Proposed City of Edmonton Fall Supplemental Budget Adjustments

City Administration is seeking to maintain the 1.8 percent property tax increase for 2022 which was approved by the previous City Council this past Spring. The proposed adjustments, for the most part continue wise investments in sport and active recreation. Previously approved 2022 recreation facility fee increases will not be impacted, however there are three unfunded service packages which impact Edmonton's sport and active recreation community. Click here to download a pdf of the Edmonton Sport Council's analysis of the Fall 2021 Supplemental Operating and Capital Budget Adjustments.

COVID-19 Related Grants

The Restrictions Exemption Program Implementation Grant provides a one-time payment of $2,000 for eligible small- and medium-sized businesses, cooperatives and non-profit organizations that choose to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program.

The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to private sector businesses and non-profit organizations across all industries to reduce the costs of hiring and training unemployed or underemployed Albertans. Additional funding is available for hiring persons with disabilities. The second application intake period begins November 10. Read the November 9th press release.

The federal government is proposing to provide tourism, hospitality and other hard-hit organizations with support until November 20, 2021 under two new programs:

• The Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
• The Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program

The government is also proposing to introduce legislation as soon as possible to extend these programs past November 20, 2021, until May 7, 2022, with authority for further amendments through regulations until July 2, 2022.

2021-25 Edmonton City Council

The newly elected City Council will have a dramatic impact on the Edmonton of tomorrow and physical activity opportunities for Edmontonians. This impact will be shaped in part by both Edmonton's and Alberta's economy - and COVID-19. It will also be shaped in part by the value Edmonton's new Mayor and Councillors individually and collectively place on Edmontonians Living Active. In addition to responses to the Edmonton Sport Council's six question survey, a quick scan of the successful (unofficial) candidates' websites for key statements which might provide insight as to their values on sport, active recreation and active living has been completed - which can be accessed here.

COVID-19 Update

Starting Monday September 20, anyone using a discretionary City of Edmonton facility or service will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result. Following the provincial guidelines, to access public City services and programs, people ages 12 and older must provide proof of vaccination or documentation of a medical exemption or show proof of a negative test result.

Freedom to Care Act

The Freedom to Care website provides information and resources to support the non-profit sector’s understanding and implementation of the volunteer liability protections under the Freedom to Care Act. This includes resources for best practices in volunteer management and a volunteer checklist. The website supports the implementation of the Freedom to Care Act, which came into force on September 1. The Freedom to Care Act:

• Allows cabinet (through order in council) to grant one-time, short-term exemptions for non-profits from government regulations intended for business, where an exemption does not already exist.
• Provides individual volunteers with liability protections.

The Insurance Toolkit for the Voluntary Sector: A guide for non-profits and charities has been updated. Click here to download the toolkit.

COVID-19 Exacerbates Inequities in the Canadian Sport Sector

The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on the Canadian sport and physical activity ecosystem, and understanding its effects will be key to the process of building back better. A multitude of surveys have been conducted to examine the impacts across the country and in different sectors within the sport system, and most of the news is not good.

Vaccination Policies for Nonprofit Employers

IntegralOrg has developed a  document which addresses from a legal perspective the most common questions asked by nonprofit employers about vaccinations, taking into account the employment and privacy implications of various vaccination policies. Click here to download the document.

New COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program

The Festivals & Events COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program will help encourage the return of festivals and events by offsetting additional costs incurred as a result of the pandemic. Eligible events may include organized runs, walks and other sporting events, active recreation and active living events, sport festivals, public demonstrations and try-it events.

Sport, physical activity, and active recreation for all

All Edmontonians have the right to experience the positive physical, psychological, and social benefits of participation in sport and active recreation. Hosting mega, major and signature sport events can bring many positive benefits to the community.

Recommendation #4: That a target of 1% of all revenue generated from mega, major and signature sport events hosted in Edmonton be invested in a financial legacy to advance sport, physical activity, and active recreation in Edmonton. Such legacies shall be utilized to operate and maintain any facilities created for the event and advance programming - especially that which advances the participation of socially and economically marginalized Edmontonians in sport, physical activity, and active recreation.

New Educational Opportunities

The Workshops, Conferences & Webinars page is updated almost every day with new online webinars, most of them free or low-cost. Below the current listings are links to previously recorded webinars on a variety of topics.

Live Active Stories of Edmontonians

Check out amazing Live Active stories, and if you are interested, share your Live Active story, especially if it is FREE or low cost, involves family members, is quick and easy, and can be done in a variety of locations. Send us your submission (up to 500 words) with a picture or link to your Live Active experience video.

The Live Active Update

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And check out what you've missed in The Live Active Update E-news Archive!