Vigil on Sunday to honour lives lost due to Olymel outbreak

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Courte has been very fortunate to not have been sick from COVID herself, she says, adding the overwhelming feeling behind her organizing the vigil is empathy.

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“It’s been a year of grieving and lot of people have had to do that in an isolated manner. I’m not trying to create a space here to endanger or bring together a lot of people, but I’ve just wished there was more I could do,” she laments.

“This is a chance for the community to share its grief, and not even only for these lives. I imagine myself or my family going through a death because of this and I have so much empathy for the families at Olymel and everyone else who’s lost someone, especially now having gone a whole year through this.”

March 5 marked one year since the first case of COVID-19 was identified in Alberta. 1,914 Albertans have died from the virus.

As of Saturday, there are 49 active cases of COVID-19 stemming from the outbreak at Olymel, which was declared in November. That’s four less than yesterday. 517 total cases have been identified, up one, and there have been three deaths.

One death involving a woman in her 60s previously linked to the outbreak at Olymel has been de-linked after investigation, according to AHS spokesperson Tom McMillan.

Scott Payne, a spokesperson for UFCW Local 401, which represents the plant’s 1800+ workers, says the union’s investigation still shows four deaths linked to the outbreak, three of whom were workers, and one external.

Sunday’s vigil will take place at 4 p.m. on the green space across the street from Olymel’s entrance (7550 40 Ave.). Signs will be available, Courte says, though attendees are welcome to bring their own. Candles are also welcome to be used. Masks and physical distancing are strongly encouraged.