BANFF – The Town of Banff is reaching out to residents needing help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The municipality has set up an email service for residents seeking information and assistance in a variety of areas, such as how to access government resources. The email address is [email protected].
Silvio Adamo, the Town’s fire chief and emergency operations director, said a web page dedicated to social service needs is also being created, given that the federal and provincial agencies are announcing new support services every day.
“We want to be a one-stop service for a range of topics,” said Adamo.
“We know this is an extremely stressful and confusing time for people, so we mobilized this service to answer as many questions as possible in our community.”
The email service is staffed by 15 members of the Town of Banff’s community services team.
The team will provide information and referral services about how to access government resources, including employment insurance, mental health services, food resources, housing, issues related to immigration, foreign worker programs, work visas, seniors services and child and youth care information
The regularly updated web resource for information and resources can be accessed at banff.ca/COVIDHelp.
At the time, staff will be answering the [email protected] emails from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on weekdays only. After hours, residents should call 2-1-1 for resources.
The program hours may change based on community needs and staff availability. Email is the preferred contact method, but residents who do not have computer or email access can call 403-762-1251 for assistance; however, the phone line capacity is limited.
Banff Lake Louise Tourism has also been quick to supply updated information on its website at https://www.banfflakelouise.com/government-announcements
Banff Town Hall is now closed to the public to protect the health of staff and residents. Services normally provided at Town Hall can be arranged by calling 403-762-1200.
For health-related info on COVID-19, visit Alberta.ca/COVID. For Town updates, visit Banff.ca/COVID.
As of Thursday (March 19), there were no reported COVID-19 cases in Banff and one in Canmore, according to the Alberta government on its website.
There were 22 new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus announced by the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, on Wednesday (March 18), bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 119.
Of the 119 known cases of COVID-19 in the province, six patients have been admitted to hospital, including three people that are currently in an intensive care unit (ICU). Those in ICU include two patients in their 60s and one patient in their 40s, who have a pre-existing medical condition.
No deaths have been recorded in Alberta so far.
