Students of Morrin School returned to the K-12 school in the Village of Morrin on Monday, February 1, following a temporary closure because of an outbreak of COVID-19 at the school.
The first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the school on Thursday, January 14, putting the school on alert status, which was upgraded to an outbreak and prompted staff and administrators to make the switch back to online learning temporarily.
Prairie Land School Division (PLSD) Superintendent Cam McKeage told the Mail, “In recognition of the health and safety concern for our school community, and the large number of close contacts to quarantine for the required 14 days, it only made sense we temporarily suspend in-class learning.”
McKeage notes there were six positive cases prior to students transitioning to online learning.
While some new cases have been reported since students transitioned, McKeage said this will not affect the reopening date, “Except for those identified as close contacts to those specific cases to which they could still be in quarantine.”
Students across the province returned to in-person classes on Monday, January 11 following a week of at-home learning after the winter break, with grade 7 to 12 students learning from home since November 30, 2020.
Morrin School principal Don Yavis said, “I am very proud of my staff, students, and parents for the way they handled the whole situation. We just came back to school from online (on Monday, January 11) and had to transition back to online. Our parents were fantastic and very supportive of the staff and students.”

Alberta Senator Doug Black is in the midst of his second virtual tour of the province and made a virtual stop in Drumheller on Tuesday, January 26.
Drumheller was the thirteenth community the senator visited virtually, prior to Senate returning in February, and he took some time to speak with Mayor Heather Colberg, Drumheller and District Chamber of Commerce executive director Heather Bitz, as well as representatives from Canalta and the Drumheller Area Health Foundation.
“Drumheller has a very strong community feel,” Senator Black told the Mail, adding he felt very welcomed to the community.
Senator Black is one of two sitting elected senators, a position he says is a “huge honour and privilege.” He adds the virtual tour is part of his commitment to “keep in touch” with, and better “understand where Albertans stand.”
During his virtual visit, Senator Black learned Drumheller is the third largest tourist destination in the province, and he made some suggestions to Mayor Colberg and the Chamber of Commerce to help further support the tourism sector within the community through partnership and “pockets of funds.”
Senator Black says the virtual tour has given him the opportunity to spend more time with each community, and not rush each visit. It has also allowed him to visit numerous communities around the province, something he says he would be otherwise unable to do with travel constraints.
As restrictions lift, Senator Black adds he plans to make a physical visit to the Drumheller Valley.
Following his virtual visit to Drumheller, Senator Black continued his tour, spending time in Lacombe and Calgary.