ATHABASCA - Service groups are often the backbone of small communities and their absence this year as a result of the pandemic is being felt by residents and members, but things are slowly and cautiously opening up for everyone.
The 230 Athabasca Royal Canadian Air Cadets squadron, for instance, has resumed training at the Colinton Community Hall under strict COVID-19 protocols including wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, maintaining distance, and signing in and out.
“We're not allowed to do overnight activities anymore, but we can still do everything else,” said squadron commander Dawn Bucholz. "The only thing that's been eliminated because of this is the overnight activity.”
The lack of the cadets at local Remembrance Day events, where they often carry flags and wreaths, will also be noticeable as all cadet groups have been told to refrain from participating this year.
For the Athabasca Lions Club, they too are meeting again, but have not been able to hold the big events they usually organize like the merchants Halloween party or the Seniors Harvest Fest. They have also changed to meeting once a month instead of twice.
“We're not going to (meet) in December, and we'll decide at our November meeting if we're then going to be booking (the Seniors’ Centre) for January,” said Lion’s president Debbie Hammond. “We're still kind of a little bit on hold.”
With the current uncertainty, they are also cancelling the Lions Christmas party, where in the past, members sing and mingle with invited guests.
“We always had a Christmas dinner that we invited people that have been involved with us, helped us out or worked with us,” said Hammond. “We’re unable to do that as well so, yeah, it’s quite a change.”
The Rotary Club of Athabasca has also had to make some changes to their weekly noon hour meetings. Since near the start of the pandemic the group switched over to weekly Zoom meetings at the same time which has increased participation said Natasha Kapitaniuk, the Sgt. at Arms and public relations director for the non-profit.
“The numbers have been steady,” Kapitaniuk said. “If anything, I’d say it’s more accessible for the people who can’t leave work, they can jump on and be at their desk.”
As to when they will start meeting in person depends on when the Athabasca Legion is able to rent out the space again, but the important part is maintaining the fellowship and community, Kapitaniuk said.
“Some have been going out in very small groups if something needs repairs, like the Muskeg Creek Trails,” she said. “And we are doing our pub night; we just know it has to be no more than six people to a table.”
Local 4-H groups in Athabasca, Boyle and Colinton are also back and following Alberta Health Services guidelines during meetings — physical distancing, sanitation, limiting mass gatherings — and are taking things month-by-month.
"(It’s) still kind of in the air,” said district 4-H president Robyn Jackson. "So far, any events that will be taking place at a club or district level, we have an RSVP of who is attending and depending on the facility and the rules that they have to follow as per AHS (Alberta Health Services).”
Families sit together with the tables distanced, masks are not mandatory, but are encouraged, everything is sanitized and other changes have been made.
“In the past, I would print all of the agendas and pass them out, but now we just get them to print them at home and bring them in themselves,” Jackson said.
Membership numbers are good though, she said. Athabasca has 10 members; Boyle has 12 and Colinton has 11 members taking part in everything from beef, equine, sheep and ‘Exploring 4-H.’
“The idea of interclub for the equine project came up just because there are a few that are interested from each club. So, we're going to discuss that at a later date and hopefully get Thundering Hooves up and running,” she said. “And if not, then we can just do interclub activities for the equine project.”
Other than fundraising Jackson is optimistic about the groups this year.
“Probably one of the biggest things that I know, for Boyle that we're going to take a hit on is our fundraisers because we usually do a bottle drive every year where we go door-to-door and ask people for bottle donations,” Jackson said. “So, what we're doing in replacement of that is we just put up a sign at the bottle depot here in Boyle so, anyone who comes in, they can just donate their bottles to the 4-H club.”
All groups are still welcoming new members until Dec. 1.
Heather Stocking, TownandCountryToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @HLSox
