Area villages adapting to public health crisis

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Considerable attention has been paid to how Alberta’s cities and towns are coping with the COVID-19 public health crisis, but villages throughout Wheatland County are adjusting in much the same way.
Businesses and institutions in Standard, Rockyford and Hussar have implemented measures to limit the spread of the virus, including adopting social distancing practices, adjusting hours and operations, or closing outright.
“We’re weathering the storm and we’re doing what we can, but it’s really limited at our level,” said Joe Pederson, mayor of Standard. “We’re just following directions from various groups – the provincial government and the federal government especially.”
The village’s focus is maintaining the provision of essential services, such as snow plowing and garbage services.
“Everyone will have their necessities in town, we will ensure that,” said Pederson.
Within Standard, playgrounds, the curling rink and the arena are now closed, as is the hotel, although it is offering off-sale liquor. The village’s one grocery store remains open and has implemented new measures to help prevent the potential spread of the virus.
“They’ve blocked off an area for staff and are asking people to sanitize coming in and going out,” said Pederson, who added that the store – Christensen’s Clover Farm – has had some difficulties keeping stocked from disruptions to its supply sources.
“We’ve had some challenges with produce; the suppliers were hit very hard, so they’re trying to catch up on their end,” he said. “We’ve had some shortages of certain things, but pretty much all the necessities are available.”
Major capital projects in Standard are being put on hold for now, considering the economic impacts of the virus and the low price of oil, noted Pederson.
“At this point we’re not going to be spending a whole heck of a lot of money because we just don’t know what next year’s going to bring,” he said. “We don’t want to break the piggy bank and then not having anything in the near future.”
COVID-19 has made life quiet in Hussar – even more than usual, said mayor Corey Fisher.
“There’s not much going on in the little Village of Hussar right now,” said Fisher, who added that it will take time to determine the economic impact of COVID-19.
“Right now, it’s all speculation,” he said. “It depends on how long COVID-19 lasts, and depends on the economy, with the price of oil. Six months from now there will definitively be more of an indication.”
Residents of Hussar have implemented social distancing measures on their own accord, said Fisher.
“Even from the onset, there were certain things that were going to be happening, like the bonspiel, that got cancelled right away,” he said. “Everyone did it on their own without direction from us.
“The village residents have been very cooperative,” he added. “I’m very proud of them – it was good to see.”
In Rockyford, the village office is now closed to the public, but people can still access services by appointment, said Elaine Macdonald, Rockyford chief administrative officer.