Information About COVID-19
Calgary Arts Development has received a number of inquiries about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and lockdown from our colleagues in the arts sector. As a central hub of information about the arts, we are continuing to monitor the situation and will provide more information as it comes available.
Each tab below is updated regularly as new information is released and is dated as to when changes were made.
As this is an evolving situation, we will keep you informed of anything that is pertinent to the Calgary arts sector. This page will be updated as more information comes available.
The COVID-19 pandemic can have a significant impact on everyone’s mental health. If you need help, these resources are available from the Government of Alberta:
- Mental Health Help Line: 1.877.303.2642
- Addiction Help Line: 1.866.332.2322
- Text: COVID19HOPE to 393939
- Online: alberta.ca/mentalhealth
Calgary Arts Development Updates
Read an important message from Patti Pon for more information.
We received an additional investment of $3.2 million in 2022, which will be directed towards community investment and arts development programs focused on the recovery of the local arts sector and building the runway to resiliency. Priority areas include re-opening efforts and safe arts experiences, the development of new business models, and support for local artists.
Information about all of our funding programs can be found on the Grant Investment Programs page.
Further information, including full program guidelines and programs currently under development, will be available throughout the year. All program pages include the expected timelines and publication dates.
Grants to Arts Organizations
Organizations currently receiving operating funds through the Operating Grant Program are in the final year of their multi-year agreements, with grants released through March and April upon approval of interim reporting due February 28. Operating Grant clients will have the opportunity to apply for a one-time increase to their annual grant, intended to support the recovery of our arts sector and build the runway to resiliency. Information about this application process will be published by late February, with the application process running through the spring into early summer. The Operating Grant program is not open to new applicants in 2022.
The Organization Recovery Fund program is open to non-profit arts organizations who do not currently receive a grant through the Operating Grant Program. Organizations may apply for a one-time grant of unrestricted funds to support the recovery of our arts sector and build the runway to resiliency. Information about this application process will be published by late February. This program will run through late spring and summer.
The Project Grant for Organizations is open to non-profit arts organizations, and will run through fall and winter. Program guidelines will be published in July.
The Organization Structural Change Grant is undergoing evaluation through the first part of the year. This work will inform a re-designed program focused on structural change and the development of organizational capacity, which is expected to launch in mid-Spring 2022.
Please reach out to Marta Ligocki, Program Specialist for Arts Organizations, at marta.ligocki@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with any questions about funding opportunities for arts organizations.
Grants to Individual Artists and Artist Collectives
The Project Grant for Individuals and Collectives will run through the spring, with grant notifications expected in early summer. Program guidelines will be published in February.
The Artist Development Microgrant program is intended to provide support for professional and business development activities. Applications will be accepted in four intakes through the year, with the first intake opening in the spring. Program guidelines will be published in early March.
Please reach out to Taylor Poitras, Program Specialist for Individuals and Collectives, at taylor.poitras@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with any questions about funding opportunities for artists.
Grants to Indigenous Artists, Collectives, and Organizations
The Honouring the Children program will continue in 2022. Applications to this program are accepted on an ongoing basis, and there is no deadline to apply. This program is specifically for Indigenous artists or Indigenous arts organizations who live and work on Treaty 7 territory, to support artistic projects responding to, honouring, or in memory of the loss of life, culture, ceremony, and language amongst the original peoples of this land because of the residential school system.
The Indigenous Artist Microgrant is a new program intended to support Indigenous artists living and working in the Treaty 7 region for activities and expenses related to the preservation of Indigenous culture and tradition. This program will be developed in relationship with the Indigenous Advisory Committee. Program guidelines will be published in March.
The Original Peoples Investment Program will run in fall and winter. Program guidelines will be published in August. This program is intended to support art-based projects that are supported and validated by Indigenous artists, community, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers. We recognize and support both traditional and contemporary Indigenous artists and arts practices.
Please reach out to the community investment team at grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with any questions about funding opportunities for Indigenous artists or organizations.
Updated February 8, 2021 – Calgary Arts Development is pleased to release the full guidelines for the Organization Structural Change Grant.
Applications are now open and will be accepted on an ongoing basis until November 30, 2021.
Coming out of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Calgary Arts Development recognizes that the sector shut-down and health mandates have disproportionately impacted the arts sector and there will be difficult conversations taking place among board members and organizational leadership in the coming months.
The Organizational Structural Change (OSC) Grant is new in 2021 and the intent is that it is only available for one-year to support the transitions organizations will need to face in the coming year. Our research data indicates that there are some arts organizations that will not be financially viable due to loss of revenue, limited ability to adapt, and no reserves to support their ongoing work. There are costs to closures along with the need to preserve the artistic contributions and assets of the organization for the arts ecosystem.
The pandemic provides an opportunity for some boards to consider different organizational changes specifically around mergers, strategic partnerships, hibernations, and even organizational closure and the OSC Grant purpose is to support those decisions.
Be sure to review the full guidelines for details and how to apply.
Updated January 11, 2021 – Applications are now open for the Artist Development Microgrant. Be sure to submit your application via the online grant interface before 4:30pm MT on February 16, 2021.
The Artist Development Microgrant is intended to provide one-time funding to individual artists and artist collectives in Calgary who have been impacted by COVID-19. It supports professional development and business development activities as well as the completion or adaptation of work that has been affected by COVID-19. This microgrant is not intended to support new work.
The goal of the program is to allow artists to respond to new approaches and emergent needs, reduce barriers to opportunities, contribute to skills, knowledge and professional development and advance professional arts and artistic practices in Calgary (known as Mohkinsstsis in Blackfoot).
Applicants may request up to $2,500. Total funding available for this program is $130,000. Be sure to review the guidelines for requirements and all the details.
Updated January 5, 2021 – Calgary Arts Development is pleased to announce the 2021 community investment programs for arts organizations, individual artists, and artist collectives practicing and operating in Calgary (known as Mohkinsstsis in Blackfoot).
Through a donation from the Calgary Arts Foundation’s Cultural Vitality Fund, we are launching a new program for individual artists. The Artist Development Microgrant is intended to invest in professional or business development opportunities for artists impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program will open on January 11, 2021 and applications will be assessed on a rolling basis until February 15, 2021. Results will be available by early March.
Read our update on Calgary Arts Development investment programs for more information.
Updated March 26, 2020 – Calgary Arts Development is continuing to monitor and assess the impact that COVID-19 is having on our arts sector. In these ever-changing and extraordinary circumstances the community investment team is in the process of evaluating how our grant investment programs need to shift to support the community in relevant and responsive ways.
Read our update on Calgary Arts Development investment programs for more information.
Studies, Surveys & Publications
This guidebook offers practical considerations for the live experience and event sector recovery processes and does not constitute legal or professional advice. The intent is to help event professionals and arts organizations minimize the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. This is accomplished by introducing the concept of “duty of care” and sharing recommendations that take safety into account at every point of an event.
Download the guidebook at calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Organizations and artists who created, distributed, and monetized cultural content despite the challenges of public safety measures will be put in the spotlight and their approaches will become the foundation for a new tool aimed at building resilience within the sector.
Prior to the devastating impacts of COVID-19, Canada’s culture sector contributed roughly $53B to the national GDP, more than 3% of the total. The sector, which encompasses arts, culture, heritage, events and festivals, film, and more, saw its economic contribution drop by 17% between the first and second quarter of 2020 with little recovery since.
While CCNC believes in the importance of understanding how the pandemic has incapacitated theatres, tours, festivals, individual artists, and more, the Network sees incredible value in seeking out the lesser told success stories and learning from them.
Phase One, focused on mining stories of innovation and stabilization, will be led by Hill Strategies Research.
The data will be invaluable for every level of government looking to develop programs and policy that supports innovation in the cultural sector.
For more information or to submit a story, visit culturalresilience.ca.
Updated May 11, 2021 – Canadian Heritage launches the Canadian Artists and Content Creators Economic Survey.
The long-term success and sustainability of the Canadian artistic and creative scene is essential in fostering and maintaining our strong and distinct Canadian identity. The economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have been felt across the country, and the Canadian creative sector has been particularly hard hit. The pandemic has strained our cultural sector at a time when it was already experiencing significant challenges and disruptions regarding how creative work is made, experienced and compensated. With concerts and in-person events cancelled or postponed for the near future, Canadian artists and content creators from various backgrounds are feeling the turbulence and repercussions of this moment.
Canadian Heritage has launched the new Canadian Artists and Content Creators Economic Survey. All Canadian artists and content creators are invited to take part, to help shed light on their experiences working and earning a living in a pre- and post-COVID-19 world.
The purpose of this survey is to help create an updated portrait of the artistic and creative community in Canada. The data gathered through this survey will inform current and future Canadian Heritage policies and programs, ensuring the department continues to be responsive to the realities of the creative sector.
The survey is open from May 10 to June 18, 2021. It is open to anyone in Canada aged 16 or older who sees their creative or artistic work as an important component of their professional identity, whether freelance or with organizations, full-time or alongside other work, and at any point in their career.
Share your story! Fill out the online survey at pch.survey-sondage.ca.
Updated March 25, 2020 – Event postponements or cancellations due to COVID-19 advisories and restrictions will not have an impact on existing grants or future applications to our programs.
Of high importance, we need to get a better understanding of the possible impact on our sector. This information will help us communicate to City Council and other orders of government what the magnitude of impact could be.
Calgary Arts Development has sent a survey to all arts organizations who have received a grant from us. We are currently compiling the data and will allow us to begin to understand the impact COVID-19 disruptions will have on our sector. If you didn’t get a chance to fill it out, you can still complete the survey at calgaryartsdevelopment.hostedincanadasurveys.ca.
If you are an individual artist, please keep accurate records of your losses for the next three months due to cancellations or deferrals taken to control the spread of COVID-19. Start collecting all your information including contracts, invoices, cancellation documents, correspondence, and a list of lost income.
Calgary Arts Development is working on how best to gather this information in collaboration with other artist-serving organizations.
Practice good record keeping and quantify it honestly and realistically. A handy template for tracking losses and expenses can be found at facebook.com—this template is courtesy of Tau S. Bui with English translation and provincial update by Pam Tzeng.
Insights found comfort wavers yet again under the weight of another wave of cases, hospitalizations and loss of life, and that digital tools, the main source of connection early in the pandemic, have shifted to become more of an engagement and enhancement tool.
This is a community resource and results can be downloaded at stone-olafson.com. You can also sign up to recieve notifications about information sharing workshops and when future reports become available.
Updated July 21, 2021 – Stone Olafson has released the results of its sixth wave of research into the attitudes and behaviours of arts, culture, entertainment, and sports audiences in Alberta.
Insights include that spending habits have shifted and regardless of where restrictions are at, Albertans are going to return at their own pace. It also found that comfort levels, risk tolerance, and consumer mindset all continue to shift with conditions and converting pent-up interest into attendance is tied to a combination of safety, availability, and flexibility.
This is a community resource and results from six waves of research are available. Download the sixth wave reports:
Alberta Report
Calgary Report
Edmonton Report
Be sure to sign up at stone-olafson.com to receive notifications about information sharing workshops and when future reports become available.
Updated April 22, 2021 – Stone Olafson has released the results of its fifth wave of research into the attitudes and behaviours of arts, culture, entertainment, and sports audiences in Alberta.
Insights include the fact that comfort has shifted again, our psychological mindset reflects a pent-up demand, and there is a desire for flexibility extends to financial support.
This is a community resource and results from five waves of research are available. Download the fifth wave reports:
Alberta Report
Calgary Report
Edmonton Report
Be sure to sign up at stone-olafson.com to receive notifications about information sharing workshops and when future reports become available.
Updated January 29, 2021 – Stone Olafson has released the results of its fourth wave of research into the attitudes and behaviours of arts, culture, entertainment, and sports audiences in Alberta.
Insights include the fact that Albertans are adapting to and following the rules, and a change in habits during the pandemic appears to be additive, not alternative.
This is a community resource and results from the four waves of research are available. Download the fourth wave reports:
Alberta Report
Calgary Report
Edmonton Report
Be sure to sign up at stone-olafson.com to receive notifications about information sharing workshops and when future reports become available.
Updated November 20, 2020 – Stone Olafson has released the results of its third wave of research into the attitudes and behaviours of arts, culture, entertainment, and sports audiences in Alberta.
Community attitudes on comfort are becoming entrenched as audiences are listening and need to hear about what you will do to keep them safe, the experience they will have, and that it is shareable.
This is a community resource and results from the two waves of research are available. Download the third wave reports:
Alberta Report
Calgary Report
Edmonton Report
Be sure to sign up at stone-olafson.com to receive notifications about information sharing workshops and when future reports become available.
Updated August 24, 2020 – Stone Olafson has released the results of its second wave of research into the attitudes and behaviours of arts, culture, entertainment, and sports audiences in Alberta.
It seems that, with a few exceptions, people remain very cautious about large gatherings, and that these new survey results suggest that it will be a long and slow recovery before we return to business as usual.
This is a community resource and results from the two waves of research are available. Download the second wave reports:
Alberta Report
Calgary Report
Edmonton Report
Sign up at stone-olafson.com to receive notifications about information sharing workshops and when future reports become available.
Updated June 25, 2020 – Stone-Olafson is supporting experience-based with timely research about how audiences will engage in a post-pandemic environment. This research is being conducted in six waves over the course of the next year with the first wave of results (based on surveys conducted between May 21 and June 2, 2020) now available.
The initiative is being funded by leaders who see an opportunity to support organizations which bring remarkable experiences to life in communities across Alberta. These include Calgary Arts Development, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton Arts Council, Edmonton Community Foundation, Calgary Foundation, Rozsa Foundation, ATB, Stone-Olafson, ActiveCITY Collective, Travel Alberta, and Angus Reid.
Thanks to their generous support, there will be free access to research outcomes, workshops, and sharing events to help you put the research to work for your teams.
This is a community resource and results from the first wave of research are available. Download the reports:
Alberta Report
Calgary Report
Edmonton Report
The next wave of research will be launching in July with results ready for subscribers in August.
If you have not done so already, sign up at stone-olafson.com to receive notifications about information sharing workshops and when future reports become available.
Download the Future of Calgary’s Live Experience Economy discussion paper.
Research: Stone-Olafson is leading a province-wide research initiative that tracks attitudes towards live, in-person, face-to-face activities at the core of the experience economy. This research will run from May 2020 to March 2021. Additional information can be found at stone-olafson.com.
Mobilize: BounceBack YYC is hosting hackathons to leverage the innovation and creativity of Calgary post-secondary students to support local community organizations and business during the recovery. The first hackathon is scheduled for the end of June and registration is now open to students and recent grads at bouncebackyyc.com.
Share: BounceBack YYC is running weekly online forums starting on May 27, 2020. These offer insights and a platform to discuss the role that the experience economy can play in leading Calgary’s bounce back from COVID-19. Register for free at share.hsforms.com.
Government Updates
Due to recent developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, we have refocused our attention on the immediate challenges facing Canadian artists and cultural workers.
The summit, originally scheduled for January 31 and February 1, 2022, will be postponed and take place once public health measures allow face-to-face meetings to occur safely. The Government of Canada will continue to support artists, cultural workers and their sector through the challenges they now face and collaborate with them to identify timely support for these immediate issues.
The pandemic has hit Canadian artists and cultural workers harder than most. From the beginning, we have been there to support them and will continue to do so for as long as necessary.
We will continue to stand together and hold the summit in person, as planned, as soon as the time is right and it is safe to do so. At that time, we can all reflect on the post-COVID recovery and long-term competitiveness of Canada’s arts sector. We will have meaningful conversations on measures and initiatives for a sustainable recovery, the return of visitors and the engagement of new audiences, the role of digital platforms, the contribution of cultural sectors to reconciliation, the fight against climate change and how we can build a more just and inclusive society.
The summit may have been postponed, but dialogue with our artists and cultural workers continues to be my utmost priority. Over the next couple of weeks, I will continue to meet with artists, technical and production people, creative professionals, producers and presenters to listen to their challenges and determine how the Government of Canada can continue to provide support.
Learn more about COVID-19 support for culture, heritage, and sport sectors at canada.ca.
Updated December 22, 2021 – The federal government has temporarily expanded emergency measures for the sector.
On December 17, 2021, Bill C-2 brought the Local Lockdown Program into effect to provide support to organizations subject to local public health restrictions with wage and rent support through the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP). An organization does not have to be in the tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, or recreation sectors to be eligible for this support.
The government also recently announced new proposed regulatory changes to the Local Lockdown Program. Organizations can now also qualify if:
- One or more of its locations is subject to a public health order that has the effect of reducing the entity’s capacity at the location by 50% or more.
- Activities restricted by the public health order accounted for at least 50% of the entity’s total qualifying revenues during the prior reference period.
The government has also temporarily lowered the current-month revenue loss threshold from 40% to 25%. Employers will now need to demonstrate current-month losses only, instead of the requirement for a historical 12-month revenue decline. The subsidy rate will start at 25% for eligible organizations with a 25% current-month revenue decline, increasing in proportion to current-month revenue loss up to a maximum rate of 75% for those with a current-month revenue decline of 75% or higher.
These temporary changes will be in effect for qualifying periods from December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022. For more information, please see our Summary of federal COVID-19 relief measures for the sector.
Learn more at canada.ca.
Updated June 28, 2021 – Since March 2020, Canadians’ access to arts, culture, heritage and sporting events has been severely limited due to closures, cancellations and postponements related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These events and experiences are at the heart of Canadian life, our economy, and individual and collective well-being.
As more and more Canadians receive their vaccinations, as case rates decline, and as provinces and territories implement their reopening plans, Canadians are seeking opportunities to safely return to cultural and sporting activities. In order to do so, arts, culture, heritage and sport organizations, and Canadians working in these sectors, need targeted support to continue to weather the impacts of the pandemic and create good jobs for the middle class.
In Budget 2021, the Government of Canada committed $1.9 billion to help support the arts, culture, heritage and sport sectors. This funding will help ensure recovery and growth, and help create good, middle-class jobs in these sectors.
Today, the Hon. Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, highlighted key components of this investment:
- The Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage and Sport Sectors will leverage existing programs to provide $300 million over two years to organizations that are still struggling due to the pandemic. It will provide organizations and individuals with the financial means to help build organizational resilience and pursue business innovation and transformation. This will also contribute to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in these sectors, as well as greening activities.
- The Reopening Fund will provide $200 million over two years through existing programming to help Canada’s festivals, cultural events, outdoor theatre performances, heritage celebrations, local museums, amateur sport events and more. It will support organizations and projects that deliver in-person experiences or events that draw visitors to our communities.
In addition, the Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, highlighted details of the Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative, which will be delivered by federal Regional Development Agencies.
This initiative will invest $200 million over two years to keep major, recurring Canadian festivals and events alive and help them adapt or enhance their activities in order to be better positioned when it becomes possible once again for national and international tourists to visit. It will complement the Reopening Fund and is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to support festivals and events across the country, and a sustained social and economic recovery for Canadians.
Learn more at ic.gc.ca.
Updated November 23, 2020 – Through the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS), the Federal Government is providing targeted, direct relief to businesses, non-profits, and charities that continue to face the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, opened the CERS to receive applications from qualifying organizations.
These organizations can now apply directly for the subsidy for the period from September 27 to October 24, 2020 through the Canada Revenue Agency My Business Account, or Represent a Client portals. Applications for the second CERS period (October 25 to November 21, 2020) will open on November 30.
The new rent subsidy supports businesses, charities, and non-profits that have suffered a revenue drop by providing support up to a maximum of 65% of eligible expenses. Qualifying organizations that were required to shut down or significantly limit their activities under a public health order will also have access to Lockdown Support, a top-up subsidy of 25%, meaning that they could receive rent or property expenses support of up to 90%.
The government also announced an extension to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy until June 2021. Aiming to protect jobs by helping employers keep employees on the payroll and re-hire workers, the wage subsidy will remain at the current rate of up to 65 per cent of eligible wages until December 19, 2020.
Learn more at canada.ca.
Updated October 2, 2020 – While many Canadians have been able to go back to work safely, there continue to be many who are unable to find work or are underemployed due to the ongoing public health crisis. This fall, as the Government transitions from the CERB to a flexible and more accessible Employment Insurance (EI) program, it is also continuing to support workers in need who do not qualify for EI, and providing new support that will allow Canadians to stay home when they are sick.
Today, the COVID-19 Response Measures Act (formerly Bill C-4) received Royal Assent. This legislation creates three new temporary recovery benefits to support Canadians who are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19. These benefits will be in place for one year beginning September 27, 2020, as we work to build back a stronger, more resilient economy.
Canadians will be able to apply through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the following benefits as of Monday, October 5, 2020:
- A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19, or because the child or family member is sick or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
- A Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) of $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19, self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
These benefits will be paid on a weekly basis, meaning Canadians will have to reapply each week they are eligible.
And, effective October 12, the CRA will open the applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit, providing eligible workers with $500 per week for up to 26 weeks for those who have stopped working and who are not eligible for EI, or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in two-week periods.
More information on how Canadians can get ready to apply can be found on the new Canada Recovery Benefits web page and a breakdown on how to transition to these new benefits can be found at canada.ca.
Updated August 20, 2020 – The federal government has announced changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program and new income support benefits that will better support all Canadians.
They also announced that in preparation for this transition and to ensure support continues for Canadians whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will be extended by an additional four weeks to a maximum of 28 weeks. This means that for the many Canadians expecting to exhaust their CERB benefits at the end of August, they will now be able to access an additional month of support.
EI will now be available to more Canadians, including those who would not have qualified for EI in the past, adding more than 400,000 people into the program.
Those receiving EI will be eligible for a taxable benefit rate of at least $400 per week, or $240 per week for extended parental benefits, and regular benefits will be accessible for a minimum duration of 26 weeks. The government will continue to work with provinces and territories to ensure Canadians receiving EI benefits have access to skills training and employment supports, to help them get back to work.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated July 8, 2020 – On July 7, 2020, the Department of Canadian Heritage announced the final components of Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage, and Sport Organizations. The fund is intended to complement the Government of Canada’s existing COVID-19 emergency measures by providing additional temporary relief to cultural, heritage and sport organizations facing significant financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the $500 million, the second phase will provide temporary relief to support other organizations that do not currently receive funding from Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, Telefilm Canada or the Canada Media Fund
Phase 2 includes temporary support for Canada’s live music industry as well as recording studios and other companies and organizations that did not receive funding under Phase 1 and funding for eligible organizations with heritage collections through the emergency component of the Museums Assistance Program.
Visit canada.ca for a detailed breakdown of frequently asked questions.
Updated May 15, 2020 – The Federal Government introduced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) to prevent further job losses, encourage employers to rehire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19, and help better position Canadian companies and other employers to more easily resume normal operations following the crisis.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau today announced that the Government of Canada will extend the CEWS by an additional 12 weeks to August 29, 2020. Currently, the CEWS is in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
Extending the program is aimed at giving workers greater confidence and the Government will consult with key business and labour representatives over the next month on potential adjustments to the program to incent jobs and growth, including the 30% revenue decline threshold.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated May 13, 2020 – As part of the COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the Government of Canada is providing direct support to students and recent graduates who are facing a very different job market this summer.
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) application period is set to launch on May 15, 2020.
The CESB, which will be delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency, will provide temporary income support to eligible post-secondary students and new graduates who are unable to work or find work this summer due to COVID-19, or are working and are not making over $1,000.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated May 8, 2020 – The Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, shared further details regarding the temporary relief measures to support the culture, heritage, and sport sectors. A total of up to $500 million has been set aside to help alleviate the financial pressures of affected organizations.
Starting today, partner organizations will be contacted so that funds can begin to flow to cultural and sport organizations. Canadian Heritage is working closely with its partners—in particular, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canada Media Fund, FACTOR, Musicaction, and Telefilm Canada—to distribute the funds as quickly as possible using existing channels.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated April 24, 2020 – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the federal government has reached an agreement in principle with all provinces and territories to implement the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. This program will lower rent by 75% for small businesses that have been affected by COVID-19.
Impacted small business tenants are businesses paying less than $50,000 per month in rent and who have temporarily ceased operations or have experienced at least a 70% drop in pre-COVID-19 revenues. This support will also be available to non-profit and charitable organizations.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated April 17, 2020 – The Government of Canada is providing $500 million to establish a new COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations to help address the complex financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors so they can continue to support artists and athletes.
The fund will be administered by Canadian Heritage via contribution agreements.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated April 16, 2020 – The Government of Canada is working around the clock to give small businesses the support they need so they can continue to make our country strong at this critical time.
With new measures to support Canadian businesses so they can keep their doors open and their employees on the job, the Government of Canada announced two new measures including expanding the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) to businesses that paid between $20,000 and $1.5 million in total payroll in 2019.
It also announced its intent to introduce the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses. The program will seek to provide loans, including forgivable loans, to commercial property owners who in turn will lower or forgo the rent of small businesses for the months of April (retroactive), May, and June.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated April 15, 2020 – Part-time, contract, and seasonal workers now qualify for COVID-19 emergency benefits.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced more flexible rules for claiming the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) to include seasonal workers, those who have recently run out of employment insurance, and people who make less than $1,000 a month due to reduced work hours.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated April 12, 2020 – The Government of Canada’s $52 billion relief program, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, passed today in the House of Commons. The program will cover 75 percent of the first $58,700 earned by an employee for three months.
Canadian businesses can apply to receive $847 per week, per employee to subsidize wages for three months, provided the employer can demonstrate a drop in gross revenues of at least 15 percent in March and 30 percent in April and May.
The Federal government also announced changes to the Canada Summer Jobs program to help businesses and young Canadians.
The temporary changes to the program for this year include:
- An increase to the wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can also receive up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee.
- An extension to the end date for employment to February 28, 2021.
- Employers can adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services and hire staff on a part-time basis.
Visit canada.ca for more details.
Updated April 8, 2020 – To help Canadians and businesses get through these tough economic times, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Federal Government is proposing to introduce a wage subsidy of 75 per cent for qualifying businesses, for up to three months, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
In order to address the realities faced by the not-for-profit sector, high growth companies, and new businesses, the government also proposes additional flexibility.
Visit canada.ca for more information.
Updated March 27, 2020 – The Government of Canada is making additional investments to support Canadian businesses from the economic impacts of COVID-19. These new investments provide support to financial institutions and allow them to quickly provide credit and liquidity options for a range of businesses.
These measures are a part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, which provides direct support and tax deferrals to Canadian workers and businesses to help them in these difficult times.
Visit canada.ca for more information.
Updated March 18, 2020 – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a new set of economic measures to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period. These measures, delivered as part of the Government of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses.
This includes support for self-employed Canadians, small businesses, and non-profits and charities.
Visit canada.ca for more information.
Under step two, masking requirements in high-risk settings will continue, including at AHS facilities, continuing care centres and on public transit. Isolation remains mandatory for anyone with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result. These public health protections will remain in place until step three, which will occur at a later date provided hospitalizations continue to decline.
Step Two
Effective March 1, 2022:
- Remaining provincial school requirements (including cohorting) will be removed.
- Screening prior to youth activities will no longer be required.
- Capacity limits will be lifted for all venues.
- Limits on social gatherings will be removed.
- The provincial mask mandate will be lifted in most settings. However, masking will still be required in high-risk settings, including on public transit, at Alberta Health Services-operated and contracted facilities and all continuing care settings.
- Restrictions on interactive activities, liquor service and operating hours will be lifted
- Mandatory work-from-home requirements will be removed.
Step Three
To be determined based on hospitalization rates continuing to trend downwards.
- COVID-19-specific measures in continuing care and acute care settings and on public transit will be removed.
- Mandatory isolation becomes a recommendation only.
Additional details on all restrictions and measures in place are available at alberta.ca/covidmeasures.
Updated February 9, 2022 – Provincewide public health measures will be gradually lifted over the next few weeks. The three-step approach begins with lower-risk activities while maintaining protections for the health-care system, including continuing care facilities.
Beginning February 8 at 11:59pm, Alberta will move to step one, which includes the removal of the Restrictions Exemption Program and capacity limits on venues with a capacity of under 500, and allows for food and beverage consumption in seated audience settings for large events and entertainment venues. Mandatory masking for children and youth in schools, and for youth aged 12 and under in any setting will end February 13 at 11:59pm.
Step One
Effective at 11:59pm on February 8, 2022:
- Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) ends, along with most associated restrictions.
- Entertainment venues will continue to have some specific rules in place:
- Restrictions on sale of food and beverages and consumption while seated in audience settings will be removed.
- Restrictions on closing times, alcohol service, table capacity in restaurants and interactive activities will remain in force.
- For all businesses, venues and facilities—whether they were previously eligible for the REP or not—capacity limits are removed, except for:
- Facilities with capacity of 500 to 1,000, which will be limited to 500.
- Facilities with capacity of 1,000-plus, which will be limited to 50%.
Effective at 11:59pm on February 13, 2022:
- Masks will no longer be required for all children and youth in schools.
- Masks will no longer be required in any setting for children aged 12 and under.
Step Two
Effective March 1, 2022:
- Any remaining provincial school requirements (including cohorting) will be removed.
- Screening prior to youth activities will no longer be required.
- Capacity limits will be lifted for all venues.
- Limits on social gatherings will be removed.
- Provincial mask mandate will be removed.
- Mandatory work from home removed.
Step Three
To be determined based on hospitalization rates continuing to trend downwards.
- COVID-specific measures in continuing care will be removed.
- Mandatory isolation becomes a recommendation only.
Additional details on all restrictions and measures in place will be released prior to each step at alberta.ca.
Updated January 10, 2022 – Eligibility requirements to receive a PCR test have been updated to ensure tests are available to those who need it most.
Due to the significant rise in demand for PCR tests, combined with the Omicron variant spreading rapidly in our province, our testing system is becoming strained, and the government is taking action to protect the most vulnerable.
Eligibility requirements have been updated and are effective immediately to ensure testing focuses only on those who have clinical risk factors for severe outcomes and those who live and work in high-risk settings.
The following is a list of individuals who are eligible to receive PCR testing:
- Continuing care residents and health care workers in acute care settings, shelters and correctional facilities.
- Symptomatic household members of an individual working in continuing or acute care.
- Emergency department or hospital patients of all ages.
- Symptomatic community patients who would be eligible for Sotrovimab.
- People from isolated and remote First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities, or those who travel to these communities for work.
- Asymptomatic continuing care residents returning/readmitting from other health care settings.
- Pediatric and adult oncology patients, prior to commencing chemotherapy.
- Newborns born to COVID-positive parents.
- Returning travelers who become symptomatic with 14 days after their arrival.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms, you should not visit emergency departments seeking a test. Employers should also not ask you to provide a PCR test in order to receive time off of work.
It’s important that we continue to reserve tests for those who need it most, and also ensure our hospitals are used for emergency situations only.
If you are unsure whether you need to talk to a doctor about your illness or when to seek medical attention, use the Alberta Medical Association tool to determine what to do. Most people with mild illness do not need a test or a conversation with their doctor.
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated October 7, 2021 – In response to the latest public health actions, government is providing funding to help offset costs of implementing the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) and support training for workers.
Alberta’s government will soon offer a one-time payment of $2,000 to Alberta small- and medium-sized businesses that are eligible for and choose to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program, requiring proof of vaccination, a negative test result or medical exemption.
Alberta businesses eligible for the REP Implementation Grant can use the funding as they see fit.
An additional $1 million will also be available for training to support the safety of workers when implementing the Restrictions Exemption Program.
Eligible industry associations across Alberta can use the REP Training Grant to develop or procure training to help workers assess and manage challenging situations that may arise during their daily work. Workers and employers will be able to access this training through select industry associations.
Government will introduce legislation to protect businesses that require vaccinations for employees or implement the Restriction Exemption Program from legal challenges.
The government will also be doubling fines for contravening public health orders, including the mistreatment of workers doing the difficult work ensuring public health orders are being followed, from $2,000 to $4,000.
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated October 6, 2021 – To reduce the spread of COVID-19, an updated public health measure will apply to all outdoor private social gatherings effective October 6, 2021:
- Outdoor private social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 20 people, with two-metre physical distancing between households at all times. This is a decrease from the previous limit of 200 attendees.
- All other previously public health measures remain in place at this time.
Additional information is available at alberta.ca.
Updated September 16, 2021 – The Government of Alberta has declared a state of public health emergency and is implementing new health measures to expand capacity, increase vaccination rates, and reduce transmission of COVID-19.
Although a number of questions remain, businesses or event organizers who choose to implement a program checking patrons for government-issued proof of vaccination or a recent negative privately purchased COVID-19 test will be able to have an exemption to restrictions. If a business or service chooses not to require proof of vaccination, they will be required to adhere to the new health measures.
Restrictions Exemption Program
Starting September 20, 2021, vaccine-eligible individuals will be required to provide government-issued proof of immunization or a negative privately paid COVID-19 test from within the previous 72 hours to access a variety of participating social, recreational, and discretionary events and businesses throughout the province.
- To enter certain spaces that are participating in the program, including restaurants, bars and indoor organized events, people aged 12 and older will be required to show their proof of vaccination or a negative recent test result.
- Businesses that implement the Restrictions Exemption Program would operate as usual, provided they are serving only people who have proof of immunization or who have a recent privately paid negative test, as per the requirements in place. This means they could immediately and without restriction serve any individual eligible for vaccination who:
- Has proof of double vaccination. There is also a transitional period between September 20 and October 25, where proof of a single dose would be considered acceptable as long as the dose was given two weeks or more before the time of service.
- Has documentation of a medical exemption.
- Has proof of a recent (within the previous 72 hours) negative COVID-19 test (either PCR or Rapid Test). The test may not be from Alberta Health Services or Alberta Precision Laboratories.
- Those under age 12 would not need to provide proof of immunization or a negative test to enter a participating business.
- This program would not apply to businesses or entities that need to be accessed for daily living.
- Albertans can access copies of their COVID-19 vaccination records through MyHealth Records. For the time being, Albertans should avoid logging into MyHealth Records to download their records. The printable card, which was going to be made available on September 16, will now be available on September. 19.
New Public Health Measures
The following measures also take effect on September 16, 2021:
- Workplaces:
- Mandatory work-from-home measures are in place unless the employer has determined a physical presence is required for operational effectiveness.
- Private social gatherings:
- Indoor private gatherings for vaccine-eligible, fully vaccinated individuals are limited to a single household plus one other household to a maximum of 10 people, with no restrictions on children under the age of 12.
- Attendance at any indoor private social gathering is not permitted for vaccine-eligible individuals who are unvaccinated.
- Outdoor private social gatherings are permitted to a maximum of 200 people, with two-metre physical distancing maintained at all times.
- Places of worship:
- Places of worship must limit attendance to one-third fire code capacity.
- Face masks will be mandatory and there must be two-metre physical distancing between households or two close contacts for those living alone.
- Outdoor events and facilities with no indoor portion (excluding washrooms):
- No attendance restrictions, however two-metre physical distancing must be in place.
- Schools (K-12):
- Mandatory masking for students in grades 4 and up, plus staff and teachers in all grades. Schools that can implement an alternate COVID safety plan can be exempted from mandatory masking.
- Elementary schools are to implement class cohorting.
- For physical activities in schools:
- Youth aged 18 and under are not required to mask or maintain two-metre distance when engaged in physical activity.
- There are no restrictions on outdoor activities.
- Indoor sports/performance/recreation/special interests are permitted with requirements for two-metre physical distancing, where possible.
- Children’s sport/performance/recreation (extracurricular sports, performance, recreation and special interest):
- Indoor activities are permitted, with requirements for two-metre physical distancing and masking where possible, and symptom screening for participants.
- Youth aged 18 and under are not required to mask or maintain physical distancing during a physical activity, such as a team sport.
- Spectator attendance is limited to one-third fire code capacity. Attendees must be masked and ensure physical distancing between different households or an individual who lives alone and their two close contacts.
- There are no restrictions on outdoor activities.
- Children’s activities:
- Children’s day camps must have two-metre physical distancing between participants and masking indoors.
- Children’s overnight camps must follow cohort models.
The following measures take effect on September 20, 2021:
- Restaurants:
- Outdoor dining only with a maximum of six individuals per table (one household or two close contacts for those living alone).
- Liquor sales and consumption restrictions (10 p.m. sales and 11 p.m. consumption) apply.
- Restaurants are eligible to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program.
- Weddings and funerals:
- All indoor ceremonies and services are limited to 50 attendees or 50 per cent fire code capacity, whichever is less.
- No indoor receptions are permitted.
- The hosting facility would be eligible to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program.
- All outdoor ceremonies and services for weddings and funerals must be limited to 200 attendees. Outdoor receptions are required to follow liquor sales and consumption restrictions (i.e., sales end at 10:00pm and consumption ends by 11:00pm).
- The hosting facility would be eligible to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program.
- Retail, entertainment and recreation facilities (includes any indoor venues, libraries, conferences, rental spaces, concerts, nightclubs, casinos ,and similar):
- Attendance is limited to one-third fire code capacity and attendees are only permitted to attend with their household or two close contacts for those living alone. Attendees must be masked and have two-metre physical distancing between households.
- These facilities are eligible to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program.
- Adult (over 18 years old) sport, fitness, performance, and recreation:
- Indoor activities:
- No indoor group classes or activities are permitted.
- One-on-one training or individual workouts are permitted but three-metre physical distancing is required.
- No contact between players; indoor competitions are paused except where vaccine exemptions have been granted.
- These facilities and programs are eligible to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program. Specific exemptions may also be granted on a case-by-case basis.
- There are no restrictions on outdoor activities.
- Indoor activities:
Visit alberta.ca for more details and updates as they become available.
Updated September 3, 2021 – Due to increasing COVID-19 transmission and rising hospital admissions, overwhelmingly amongst unvaccinated Albertans, temporary measures are needed to reduce transmission and prevent the health-care system from being overwhelmed.
- The province will make masks mandatory for all indoor public spaces and workplaces starting September 4, 2021, at 8:00am. Schools are not required to implement masking but school boards will continue to set COVID-19 management policies as they deem appropriate.
- As of September 4, 2021, at 8:00am, restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, nightclubs and other licensed establishments will be required to end alcohol service at 10:00pm.
- In addition, Albertans are encouraged to limit in-person contacts. To support this, the province strongly recommends that unvaccinated Albertans limit their indoor social gatherings to close contacts of only two cohort families up to a maximum of 10 people.
- It is also recommended that employers pause their plans to have staff return to work and instead continue with work-from-home measures. If employees are working on location, employees must mask for all indoor settings, except in work stations or where two-metre physical distancing or adequate physical barriers are in place.
Also, a one-time incentive of $100 is now available for all Albertans age 18 or older who receive a first or second dose of vaccine between September 3 and October 14, 2021. This incentive is intended to encourage unvaccinated Albertans to get protected as soon as possible.
Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Updated August 13, 2021 – Alberta will take additional time to implement its plan to bring the province’s COVID-19 response in line with other respiratory viruses.
After closely monitoring COVID-19 in Alberta for the previous two weeks and reviewing emerging evidence from other jurisdictions, the following will continue until September 27, 2021:
- Mandatory masking orders in publicly accessible transit, taxis and ride-shares.
- Mandatory isolation for 10 days for those with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test result.
- Testing at assessment centres for any symptomatic individual.
These measures were scheduled to be eased on August 16, 2021; however, this six-week pause will provide additional time to monitor severe outcomes of COVID-19 and increase immunization rates.
Changes that took affect on July 29 will continue to be in place. They are:
- Quarantine for close contacts is recommended (previously mandatory).
- Contact tracers are no longer notifying close contacts about exposure to COVID-19. Individuals are asked to tell their close contacts when informed of their positive result. All positive cases will continue to be notified. Contact tracers will continue to investigate cases that are in high-risk settings such as acute and continuing care facilities.
- Outbreak management and identification will focus on high-risk locations, including continuing care and acute care facilities. Community outbreaks with a surge in cases leading to severe outcomes will also be addressed as needed.
- Asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended.
Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Updated July 28, 2021 – Alberta will gradually bring COVID-19 measures in line with other respiratory viruses to ensure health system capacity for the fall.
As a part of this, Alberta will bring COVID-19 quarantine, isolation, and other measures in line with those used for influenza and other viruses.
A two-phase transition will be used to safely monitor the impact of the initial changes, adapt as needed over the next few weeks, and give more time to vaccinate Albertans.
The following changes will be effective July 29, 2021:
- Quarantine for close contacts will shift from mandatory to recommended. Isolation for anyone with COVID-19 symptoms and for confirmed positive cases is still required.
- Unimmunized individuals who know they have been exposed to COVID-19 should monitor for symptoms and seek testing if they become symptomatic.
- Anyone who is not fully immunized should avoid high-risk locations such as continuing care facilities and crowded indoor spaces if they have been in contact with a case in the past 14 days.
- All positive cases will continue to be notified. Contact tracers will no longer notify close contacts of exposure. Individuals are asked to inform their close contacts when informed of their positive result.
- Contact tracers will continue to investigate cases that are in high-risk settings such as acute and continuing care facilities.
- Outbreak management and identification will focus on high-risk locations, including continuing and acute care facilities and high-risk workplaces. Community outbreaks with a surge in cases leading to severe outcomes will also be addressed as needed.
- Asymptomatic testing is no longer recommended. Testing will continue to be available for individuals who are symptomatic.
- Mandatory masking remains in acute and continuing care facilities, publicly accessible transit, taxis and ride-share.
The following changes will take effect on August 16, 2021:
- Provincial mandatory masking orders will be lifted. Some masking in acute care or continuing care facilities may still be required.
- Isolation following a positive COVID-19 test result will no longer be required, but strongly recommended.
- Individuals with symptoms of any respiratory infection should still remain at home until symptoms have resolved.
- Staying home when sick remains an important way to care for those around us by not passing on any infection.
- Isolation hotels and quarantine support will no longer be available.
- Testing will be available for Albertans with symptoms when it is needed to help direct patient care decisions.
- This testing will be available through assessment centres until August 31, 2021, and, after that, will be in primary care settings including physicians’ offices. For those with severe illness requiring urgent or emergency care, testing will be available in acute care and hospital settings.
- COVID-19 testing will also be offered as needed in high-risk outbreaks such as in continuing care facilities.
- Public health will focus on investigating severe cases that require hospitalization and any deaths due to COVID-19.
- Outbreak management and preventative measures will continue focusing on outbreaks in high-risk settings, such as continuing and acute care facilities.
- Community outbreaks will continue to be addressed as needed.
- Daycares and schools will be supported with measures that would be effective for any respiratory virus if outbreaks are identified.
Health officials will continue to closely monitor hospitalizations and other severe outcomes due to COVID-19 in the province. Additional measures will be taken, as needed, in specific facilities or areas where an outbreak is occurring leading to severe outcomes.
Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Updated July 5, 2021 – Virtually all COVID-19 restrictions are now lifted as Alberta enters Stage 3 of the Open for Summer Plan.
As of July 1, 2021, Albertans are now free to gather indoors and outdoors, places of worship and businesses can operate at full capacity, the provincial mask mandate is repealed, and people can safely get back to doing all of the activities they enjoy.
To date, 72.8% of eligible Albertans have received their first dose of vaccine, and 42.4% have received both doses, offering a strong level of community protection in the province. Alberta Health estimates that 50% of eligible Albertans will be fully immunized by July 6, 2021.
Mandatory isolation and quarantine rules remain in place, and masking is still required in hospitals, continuing care, mass transit, ride shares, and taxis.
All COVID-19 restrictions are now lifted unless otherwise indicated. Health officials have created a general guidance document (General guidance for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses) for all sectors to help Albertans safely transition into Stage 3.
Updated June 18, 2021 – Alberta has reached its final Open for Summer threshold, triggering a two-week waiting period before Stage 3 begins.
With 70.2% of eligible Albertans having been vaccinated with at least one dose as of June 17, Alberta will move to Stage 3 on July 1 and fully reopen, removing all mandatory restrictions.
Restrictions eased in Stage 3 of the Open for Summer Plan, effective July 1, 2021:
- All remaining restrictions will be lifted, including the ban on indoor social gatherings.
- Isolation requirements for confirmed cases of COVID-19 and protective measures in continuing care settings may remain.
- The general indoor provincial mask mandate will be lifted, but masking may still be required in limited and specific settings.
Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Updated June 9, 2021 – Alberta takes a big step towards returning to normal as fitness centres, libraries, and movie theatres reopen and large outdoor gatherings resume.
Beginning June 10, 2021, Stage 2 of the Open for Summer Plan takes effect, two weeks after 60% of Albertans aged 12-plus received at least one dose of vaccine and with COVID-19 hospitalizations well below 500 and still falling.
The new restrictions include:
- Outdoor social gatherings increase to 20 people, with distancing.
- Indoor and outdoor wedding ceremonies may occur with up to 20 attendees. Receptions are permitted outdoors.
- Indoor and outdoor funeral services remain unchanged with up to 20 people permitted. Receptions are permitted outdoors.
- Restaurants may seat tables with up to six people, indoors or outdoors.
- Dining parties are no longer restricted to households only.
- Physical distancing and other restrictions still apply.
- Retail capacity increases to one-third of fire code occupancy.
- Capacity for places of worship increases to one-third of fire code occupancy.
- Gyms and other indoor fitness facilities open for solo and drop-in activities with three-metre distancing between participants and fitness classes may resume with three-metre distancing.
- Indoor settings may open with up to one-third of fire code occupancy, including indoor recreation centres. This includes arenas, cinemas, theatres, museums, art galleries and libraries.
- Indoor and outdoor youth and adult sports resume.
- Youth activities, such as day camps, overnight camps and play centres, may resume.
- Personal and wellness services can resume walk-in services.
- Post-secondary institutions can resume in-person learning.
- The work-from-home order is lifted but still recommended.
- Outdoor fixed seating facilities (e.g., grandstands) can open with one-third seated capacity.
- Public outdoor gatherings increase to 150 people (e.g., concerts/festivals).
Indoor masking and distancing requirements remain in place throughout Stage 2. Some restrictions continue to apply to activities within each step.
Stage 3 is expected to begin in late June or early July. Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Updated May 26, 2021 – Alberta’s government will remove provincewide health measures in three stages as vaccine targets are reached and hospitalizations decline.
Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan provides a three-stage road map to lifting health restrictions and safely getting back to normal.
The plan provides Albertans with a clear picture of a summer without restrictions as long as Albertans continue to follow public health measures in the short term and vaccination numbers continue to rise quickly.
Alberta’s Open for Summer Plan includes three stages based on vaccination thresholds and hospitalizations:
- Stage 1: Two weeks after 50% of Albertans age 12-plus have received at least one dose of vaccine and COVID-19 hospitalizations are below 800 and declining.
- Stage 2: Two weeks after 60% of Albertans age 12-plus have received at least one dose of vaccine and COVID-19 hospitalizations are below 500 and declining.
- Stage 3: Two weeks after 70% of Albertans age 12-plus have received at least one dose of vaccine.
Since Alberta reached the 50% threshold for one-dose vaccination on May 18, 2021, and with hospitalizations well below 800, Alberta will enter Stage 1 on June 1, 2021. Based on the current pace of vaccinations, Alberta is projected to enter Stage 2 in mid-June and Stage 3 in late June or early July. These are estimates only and rely on all Albertans continuing to drive down our hospitalizations while increasing vaccination numbers.
For full details on the stages, visit alberta.ca.
Update May 5, 2021 – New mandatory health restrictions have been announced to help stop the spike of COVID-19 and protect the health system.
These include new restrictions on outdoor social gatherings, schools, retail, restaurants, places of worship, personal and wellness services, outdoor sports and fitness, funerals, and post-secondary institutions.
The new restrictions come into force effective May 5, 2021, unless indicated otherwise, and will remain in place for at least three weeks. This includes all indoor performance activity is prohibited, including youth performances.
These new measures apply to all Albertans, businesses, organizations, and service providers in municipalities or areas with more than 50 cases per 100,000 people and with 30 or more active cases.
Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Update April 30, 2021 – New mandatory measures announced by the Provincial Government address growing COVID-19 cases in hot spot communities across Alberta.
Targeted restrictions will apply to municipalities or regions where there are at least 350 cases per 100,000 people and 250 currently active cases. New measures apply to junior and senior high schools, and sports and fitness activities in these communities.
These targeted restrictions will remain in place for at least two weeks for any community or area that reaches this trigger. After 14 days, the enhanced measures will be lifted once the municipality falls back below the threshold.
Current communities with a case rate above 350 per 100,000 people and at least 250 active cases are:
- Fort McMurray
- City of Red Deer
- City of Grande Prairie
- City of Calgary
- City of Airdrie
- Strathcona County
- City of Lethbridge
- City of Edmonton
Future updates for active case rates for municipalities and a map of those under enhanced restrictions will be available at alberta.ca.
Update April 22, 2021 – All working Albertans are eligible for paid, job-protected leave to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Employment Standards Code has been amended to allow all working Albertans to access paid, job-protected leave to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Employees and employers are encouraged to work together when scheduling COVID-19 vaccination leaves.
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated April 7, 2021 – Alberta is returning to Step 1 of the provincial four-step framework to protect the health system and reduce the rising spread of COVID-19 province-wide.
Effective at 11:59pm on April 6, 2021 updated mandatory health measures go into effect for retail, fitness, and performance activities while restaurants will be restricted to providing only takeout, delivery, and patio service as of 12:00pm on Friday, April 9, 2021.
Alberta will remain in Step 1 with restaurant restrictions until further notice. Health officials will continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 to assess whether additional action is needed to reduce transmission.
In this step, adult performance activities are not permitted. Performance activities include dancing, singing, acting, playing a musical instrument, and any rehearsal or theatrical performances.
Additional details on the current restrictions are outlined on alberta.ca.
Updated March 22, 2021 – Alberta will not be moving to Step 3 at this time. Continue to follow all public health guidelines in place to protect each other and the health-care system.
Additional details on the current restrictions are outlined on alberta.ca.
Updated March 9, 2021 – Albertans can now enjoy reduced public health restrictions while strong measures remain in place to protect hospitals and limit the spread of COVID-19.
Completing Step 2 of Alberta’s Path Forward, updated health measures are now in place for retail, hotels, and community halls, performance groups, and youth sports, performance, and recreation.
These changes are effective immediately. They are in addition to the Step 2 measures announced on March 1, as pressure eases on the health system and hospitalizations remain well below 450.
These reduced public health restrictions include changes for performance activities including:
- Individuals or groups can now rehearse and perform in preparation for filming or live streaming a performance, provided they adhere to public health guidance.
- For adult performers and performance groups (over the age of 18), the following activities are permitted:
- Individual performers or performance groups (up to a maximum of 10 individuals) can access facilities for rehearsals or filming/virtual broadcasting.
- Larger indoor film and other performances will be allowed provided there is no audience and subject to an approved plan that follows strict new guidance, including regular lab-based PCR testing.
- No in-person audiences are allowed for any type of performance.
- Masks are required and three-metre physical distancing must be maintained at all times.
- For children and youth, performance activities are permitted provided they follow the same requirements set out for youth sport, performance and recreation activities in Step 1:
- Up to a maximum of 10 individuals with three-metre distancing between all participants.
- No spectators or in-person audiences are allowed for any type of performance.
- Masks are mandatory at all times.
- Includes lessons and practices.
- Includes youth development activities such as Scouts, Girl Guides, and 4-H.
- Performance activities include dancing, singing, theatre, and playing instruments.
Additional details on the current restrictions are outlined on alberta.ca.
Updated March 2, 2021 – Alberta is moving cautiously to Step 2 of the four-step framework to ease restrictions while maintaining measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 province-wide.
Effective immediately, updated health measures are in place for indoor fitness and libraries as pressure eases on the health system and hospitalizations remain well below 450.
Health officials continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19. As a cautionary measure, changes to current restrictions for retail, children’s sports, and hotels, banquets, community halls, and conference centres have been delayed until Step 3.
Additional details on the current restrictions is outlined on alberta.ca.
Updated February 18, 2021 – Additional COVID-19 support for Alberta small business has been announced by the Government of Alberta.
Under the new Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit, up to $30,000 in support will soon be available to small and medium-sized businesses that have been most affected by the pandemic and ongoing health restrictions. This additional $10,000 payment can be used to offset costs associated with COVID-19, like purchasing personal protective equipment, paying bills or hiring staff.
Visit alberta.ca for more information.
Updated February 8, 2021 – Step 1 of Alberta’s four-step framework to ease restrictions is underway as pressure eases on the health system and hospitalizations remain below 600.
School-related and limited indoor and outdoor children’s sport and performance activities, one-on-one indoor personal fitness with a trainer, and dine-in service at restaurants, cafes, and pubs are now permitted province-wide.
Indoor masking and distancing requirements will remain in place throughout this stepped approach, and some degree of restrictions will still apply to all activities within each step.
Visit alberta.ca for complete details and updates.
Updated January 29, 2021 – Easing of province-wide health measures will occur in steps based on COVID-19 hospitalization benchmarks.
These steps and benchmarks will provide a transparent approach to easing restrictions for businesses and individuals while protecting the health-care system.
Each step has an associated benchmark of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, including intensive care patients. Changes to restrictions will be considered once a benchmark is reached. The hospitalization benchmarks are:
Step 1 – 600 and declining
Step 2 – 450 and declining
Step 3 – 300 and declining
Step 4 – 150 and declining
With hospitalizations dipping below 600, Alberta will move to Step 1 on February 8, 2021. If after three weeks the hospitalization numbers are in the range of the next benchmark, decisions will be considered for moving to Step 2. The same three-week re-evaluation period will be used for all subsequent steps.
Indoor masking and distancing requirements will remain in place throughout the entire stepped approach, and some degree of restrictions will still apply to all activities within each step.
The grouping and sequencing of steps is based on relative risk for COVID-19 transmission. Actions with the lowest relative risk will be those first considered for easing.
Early Steps: In effect January 18, 2021
- Outdoor social gatherings allowed up to 10 people.
Personal and wellness services opened for appointments only.
Funeral service attendance was raised to 20 people.
In-person classes resumed for K-12 students (Janruary 11, 2021).
Step 1: Hospitalization benchmark – 600
- Potential easing of some restrictions related to:
- Indoor and outdoor children’s sport and performance (school-related only)
- Indoor personal fitness, one-on-one and by appointment only
- Restaurants, cafes, and pubs
Step 2: Hospitalization benchmark – 450
- Potential easing of some restrictions related to:
- Retail
- Community halls, hotels, banquet halls and conference centres
- Further easing of some restrictions eased in Step 1
Step 3: Hospitalization benchmark – 300
- Potential easing of some restrictions related to:
- Places of worship
- Adult team sports
- Museums, art galleries, zoos and interpretive centres
- Indoor seated events, including movie theatres and auditoriums
- Casinos, racing centres and bingo halls
- Libraries
- Further easing of some restrictions eased in Steps 1 and 2
Step 4: Hospitalization benchmark – 150
- Potential easing of some restrictions related to:
- Indoor entertainment centres and play centres
- Tradeshows, conferences and exhibiting events
- Performance activities (e.g., singing, dancing, wind instruments)
- Outdoor sporting events (e.g., rodeo)
- Wedding ceremonies and receptions
- Funeral receptions
- Workplaces – lifting work-from-home measures
- Amusement parks
- Indoor concerts and sporting events
- Festivals, including arts and cultural festivals (indoor and outdoor)
- Day camps and overnight camps
- Further easing of some restrictions eased in Steps 1 to 3
Visit alberta.ca for complete details and updates.
Updated January 28, 2021 – Alberta’s government is investing $17 million to ensure the stabilization of performing arts, sports, and rodeo organizations.
Alberta’s live experience organizations have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. They have lost a full season of programming and revenue but still have ongoing overhead costs. The Stabilize Program will provide one-time grant funding to support live experience presenting and performing arts, sport, and rodeo organizations. The funding will help these organizations continue to operate and reopen when it is safe to do so.
Non-profits that host rodeos, professional, and elite amateur sports organizations, and non-profits that own or operate dedicated presenting and performing arts venues can apply for operational funding through the Stabilize Program to offset financial losses. Qualifying organizations will be eligible for a one-time grant of up to 25% of eligible expenses based on 2018 and 2019 financials. Organizations may use funds for ongoing operational costs, such as utilities, rent, insurance and programming, to support their reopening. The Stabilize Program allocates $12 million, and applications will be accepted until midnight February 18, 2021.
The Stabilize Donation Matching stream will allocate $5 million to match private donations (from a minimum $250,000 to a maximum $1 million) dollar-for-dollar to eligible non-profit organizations that host rodeos and professional and elite amateur sports. Non-profit organizations that own or operate dedicated presenting and performing arts venues or live experience venues are also eligible.
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated January 15, 2021 – To better support Alberta’s small business community through the ongoing public health crisis, the Alberta government is expanding the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant to allow new businesses to apply. By expanding applications to businesses that started operating between March 1 and October 31, 2020, up 5,000 more Alberta businesses will be eligible for this funding.
New Alberta businesses impacted by public health orders will need to demonstrate a 30% reduction of revenue using revenue figures from November or December 2020 compared with any prior month between March to October 2020. The payment is 15% of their monthly revenue, for a maximum of $15,000 in funding available for each business.
More details can be found at alberta.ca.
Updated January 7, 2021 – Mandatory health measures to remain in effect across the province.
All Albertans, businesses, organizations, and service providers must continue to follow existing health measures until at least January 21. Active evaluation of the latest public health data is underway and will be used to re-evaluate the current level of restrictions over the coming weeks.
Businesses, organizations, and service providers will be given at least one week’s notice prior to changes to the current health measures that may affect them. Government will continue to consult with affected industries.
Visit alberta.ca for complete details and updates.
Updated December 8, 2020 – New mandatory health measures to go into effect immediately to protect lives.
Expanded health measures will be in effect province-wide. All Albertans, businesses, organizations, and service providers must follow all new health measures. These restrictions will be in place for a minimum of four weeks.
New expanded mandatory measures come into effect December 8, 2020 for social gatherings and mandatory masking. All others come into effect at 12:01am on December 13, 2020. These include:
Social Gatherings – Immediate
- All indoor and outdoor social gatherings–public and private—are prohibited.
- Close contacts are limited to household members only.
- Individuals who live alone will be allowed up to two close contacts for in-person visiting, with those two people remaining the same for the duration of the restriction period.
- Festivals, parades, events, concerts, exhibitions, competitions, sport, and performance remain prohibited.
Masking – Immediate
The mandatory indoor public masking requirement will be extended province-wide.
- Public spaces include locations where a business or entity operates and is applicable to employees, visitors and the general public.
- Applies to all indoor workplaces and facilities outside the home.
- Farm operations are excluded.
- Rental accommodations used solely for the purposes of a private residence are excluded.
Closures – Starting at 12:01am on December 13
- Restaurants, pubs, bars, lounges and cafes will be closed to in-person service. Only takeout, curbside pickup and delivery services are permitted.
- Casinos, bingo halls, gaming entertainment centres, racing entertainment centres, horse tracks, raceways, bowling alleys, pool halls, legions, and private clubs will be closed.
- Recreational facilities—fitness centres, recreation centres, pools, spas, gyms, studios, day and overnight camps, indoor rinks and arenas—will be closed.
- Outdoor recreation is permitted, but facilities with indoor spaces except for washrooms will be closed.
- Entertainment businesses and entities—libraries, science centres, interpretive centres, museums, galleries, amusement parks, and water parks—will be closed.
- Hotels may remain open but must follow restrictions—no spas, pools or in-person dining. Room services only.
- Personal and wellness services, including hair salons, nail salons, massage, tattoos, and piercing, will be closed.
Entertainment businesses and entities—community halls and centres, indoor children’s play centres and indoor playgrounds, theatres, auditoriums, concert halls, and community theatres, nightclubs, banquet halls and conference centres, indoor and outdoor festivals, concerts with the exception of drive-in events, tradeshows, and sporting events or competitions—remain closed.
Work from Home – Starting at 12:01am on December 13
Mandatory work from home measures will be implemented unless the employer determines that work requires a physical presence for operational effectiveness.
The government also announced additional supports for the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offering financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that faced restrictions or closures from public health orders.
Visit alberta.ca for complete details and updates.
Updated December 3, 2020 – The Arts Branch of Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women has provided additional information about mandatory restrictions on performance activities announced on November 24, 2020. Information for all mandatory restrictions is published at alberta.ca.
Alberta Health defines performance activities to include dancing, singing, theatre, and playing wind instruments. Mandatory restrictions are currently in effect for group performance activities in all enhanced (purple) areas of Alberta. You may view a map of all communities under enhanced status at alberta.ca.
Under no circumstances will live performance for an audience be permitted in enhanced (purple) areas during this period.
Rehearsals and practices in outdoor settings are permitted up to a maximum of 10 participants. Physical distancing and other relevant guidelines must be followed.
Within indoor settings rehearsals, practices, and performances involving two or more people are not permitted. (Individual practice is permitted indoors.)
Alberta Health may provide exemptions for the following:
- Group rehearsals or practice.
- Group performance for the purpose of live-stream broadcast or recordings.
Certain requirements must be demonstrated to be considered for an exemption. Detailed descriptions of performance activities are not required. An organization or ensemble must provide:
- Evidence that they planned a performance to occur prior to January 15, 2021, and that they either:
- Pre-sold tickets for this event.
- Prepared and publicized a performance.
- Evidence that not proceeding with the activity will result in a significant negative economic impact to the artists or arts organization.
- Information about type of activities that will be conducted and precautions being taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
- The total number of people participating during the activity, both performers and other workers.
- The venue required for the activity, and information about its protocols to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Requests for exemption may be submitted to Alberta Health via Biz Connect at bizconnect@gov.ab.ca.
Updated November 25, 2020 – Alberta’s government is declaring a state of public health emergency and putting aggressive measures in place to protect the health system and reduce the rising spread of COVID-19 cases.
New restrictions and increased enforcement aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in communities, protect hospitals, keep schools and businesses open as much as possible, and protect vulnerable Albertans.
Effective immediately, mandatory restrictions on social gatherings are in effect province-wide. These measures will be in place until further notice and include:
- No indoor social gatherings are permitted in any setting, including workplaces.
- Outdoor social gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people.
- Funeral services and wedding ceremonies must follow all public health guidance and are limited to a maximum of 10 in-person attendees. Receptions are not permitted.
Effective immediately, a new mandatory mask requirement for indoor workplaces is in place for Edmonton, Calgary and surrounding areas. This includes any location where employees are present, and applies to visitors, including delivery personnel, and employees or contractors. This measure will be in place until further notice.
And starting November 27, 2020, business and service restrictions fall under three categories: Closed for in-person business, open with restrictions, and open by appointment only. Impacts by category are available at alberta.ca. These measures will remain in place for three weeks, but will be extended if needed.
Some entertainment and event services may remain open with capacity limited to 25% of the occupancy set under the Alberta Fire Code. These include:
- Movie theatres
- Museums and galleries
- Libraries
- Indoor fitness, recreation, sports and physical activity centres, including dance and yoga studios, martial arts, gymnastics and private or public swimming pools:
- Facilities can be open for individual studio time, training or exercise only.
- There can be no group fitness, group classes, group training, team practices or games.
- Instructors can use facility to broadcast virtual fitness classes from, but there can be no group class.
All public health guidance and physical distancing requirements must be followed.
Albertans are encouraged to limit in-person visits to retail locations, shop local and use curbside pickup, delivery, and online services, where possible.
Visit alberta.ca for complete details and updates.
Updated November 24, 2020 – In light of additional temporary health measures announced November 12, 2020, the Government of Alberta is ensuring affected small and medium-sized businesses receive additional support through the opportunity to apply for a second payment from the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant.
This second payment will be available to businesses operating in areas on the provincial watch list where new health restrictions— like the temporary closure of indoor group fitness classes and non-professional group performance activities—have been implemented.
Job creators that have experienced a 40% revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic will qualify for the grant, lowering the threshold from the existing 50% revenue loss requirement. This 40% threshold is available to impacted businesses retroactive to March.
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated November 12, 2020 – New targeted measures take effect November 13, 2020 to protect the health system and curb the rapid rise of COVID-19 in Alberta.
Together, these measures will help protect our health care system, keep schools and businesses open, and protect vulnerable Albertans by limiting the spread of the virus. These measures include a two-week ban on group singing, dancing, and performing activities in all communities on the enhanced measures list.
A group performance is any organized activity consisting of two or more people who come together indoors to sing, dance, play wind instruments or perform live theatre. These activities can cause high risk of spread. They are often conducted in enclosed spaces and involve mixing and mingling before or after the class or activity.
This ban applies to all group performance activities conducted indoors, including rehearsals, practice sessions, and performances. This includes singing and other group performances in places of worship.
It does not apply to:
- Professional artists
- Schools, as these have additional measures in place to reduce the risk for staff and students
- Individual student/household and teacher setting (e.g., piano lessons)
- Outdoor performance activities
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated October 27, 2020 – Calgary is seeing a rapid rise in active COVID-19 cases. To stop the spread before it gets out of control, additional mandatory and voluntary public health measures have been put in place.
This approach is based on evidence that balances efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 with the harmful impact that aggressive measures can have on other elements of Albertans’ health and well-being.
Health officials are closely monitoring Calgary. Additional measures may be recommended if needed.
Mandatory Measures (as of October 26)
- A 15 person limit on social and family gatherings where people are mixing and mingling:
- Parties
- Special event celebrations, such as retirement events or baby showers wedding and funeral receptions
- Banquets
- This limit does not apply to structured events where socializing is not the purpose of the activity. This includes restaurants, worship services, wedding ceremonies, conferences, funeral services or trade shows. Current gathering limits and prevention measures as outlined by official guidance remains in place.
The temporary limit will be reassessed at the end of November 2020. It will be lifted when we are able to bring new case numbers down and sufficiently reduce the spread. Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated September 11, 2020 – With important changes to relaunch guidance for Alberta’s arts sector, the following updated documents have been released by the Alberta Government as of September 11, 2020:
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated June 9, 2020 – Alberta moves to stage two of relaunch. Strong testing data shows active COVID-19 cases in Alberta are lower than expected, meaning stage two of the relaunch strategy can safely begin on June 12, 2020 a week sooner than expected.
As the province enters stage two of relaunch, safety remains the top priority. More businesses, sport, and recreation services can open if they are ready. Some larger gatherings for seated audience events will be permitted. In all cases, public health guidance must be followed.
What can open with restrictions:
- K-12 schools, for requested diploma exams and summer school, following guidance
- Libraries
- More surgeries
- Wellness services such as massage, acupuncture, and reflexology
- Personal services (esthetics, cosmetic skin and body treatments, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facial treatment, and artificial tanning)
- Indoor recreation, fitness, and sports, including gyms and arenas
- Movie theatres and theatres
- Community halls
- Team sports
- Pools for leisure swimming
- VLTs in restaurants and bars
- Casinos and bingo halls (but not table games)
- Instrumental concerts
Events and gatherings can be larger in stage two including a maximum 50 people for indoor social gatherings including wedding and funeral receptions, and birthday parties. Outdoor events and indoor seated audience events including wedding and funeral ceremonies can be a maximum 100 people.
There is no cap on the number of people (with public health measures and physical distancing in place) for worship gatherings, restaurants, cafes, lounges, and bars, casinos, bingo halls.
The government also announced more flexibility for cohort groups—small groups of people whose members do not always keep two metres apart—including:
- A household can increase its close interactions with other households to a maximum of 15 people.
- Performers can have a cohort of up to 50 people (cast members or performers).
- Sports teams can play in region-only cohorts of up to 50 players (mini leagues).
Everyone is encouraged to follow public health guidelines and notify others in the cohorts if they have symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. If they do test positive or have symptoms, mandatory isolation is required.
Visit alberta.ca for more information and find detailed relaunch guidance documents at alberta.ca/biz-connect including those for art museums and galleries, and live music, dance, and theatre.
Updated June 1, 2020 – You are invited to participate in a telephone town hall at 11:30am to 12:30pm on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, where Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, Tanya Fir will answer your questions about the possibility of theatres reopening during stage 2 of relaunch in Alberta.
Minister Fir will be joined by:
- Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women, Leela Aheer
- Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Deena Hinshaw
Topic: Movie theatres and theatres with Minister Aheer
Date: June 3, 2020
Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
For more information or to register, visit extranet.gov.ab.ca.
Pre-registration ends on June 2, 2020, at 4:30pm.
The registration page mentions only movie theatres, but the call is for both live theatres and movie theatres.
Updated May 13, 2020 – With strict safety guidelines in place, Albertans can and should confidently support Alberta businesses as the province gradually relaunches the economy.
Stage one of Alberta’s relaunch strategy puts safety first as restrictions are gradually lifted. Calgary and Brooks will see a slightly more gradual reopening, taking into account higher case numbers in these two communities, to balance public safety with the need to get businesses open and services restored for Albertans.
The following dates are set for Calgary’s relaunch:
Opening May 14, 2020:
- Retail businesses, such as clothing, furniture and bookstores. All vendors at farmers markets will also be able to operate.
- Museums and art galleries.
- Daycares and out-of-school care with limits on occupancy.
- The resumption of some scheduled, non-urgent surgeries will continue gradually.
- Regulated health professions are permitted to offer services as long as they continue to follow approved guidelines set by their professional colleges.
Opening May 25, 2020:
- Hairstyling and barbershops.
- Cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars will be permitted to reopen for table service only at 50 per cent capacity.
Opening June 1, 2020:
- Day camps, including summer school, will be permitted with limits on occupancy.
- Post-secondary institutions will continue to deliver courses; however, there will be more flexibility to include in-person delivery once the existing health order prohibiting in-person classes is lifted.
- Places of worship and funeral services, if they follow specific guidance already online.
Visit alberta.ca/bizconnect for information on health and safety guidelines for general workplaces, as well as sector-specific guidelines for those able to open in stage one.
Updated April 30, 2020 – While Alberta faces a long road to recovery, there are good signs our collective efforts of physical distancing, good hygiene practices, and staying safe together are helping slow the spread of COVID-19.
That has given government confidence to begin implementing Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy, a plan that puts safety first while gradually reopening businesses and activities to the public, and getting people back to work. By enforcing physical distancing and following the guidance of our chief medical officer of health, today, Premier Jason Kenney shared Alberta’s phased approach to carefully and gradually re-opening the economy.
With foundational elements required including continued testing and contract tracing, border controls, rules and guidance for use of mask, protecting the vulnerable and physical distancing, phases will be monitored by a robust set of triggers that will inform when it’s possible to advance to the next phase.
While this is all subject to change, current projections indicate that by May 14, 2020, Alberta may proceed to Phase 1 openings. The limit of 15 people gathering remains in place and Albertans are also expected to continue to work from home where possible and limit travel to essential needs only.
- Phase 1 (currently scheduled for May 14) openings include retail services, hair styling and barbering, daycares, restaurants, cafes, lounges and bars with 50% occupancy limits, museums and art galleries, and additional outdoor recreation.
- Phase 2 openings include personal services, massage and reflexology, summer camps, post-secondary institutions deliver online, in-person or a blend of programming with restrictions, potential of K-12 schools with restrictions, movie theatres with restrictions, additional elective services.
- Phase 3 openings include swimming pools, gyms and arenas with restrictions, nightclubs with restrictions, industry conferences, arts and cultural festivals with restrictions, and major sporting events with restrictions.
Additional early actions include the opening of some outdoor activities as well as dental and other health-care services on May 4, 2020. Further clarification and potential openings will be provided by the Provincial Government on a regular basis.
Specific relaunch guidance for business owners can be found on the Government of Alberta website and you can visit alberta.ca for more information on the current situation.
Updated April 23, 2020 – Alberta’s chief medical officer of health has confirmed that gathering restrictions currently in place also apply to all one-time or annual summer events, including arts and culture festivals, agricultural fairs and rodeos, major sporting championships, and industry conferences.
The orders in place prohibit gatherings of 15 or more people. They also require people gathered in groups of fewer than 15 to maintain a distance of two metres from one another. These restrictions will continue to apply until evidence demonstrates that the spread is controlled.
Visit alberta.ca for more information.
Updated April 12, 2020 – The Government of Alberta has launched a charitable matching donation program.
Starting April 15, 2020, the Alberta government will match, dollar-for-dollar, donations up to $2 million to Alberta-based charities and non-profit organizations with COVID-19 fundraising campaigns. Geared to help increase support to local charities, these campaigns include United Way Calgary and Area’s COVID-19 Community Response Fund and the Calgary Foundation’s COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Program.
Visit alberta.ca for more information.
Updated March 27, 2020 – The Government of Alberta has announced additional restrictions to stop spread of COVID-19. To protect the health and safety of Albertans, mass gatherings will be limited to 15 people and more restrictions will be placed on available services.
These include close contact businesses, dine-in service, and non-essential retail services.
Visit alberta.ca for more information.
Updated March 23, 2020 – The province has also announced new support for small businesses.
Providing immediate funding and supportive measures to support local businesses, employers, and employees, these include corporate income tax changes, education property tax deferral, WCB premium payment deferral, and utility payment deferral.
The details can be found at alberta.ca.
Updated March 17, 2020 – The Government of Alberta has declared a state of public health emergency empowering authorities under the Public Health Act to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Effective immediately and until further notice, the Alberta government is implementing additional measures, including cancelling events that have more than 50 people. Additional measures to limit the amount of time Albertans are spending in large crowds and crowded spaces are in place.
All Albertans are prohibited from attending public recreational facilities and private entertainment facilities, including gyms, swimming pools, arenas, science centres, museums, art galleries, community centres, children’s play centres, casinos, racing entertainment centres, and bingo halls.
Students will no longer be attending classes in K-12 schools in Alberta until further notice. Post-secondary campuses will still remain open, but in-person classes are cancelled, and only essential visits to any continuing care or long-term care facility in Alberta are recommended.
Visit alberta.ca for more information.
The bylaw, which comes into effect on September 23, 2021, mandates that all businesses eligible for participation in the provincial Restrictions Exemption Program must follow or exceed the program requirements at all times. The provincial Restrictions Exemption Program and Vaccine Passport Bylaw apply to all recreation facilities, including those operated by The City.
Any person aged 12 years and older must show identification and either proof of vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 test result or a medical exemption from vaccine letter. The City of Calgary’s mandatory face covering bylaw is still in effect in indoor public spaces.
Further information can be found at calgary.ca/covid19.
Updated July 5, 2021 – On July 5, 2021, Calgary City Council voted to repeal the Temporary COVID-19 Face Coverings Bylaw. As a result, Calgarians will no longer be required to wear face coverings as part of a bylaw or provincial mandate, other than in those spaces required by the Government of Alberta, including transit and public vehicles.
For the protection of our patrons and staff, face coverings will continue to be required in City-owned and operated facilities like City Hall and other administration buildings, recreation facilities, and fire halls.
To see all of The City’s COVID-19 information and updates, visit calgary.ca.
Update June 1, 2021 – City Council has approved another $15.9 million in a growing list of municipal supports for Calgary’s business community. The package provides targeted financial support to business owners as they look to re-open, in sectors impacted most by the pandemic.
The City is supporting restaurants, pubs, bars, fitness centres, and entertainment establishments, including nightclubs and live music venues, in their reopening efforts through a grant, as well as hotel and motel property owners through a 2021 tax deferral program.
To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must be a business owner with a licensed business located within the city of Calgary limits, and must follow the criteria and application process. This will confirm that grant resources are used efficiently and effectively to support businesses that have been significantly impacted by the pandemic, specifically, restaurants, pubs, bars, entertainment establishments (including nightclubs and live music venues), and fitness centres.
The City will start accepting applications for the grant program on July 2, 2021, and it will remain open until August 10, 2021, or until funds are exhausted (whichever is sooner). Grant funds will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Business owners with multiple Calgary permanent physical establishments are eligible to apply for funding for each establishment. This includes scenarios where a business owner has more than one location or chapter or branch, to a maximum of three.
Visit calgary.ca/business for more details.
Updated April 28, 2021 – The City of Calgary has announced how $73 million of non-emergency response funding from the COVID-19 recovery program is being allocated to address community needs, build a foundation to recovery, and ensure The City can respond quickly to changing demands on our services.
Through a flexible and rapid management approach, The City has focused this funding on four key areas: Coping with COVID, Supporting our Partners During COVID, Preparing for Uncertainty Around COVID, and Planning for Life With/After COVID. This includes supporting Calgarians by helping civic and community partners continue to deliver successful support programs that Calgary’s communities value and need.
There will also be funds allocated to community associations which serve as the heart of the districts they support.
This funding is the latest effort by The City to ensure support for Calgarians and businesses throughout the pandemic. Previous initiatives include:
- The City issued a credit to the more than 6,000 businesses operating in Calgary’s 15 Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to credit the cost for the BIA levy. This removes the added cost associated with operating a business within a BIAs and help offset financial impacts experienced by local businesses during the pandemic.
- The City waived business license renewals for 2020 and all business license related fees for the next two years. The City also continued to waive taxi and limousine driver license renewal fees and reduce plate license renewal fees by 50% until May 2022, and waived fees for businesses leasing space on Plus 15 commercial easements for 2021.
- Adaptive roadways and patios: providing spaces for citizens to remain active and explore the city while physically distancing to create more safe spaces for pedestrians, cyclists and outdoor patios. In addition, The City waived development permit, license of occupation and temporary permission fees for patios for 2020 and 2021.
- COVID mass vaccination centres by supporting the provincial distribution of vaccines by funding mass vaccination clinics at the Telus Convention Centre and the Genesis Centre, with the potential to add rapid-flow clinics until September 2021.
- Providing additional revenue to support Calgary homeowners in genuine need as part of The City’s Property Tax Assistance Program. Owners experiencing financial hardship may apply for a credit for the annual increase in their property tax. Recognizing the ongoing financial impacts property owners are facing due to COVID-19, Council also approved additional tax relief measures waiving late payment penalty for 2020 and 2021.
For more details about how we are supporting citizens and businesses through this funding, visit calgary.ca/covidfunding.
Updated March 22, 2021 – The City of Calgary approves $30 million in direct relief for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
City Council has approved $30 million in direct relief for businesses to continue responding to the challenges arising from the pandemic. This initiative includes waiving business license-related fees for a period of two years to support 40,000 businesses in Calgary. Under this direction, new and renewed business licenses, new and renewed fire inspections, planning service, and Calgary Police Service fees will all be waived.
City Administration will return to Council in May with options for additional business supports and relief measures. These options may include a grant system for small businesses, supports for Calgary businesses that have been hardest hit by the pandemic and supports for all businesses impacted by COVID-19.
To learn more about the supports available through The City of Calgary, visit calgary.ca.
Updated February 22, 2021 – A new conflict resolution toolkit for frontline workers has been released.
Everyone is tired of COVID-19, and we all make mistakes, from forgetting to wear a mask to getting too close to someone when we shouldn’t. Reminding each other to follow public health orders can be awkward, stressful or even escalate to being dangerous.
The City of Calgary and the Calgary Chamber of Commerce have worked together with academic experts to create an online toolkit to help frontline workers prevent those situations, tools to de-escalate them, and let them know when to call for help. The toolkit includes operational solutions like offering a disposable mask that customers can safely pick up and put on themselves, providing curbside pickup if possible, downloadable signage, and markers to place on the floor for physical distancing directions.
To create the conflict resolution scenarios, The City and the Chamber of Commerce drew on experts in various fields, including Dr. Tavis Campbell with the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. Videos featuring Dr. Campbell and online information offer dialogue prompts with helpful customer service language to have those hard conversations.
View the toolkit at calgary.ca/conflictresolution and be sure to share with your networks.
Updated November 25, 2020 – The City of Calgary has declared a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) to support the Province of Alberta’s efforts to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Allowing The City to be more nimble and redirect resources as required to support the provincial declaration of a Public Health Emergency, the SOLE also allows The City to write local orders to clarify or deal with local challenges and quickly secure supplies needed to run essential services.
The City is still in the early stages of assessing the impacts of the Province’s public health orders to our operations and facilities. Once The Province provides the full written orders The City will review all City services to meet or exceed these restrictions in terms of precautions, and will be ready when the additional restrictions go into effect on Friday, November 27, 2020.
Learn more at calgary.ca.
Updated October 7, 2020 – The City of Calgary is extending support to help businesses continue operations. On Monday, Calgary City Council agreed to extend fee relief measures for an additional six months to better support the local economy and lessen financial burdens for business owners.
These measures include waiving and deferring fees for business licenses and Planning & Development applications. This fee relief was first introduced in May with the plans to end on October 31, 2020. It will now continue until April 30, 2021.
Winter support resources now available through The City of Calgary include:
- Fee Relief Package:
- Fees will be waived until April 2021 for:
- Development permits for outdoor cafes, change of use—permitted and discretionary, and Corporate Planning Applications Group (CPAG) pre-applications.
- Building permits related to outdoor cafes and outdoor and interior partitions.
- Fees will be waived until April 2021 for:
- Prioritized Applications:
- Development permits required for outdoor cafes on private land and building permits related to outdoor cafes, outdoor waiting areas and indoor partitions will be prioritized.
- No Building Permit Required for:
- Tent structures covering new and existing patios provided the structure is no larger than 10 square metres in size.
- Special Functions:
- Permit exemptions may apply for temporary structures set up for short-term, temporary events depending on the size and duration of the event.
For more information about The City of Calgary’s business supports, visit newsroom.calgary.ca.
Updated September 16, 2020 – Calgary’s temporary Face Coverings Bylaw has been extended and its repeal criteria has been updated.
After receiving an update on Calgary’s Temporary Face Coverings Bylaw this week, Calgary City Council has voted to keep the mandate in place until at least December 2020 as recommended by administration. Since the bylaw went into effect August 1, 2020, there has been a significant increase in the usage of face coverings in public premises and on public vehicles.
A limited city survey indicated that 89 per cent of Calgarians surveyed now wear a mask in public—up 55 per cent since July 2020.
Learn more about the changes at newsroom.calgary.ca.
Updated July 29, 2020 – Calgary’s temporary Face Coverings Bylaw comes into effect on Saturday, August 1, 2020. On that date, face coverings must be worn in all indoor public spaces and in public vehicles.
Under the new bylaw, business operators or owners are required to display the signage provided by The City of Calgary in public entryways of the business, or within business vehicles. Failure to wear a face covering where required or failure to display prescribed signage can result in a penalty of $100 to $200.
To download the signage, visit calgary.ca.
Rules and guidelines for common scenarios have also been outlined by The City of Calgary on its Face Coverings Bylaw: Questions & Answers webpage.
Updated July 22, 2020 – Calgary City Council voted to pass the temporary Face Coverings Bylaw to require the wearing of face coverings in indoor public premises and public vehicles. The City of Calgary initiates these new regulations beginning August 1, 2020.
The bylaw mandates that face coverings be worn on public transit and public vehicles, and in all public indoor spaces, including City of Calgary buildings.
Under the bylaw business operators or owners are required to display signage in public entryways of the business or vehicle. The City of Calgary will make downloadable signage available to businesses and operators on calgary.ca/covid19.
Businesses are not expected to deny services as not everyone is required to wear a face covering. Exceptions to the face coverings bylaw include:
- Children under two years of age.
- People with underlying medical conditions or disabilities inhibiting their ability to wear a face covering.
- People who are unable to place, use or remove a face covering safely without assistance.
- People who are eating or drinking at a public premises that offers food or beverage services.
- People engaging in an athletic or fitness activity.
- People who are caregiving for or accompanying a person with a disability where wearing a face covering would hinder the accommodation of the person’s disability.
- People who have temporarily removed their face covering where doing so is necessary to provide or receive a service (for example, a visit to the dentist).
More information will be made available for business owners, operators, and the public on calgary.ca/covid19 within the coming days.
Updated May 11, 2020 – Today, City Council approved two financial relief packages for Calgary nonprofits including $2 million for targeted partnership to support arts through Calgary Arts Development. Part of a $15 million package, these funds will be directed to nonprofit partners of the City of Calgary who deliver effective programs and services including $8 million for enhanced support of social programs and services, and $5 million for civic and community partners.
Community associations and social recreation groups who are struggling to meet fixed daily expenses were also allocated $6 million to support their immediate financial needs.
Updated April 30, 2020 – Today, City Council approved further support for businesses in Calgary as they navigate the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has hit local businesses hard, with many having to close their doors in efforts to flatten the curve and slow down the rate of infection.
New supports for businesses include:
- A small business support team available to support businesses pivoting their business model as they re-open. Further information on how businesses can access this service will be made public and shared out to the business community in the coming weeks.
- The expansion of the Centre City Enterprise Area to include all commercial properties through a pilot. This means a reduction in processes, barriers to entry and cost savings for businesses as they re-populate physical space.
- Waiving of the business license renewal fee for one year to reduce the financial burden on businesses.
Six-month relief efforts effective May 1, 2020 including:
- Waived planning and development fees for change of use and home occupation (class 2) development permits, residential certificates of compliance and pre-application fees, to support businesses adapting to COVID-19.
- Deferred planning and development fees for commercial building permits, development permits, subdivisions, land use amendments, outline plans, and road closures. 75% of payment will be deferred to final stages of approval, offering financial flexibility of better cash flow management through projects.
- Fee simplification through elimination of the set up front deposit, simplifying by applying one common fee schedule rate to all outline plans and land use amendments, and applying the deferral relief above.
- Extensions on development and building permits offered to ensure existing approvals will not expire while businesses deal with the impacts of COVID-19.
Visit newsroom.calgary.ca for more details.
Updated April 24, 2020 – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in response to the provincial public health order to prohibit gatherings with more than 15 people, all City of Calgary supported events set to take place through August 31, 2020 are cancelled.
In addition, The City is cancelling permits for third party events that were set to be held on City land through August 31 which means those events cannot proceed.
The City will continue to reevaluate this decision and the August 31 date could be extended in consultation with the Province’s direction and Alberta’s’ ability to flatten the curve. If the event cancellation date is to be extended past August 31, The City will notify event organizers.
A total of 166 festivals and events set to take place on City land through to August 31 have been impacted.
Updated April 3, 2020 – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in response to the recent provincial public health order to prohibit gatherings with more than 15 people, all City of Calgary led events set to take place through June 30, 2020 are cancelled. In addition, it is cancelling permits for third party events that were set to be held on City land through June 30.
The City’s decision provides clear direction and enables event organizers to make sound decisions to help limit the spread of COVID-19. It also means event organizers can stop incurring event costs such as marketing, ticket printing, infrastructure fees, booking talent, and staffing.
The City will continue to reevaluate this decision and the June 30 date could be extended based on the Province’s direction and Canadians’ ability to flatten the curve. If the event cancellation date is to be extended past June 30, The City will notify event organizers by May 5, 2020.
At this time, The City is not requesting that organizers cancel events scheduled for July and August. The City is working with these event organizers on the assumption that they will go ahead. However, it is advising organizations to make contingency plans in the event we do need to extend the cancellation date.
A total of 79 festivals and events set to take place on City land through to June 30 have been impacted due to COVID-19 physical distancing restrictions.
Updated March 19, 2020 – The City of Calgary has enacted a state of local emergency. This gives The City the power to ensure reducing the capacity of events and facilities.
All City of Calgary recreation facilities, City-owned, partner-operated facilities, and all Calgary Public Library branches are closed until further notice. All community associations are closed and regular programming has been cancelled.
In addition, all in-person public engagement activities with The City have been cancelled until after April 30. Opportunities to gather public input into City projects will still be available online.
All festivals and events planned to be held between now and April 30 on or in a City facility with an expected attendance of 50 people or more must be canceled or postponed. This decision is in alignment with the federal and provincial direction on mass gatherings, as well as The City of Calgary’s current approach to public engagement due to COVID-19.
Until further notice The City of Calgary will not be taking any event permit applications for 2020. Please contact your City liaison and let them know if you are interested in postponing your event. For questions and further information, please email benjamin.brackett@calgary.ca.
Visit calgary.ca for more information.
It has been a challenging year for everyone. CARFAC is tremendously grateful that the Federal Government introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for those in need, and that it was restructured in meaningful ways that make it more accessible for independent artists and gig workers. It also welcomed the news that support would be further extended as needed until September 2021 through the Canadian Recovery Benefit (CRB).
However, CARFAC is concerned that many artists have recently been asked to repay their CERB/CRB claims because of the lack of clarity on eligibility terms from the Federal Government.
When CERB was launched, there was no official guidance as to whether eligibility was based on gross or net income. Some artists filed an application for CERB based on their 2019 gross income, which is the amount of money you earn before tax or other deductions. Since then, further information has been provided that eligibility should be based on net income. This policy update places many artists in an even more precarious socio-economic position than they faced before and during this ongoing crisis.
Many artists average their income from one year to the next, and the good years offset the bad ones. We also know there are fewer opportunities available to artists this year to earn an income, which makes it even more challenging for people to pay back money they thought they were eligible for. CARFAC believes it is unacceptable to penalize applicants for this ambiguity, especially given the precarious position many people find themselves in due to ongoing closures and loss of opportunities.
As such, it is recommending that the $5,000 eligibility threshold be adjusted to be based on gross income for self-employed workers, which is consistent with new guidance for employed workers.
In the meantime, CARFAC wants to hear from visual artists that are being asked to return their emergency benefits, so it can advocate for positive change. It asks that artists add their stories to this form, and to get in touch with their provincial CARFAC office if you wish to speak with someone about it further.
It will not disclose any personal information to other parties, and CARFAC will follow up with further action in the days to come. Learn more at carfac.ca.
For its part, the Canada Council for the Arts will invest $116.5 million. Through a new digital innovation initiative (Digital Now), $50.5 million will enable arts groups, collectives, and organizations to adapt or create works to be shared with virtual audiences; and $66 million of new funding will go to stimulate increased research, creation and production of new work through the Explore and Create program.
The Department of Canadian Heritage is receiving $40 million in new funding to stimulate short-term contracting of workers in the live events sector through three Canadian Heritage programs: Building Communities through Arts and Heritage program, the Canada Arts Presentation Fund and the Canada Music Fund. Information on how to access the new fund will be available next week on the Canadian Heritage’s website at canada.ca.
In addition, to help stabilize the overall environment for the arts and music sectors, the Government is extending a one-year renewal of funding of $25 million, for these three Canadian Heritage programs originally provided in 2019.
This funding will support the planning and presentation of COVID-19-safe events in the arts and music sectors—including both live and digital—and provide work opportunities in these sectors. Funding will also help stabilize the overall environment for the arts and music sectors by providing a one-year renewal of funding for three Canadian Heritage programs originally provided in Budget 2019.
Updated May 8, 2020 – The Canada Council for the Arts welcomes the new $500 million federal emergency support program for the arts and amateur sport.
The council is working to maximize the impact of the $55 million it has been allotted in this first phase of funding support for the arts sector and will address the urgent needs of arts organizations.
As agreed upon with the Federal Government, the Canada Council is distributing emergency assistance to core and project-funded organizations. Eligible organizations will be contacted directly in the weeks ahead. The amounts allocated will be calculated according to a formula rather than following an assessment by peers.
Visit canadacouncil.ca for more information.
Organizations inquiring whether there are any changes to how charitable gaming proceeds may be used during the COVID-19 crisis are encouraged to review a Q&A document posted on its website.
Learn more and download the file at aglc.ca.
Funding Opportunities & Supports
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the recovery of the arts and culture sector, which has been among the hardest hit sectors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of renewed shutdowns and public health restrictions due to the emergence of the Omicron variant have been particularly severe for the live performance sector, negatively affecting the livelihoods of the artists, technicians and other skilled cultural workers who bring live performances to stages across the country.
The Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund funds initiatives that:
- Provide short-term financial assistance to those experiencing economic hardship and requiring emergency support.
- Provide workers with guidance, information, and professional development opportunities in areas such as financial management, mental health and well-being, and career transition.
Funding eligibility requirements are available on the Canada Performing Arts Workers Resilience Fund webpage. The deadline to apply is March 4, 2022.
To be eligible for funding under the MFESI, organizations must demonstrate an annual revenue exceeding $10 million.
Non repayable loans from the MFESI will be available to non-profit organizations to:
- Meet liquidity needs to ensure continued operations or adapt activities to new realities and requirements related to the pandemic.
- Enhance product and experience offerings so that they can better position themselves to move into the new economy, in compliance with current health standards as defined by the relevant public authorities.
For Canadian festival and cultural event organizations that don’t qualify for funding through the MFESI, additional support is available through Canadian Heritage with the Reopening Fund and the Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Sport Sectors.
Learn more at ic.gc.ca.
Crew Nation is powered by Music Forward Foundation, a charitable 501c3 organization, that will be administering the fund. Live Nation has committed $10 million to Crew Nation—contributing an initial $5 million to the fund, then matching the next $5 million given by artists, fans, and employees dollar for dollar.
Learn more at livenationentertainment.com.
EAR provides financial assistance in the case of a medical, financial or personal emergency. For ten years EAR has served visual artists that have, for example, been struck with illness or catastrophe. Three years ago, the organization launched an assistance program to support artists from other disciplines, with hopes of offering this fund for years to come.
Learn more at elephantartistrelief.com.
This assistance is based on immediate financial need with the goal to help the largest possible number of applicants with their most critical needs.
Learn more at afchelps.ca.
Past Funding Opportunities & Supports
The Organizational Structural Change (OSC) Grant is new in 2021 and the intent is that it is only available for one-year to support the transitions organizations will need to face in the coming year. Our research data indicates that there are some arts organizations that will not be financially viable due to loss of revenue, limited ability to adapt, and no reserves to support their ongoing work. There are costs to closures along with the need to preserve the artistic contributions and assets of the organization for the arts ecosystem.
The pandemic provides an opportunity for some boards to consider different organizational changes specifically around mergers, strategic partnerships, hibernations, and even organizational closure and the OSC Grant purpose is to support those decisions.
Applications open February 8 and are accepted on an ongoing basis until November 30, 2021. Visit calgaryartsdevelopment.com for all the details.
As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to ease, we know Calgarians are looking for many ways to safety participate in arts, culture, sport and recreation events this summer. This microgrant program is intended to support arts, culture, sport and recreation experiences to improve the wellbeing of citizens, families and our communities as we deal with changing public health guidelines and regulations.
Calgary’s festival and event community has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to support our normally active and vibrant festival and event industry so that citizens and visitors can once again enjoy Calgary’s community spirit by safely experiencing arts, culture, sport and recreation events.
This microgrant program aims to support the costs of event delivery that meet all provincial and City guidelines and regulations and are planned for June 11 through September 30, 2021.
Eligible events could receive up to $4,500 to support event delivery. This program has up to $75,000 available.
Non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, Calgary Business Improvement Areas (BIA) and for-profit organizations are eligible.
Other qualifications include:
- Meets all provincial and City guidelines and restrictions.
- Have all required permissions and permits.
- Provide a budget with estimated revenues and expenses.
- Spend Microgrant according to approved eligible costs.
- Submit a post event report 45 days after the event concludes.
- Use all funds in 2021.
Applications will be accepted until September 10, 2021, at 4:30pm MT for events planned between June 11 and September 30, 2021. This program cannot fund projects retroactively.
Be sure to apply early, as funding is limited. Learn more at calgary.ca.
Updated July 21, 2020 – The City of Calgary knows our festival and event community has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in the cancellation of in-person events from April until August 31, 2020. It wants to support our city’s typically active and vibrant festival and event industry so that citizens and visitors can once again enjoy Calgary’s community spirit by safely experiencing arts, culture, sport, and recreation events.
The new Microgrant Program supports the additional costs that public arts, culture, sport, and recreation events now require to meet health and safety guidelines and regulations for events that are planned for July 20 through December 31, 2020. Events can be in-person or online.
Eligible events could receive between $500 and $4,500 in support. Non-profit organizations, charitable organizations, and Calgary Business Improvement Areas (BIA) are eligible.
Applications will be accepted from July 20 to November 13 for public events planned between July 20 and December 31, 2020. Apply early—the program will close November 13 or as soon as all funding is allocated.
For more information visit calgary.ca.
The Alberta Jobs Now program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses support much-needed jobs for unemployed and underemployed Albertans across the province and help Alberta’s economy recover.
Employers will be able to apply for a grant that covers 25 per cent of an employee’s salary for a 52-week period up to a maximum of $25,000 per employee. The grant can be used to cover salary or training costs. Employers who hire persons with disabilities will receive a grant 1.5 times higher than the amount they receive for other new employees.
Employers will be able to apply as of 9:00am on May 20, 2021. They can apply for funding for up to 20 new employees. Employers have until August 31, 2021 to apply. A second intake will open on September 15, 2021 and close on December 31, 2021.
To be eligible for the program, private sector business or non-profit organizations must use the funding to hire unemployed Albertans in a new or vacant position. The new hire must reside and work in Alberta and must not have worked for the employer within the past 90 days.
Visit alberta.ca to learn more and apply.
The Alberta Government is launching the Stabilize Live Music Grant program to help rebuild and reopen live experiences once public health guidelines allow. Grants of $1,500 will help musicians and other live music professionals prepare for a return to live performances. Grants up to $25,000 for for-profit music venues will support innovative projects to help Alberta’s music industry adapt and relaunch.
Alberta’s government is partnering with Alberta Music, which will administer the grant. Eligible live music professionals and businesses can apply through the association’s website, starting May 17, 2021, until all funds are awarded. The application deadline has been extended to September 31, 2021.
The $2 million comes from $15 million allocated to the Stabilize Program in the 2021 provincial budget. This investment will support programming that will allow venues and performers to get back to business as the province reopens. This includes online event bookings and ticket sales platforms.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Learn more at albertamusic.org.
One-time grant funding through the Stabilize Program’s Adapt and Innovate stream will empower arts and culture non-profits to rebuild, reopen and offer live experiences.
The Adapt and Innovate funding allocates $10 million to support non-profit organizations that are the primary organizers of a live experience event or that own and/or operate a live experience venue. Eligibility includes non-profits that organize arts, cultural, festival or sporting live experience events. Eligibility also includes non-profit owners and/or operators of community halls, cultural centres and museums, along with sport, arts, cultural and agricultural society venues.
Non-profit organizations may use Adapt and Innovate stream funds for projects to better allow them to resume in-person live experiences. Projects could include developing new funding, operating or event models. Non-profits can also use funding for projects to build their digital capability, such as new systems for online bookings, virtual queuing, reserved seating or simultaneous online and in-person performances. Qualifying organizations will be eligible for a grant of up to $75,000. Priority will go to smaller organizations and to organizations whose events are produced in Alberta. The deadline to apply is July 29, 2021.
This second phase of Stabilize Program funding also includes $3 million in matching funding allocated to non-profits that host live experiences or own and/or operate live experience venues. The government will approve and match donations dollar-for-dollar on a first-come, first-served basis until the $3 million is allocated.
Learn more at alberta.ca.
Updated January 28, 2021 – The Stabilize Program from the Government of Alberta provides one-time funding support to rodeos, sports, arts and other venue-based organizations. Funding will enable organizations to maintain their operations to support the live experience sector in Alberta.
The Stabilize Program will:
- Support Alberta-based professional sport teams, non-profit elite amateur sport leagues and teams, rodeos, and art performance venues that have a long-standing history and are part of the Alberta cultural and sporting identity.
- Enable non-profit organizations to maintain public-use, live experience venues that will provide Albertans with live experiences now and in the future.
- Support and leverage Albertans’ investments to non-profit organizations that own or operate live experience venues by matching private donations from $250,000 to $1 million dollar for dollar.
Applications will remain open until midnight on February 18, 2021 and full details can be found at alberta.ca.
In April, Alberta’s government reopened the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant program for a new payment to businesses affected by the April 2021 public health orders. Extending the application intake enables organizations subsequently affected by the May 2021 health orders to apply for this additional COVID relief funding. The program budget remains at $350 million.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that have faced restrictions or closures due to COVID-related public health orders, and have experienced revenue losses of at least 30%.
Eligible organizations will receive a payment of up to $10,000, which follows the previous intake that provided up to $20,000. Funds can be used as business owners see fit.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Learn more and apply at alberta.ca.
Updated April 23, 2021 – The application intake for the spring 2021 payment from Alberta’s small business grant is now open for a new payment to businesses affected by the April 2021 public health orders. Eligible organizations can now apply for this additional COVID relief funding.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant offers financial assistance to Alberta businesses, cooperatives, and non-profit organizations with fewer than 500 employees that have faced restrictions or closures due to COVID-related public health orders, and have experienced revenue losses of at least 30%. Hotels, taxis, and ride-sharing services are also now eligible for this payment.
Eligible organizations will receive a payment of up to $10,000, which follows the previous intake that provided up to $20,000. Funds can be used to:
- Cover costs of items that help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.
- Pay rent, employee wages or replace inventory.
- Help businesses expand their online presence or e-commerce opportunities so that they can continue to serve customers.
Application intake for the program is open until May 31, 2021 with a budget of $350 million.
Learn more and apply at alberta.ca.
Updated April 13, 2021 – Alberta is expanding the small business relaunch grant to put more money in the hands of job creators. The Alberta government is offering small businesses affected by the most recent public health orders another payment of up to $10,000 from the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant.
Alberta businesses affected by the latest public health orders will be eligible to apply for another payment in the second half of April. This additional payment will also be available to new businesses that began operating between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, as well as hotels, taxis, and ride-sharing services.
The program is scheduled to be open for applications until May 31, 2021 and is capped at $350 million.
Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Updated February 18, 2021 – Additional financial support for businesses severely impacted by the pandemic and public health restrictions will be available starting in mid-April.
Under the new Enhanced COVID-19 Business Benefit, up to $30,000 in support will soon be available to small and medium-sized businesses that have been most affected by the pandemic and ongoing health restrictions. This additional $10,000 payment can be used to offset costs associated with COVID-19, like purchasing personal protective equipment, paying bills or hiring staff.
Businesses can use these funds as they see fit to help offset the costs of re-opening, and implementing public health measures including:
- Physical barriers
- Purchasing personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies
- Paying rent and employee wages
- Replacing inventory
- Expanding online business or e-commerce opportunities
Visit alberta.ca for more details. More information on benefit parameters will be provided closer to the launch date in April 2021.
Updated January 15, 2021 – The Alberta government is expanding the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant to allow new businesses to apply. By expanding applications to businesses that started operating between March 1 and October 31, 2020, up 5,000 more Alberta businesses will be eligible for this funding.
New Alberta businesses impacted by public health orders will need to demonstrate a 30% reduction of revenue using revenue figures from November or December 2020 compared with any prior month between March to October 2020. The payment is 15% of their monthly revenue, for a maximum of $15,000 in funding available for each business.
Visit alberta.ca for details or to apply.
Updated December 8, 2020 – Alberta’s government is expanding its relaunch grant to help small and medium-sized job creators impacted by new COVID-19 restrictions.
To support Alberta’s small businesses as they adapt to the realities of the ongoing public health crisis, the Alberta government is expanding and increasing the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant. With a new lower threshold and increased grant amount, up to 15,000 more businesses may be eligible for funding.
In November, the government announced that Alberta businesses impacted by recent public health orders were eligible to apply for a second payment through the program. This second payment will now be 15% of pre-pandemic monthly revenues up to a maximum of $15,000—for a total of $20,000 in potential funding available for each business, up from the original $5,000.
This second payment is available to businesses operating in areas on the provincial watch list where new health restrictions have been implemented. Applications for the second payment in areas under enhanced measures will open this month.
Additionally, the program is now expanding to include job creators who have experienced a 30% revenue loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This lowers the threshold from the existing requirement of 40% revenue loss. The 30% threshold will be available to impacted businesses retroactive to March.
Visit alberta.ca for more details.
Updated November 25, 2020 – Announced this week, the Government of Alberta is offering additional financial assistance to Alberta businesses through a second, one-time payment from the Small and Medium Enterprise Relaunch Grant.
Funding is available to businesses operating in areas on the provincial watch list that were ordered to close or curtail operations, and that experienced a revenue reduction of at least 40% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organizations can apply to receive funding equivalent to 15% of their pre-COVID-19 monthly revenue, up to a maximum of $5,000.
Applications will be open until March 31, 2021 unless otherwise communicated. For more information or to apply, visit alberta.ca.
Updated June 29, 2020 – The Government of Alberta has announced funding for small- and medium-sized businesses, co-ops and non-profits impacted by COVID-19 to offset a portion of their relaunch costs.
Application intake will remain open until August 31, 2020 or for four weeks following the start of Phase 3 of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy—whichever is later. An official date for intake closure will be posted on the application page when Phase 3 of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy is announced.
Eligible organizations can apply for 15% of their pre-COVID-19 revenue, up to a maximum of $5,000 in funding.
Businesses, cooperatives and non-profits can use these funds as they see fit to help offset a portion of their relaunch costs, such as implementing measures to minimize the risk of virus transmission, which could include:
- Physical barriers.
- Purchasing personal protective equipment and disinfecting supplies.
- Paying rent and employee wages.
- Replacing inventory.
Program details and application can be found at alberta.ca.
The Artist Development Microgrant is intended to provide one-time funding to individual artists and artist collectives in Calgary who have been impacted by COVID-19. It supports professional development and business development activities as well as the completion or adaptation of work that has been affected by COVID-19. This microgrant is not intended to support new work.
The goal of the program is to allow artists to respond to new approaches and emergent needs, reduce barriers to opportunities, contribute to skills, knowledge and professional development and advance professional arts and artistic practices in Calgary (known as Mohkinsstsis in Blackfoot).
Applicants may apply for business or professional development activities such as workshops, mentorships, courses, training, residencies, web development, marketing support, small business development, etc. as well as access to new technologies, space, storage, equipment or tools needed to effectively pursue work in response to COVID-19. Applicants may also apply for costs associated with adapting or completing work that began before January 2021, and was interrupted or affected by COVID-19.
Applications open January 11, 2021 for a February 16 deadline. Visit calgaryartsdevelopment.com for all the details.
Organizations can apply for a one-time grant to support an effective and sustainable recovery of the civil society sector.
The fund will provide $20 million over three years, with $7 million budgeted for 2020/21 to support civil society’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proposals must demonstrate how the project can support transformational change for their organization or the broader civil society sector. Transformational change involves significantly expanding the capacity of civil society to address pressing social issues.
Organizations applying for funding must demonstrate that their proposed project aligns with at least one of the following priority areas:
- System infrastructure.
- Civil society research and data.
- Organizational transformation.
- Financial sustainability and resilience.
Civil society organizations, such as charities, not-for-profits, and volunteer groups, as well as First Nations and Métis settlements, can submit funding proposals for projects that have a positive impact on the civil society sector. The intent of the fund is to help transform how civil society organizations function and build their capacity to work together to address social challenges.
The application package is due by 11:59 pm MST on January 20, 2021. More information on eligible projects and how to submit a funding application can be found at alberta.ca.
Businesses that have experienced a drop in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to have up to 65% of commercial rent or property expenses covered. There is no minimum revenue drop required to qualify; however, revenue decrease is used to calculate how much subsidy you will receive for each period.
In addition, if your business has been required to close for a week or more due to public health orders, you may be eligible to have an additional 25% of expenses covered.CERS is retroactive to September 27, 2020 and is anticipated to be in place until June 2021.
Learn more and apply at canada.ca.
Updated August 22, 2020 – Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has put Canadians first, providing the support they need to continue to make ends meet while staying safe and healthy. As we gradually and safely restart our economy, the government is continuing to support Canadians through the next phase of the recovery.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was an important and necessary temporary response to support Canadians who had to stop working due to the pandemic. The government will be transitioning to a simplified Employment Insurance (EI) program, effective September 27, 2020, to provide income support to those who remain unable to work and are eligible, and introducing a new suite of temporary and taxable recovery benefits to further support workers.
While the government prepares for this transition, and to ensure support continues for Canadians whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic, the CERB will be extended by an additional four weeks, providing a new maximum of up to 28 weeks of benefits.
Temporary measures to help Canadians access EI benefits more easily include:
- 120 hours of work required to qualify
- Minimum benefit rate of $400 per week
- At least 26 weeks of regular benefits
And, as the CERB begins to wind down, there are plans to introduce a suite of three new recovery benefits to provide needed support to Canadians who continue to face financial hardship even as the economy starts to re-open.
The three new benefits are:
- Canada Recovery Benefit
- Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit
- Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
Learn more at canada.ca.
Updated August 21, 2020 – The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) has supported more than three million Canadians since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing support to businesses so they can keep their workers, including furloughed workers, on the payroll.
The federal government proposes to extend the current treatment of furloughed employees under the CEWS program by four weeks—from August 30 to September 26. This would mean that employers who qualify for the CEWS would be able to continue to claim up to a maximum benefit of $847 per week to support remuneration for each of their furloughed workers. Further details about the calculation of CEWS for furloughed workers for remaining periods of the program will be announced in the coming weeks.
Applications for claim period 5 (July 5 to August 1) are open at canada.ca.
Updated April 27, 2020 – To help employers keep and re-hire workers amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has implemented the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).
This economic measure provides a subsidy of 75% of an eligible employee’s weekly earnings, to a maximum of $847 per employee per week, to eligible employers, for up to 12 weeks. Retroactive to March 15, 2020, the CEWS will prevent further job losses and encourage employers to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is administering the CEWS on behalf of the Government and the application process opened today and more details can be found at canada.ca.
Updated April 17, 2020 – The Government of Canada is providing $500 million to establish a new COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations to help address the complex financial needs of affected organizations within these sectors.
The fund is meant for organizations that can’t qualify for the existing wage subsidy because of the lumpy or irregular nature of their revenues as well as to cover contract workers. The fund will also provide advances on future grants and contributions to help maintain liquidity as well as small subsidies to cover some fixed costs.
Eligible organizations and businesses include:
- Canadian not-for-profit cultural, heritage, and arts organizations
- National sports organizations, multisport service organizations, and Canadian sport centres and institutes
- Canadian journalistic organizations
- Canadian book publishers
- Canadian production companies that work in the film or television industries
- Organizations in the music industry
- Television and radio broadcasters
- Recipients of the Digital Citizen Initiative
Updated April 15, 2020 – With more flexible rules for claiming the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), part-time, contract, gig, and seasonal workers now qualify for COVID-19 emergency benefits.
To help more Canadians benefit from the CERB, the government will be changing the eligibility rules to:
- Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
- Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Extend the CERB to workers who recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19.
Updated April 13, 2020 – The new Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provides a 75% wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
The CEWS prevents further job losses, encourages employers to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19, and help better position Canadian companies and other employers to more easily resume normal operations following the crisis.
Eligible employers include:
- Individuals
- Taxable corporations
- Partnerships consisting of eligible employers, non‑profit organizations and registered charities. Those that see a drop of at least 15% of their revenue in March 2020 and 30% for the eligible periods.
Public bodies are not eligible for this subsidy. Public bodies generally include municipalities and local governments, Crown corporations, wholly owned municipal corporations, public universities, colleges, schools, and hospitals.
Updated April 6, 2020 – With a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19, applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) are now open.
There are two ways to apply:
- Online
- Over the phone with an automated phone service at 1.800.959.2019 or 1.800.959.2041
Both of these services are available 21 hours a day, seven days a week. Both services are closed from 1:00am to 4:00am MDT for maintenance.
PLEASE NOTE: More supports for gig workers, part-time employees, students, and those who don’t qualify for CERB are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Updated March 31, 2020 – The Government of Canada is taking immediate, significant, and decisive action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes supports for individuals, families, and businesses.
The application process will open through the government’s website in early April 2020. Applications will be accepted through the Canada Revenue Agency MyAccount secure portal, your secure My Service Canada Account (MSCA), or over the phone. If you’ve already applied for employment insurance and your application hasn’t been processed yet, you’ll automatically be applied for the CERB instead.
PLEASE NOTE: An access code is your key to accessing secure online services through the Government of Canada. You need to have an access code before you can register for MSCA. If you register online, you will receive your access code by mail within five to 10 business days so be sure to start the processes as soon as possible.
Find a breakdown of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan at canada.ca.
This fund will provide up to $50,000 to support initiatives which contribute to the resiliency of the arts sector through adapted approaches to their business and artistic practices. This could include partnerships or mergers, or new platforms for content delivery or community engagement all with the hopes of ensuring long term sustainability. This fund will invest in those organizations that are pivoting to reflect the new realities facing the sector. The Resiliency Fund is intended to invest in strategies supported by strong operational capacity and governance.
Be sure to review the guidelines. This program will be administered through two intakes, with a pool of $575,000 each. If the funds from the first intake are not fully expended, they will be rolled over into the second round.
If you have any questions about this program, contact Kaley Beisiegel at kaley.beisiegel@
Updated August 10, 2020 – Applications are now open for the first intake of the Resiliency Fund.
Be sure to submit your application via the online grant interface before 4:30pm MDT on September 14, 2020.
This fund will provide up to $50,000 to support initiatives which contribute to the resiliency of the arts sector through adapted approaches to their business and artistic practices. This could include partnerships or mergers, or new platforms for content delivery or community engagement all with the hopes of ensuring long term sustainability. This fund will invest in those organizations that are pivoting to reflect the new realities facing the sector. The Resiliency Fund is intended to invest in strategies supported by strong operational capacity and governance.
Be sure to review the guidelines. This program will be administered through two intakes, with a pool of $575,000 each. If the funds from the first intake are not fully expended, they will be rolled over into the second round.
If you have any questions about this program, contact Kaley Beisiegel at kaley.beisiegel@
Updated July 16, 2020 – This is a reminder that the letter of intent and opt-in deadline for the Recovery Fund is July 27, 2020, 4:30pm MDT.
This fund provides organizations with up to $50,000 to develop and implement strategic recovery and resiliency plans that will help ensure your long-term sustainability.
Organizations not currently receiving operational funds from Calgary Arts Development must complete a letter of intent in the online grant interface by July 27 in order to receive access to the full application. Current Operating Grant clients who wish to apply must email Alisha Gordon at alisha.gordon@calgaryartsdevelopment.com by the same deadline.
Be sure to review the guidelines. Applications for the Recovery Fund must be completed and submitted by August 10, 2020, 4:30pm MDT.
If you have any questions, please email alisha.gordon@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Updated June 25, 2020 – Calgary Arts Development has been granted $2,000,000 by The City of Calgary in one-time Emergency Resiliency Funds. The purpose of these funds is to enable non-profits, including The City’s civic and community partners, to continue to serve Calgarians during the response phase of the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring adequate services are available, and to pursue partner capacity to support Calgary’s social, economic, and cultural recovery.
These funds will be invested through two programs: the Recovery Fund and the Resiliency Fund.
The Recovery Fund is intended to support the development and implementation of strategic recovery and resiliency plans, focusing on administrative, operational, technology, and human resource expenses. The Resiliency Fund is intended to support initiatives which focus on adaptive and collaborative approaches to business and artistic practice.
Non-profit arts organizations may apply to both programs, which will run through the summer and fall.
Please refer to the program guidelines for more information, and contact grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com with any questions.
All eligible applications received by the stated cut off for the first assessment cycle were assessed according to the published criteria and process. 133 artists were funded to a total of $170,547.17. Elephant Artist Relief also received a grant of $30,000 to distribute through their individual artist relief funds.
As the entire available pool has been distributed, we will be unable to reopen the application process for this program. We acknowledge that the impact on our community due to COVID-19 is high and while we cannot support all eligible applicants, we will continue to advocate to ensure artists are supported in other ways with other levels of government funding.
Updated April 8, 2020 – Applications for the Short-Term Artist Relief Fund have been closed as of the first assessment cut off date—12:00pm MDT, Wednesday, April 8—due to overwhelming demand greater than the funds available.
All eligible applications received by the stated cut off for the first assessment cycle will be assessed according to the published criteria and process. If funds remain after the results of that assessment, the program will be reopened to assess applications received after the cut off date and new applications.
We acknowledge that the impact on our community due to COVID-19 is high, and that we cannot support all eligible circumstances. Please scroll down for information about alternate resources.
Updated March 27, 2020 – As announced at Calgary Arts Development’s March 25, 2020 town hall, $1.15 million has been allocated toward providing immediate relief to some of the arts organizations as well as arts and cultural workers in the most urgent need due to COVID-19 impacts.
The short-term relief funding of $1.15 million has been hived off of our future 2020 grant program funding envelopes that had not yet been activated in order to rapidly respond to emerging and urgent needs. These dollars will be directed in two ways:
- Arts Organizations
- Artists & Cultural Workers
Please visit the COVID-19 Short-Term Relief Funding page for more details. You can also read our COVID-19 Response FAQs here.
The call for proposals for urban and off-reserve Indigenous organizations and communities is now open. The deadline is April 13, 2020 and more details can be found at sac-isc.gc.ca.
RBCxMusic will select more than 100 artists to participate in the program in 2020. Each individual performance will be a part of a cross-country initiative that includes emerging Canadian musicians and recording artists. RBC will provide each selected individual participant with a $1,000 reward (or up to $1,500 for a group of two or more selected participants), promotional support, and mentorship opportunities.
Applications are open from May 20, 2020 at 7:00am MDT to June 4, 2020 at 3:00pm MDT.
Learn more at rbcxmusicfirstup.ca.
Compensating music creators and publishers for their invaluable work, SOCAN is launching Encore!
Encore! will ease the financial burden on SOCAN writer members and their publishers created by the pandemic. A total of approximately $200,000 is available each quarter for the program for the duration of the COVID-19 lockdown in Canada.
To receive an Encore! payment for a live music event on Facebook or Instagram:
- At least 10 songs or compositions must be performed live, or a live performance of at least 30 minutes must take place, on Facebook or Instagram, from March 15, 2020, to March 7, 2021 (inclusive).
- At least 100 people must have accessed the online event.
- A set list of all music performed has to be sent via SOCAN’s Notification of Live Music Performance (NLMP) form, with the venue identified as Facebook or Instagram.
- Claims must be made within 90 days of the Facebook or Instagram concert occurring.
Each online concert will be eligible for a total payment of $150, with shares of royalties going to all rights holders of the music performed.
Visit socanmagazine.ca for more details.
These additional funds bring the total funds made available through the Rozsa Foundation’s COVID-19 granting programs to $750,000. The Online Programming Grant is no
w available to individual artists, artist collectives, registered non-profit arts organizations, and charitable arts organizations.
Learn more at rozsafoundation.org.
Updated April 24, 2020 – Thanks to an additional $200,000 from the Calgary Foundation, these programs now have a funding pool of $600,000. This investment ensures that the Rozsa Foundation is able to support more arts organizations to weather this crisis and look forward to exciting future opportunities that will be a key part of their recovery.
Learn more at rozsafoundation.org.
Updated April 9, 2020 – In response to the current pandemic and its devastating impact on the local arts community, the Rozsa Foundation is introducing two new granting programs, providing $400,000 of additional investment into the arts sector.
These one-time programs are intended to both alleviate some of the immediate financial pressures facing arts organizations, while also enabling them to be forward-looking, seeking opportunities to use digital technologies to deliver programming to audiences and using the arts to address specific community needs at this critical time.
The Rozsa COVID-19 Programming Cancellation Grant offers funding support for arts organizations to help to cover the cost of artist fees paid out to those whose contracts unfortunately had to be terminated due to COVID-19 related cancellations.
While the Rozsa Online Programming Grant supports arts organizations to create innovative programming or activities that can be shared digitally with an audience to deepen connection to community, reach new audiences, and implement a digital approach to programming that may continue beyond this period of physical distancing.
Applications for both programs open on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. These grants have a streamlined application process and it is the goal of the Rozsa Foundation to assess applications on an ongoing basis, with notification on whether a grant can be provided within 72 hours of the receipt of the application.
Learn more and apply at rozsafoundation.org.
Countless artistic activities have been cancelled or delayed due to COVID-19, but countless creations have also reached an impressive online audience.
The Digital Originals initiative supports and amplifies this new, strong and innovative online relationship between audiences and artists from Canada. Applications will be accepted through the Canada Council portal beginning in mid-May and will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 15, 2020 or until the budget has been allocated
Learn more and apply at canadacouncil.ca.
Canadian creators can apply immediately until 11:59pm EDT on April 24, 2020. Learn more at cbc.ca.
The funding provides a much-needed boost as the first round of applications ends on April 9. It will expand eligibility in the second round, which opens on April 10 and closes on April 20, to visual artists in addition to writers.
Updated April 1, 2020 – The Writers’ Trust of Canada and The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) announced the creation of the Canadian Writers’ Emergency Relief Fund to provide support to professional authors financially affected by the COVID-19 health crisis.
The fund will begin with an initial amount of $150,000 and distribute grants in amounts of $1,500 to writers that have seen contracted or projected income evaporate due to the current public health crisis. Financial support for the program is supplied by three program partners—the Writers’ Trust, TWUC, and the Royal Bank of Canada.
Learn more at writerstrust.com. The first round deadline is April 9, 2020.
Learn more about its emergency survival fund for LGBTQ2S artists, performers, and tip-based workers at gladdaylit.ca.
Learn more at format.com.
This was a temporary program to provide one-time funding until the Government of Canada announced its own support program.
Updated March 26, 2020 – The Alberta government is providing immediate financial relief to Alberta’s families and vulnerable populations. These include a one-time emergency isolation support payment, a utility payment deferral, a student loan repayment deferral, and an education property tax freeze.
Find a breakdown of the Government of Alberta’s COVID-19 supports at alberta.ca.
If it hits the goal of $3,200, they will offer eight different $400 grants for zine creators whose livelihoods have been impacted by the pandemic. All grant recipients have to do is make a zine during this bizarre time!
Learn more and apply at docs.google.com.
Each individual application will be considered on its own. SOCAN provides royalty advances to thousands of deserving creator and publisher members every year as part of its commitment to nurturing the careers of Canada’s music creators and domestic music publisher members are able to access support as well.
Members who’ve been affected by the COVID-19 crisis and wish to apply for the program should contact SOCAN’s Membership team at 1.866.307.6226, or by email at members@socan.com.
Details can be found at socan.com.
Learn more about the program and other ways the Calgary Foundation is supporting the local charitable sector at calgaryfoundation.org.
The resources raised through this fund will ensure agencies on the ground can continue their critical work in this time of need. The fund will support vulnerable populations at greatest risk including the elderly, Indigenous populations, those experiencing mental health and addiction issues, persons with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, newcomers to Canada, and others that may be impacted by this public health crisis.
Learn more about the program at calgaryunitedway.org.
Theatre artists currently enrolled in and artists graduated within the past five years from a theatre training program anywhere in Canada are invited to submit a project. NTS recognizes that university and conservatory-type training programs are not accessible to everyone and therefore encourages artists who consider themselves to be in training (mentorship or culturally specific learning) to submit their work.
Find all the details at ent-nts.ca.
Unison’s emergency relief assistance is a critical safety-net for members of the Canadian music industry deeply affected by the COVID-19 virus itself and the precautions and protocols surrounding it. The Unison COVID-19 Relief Program will be allocated towards housing costs, medical expenses, and groceries.
Learn more at unisonfund.ca.
Calgary Arts Sector Virtual Town Halls & Webinars
Don’t miss this arts community conversation around cancelling, delaying, or postponing your events in light of Omicron. With no government guidelines, how to you decide what to do?
Date: Monday, January 24, 2022, 1:00pm MT
Cost: Free
Guests include Alex Sarian, Arts Commons, and Johanne Deleeuw, One Yellow Rabbit.
Global Public Affairs will also have an update on federal supports and programs.
For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.ca.
The session also included special guest Mathew Stone, who spoke about Stone-Olafson’s The New Experience Economy project, a longitudinal study with Albertan audiences to deliver reliable and relevant data about how Albertans are reacting to what’s happening around us.
The town hall was hosted on Zoom, interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL), is available to read in text form, and can be viewed below or on YouTube at any time. The chat file is also available to read.
The session also included special guest Mathew Stone, who spoke about Stone-Olafson’s The New Experience Economy project, a longitudinal study with Albertan audiences to deliver reliable and relevant data about how Albertans are reacting to what’s happening around us.
There was also an update on our recent annual general meeting with City Council and some high-level statistics from 2019.
The town hall was hosted on Zoom, interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL), is available to read in text form, and can be viewed below or on YouTube at any time. The chat file is also available to read.
Kerry Clarke of the Calgary Folk Music Festival, Shelley Youngblut of Wordfest, Erin Jenkins of the Calgary Queer Arts Society, and Victoria Bucholtz of Cabaret Calgary joined Simon Mallett on a panel to elaborate on their recent and future online projects. Jason Mehmel of Sage Theatre, Peter Hemminger of the Calgary Quickdraw Animation Society, Mary Jenkins of the Rozsa Center at the University of Michigan, Kodi Hutchinson of JazzYYC, and Xtine Cook of Calgary Animated Objects Society also shared their experiences.
You can watch the video recording on the Rozsa Foundation website.
With presentations from Sean Casey and Tara Mazurk (Global Public Affairs), Patti Pon (Calgary Arts Development), Simon Mallett (Rozsa Foundation), and Sanjay Shahani (Edmonton Arts Council), this webinar helps gather information about these supports into one place, as well as to start looking towards the future for the arts in Alberta.
The group discussed federal, Calgary- and Edmonton-based municipal, and private supports for artists and arts organizations in Alberta and the information provided was current until May 6, 2020.
You can watch the video recording on the Rozsa Foundation website as well as download Sean Casey’s slides and a helpful summary FAQ document that covers all the information presented and the Q&A session.
During the one-hour session, Calgary Arts Development President & CEO, Patti Pon shared updates on our grant investment programs for 2020 and updated the sector on what we have been working on.
The town hall was interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) and can be viewed below or on our Facebook page at any time. A full text transcription can be found here.
At the virtual town hall, Calgary Arts Development President & CEO, Patti Pon, updated viewers on what we have learned, what we are thinking about, and what actions we are taking with regard to the COVID-19 situation and its impact on our sector and communities.
The town hall was interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL), is available to read in text form, and can be viewed on our Facebook page at any time. You can also read our COVID-19 Response FAQs here.
- Community Development Unit: The Government of Alberta has developed an online toolkit and a series of webinars to help you work remotely and extend your reach. It also offers webinars on strategic planning, board governance, building leadership capabilities, fund development and grant writing, evaluation, public and stakeholder engagement, developing partnerships, and collaborative relationships that are tailored to community groups, non-profit organizations, and volunteer teams.
- State of the Arts: Impacts of 2020: Culture Days and CBC Toronto hosted a discussion examining how the Canadian arts sector has been upended by COVID-19, confronted by calls for greater inclusion and equity, and presented with opportunities in recovery as the industry faces new futures.
- What the Fund? CERB, CESB, and the Individual Artist: David Cheoros (Edmonton Arts Council Strategic Investments & Community Relations Specialist) and David van Belle (Theatre Alberta) lead a discussion with Janis Richards (JRich Business Services) and Derek Stevenson (ATB Financial – Branch for Arts & Culture) to answer some of the questions artists may have about how CERB and CESB will affect them.
- PACT Weekly Town Hall Meeting: PACT is convening a weekly town hall meeting every Thursday to discuss the many pressing issues in Canadian theatre today, including COVID-19 pandemic recovery, anti-racism work, and sustainable practices. They are free and open to all managers, producers, and administrators in the Canadian performing arts—whether or not your company is a PACT Member.
Scam Warning
There are many fraud types, including new ones invented daily.
Taxpayers should be vigilant when they receive, either by telephone, mail, text message or email, a fraudulent communication that claims to be from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) requesting personal information such as a social insurance number, credit card number, bank account number, or passport number.
These scams may insist that this personal information is needed so that the taxpayer can receive a refund or a benefit payment. Cases of fraudulent communication could also involve threatening or coercive language to scare individuals into paying fictitious debt to the CRA. Other communications urge taxpayers to visit a fake CRA website where the taxpayer is then asked to verify their identity by entering personal information. These are scams and taxpayers should never respond to these fraudulent communications or click on any of the links provided.
Learn more at canada.ca.
Criminals are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate fraud and cyber crime. The City is not texting Calgarians nor offering citizens $135.60 a month.
Visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca for a list of scams to be aware of.
The message purports to come from a government agency such as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), or from your financial institution, saying you have received a deposit from the CRA, or important information about the CERB.
If you receive any messages like this, do not share your SIN, date of birth, or credit card information.
Visit cba.ca for more information on how to spot the latest government benefits scam.
Other scams include fraudulent texts indicating that the Emergency Relief Fund has deposited $1,375.50 into people’s bank accounts. Be sure to visit the government’s website directly for reliable information.
Cyber criminals are also sending emails that claim to provide information about COVID-19 and provide links to websites or include attachments. These links and attachments can contain malware and are a threat to networks, systems, and data. Be diligent and exercise caution when reviewing all emails.
Visit the Calgary Police Service’s Facebook page for more information.
Helpful Links
- The City of Calgary: The City of Calgary’s response to COVID-19.
- Alberta Health Services: Information and guidance from Alberta Health Services (AHS) regarding the current outbreak of COVID-19. AHS is the lead agency for any health operations and public communications.
- Government of Alberta: Learn about COVID-19 and actions being taken to protect the health of Albertans.
- Health Canada: Travel health notice.
- Government of Canada: A hub of information from the Federal Government including updates, a breakdown of government response, and resources.
- Calgary Arts Development: A disaster preparedness plan for the arts.
- Rozsa Foundation: An update from the foundation on COVID-19.
- Alberta Foundation for the Arts: COVID-19 information for AFA stakeholders.
- Government of Alberta: An online toolkit for artist and non-profit organizations to pivot to digital content and operations.
- Canada Council for the Arts: How COVID-19 is affecting its programs and services.
- Canadian Heritage: Information for Canadian Heritage grants and contributions recipients related to COVID-19.
Advocacy Groups
- Alberta Nonprofit Network: Workplace mental health resources to help organizations.
- Imagine Canada: Information for the Canadian nonprofit sector including breakdowns of parliamentary updates and advocacy news.
- IntegralOrg: COVID-19 resources for nonprofits and charities.
- IntegralOrg: COVID-19 resource kit for nonprofit and charitable employers.
- CARFAC: CARFAC’s response to COVID-19.
- I Lost My Gig Canada: A space for creative industries and other vulnerable freelance and gig economy workers to connect and share impact stories and resources.
- Canadian Live Music Association: COVID-19 federal aid package and the live music industry.
- Professional Association Canadian Theatres: of The PACT COVID-19 resource page includes information from Canadian Actors Equity and a theatre pandemic plan.
Alberta Arts Service Organizations
- Music Calgary: COVID-19 resource links.
- Alberta Media Arts Alliance: COVID-19 information page for media artists.
- Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation: An organization that informs, supports, connects, and establishes newcomer and immigrant artists.
- Alberta Dance Alliance: Resources for dancers in need of help during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
- Writers’ Guild of Alberta: COVID-19 information page for Alberta authors.
- Theatre Alberta: Resources for Alberta’s theatre community.
- CARFAC Alberta: Resources for Alberta’s visual arts community.
- IATSE 212: A union representing entertainment technicians, artists, and craftspeople in Southern Alberta.
- Alberta Biz Connect: Workplace guidance and supports to help businesses and non-profits affected by COVID-19 begin to reopen and resume operations safely.
- Tourism Calgary: COVID-19 business continuity and reopening resources for tourism partners.
- Calgary Emergency Management Agency: A business continuity checklist specific for infectious disease outbreak.
- Calgary Chamber: Emergency preparedness resources for businesses.
- Grantmakers in the Arts: An update and action items for COVID-19 and arts funding.
- Americans for the Arts: A COVID-19 resource and response centre.
- COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources: A list specifically designed to serve freelance artists and those interested in supporting the independent artist community.
- YYC What’s On: Calgary Arts Development is continuing to update our events calendar as more information becomes available. If you are an event planner or organizer with a postponed or cancelled event, please email us at events@calgaryartsdevelopment.com so we can update the listings and share your information.
- #LoveYYC from Home: As Calgary comes together in challenging times, Tourism Calgary invites you to stay connected with our community with online experiences you can take part in from the comfort of your own home. Support local and check it out.
- CBC Arts: A weekly list of online arts events throughout the country.
