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Global News
4 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Some diners test positive for rare parasite after eating at popular Calgary-area restaurant
Alberta Health Services says there have been 235 people identified with symptoms of gastrointestinal illness — including 18 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli — after dining at the Saskatoon Farm, a popular Calgary-area restaurant about 20 minutes southeast of the city, earlier this month. AHS says two of those people have been hospitalized, although one has since been discharged. 'This E. coli that has been presumptively identified is an that's not normally found in treated drinking water — and if we see it, it's often a sign of some sort of contamination,' said AHS Medical Officer of Health Dr. Francesco Rizzuti, in a late Friday afternoon press conference. 'It can lead to gastrointestinal illness.' Rizzuti said three of the people who have tested positive for E. coli have also tested positive for a parasite called entamoa histolytitica, which can cause a severe gastrointestinal illness called amoebiasis weeks to months after infection. Story continues below advertisement While so far nobody has tested positive for amoebiasis, Rizutti said, 'in some severe cases (it) can lead to other infections outside of the stomach and GI tract — so heart, liver, lungs, very rare, but we do know it can happen.' Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Some of these are not immediate symptoms, but they can lead to serious illness, added Rizzuti. As a result, AHS will be asking more people to get tested, in case they have been infected by the parasite. Specifically, anyone who ate or consumed water or beverages at the restaurant between July 1 and 16, 2025 are being asked to call Healthlink (811) for more information , even if they haven't developed any symptoms of illness. That testing will take place after July 30 and Rizzuti said more information will be provided next week. AHS investigators have identified the farm's water system as the likely source of the outbreak. 'What we understand is that … there were some complaints of maybe unusual taste to the water around July 15 of 16,' said Rizzuti. 'We're continuing to investigate a number of samples — really trying to understand exactly what it is — but from what we've understood from talking with the site, interviews with these 235 individuals, the common thread that continues to come up is consumption of beverages, water, or food that was produced with water from that contaminated cistern.' Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen The Saskatoon Farm is located a 20 minute drive southeast of Calgary and is a popular destination for Saskatoon berry picking, a farmers market and restaurant. Global News The farm has since switched its water system to a different source and Rizzuti said testing by AHS has confirmed there is no contamination and it is safe for consumption. However, he said there is ongoing testing being done and the facility will remain closed until AHS public health inspectors and medical officers of health determine there is no ongoing risk to the public. 'The reopening plan is contingent on ensuring that there's a safe water supply — a sustainable water supply,' said Rizzuti. He's also asking anyone else who has been experiencing symptoms of gastrointestinal illness, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea, to call Healthlink at 811 or their family health care provider immediately.
Calgary Herald
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
NHL Draft primer: Hitmen, Calgary draft-eligibles set for annual pick-em
Article content 'He's a sleeper,' said Davidson of Miller, a product of Anchorage, Alaska. 'Teams are already talking about him going to their camps, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's picked later in the draft. I look at him as a 6-foot-2 strong kid. He obviously needs more experience, but he's just trending in such a positive way.' Article content With Kindel a possible top-20 pick, it's a chance for the longtime WHL GM and scout to reap the rewards from the development of another successful player. Article content Remember last year that Yakemchuk was the first top-20 draft pick into the NHL since fellow blue-liner Jake Bean was selected 13th overall in 2016. Article content 'I think every team in the league has been genuinely interested in Ben,' Davidson said. 'I know there was tons of scouts in that contacted myself and obviously contacted Paul McFarland, our coach.' Article content Article content The scouts were also interested in Hitmen defenceman Reese Hamilton before he was traded to the Regina Pats, giving the Calgary club three players ranked in the top 81 of North American skaters on the NHL's mid-term list. Article content That's another sign of a franchise trending in the right direction. Article content 'Yeah … well … that's what you're trying to do,' Davidson said. 'You're trying to put together a good team and allow players to move on. That's what we sell to players and their families. Article content 'So that's a real positive from my perspective.' Article content Three Calgary-area talents are expected to come off the board during the pick-em, while a handful of others could be weekend selections, as well. Article content Jackson Smith, a product of Edge School, tops that list as the 13th North American skater among ranked prospects. Article content The 6-foot-4, 199-lb. defenceman has been a fixture — using his elite skating and logging big minutes — for a 54-point season with the WHL's Tri-City Americans. Article content Article content Deft winger Nathan Behm, of the Calgary Under-18 AAA Royals, is rated 44th after a 31-goal, 66-point season with the Kamloops Blazers. Article content And Luke Vlooswyk, another Edge graduate, is ranked 72nd after asserting himself as a towering presence with the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. Article content Others draft-eligible Calgarians in the mix include:
Edmonton Journal
14-05-2025
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Beyond 20/20: Why an Alberta optometrist urges regular eye exams for overall health
Many serious eye conditions can develop with no symptoms until it's too late, said Dr. Cristy Franco Dr. Cristy Franco is the lead optometrist of the neuro-rehabilitative and pediatric Vision Therapy Clinic at Airdrie Family Eye Doctors. She emphasized the importance of vision care to overall health while speaking at an event hosted by the Alberta Association of Optometrists in Calgary on May 13, 2025. Noah Brennan/Postmedia May marks Vision Health Month, and one Calgary-area optometrist is on a mission to remind Albertans that protecting their vision means looking beyond just how clearly you can see. 'Vision is often overlooked,' said Dr. Cristy Franco, lead optometrist of the neuro-rehabilitative and pediatric Vision Therapy Clinic at Airdrie Family Eye Doctors. 'We don't think about it.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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 Speaking at an event hosted by the Alberta Association of Optometrists at Major Tom on Tuesday, Franco emphasized that eye exams play a critical role in not only vision care, but overall health. Many serious eye conditions can develop with no symptoms until it's too late, she said. Eye exams: a window into your health Routine eye exams are about much more than having perfect vision, Franco said. 'You might be able to see 20/20, but something might be happening inside your eye that you don't know,' she explained. 'But if we can treat it and catch it early enough, then up to 80 per cent of those conditions are preventable and treatable. 'One in seven Canadians will experience a serious eye health issue in their lifetime,' she said, yet many people delay or skip regular checkups. 'A routine eye exam is about part of your regular eye health, but also a part of your regular overall health,' she added. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Myth #1: 'I see perfectly — I don't need to see an optometrist.' According to Franco, perfect vision does not mean perfect eye health. 'There's a lot of things that are happening that have no signs or symptoms until it's far too late. And at that point, we have a much harder time treating it,' she said. She warned that some conditions develop quietly with no warning signs, and emphasized the importance of early detection made possible through routine exams to prevent and treat conditions. 'Getting in early preventative care, that's the number one thing that we can do,' she said. Myth #2: 'I'd know if my child had vision problems.' Franco warned that many children might have vision issues that go undetected because they don't know anything else. 'A child has never seen in another way, this is how their vision has always been,' she said. 'They don't know what to compare it to.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She noted that one in four school-aged children suffers from a vision issue, which can have broader impacts on a child's learning and development. Regular eye exams are key to catching these problems, she said. Myth #3: 'Vision loss is just part of getting older.' While a person's vision changes with age, Franco said diminished vision health doesn't have to be inevitable. With proper monitoring and timely treatment, many age-related conditions can be managed successfully. 'Although your vision is changing, (optometrists) are here to keep your vision excellent for you,' she said. 'Vision loss should not be a part of aging.' What can routine exams detect? Glaucoma Known as the 'silent thief of sight,' glaucoma can cause vision loss by damaging the optic nerve. 'You have no idea that there is anything going on with your vision until you have no peripheral vision left,' she said. And by the time it starts to impact your central vision, 'it is far too late,' she added. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Macular degeneration Patients with macular degeneration typically don't see symptoms when they are young, even as the disease starts to develop. But a routine eye exam to check the back of your eye will catch it. 'It might show up just as blurry vision. You might think, 'I need a new pair of glasses,'' she said. 'But what we need to be doing is something a lot more involved than that.' Diabetes Franco said diabetes can significantly impact eye health and show up in many different ways. 'It might look like really great vision one day and then the next day . . . things are blurry,' she said. For somebody else, it can impact the back of their eye without causing any symptoms. 'That's really serious,' she said. 'If it's impacting the back of their eye, that can lead to scarring, that can lead to long-term issues that we can't do anything about.' Screens This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. With so many people glued to screens in daily life, eye strain and dry eye are on the rise. 'When you're on a device, you don't blink as often. And if you're not blinking as often, then you're not refreshing that tear film,' Franco said. Calgary's dry climate also doesn't help, she said, noting environment plays a big role in exacerbating dry eye disease. 'If you don't take that dry eye seriously, it can lead to scarring and permanent changes in your vision,' she added. 'If it progresses too far, we can't do anything about it at that point.' When should you book an exam? Franco recommends new parents take their child for their first eye exam between the ages of six and nine months, then again between the ages of two and five. Once children are school, she recommends annual appointments to stay on top of any vision concerns. For adults, she recommends seeing an optometrist every one to two years. 'But that really depends on what's going on with your eyes — whether or not you wear contact lenses and what your optometrist is monitoring for,' she said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Once people reach 65, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining an annual exam to catch and treat issues. Routine eye exams are covered under Alberta Health Care for children under the age of 19, and for adults 65 and older. Emergency appointments or those deemed medically necessary are covered for Albertans of any age. Urgent eye issues? Skip the ER Franco said many people don't realize they can go straight to their optometrist for urgent eye problems, including pink eye, sudden vision changes or something stuck in the eye. 'You can actually go to your optometrist for those things,' she said. 'Many optometrists actually hold spots in their schedule every single day for emergency appointments . . . Then you're not having to wait hours in the emergency room. 'If anything is going wrong, don't wait,' she said. 'Call your optometrist and get yourself seen.' Cult of Hockey Politics Cult of Hockey Letters Local News
Calgary Herald
13-05-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Beyond 20/20: Alberta optometrist urges regular eye exams for overall health
May marks Vision Health Month, and one Calgary-area optometrist is on a mission to remind Albertans that protecting their vision means looking beyond just how clearly you can see. Article content Article content 'Vision is often overlooked,' said Dr. Cristy Franco, lead optometrist of the neuro-rehabilitative and pediatric Vision Therapy Clinic at Airdrie Family Eye Doctors. Article content 'We don't think about it.' Article content Article content Speaking at an event hosted by the Alberta Association of Optometrists at Major Tom on Tuesday, Franco emphasized that eye exams play a critical role in not only vision care, but overall health. Many serious eye conditions can develop with no symptoms until it's too late, she said. Article content Article content Routine eye exams are about much more than having perfect vision, Franco said. Article content 'You might be able to see 20/20, but something might be happening inside your eye that you don't know,' she explained. 'But if we can treat it and catch it early enough, then up to 80 per cent of those conditions are preventable and treatable. Article content 'One in seven Canadians will experience a serious eye health issue in their lifetime,' she said, yet many people delay or skip regular checkups. Article content 'A routine eye exam is about part of your regular eye health, but also a part of your regular overall health,' she added. Article content Debunking common myths Article content Article content According to Franco, perfect vision does not mean perfect eye health. Article content 'There's a lot of things that are happening that have no signs or symptoms until it's far too late. And at that point, we have a much harder time treating it,' she said. Article content She warned that some conditions develop quietly with no warning signs, and emphasized the importance of early detection made possible through routine exams to prevent and treat conditions. Article content 'Getting in early preventative care, that's the number one thing that we can do,' she said. Article content Franco warned that many children might have vision issues that go undetected because they don't know anything else. Article content 'A child has never seen in another way, this is how their vision has always been,' she said. 'They don't know what to compare it to.' Article content She noted that one in four school-aged children suffers from a vision issue, which can have broader impacts on a child's learning and development. Regular eye exams are key to catching these problems, she said.
Global News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
First Nations in Alberta, Saskatchewan vow to oppose any efforts to separate Alberta from Canada
A growing number of First Nations leaders are voicing their concerns over calls for Alberta to separate from Canada — calls that have grown louder following the recent federal election. On Friday, following on the heels of several other First Nations who have expressed opposition to the idea, the Chiefs of four Calgary-area First Nations also issued a statement saying that 'any efforts to separate will be met with our full opposition.' While the Chiefs express some sympathy with the 'deep frustration echoing across Alberta and much of the Prairies,' saying as leaders 'we too often feel unheard,' they also insist that 'First Nations will not separate.' The Chiefs said that large swaths of Alberta are governed by 'sacred treaties' between First Nations and the 'Imperial Crown,' including treaties 6, 7 and 8, and those areas 'are held in trust by the Crown for the benefit of the Treaty First Nations, not as property of the provincial government.' Story continues below advertisement The statement adds that those treaties also predate Alberta's entry into Confederation in 1905. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The statement is endorsed by Chief Roy Whitney of the Tsuut'ina Nation, Chief Darcy Dixon of the Bearspaw Nation, Chief Aaron Young of the Chiniki Nation and Chief Clifford Poucette of the Goodstoney Nation. View image in full screen First Nations' Chiefs say that treaties that cover a large swath of Alberta pre-date the province's entry into Confederation and they are vowing that any efforts at Alberta separation 'will be met with their full opposition.' Global News Late Thursday, the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, also issued a statement expressing its 'serious concern over Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's recent actions to facilitate a potential referendum on Alberta's future in Canada.' 'We are the first peoples of these lands and waters,' said FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron. 'Those that want to leave are free to do so but all the lands, waters, and resources are First Nations.' 'Any process of separation that fails to honour the true spirit and intent of our treaties would violate both constitutional and international law,' added Chief Cameron. Story continues below advertisement Following Monday's federal election, Smith's United Conservative Party government proposed legislation that would make it easier for citizens of Alberta to call for a vote to secede from Canada. Smith responded to claims she is stoking the fires of separation by saying she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada. — with files from The Canadian Press
