’s caregiver is pleasant and compassionate, has great attention to detail and is very well suited for this role. We feel very relieved to know he can be helped with his personal hygiene, ensuring his medication is being taken on time, his shopping, his meal prep and so much more. Even if he requires a companion just to sit and have a chat with, or play a game, Always Best Care is here to help. I would highly recommend Always Best Care. From the first phone call you make , your first home assessment or daily or weekly home visits, you’ll certainly have such a sense of relief knowing your loved one is cared for by such a wonderful team.”
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.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
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.
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.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home 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:
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:
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.
Common companionship services include:
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. 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.
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:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
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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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.
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 Sherwood Park, 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.
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:
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.
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 Sherwood Park, 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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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
A draft of your Care Plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
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 Sherwood Park, 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.
Article contentThis past summer, a devastating wildfire swept through Jasper, causing extensive damage to this beloved mountain community and a proud symbol of Alberta. While the immediate flames have long been extinguished, the challenging work of rebuilding lives and homes has only just begun.Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentAlberta’s government recognizes the ongoing needs of Jasper residents and is stepping up with a major comm...
This past summer, a devastating wildfire swept through Jasper, causing extensive damage to this beloved mountain community and a proud symbol of Alberta. While the immediate flames have long been extinguished, the challenging work of rebuilding lives and homes has only just begun.
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Alberta’s government recognizes the ongoing needs of Jasper residents and is stepping up with a major commitment to support recovery efforts. A $112 million investment will help construct interim housing for displaced residents, including essential workers and seniors from Pine Grove Senior Citizens Manor, who were heavily impacted by the fires.
To meet these needs, work has already begun on modular housing sites, with the first units expected to be ready by January 2025. These modular homes, built off-site to allow year-round construction, offer a swift solution, enabling Alberta to provide stable, safe housing on an expedited schedule. The 250 units planned for Jasper will help house essential service workers and other eligible residents employed in the area, providing the stability they need to focus on the community’s rebuilding efforts.
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Premier Danielle Smith highlighted the urgency and compassion behind the funding initiative, stating; “Our entire country grieved when wildfire ravaged Jasper this past summer. We know the rebuilding process takes time, and we’re doing all we can to support Jasper’s recovery. Most of all, people want to return home, and the funding we have approved will speed up that process so folks can rebuild their lives and move forward sooner.”
In addition to supporting Jasper, Alberta’s government is ensuring displaced seniors from Pine Grove Manor have a temporary yet comfortable place to stay nearby in Hinton. Up to 25 modular homes will be constructed for these seniors, keeping them close to their community and support networks while their permanent residence is rebuilt. The modular units in Hinton, provided through land donated by the Town of Hinton, will also serve a lasting purpose, as they will eventually be transitioned to affordable housing for the local community. Work on these units will begin in January, with the first residents expected to move in by April 2025.
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Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, emphasized the government’s commitment to assisting displaced residents, saying; “We know that Jasper residents are eager to get back home, and Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring they have the supports they need throughout this rebuilding effort. When ready, these interim homes will address the immediate housing need in Jasper and provide a short-term housing option for those who are working in the town doing the critical work needed to support this rebuild.”
We know how important it is for Jasper residents and workers get back on their feet as soon as possible. Our investment in Jasper’s recovery will help do exactly that.
Nate Glubish is the MLA for Strathcona-Sherwood Park. If you have questions about this column or any provincial government issues, he would like to hear from you. Contact Glubish’s constituency office at 780-416-2492 or by email to [email protected].
Article contentThe chemtrail conspiracy theory is the erroneous belief that the condensation trails left in the sky behind high-flying aircraft are actually chemicals being sprayed on us for nefarious purposes by a government agency like the United States Department of Defense; or some other top-secret organization hiding away from the public view like Doctor Evil in the Austin Powers movies.Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentLet that sink...
The chemtrail conspiracy theory is the erroneous belief that the condensation trails left in the sky behind high-flying aircraft are actually chemicals being sprayed on us for nefarious purposes by a government agency like the United States Department of Defense; or some other top-secret organization hiding away from the public view like Doctor Evil in the Austin Powers movies.
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Let that sink in for a moment.
There are people in Alberta that believe when a jet flies overhead, we are being sprayed with chemicals that are being used for psychological manipulation, population control, spread of illness, or some other imagined outcome.
It is not true. It does not stand up to even the slightest scrutiny. It is pure conspiracy theory.
The puffy white trails of exhaust left behind high flying aircraft are contrails, predominantly made up of water and carbon dioxide; the combustion products of burning jet fuel. On a beautiful blue-sky day, when I see condensation trails left behind jets flying high above Sherwood Park, I marvel at the wonder of air travel. I do not worry that I might be a victim of a conspiracy to control my mind, by an evil villain.
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But one fairly prominent Albertan is among those who do.
During a recent town hall, Premier Danielle Smith discussed chemtrails, openly pondering the conspiracy theory. She told an audience in Edmonton about the work she has done to investigate if Albertans are being sprayed with chemical agents from jet planes. She also said she’d heard; “that if anyone is doing it, it is the U.S. Department of Defense.” And then the premier lamented that she doesn’t have much power, if it is the U.S. Department of Defense spraying us.
Alberta’s post-truth premier could have decided to use her platform and influence to debunk the chemtrails conspiracy theory when someone in the audience asked her about it. Instead, she decided to share her concern about chemtrails and cast suspicion on the U.S. Department of Defense. These comments by the premier were entirely irresponsible and even dangerous.
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Leaders have a duty to refute misinformation. Failing to do so, indirectly validates false ideas and contributes to a lack of trust in our public institutions. It can also be very costly.
This past spring, the UCP government passed Bill 20 to introduce municipal political parties and ban the use of electronic voting machines in Alberta’s municipal elections. Their ban of electronic voting machines is going to cost Albertans millions of dollars. Our property taxes will go up to pay for it.
Conspiracy theorists believe electronic voting machines change the results of elections. There is no evidence this happens. In fact, Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million US in 2023 to avert a trial in the voting machine company’s lawsuit that would have exposed how the media network promoted lies about the 2020 presidential election. Truth matters, lies have consequences.
If someone at your Thanksgiving Dinner this weekend shares their belief in an outrageous conspiracy theory, let them know you love them but do them a favour and make sure they know that just because Danielle Smith believes it, does not make it true.
Please reach out to me if you have any thoughts on this or other issues that are top of mind for you.
Kyle Kasawski is the MLA for Sherwood Park. If you have questions about this column or any provincial issues, he would like to hear from you. Find his contact information at meetkyle.ca.
Article contentResults from a survey conducted earlier this year found that Alberta is among the top destinations for international engineering technology professionals according to the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET).Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentThe survey found that nearly three-quarters of respondents landed in Alberta when immigrating for jobs in the engineering technology field. ...
Results from a survey conducted earlier this year found that Alberta is among the top destinations for international engineering technology professionals according to the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET).
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The survey found that nearly three-quarters of respondents landed in Alberta when immigrating for jobs in the engineering technology field. Among those who landed in other provinces such as BC and Ont., the majority relocated to Alberta citing better employment opportunities.
Alberta was the first province in the country to eliminate the Canadian work experience requirement for engineering technology professionals, leading the way for other provinces that have joined in adopting other approaches to assess professional competency developed by ASET.
ASET’s competency based assessment program, launched in 2016, allows internationally and otherwise trained engineering technology professionals a faster way to earn designations and therefore establish their careers in Alberta without returning to school full-time.
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More than 92 per cent of respondents to the survey conducted by ASET said they enjoy working in Alberta, noting abundance of job opportunities in their field, a strong economy, and the proximity to the oil and gas industry to be the top reasons, followed by the alternative route to obtaining designation.
“At ASET, we realized how difficult it is for internationally trained professionals who are qualified in their countries of origin to get recognized in Canada,” said Barry Cavanaugh, CEO of ASET. “With Canada facing a significant deficit in STEM talent and one-fifth of our national population on the brink of retirement, we need the skills and expertise of internationally trained professionals more than ever.”
The survey also found that after contacting ASET, nearly 40 per cent of respondents earned their ASET designation within six months to one year. ASET notes, however, that in some cases it can be earned in just four months. More than 51 per cent of those surveyed said having the designation through ASET has impacted their job search.
Of those surveyed, the majority were from the Philippines, India, and Pakistan. ASET currently represents 17,000 members including students, recent graduates, and fully certified workers in engineering technologist roles.
Article contentThe Alberta government says it will spend $8.6 billion over the next seven years to build as many as 30 new schools and create 200,000 more student spaces across the province.Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentPremier Danielle Smith announced the plan in a televised address last Tuesday evening, Sept. 17, calling it a “one-time capital investment” in the province’s school system.The new school constr...
The Alberta government says it will spend $8.6 billion over the next seven years to build as many as 30 new schools and create 200,000 more student spaces across the province.
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Premier Danielle Smith announced the plan in a televised address last Tuesday evening, Sept. 17, calling it a “one-time capital investment” in the province’s school system.
The new school construction accelerator program also calls for up to eight schools to be modernized or replaced every year for the next three years.
“This is quite literally the fastest and largest build our province can manage given available construction workforce capacity and the time it takes to permit, prepare and service available school sites,” she said.
Up to 20,000 new student spaces will also be made available through modular classrooms over the next four years.
The program will begin through the next provincial budget in the first months of 2025.
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The premier added a portion of the funding will be used for a parallel pilot project called the “charter school accelerator program” that the government says will add 12,500 new charter school student spaces over the coming four years.
Smith told Postmedia the province plans to cover the costs of the program by taking on debt via long-term loans.
It also plans to change the funding mechanism in several respects, primarily by owning the new schools outright and leasing them back to school boards. That would allow the province to list the new facilities as assets in its budget rather than the current practice of providing the boards with grants to build new facilities.
The program will also allow school projects to be approved at any point in the budget year, whereas now projects are typically only approved to progress from one stage of the construction process to the next at the start of a budget cycle.
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“There is no time to lose in getting our school construction accelerator program off the ground right now,” Smith said.
Both Smith and Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides cited the province’s recent rapid population growth as necessitating the push for school construction.
The province added a record 200,000 new Albertans last year, equating to a 4.4 per cent growth in population, by far the highest of any province.
Over the past decade, Alberta’s population has grown from just over four million in 2014 to 4.8 million this year.
“That’s putting some incredible pressure on our school divisions,” Nicolaides said in an interview.
“We are adding about 30,000 students a year and this plan will help us keep pace with that level of projected growth for the next few years.”
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He said the new schools will come in areas that have seen the biggest population growth, primarily Edmonton and Calgary, but also listed Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray.
He said the modernization part of the program will largely fall to smaller communities.
The “vast majority” of new schools will be in public, Catholic, and francophone school systems, Nicolaides said.
In her address, Smith called on school boards to work with municipalities on getting permits and sites prepared for construction work.
School boards will continue to submit their capital needs to the province for evaluation. Projects begin in the planning stage, followed by the design stage, and conclude with construction itself.
Nicolaides said there is no timeline for work to begin yet, but that the plan is for work to begin promptly.
“It really depends on how quickly the sites are ready and how quickly the projects are ready, but we’re eager to get started as quickly as possible,” he said.
He said he’s yet to receive feedback on the program from school boards, stating, “we’re just having those conversations now.”
Article contentTo support students facing mental health challenges, the provincial government announced they will be expanding the CASA Mental Health Classrooms project.Advertisement 2This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article contentAt a press conference held at Bev Facey Community High on Wednesday, Sept. 11, Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams, announced as part of the Alberta Recovery Model, the province will invest $70 million over three years in bui...
To support students facing mental health challenges, the provincial government announced they will be expanding the CASA Mental Health Classrooms project.
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At a press conference held at Bev Facey Community High on Wednesday, Sept. 11, Mental Health and Addiction Minister Dan Williams, announced as part of the Alberta Recovery Model, the province will invest $70 million over three years in building classrooms for students requiring additional support due to mental health conditions.
In partnership with CASA Mental Health, a foundation supporting children, adolescents, and families through the struggles of mental health based in Sherwood Park, the project will see a total of 60 classrooms serving approximately 140 communities throughout the province and 1,500 students a year. Prior to the announcement, eight CASA classrooms were in operation, and the most recent roll out will include nine additional classrooms.
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The designated classrooms allow students to remain engaged with the school while accessing specialized programming without disrupting their education. Designed to support up to 12 students in each classroom between Grades 4 and 12, the program offers intake in September and February with students utilizing services for one semester.
“With the announcement today, we have now reach approximately one-third (of our goal), with nine more operating this school semester,” Williams said.
Among the schools with new classrooms opening is Bev Facey Community High, making it the second Elk Island Public school to have a CASA classroom with Fort Saskatchewan Elementary opening in September 2023.
“Services like this are important to the long-term success and well-being of children and youth who are right now facing some very difficult challenges with their mental health. Every kid deserves to know that help is available, and that they can recover and live fulfilling lives,” said Williams.
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Alicia Long, parent of a student who attended a CASA mental health classroom, explained the many ways the program helped her daughter work through a difficult time.
“In CASA, my daughter gained a multitude of skills to cope with her emotional distress. She was shown how to differentiate external and internal problems, work through fears and anxiety that held her back, and was given a safe environment to practice socially acceptable interactions,” said Long. “In addition to emotional skills, our daughter has dramatically improved in her schoolwork and has, in fact, gained two levels in reading and math proficiency and her confidence in trying new and difficult topics has grown tremendously.”
In addition to the announcement of more CASA classrooms, the Government of Alberta has extended their Mental Health in Schools Pilot Program through the 2024-25 school year. The grant-based pilot program supports school divisions in implementing their own mental health programs.
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