Latest news with #DanielleMcIntyre
CTV News
02-08-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Lethbridge-wide water drive continues, fire safety reminders issued as temperatures rise
Hot weather returns to Lethbridge over the weekend, prompting concern for the vulnerable population at the same time it creates a greater fire threat. As heat returns to the long-range forecast in Lethbridge, outreach organizations are preparing to help the vulnerable population stay cool, while fire officials monitor the increasing fire risk. This year's citywide water drive, in partnership between the Interfaith Food Bank, Lethbridge Food Bank, Sage Clan, MyCityCare, Downtown BRZ, Streets Alive Mission, Diversion Outreach Team, Community Links, Canadian Mental Health Association and Recovery Alberta, have handed out more than 36,000 bottles of water to those in need. 'It's actually life or death,' said Danielle McIntyre, executive director of Interfaith Food Bank. 'When someone doesn't have the ability to get out of the heat, we obviously have heat emergencies that can happen to you physically, but I think one of the things that we often forget about is that bottle of water is a lot of relief to an individual.' Warming temperatures in Lethbridge Aug.1, 2025 Aid organizations have distributed over 36,000 bottles of water to those in need. (Karsen Marczuk, CTV Lethbridge) With the Heritage Day long weekend underway and the hottest month of the summer now here, McIntyre says demand has outpaced supply. She says they are in need of about $2,000 worth of bottled water to get through the next four weeks and are putting out a call to the community for assistance. 'It's also been a different summer,' said McIntyre. 'We haven't had that dry heat for long spells. There's been a lot of rain in between, which hasn't made us feel as hot because we have had those reprieve, but for someone who isn't able to get out of the sun it is definitely going to be a struggle.' Monitoring the fire risk The fluctuating forecast between hot temperatures and rainy conditions has been challenging for fire officials with Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) to predict the fire risk. 'Lethbridge can be like a desert,' said Troy Hicks chief fire marshal with LFES. 'The rain hits and if we get our normal winds, it doesn't even have a chance for that moisture to soak into the ground and do any good, it just dries up so quickly.' 'So unfortunately, it could look very green but the dead fall that is under that green grass -- that's the risk, that's what can burn -- so that's what we're monitoring and that's what gives us our levels if we have to put it on.' While it may be frustrating for residents to see a fire ban be implemented, lifted and then implemented again all in a matter of days, Hicks says there's a lot of work behind the scenes that has to be done. 'We have devices around the city that the Government of Alberta monitors as well and it will give us readings,' explained Hicks. 'It will give us a reading for flame spread rating and it will also give us a reading for fine fuel load. There are certain levels they're allowed to be at – there's either safe, normal, above normal or extreme – and that's what we look for.' There are fire bans are in place for Lethbridge, but Hicks says the risk is still high and is urging everyone to be cautious when having fires. 'Be safe and pay attention to what you are doing,' he said. 'We have had the odd smoldering fires that people have left... that's one of the biggest risks we have to watch for just make sure your fire is out. As we always say, you soak it, you stir it and you soak it again.' Hicks say when a fire ban is on in the river valley, residents are still permitted to have fires in their backyards. But, he says, be courteous to those around you. 'Even if you're the ones that don't have a fire and a neighbour's fire is bothering you and you call 911 to get our guys there, that's fine -- but I recommend people educate themselves on the fire bylaw,' he said. 'As long as people are following the fire bylaw, they aren't breaking the rules. They are allowed to have that fire pit.' 'Be friends with your neighbours,' he added. 'Talk to them and if you can be friendly with your neighbours and there is an issue and you don't like it, maybe they won't have a fire.' Above normal August Whether its fire conditions or heat safety, meteorologists say August appears to be trending towards above-normal temperatures. 'For the month of August, it's generally a drier note for southern Alberta,' said Christy Climenhaga, with Environment and Climate Change Canada. 'That doesn't mean its going to be dry every day,' she added, 'but our monthly totals -- we are picking up that drier-than-normal trend which could mean some lower levels of precipitation.'
CTV News
14-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Interfaith Food Bank showcases its learning garden for National Garden Day
The Interfaith Food Bank took full advantage of the sunshine on Friday to celebrate National Garden Day. The Interfaith Food Bank took full advantage of the sunshine on Friday to celebrate National Garden Day. Interfaith hosted a free barbeque in the afternoon, with a chance to learn about the garden at the food bank. The community garden allows staff to give lessons, tours and teach residents about ways to plant and the benefits of growing fresh produce. Since being installed in 2013, Interfaith has held its garden party every year since to showcase what the food bank has to offer and the supports available. 'Our learning garden is intended to teach people how to grow their own food as well as where their food comes from, but it is a learning garden, not a community garden so we don't have plots,' said Danielle McIntyre, Interfaith Food Bank executive director. 'Instead, we have our volunteers to tend the garden all season long. 'We primarily use the produce that we grow in our cooking classes and then anything surplus will go right out to our food bank families.' The Interfaith Food Bank took full advantage of the sunshine on Friday to celebrate National Garden Day. The Interfaith Food Bank took full advantage of the sunshine on Friday to celebrate National Garden Day. National Garden Day is held annually on the Friday before Father's Day to encourage Canadians to celebrate gardens in their communities. Interfaith's next event in the learning garden is DIY Bird Feeders. The event will take place June 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. 'Celebrate the first day of summer by creating your own eco-friendly bird feeder using recycled materials,' Interfaith says on its website. 'Discover the best spots to hang your feeder and learn about the feathered friends you might spot around Lethbridge.'
CTV News
10-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Summer heat brings more challenges for Lethbridge's most vulnerable
An encampment is seen in Lethbridge on Monday, June 9, 2025. While some Lethbridge residents may love the summer sun, the heat can pose problems for the city's most vulnerable. Streets Alive Mission chief operating officer Cameron Kissick says Lethbridge's homeless can suffer from heat stroke and sunburn, or can be plagued by bug bites. Making things harder is the fact many of the city's unhoused residents carry all their possessions with them all throughout the year. It means many will wear multiple layers of clothing even on scorching hot days. 'Homeless people basically wear what they own,' said Bill Ginther, executive director of the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen. 'So, you don't see them wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts much. They wear what they have – and that could be year-round – so they're pretty hot.' Organizations around the city are starting to stock up on bottled water to hand out. The Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge's bottled water drive has seen plenty of donations coming from members of the community and businesses. Despite that, officials say even more help is needed. 'As soon as it comes in, it is going out,' said executive director Danielle McIntyre. 'We've got multiple agencies that are helping us with the distribution, and the outreach teams are out there in full force.' The organization is also asking for donations of everything from sunscreen to water bottles. 'Lip balm – ChapStick goes a long way,' said Kissick. 'Aloe vera gels for the cases of sunburn, things like that, and then not just bottles of water, but water bottles – reusable water bottles. The ability to be able to give them something they can refill.' A 2022 Point in Time Count found 454 people in Lethbridge are experiencing homelessness.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Lethbridge charity not collecting mail-in donations amid Canada Post overtime ban
A Lethbridge charity is changing the way it collects donations as the union representing about 55,000 Canada Post employees calls for a countrywide halt to overtime work. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said late Thursday that members were being told to refuse any work beyond eight hours in a day and 40 hours in a week. Canada Post issued its own statement in response to the overtime ban, saying there are no rotating strikes or national work stoppages as of now, and postal operations will continue. However, the Crown corporation did warn of possible delays. In Lethbridge, the Interfaith Food Bank Society is taking proactive measures to deal with the uncertainty. 'At this time of year, we typically see our donations drying up because we are quite a ways out of that season of giving from Thanksgiving to Christmas,' said executive director Danielle McIntyre. 'Instead of doing a bake sale and asking people to make cookies or a cake, we are asking them to give us the money that they would've spent on that.' The non-profit is asking for donations to its 'Bakeless Bake Sale' fundraiser be made in person or online, not through the mail. 'Normally, with our newsletter, there's a small envelope in there that asks people to put their money into the mail and send it off to us,' McIntyre said. 'However, this year … we're encouraging people to give online or stop in,' she said. On Wednesday, Canada Post offered a 13.5 per cent wage increase over four years, along with the creation of new, part-time carrier job categories to help the Crown corporation extend parcel delivery to weekends. That same day, Canada Post rejected the union's call for a two-week truce that would have given workers time to review the latest offers in detail, leading the union to proceed with the overtime ban. 'Businessowners are feeling anxious and frustrated,' said Sarah Aimes, executive director of the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ. 'Many small businesses rely on Canada Post to ship and receive their goods. Any potential strike or delay in Canada Post will force them to look for alternative methods of delivery, and those can expense and perhaps less efficient.' In November, Canada Post workers were on the picket lines for 32 days before the federal government ordered employees back to work and extended the collective agreement deadline to May. 'I also think from the last postal strike, people have become more comfortable with online, which I think was a barrier that we just needed to break,' McIntyre said. 'We are trying to reach people through as many different means as possible, whether it be radio, television, newspaper, emails and social media, it's just about adapting to the new reality.'
