New initiative aims to support Albertans with brain injuries
Article content
In a media event that took place in the middle of Easy Street, located inside the Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Jason Nixon made the official announcement Thursday.
Article content
Article content
Article content
'We're here today to announce Alberta's continued commitment to making sure vulnerable Albertans get the support they need, when and where they need it,' Nixon said. 'One way we're doing that is through the Alberta Brain Injury Initiative.'
Article content
Article content
Each year, 5,000 Albertans suffer a brain Injury.
Article content
'I've experienced firsthand the impact a brain injury can have on an individual and their family, and how critical the right supports are on the road to recovery,' Nixon said. 'This investment isn't just funding — it's a commitment to Alberta families, and to the organizations doing vital work to help them heal. I'm proud to support this work and help ensure it will continue to be there for other families, just as it was for mine.'
Article content
Article content
URSA CEO Pam McGladdery said that the announcement falls in line with Brain Injury Awareness Month, which takes place in June.
Article content
Since brain injuries can happen to anyone at any time, McGladdery said community-based supports for brain injuries are vital to the recovery process.
Article content
One of the critical programs is the Alberta Brain Injury Initiative, 'which through the Alberta government, provides survivors the opportunity to relearn and strengthen essential life skills that they may have lost after their injury,' McGladdery said. 'This includes things like household management, daily living skills, life skills, coping strategies, connections to meaningful resources.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
2 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Albertans can start pre-ordering paid COVID-19 shots after June policy shift
A nurse delivers a COVID-19 vaccination shot at the First Nations Vaccination Clinic at the River Cree Resort and Casino, near Edmonton Tuesday April 13, 2021. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia EDMONTON — Albertans can begin pre-ordering COVID-19 shots for the fall after a recent policy shift. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Those looking to get vaccinated will still need to book an appointment and most will have to pay more than $100 to get it. Premier Danielle Smith's government announced the policy shift in June. Smith has said $135 million got 'flushed down the drain' last year, with doses wasted in part because Albertans are increasingly choosing to not get them. The premier also has cast doubt on how well the COVID vaccine works, while still covering the costs of it for some, including those with compromised immune systems. Public health experts have said the policy could introduce barriers to getting vaccinated and lead to higher costs for things such as hospitalizations and severe complications. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Albertans can start pre-ordering paid COVID-19 shots after June policy shift
EDMONTON – Albertans can begin pre-ordering COVID-19 shots for the fall after a recent policy shift. Those looking to get vaccinated will still need to book an appointment and most will have to pay more than $100 to get it. Premier Danielle Smith's government announced the policy shift in June. Smith has said $135 million got 'flushed down the drain' last year, with doses wasted in part because Albertans are increasingly choosing to not get them. The premier also has cast doubt on how well the COVID vaccine works, while still covering the costs of it for some, including those with compromised immune systems. Public health experts have said the policy could introduce barriers to getting vaccinated and lead to higher costs for things such as hospitalizations and severe complications. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025.
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
Opinion: 'New approach' to COVID shots puts Albertans at risk
Article content On June 13, the minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, Adriana LaGrange, announced 'a new approach to COVID-19 immunizations' to reduce vaccine wastage and 'better align supply with demand … while continuing to protect those at highest risk.' Article content This rationale is a red herring. The 'new approach' drastically limits Albertans' access to the lifesaving COVID vaccine. Wastage? No provincially funded vaccine has been wasted. The COVID vaccine was provided by the federal government for the past four years; 2025 is the first time provinces must order and pay for it. Article content Article content Article content Under the 'new approach,' 240,000 fewer doses of vaccine have been ordered than were given last year. It also limits the venues for vaccine delivery to 13 per cent of the sites that were accessible last year, and drastically restricts who can receive free vaccine. Article content Albertans must register with the vaccine-booking system in advance if they wish to 'register intent' to receive a COVID shot. If more people register than the number of doses ordered, the minister has not provided assurance that the province can acquire more vaccine in time. Article content Pharmacists, who gave 87 per cent of COVID shots last year, have been removed from delivery options. COVID vaccine will be delivered entirely by public health clinics. This decision makes no sense; it instead creates unfair barriers to those who work shifts, lack transportation, or are unable to get to vaccine-delivery locations. Article content Article content The 'new approach' will limit who will receive COVID vaccine free of charge, requiring other Albertans to pay a yet-to-be determined fee. Alberta is the only Canadian jurisdiction that will make its citizens pay for the vaccine. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that everyone over the age of 65, health-care workers, pregnant women, and Indigenous people (including Métis) receive the COVID vaccine. Article content Cost is a barrier to many Albertans — particularly low-income families, community-dwelling seniors, and members of racialized and other equity-denied communities. Scientific research and evaluation have shown a clear cost-benefit to immunization of those groups included in the NACI recommendations. Their evidence is that the social and economic benefits of protecting these groups outweigh the costs. Article content The 'new approach' proposes to implement the campaign in four phases, beginning with seniors in group settings like nursing homes, then people compromised with some medical conditions, then all seniors, followed by all other Albertans. Alarmingly, health-care workers will not receive free COVID vaccine and are in the last group to be immunized, if vaccine is still available. Article content This 'new approach' is either a massive failure to plan or an actual plan to fail. Public health experts and common sense indicate that if you want to protect people from a killer disease for which there is a safe and effective vaccine, you should make the vaccine available, easily accessible, and affordable. The 'new approach' weaponizes a policy to do the exact opposite. Article content This 'new approach' creates obstacles to immunization against a serious vaccine-preventable disease that caused over 380 deaths last year — and unfairly disadvantages Albertans who would receive COVID shots free of charge anywhere else in the country. Article content Article content COVID vaccines, including the new non-mRNA product Novavax, are safe and effective and decrease the burden of illness and death for individuals and communities. Albertans, as with all other Canadians, deserve a fair chance to receive COVID vaccine if they want it. Article content Minister LaGrange must commit to follow national Canadian guidelines for free and timely access to COVID vaccine for all Albertans. Will the minister assure Albertans that there will be vaccine available to every Albertan who wants it? Following the 'new approach' will show that, compared to the rest of Canada, the 'Alberta Disadvantage' is real and possibly fatal. Article content Jeffrey Johnson, PhD, professor and former dean, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Article content Dawn Friesen, MN, assistant deputy minister of Public Health and Compliance (retired). Article content Dr. Tehseen Lahda, pediatric specialist. Article content Dr. Paul Parks, emergency physician, past-president of the Alberta Medical Association. Article content John Church, PhD, professor emeritus, Department of Political Science, University of Alberta. Article content Kathleen Ness, assistant deputy minister of Health Service Delivery (retired), adjunct professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta. Article content
