April 9, 2020

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWN OF OYEN

We continue to emphasize doing everything possible to slow the spread of COVID-19, including the need for hand hygiene, physical distancing, and staying at home as much as possible.   To reiterate direction from Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer, and with the Easter weekend in mind, everyone is reminded to:

• Avoid gatherings outside of their immediate household
• Find ways to connect while being physically separated
• Worship in a way that does not put people at risk, including participating in virtual or live-streamed religious celebrations.

Due to the extended public health order, family and friends can no longer visit long-term care, seniors lodge, or acute care facilities,

As part of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP), the Oyen Emergency Social Services team has been working diligently to synchronize community resources in the Oyen area, with the intent to coordinate and connect residents who require assistance with those community organizations and individuals providing services.

Please use the Oyen Helps Form  to either REQUEST support (such as delivery of groceries, food bank support, counselling services, filling out online forms) or OFFER support (such as driving for pick-ups and deliveries, make phone calls, help complete funding applications).  Requests for support and services will be reviewed by a core group of people, maintaining confidentiality and privacy of the applicant, and then coordinated within the community organizations to connect the applicant with the appropriate service provider.  If you do not have access to, or are not comfortable using the online form, an email can be sent to:  oyenhelps@gmail.com.  We are also setting up a central phone number that will be available next week.

Oyen Town Council held their first-ever virtual Council meeting, followed by the Oyen Emergency Advisory Committee meeting, on Thursday, April 2^nd.  Council reiterated their commitment to supporting the direction from Alberta Health and the Provincial Operations Centre, and maintaining essential services in the community, including groceries, pharmacy, gasoline, water distribution, hardware, convenience, etc.  A meeting of the Emergency Management Agency, which includes representatives from fire, police, hospital, lodge, schools, social services, and Alberta Health South Zone, was also held earlier this week to ensure key service providers are staffed and have appropriate supports to continue operations into the future.

We ask that everyone continue to take the appropriate precautionary health measures as well as continue to use the links provided on our COVID page.

In case of a Town of Oyen related emergency over the weekend, please contact Noreen directly at 403-660-0201.