Coronavirus Information for Beaumont
The health, safety and well-being of our residents, staff and visitors is our city’s priority.
Here is a collection of information and resources regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, including updates from the Government of Alberta, Government of Canada and the City of Beaumont.
Prevent the Spread
We continue to ask the community and our employees to practise healthy hygiene habits and physical distancing (maintaining an appropriate distance from others) to prevent the spread of germs, including:
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Stay home if you are sick
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Do not share water bottles or similar containers
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
Routinely clean frequently touched surfaces and objects
Physical distancing is a term that refers to a conscious effort to reduce close contact between people and hopefully reduce community transmission of the virus. Practise physical distancing in all public situations as this plays an important role in minimizing the spread of the virus.
This means staying at least two metres (six feet) away from other people and following the Alberta government’s limits on the size of gatherings. However, this does not mean you must stay inside. Social distancing is not about staying indoors; it’s about maintaining an appropriate distance from others.
New information about COVID-19 is being shared on a regular basis on the Government of Alberta website.
City of Beaumont Updates
Temporary Face Covering Bylaw (NEW)
In order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and avoid business closures, city council approved a bylaw requiring face coverings to be worn in all publicly-accessible indoor places and public vehicles, effective Friday, August 14.
Scientific evidence suggests that face coverings are an effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19, though it should not replace other measures including physical distancing, regular hand washing and staying home when sick.
The bylaw applies to city buildings, retail stores, restaurants and most other indoor places that the public can access. Public vehicles include Beaumont Transit, taxis and ride-for-hire services such as Uber.
Not everyone is able to wear a face covering in all situations. Bylaw exemptions include:
- children under two or a child under five (chronologically or developmentally) who refuses to wear a face covering and cannot be persuaded to do so by their caregiver
- people with a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering
- people seated in a restaurant, bar or other premises where food or drink is served, or
- people engaging in physical activity
- schools, as the Alberta government has mandated masks for Grades 4 and up
- child care facilities
Proof of exemption is not required.
Learn more about bylaw, the safe and proper use of masks, and read frequently asked questions,
The fine for violating the bylaw is $50, but the City of Beaumont is taking an education-first approach that focuses on informing people of the requirement and benefits of wearing a face covering rather than issuing fines. The bylaw will expire October 31 unless extended by a resolution of council
- Facilities and Community Events
- Parks and Outdoor Spaces
- Beaumont Services
- Financial Support and Recovery
- Support for Beaumont Businesses
- Community and Mental Health Support
- Planning and Development Applications
- Information for Community Groups
- RV Parking
- City of Beaumont's Pandemic Plan
Facilities and Community Events
City Buildings
The City of Beaumont is limiting access to city buildings and facilities for the health and safety of residents and employees.
City Office – The office is open to the public by appointment only. To schedule an appointment of if you require assistance, call 780.929.8782. For the protection of you and our staff, please note the following:
- Do not visit if you are feeling sick of showing symptoms of COVID-19
- Visitors must wear a face covering (we can provide a mask if you don’t have one) unless exempted by the city's Temporary Face Covering Bylaw
- Use the hand sanitizer provided
- Maintain physical distancing of at least two metres (six feet)
- Lobby restrooms are closed to the public.
Family & Community Support Services - FCSS is open to the public by appointment. Residents can also access their services through phone and email.
- Email: FCSS@beaumont.ab.ca
- Phone: 780.929.1006
Operations building, Fire Hall and RCMP – These buildings are all closed to the public. In case of an emergency, please call 911.
Recreation and Community Facilities
Centre Communautaire Beaumont Community Centre – Currently closed to the public. User groups with existing leases are able to access their spaces in the building. Please call CCBCC Guest Services at 780.929.1221 if you require additional information.
Ken Nichol Regional Recreation Centre – Currently closed to the public. User groups with existing leases are able to access their spaces in the building. The KNRRC is also taking bookings for arena pad. Please call the KNRRC at 587-357-1113.
Chantal Bérubé Youth Centre – Currently closed to the public in accordance with public health requirements. Visit the centre’s Facebook page for online programming and resources.
City Events
In the interest of public safety, City Council decided to cancel all events until 2021, which includes Town and Country Daze that was initially postponed until the fall.
Special Event Permissions
The City of Beaumont wants to ensure activities planned by the community are safe and successful. To help ensure public safety and quality of life for all residents, special permission continues to be required from the city for organized activities that involve:
- partial obstruction or closure of a public roadway
- use of public property (e.g., city parks)
- temporary structures (e.g., tents or signage)
- relaxation or waiver of a city bylaw (e.g., noise restrictions).
Bibliothèque de Beaumont Library
The Beaumont Library is now open to the public. Visit their website or their Facebook page for more information about how the library is responding to COVID-19 and for online programming.
Garage and Yard Sales
Garage and yard sales are permitted. Public health orders regarding physical distancing and gathering limits apply. We also encourage people to consider the following guidance:
- Wash your hands before and after visiting each site
- Consider visiting only sales in your neighbourhood
- Use electronic forms of payment, e.g., email e-transfers
Residents can use Beaumont playgrounds, tennis courts, the skate park and other outdoor facilities with some restrictions as the city proceeds with a gradual re-opening of services that were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beaumont Services
City of Beaumont Services
Most municipal services continue without disruption.
Early Learning Child Care Centre and School Age Site
All spaces in the Early Learning Child Care Centre and School Age Site allowed under provincial restrictions have been booked. For families seeking other child care options, the Alberta government’s website includes information about approved family day home agencies and a child care lookup tool for alternative child care options.
We are following strict sanitization and screening practices based on instructions from Alberta’s chief medical officer of health to ensure the safety and health of our community, your family and our employees.
With the program’s re-opening, residents may see children and child care employees going for walks in the community. Please respect their distance and give them at least two metres (six feet) of space. Playground equipment within the fenced area next to the child care centre will be sanitized for program use only and are not for public use.
Online payment and service options
The City of Beaumont offers a number of payment and service options online for residents who are not able to pay in person at the city office.
Property taxes can be paid at most financial institutions, by online or telephone banking, mailed cheque (postmarked by September 30, 2020), or leaving a cheque in the City Hall drop box.
Residents can also manage and pay their utility bills and property taxes online at Virtual City Hall.
Pet licenses and renewal of business licenses can be done on the same platform. To activate your online account you will need your Customer ID. If you need help finding your Customer ID give us a call at 780-929-8782.
Transit
Due to low ridership, Beaumont city council made the difficult decision to suspend Beaumont Transit service temporarily effective Monday, May 4. The city will continue to monitor factors, including provincial health restrictions, and consider restarting service with Stage 3 of the Alberta government’s re-launch strategy. The provincial government has yet to specify a date for Stage 3.
We know there are residents who depend on daily transit service and are exploring options for them while service is suspended. If you are currently using Beaumont Transit, please contact us at by email at alyssa.carson@beaumont.ab.ca or phone at 780-239-9483.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to protect the health and safety of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial Support and Recovery
Payment deferrals
Residents and businesses experiencing financial difficulties now have the ability to delay their utility bill and property tax payments.
Water, wastewater and garbage collection bills
Residents can delay paying their city water, wastewater and curbside (garbage) collection bill until September 30, 2020 without penalty or service cut off. Bills will continue to be sent, but residents can choose to delay payment and pay any time before September 30; penalties will be applied beginning on October 1 if payment has not been made.
Customers who are set up for automatic withdrawals and want to defer their payments must cancel their withdrawals by completing the Pre-authorized Payment Plan Changes form on our website.
A flexible repayment schedule with the city can also be discussed by emailing utilities@beaumont.ab.ca or calling 780-929-1351.
FAQ - water, wastewater and garbage collection bills deferral
Property taxes
Homeowners and businesses can also delay paying their property taxes to September 30, 2020 (from June 30, 2020) with no penalty. Penalties will be applied beginning on October 1 if payment has not been made by September 30.
Taxpayers on the monthly property tax plan can choose to withdraw from it by completing the Pre-authorized Payment Plan Changes form on our website. They must pay the remainder of their taxes in a lump sum by September 30.
For questions, please contact taxes@beaumont.ab.ca or 780-929-3306.
Online payment and service options
The City of Beaumont offers a number of payment and service options online for residents who are not able to pay in person at the city office.
Property taxes can be paid at most financial institutions, by online or telephone banking, mailed cheque (postmarked by September 30, 2020), or leaving a cheque in the City Hall drop box.
Residents can also manage and pay their utility bills and property taxes online at Virtual City Hall.
Pet licenses and renewal of business licenses can be done on the same platform. To activate your online account you will need your Customer ID. If you need help finding your Customer ID give us a call at 780-929-8782.
Support for Beaumont Businesses
The City of Beaumont compiled information and resources to help businesses manage the impacts of COVID-19.
Community and Mental Health Support
Stress and anxiety are normal emotions during a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be heightened if you have chosen or are required to socially distance yourself. Alberta Health Services offers these tips to protect your mental health:
- Limit the amount of time you spend watching, reading, or listening to news about COVID-19
- Get the facts about COVID-19 from reliable sources such as the Government of Alberta’s website.
- Be mindful; gently paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. This can help you understand why you’re feeling anxious or stressed
- Use healthy approaches and skills you normally use to cope with stressful situations
- Keep in mind that this situation is temporary, and eventually things will return to normal
Alberta Health Services has compiled tips and other resources to help you cope with the current situation and look after your mental health. Read more here.
Beaumont’s Family and Community Support Services also suggests the following resources for additional support coping during the pandemic.
- The Distress Line offers supportive listening for any distressing issue; you don’t need to be suicidal to call: 780-492-4357
- Counselling – FCSS can offer a subsidy to families or individuals who qualify: 780-929-1006
- Addictions and Mental Health, Alberta Health Services: 780-424-2424
- 24 hour Addiction and Mental Health Crisis Response Team 780-342-7777
- Mental Health Helpline: 1-877-303-2642
- KIDS help phone: Text CONNECT to 686868
- The Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network offers mental and emotional health assessments and assists patients in finding most appropriate mental health service in the community (available through referral by your regular doctor): 780-986-6624
Additional suggested resources
Psychological support during a Pandemic (Psychologists’ Association of Alberta)
Parent/caregiver guide to help families cope with COVID-19 (National Child Traumatic Stress Network, USA)
What to do if you’re anxious about COVID-19 (Anxiety Canada)
Planning and Development Applications
Beaumont City Hall is open by appointment only. For Planning & Development applications, please note the following:
- We encourage all applicants to email applications for development permits, building permits and compliance certificates to development@beaumont.ab.ca. Payment can be made using credit cards by filling out the credit card payment form found here and submitting it with your application.
- Other land development applications including Area Structure Plans, Redistricting, Subdivision and Development Agreements can also be submitted electronically by sending them to planning@beaumont.ab.ca. Payment for these applications can be made by cheque and dropping it in the after-hours drop box at the City Office.
- Alternative payment arrangements can be made by contacting development@beaumont.ab.ca
- For building codes inspections, please e-mail all inspection requests to buildinginspection@beaumont.ab.ca. For all building inspections, to maintain safe social distancing for our staff and the public, we are asking that there be no one on-site at the time of the inspection. Prior to booking the inspection, you will be asked if anyone has been quarantined, sick or travelled recently. Where the Safety Codes Officers are not comfortable as they approach or enter a site, they have the right of refusal where they deem it unsafe.
- Fast Track New House applications will not be accepted until further notice.
- Rush compliance requests are still being accepted.
We are working to maintain service delivery, however, our service levels may be longer than normal. We thank you for your patience and understanding. Please contact 780-929-8782 for general inquiries.
Information for Community Groups
Social Services Support for COVID-19 Funding Criteria
The Alberta government is providing funding to municipalities, charitable and non-profit organizations to provide help to individuals, seniors, families and other vulnerable Albertans who are isolated or impacted by measures to contain COVID-19. Grants will be provided through local Family and Community Support Services.
See here for full details.
Contact the Beaumont FCSS for the Funding Request Form by emailing FCSS@beaumont.ab.ca or calling 780.929.1006.
RV Parking
The City of Beaumont implemented a 15 Day Parking Permit for Beaumont residents who are returning from out of country travel.
As directed by the Government of Alberta, residents returning from international travel with a recreational vehicle (RV) are required to go straight home without making a stop at an RV parking facility.
Residents who are returning with an RV are asked to contact Municipal Enforcement at 780-929-7435 to register their RV (someone will be available 24/7). This will allow residents to park their RV in their driveway or on the street for the 14 day isolation period without resulting in any enforcement action.
City of Beaumont’s Pandemic Plan
The City of Beaumont activated its Emergency Coordination Centre on March 16 to allow the orderly planning and coordination of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the appropriate resources are in place. Our top priorities are the health and safety of the public and city employees, as well as the continuity of services to residents.
The city and its contractors have plans in place that can be activated to ensure essential services are not disrupted if a significant number of employees become unavailable to work. Employees have received instruction on how to minimize the risk of transmitting coronavirus in the workplace and to the public, and enhanced hygiene, sanitization and prevention measures have been implemented throughout our facilities, workplaces and on Beaumont Transit.
During a pandemic, the city prioritizes:
Maintaining public safety services, e.g., fire, ambulance and police
Maintaining essential public works and municipal services, such as water treatment and delivery, garbage collection, and utilities
Working with Alberta Health Services to provide information and advice to the public
Closing public buildings when in the best interests of public safety and minimizing the spread of infection based on the recommendations of health officials
Coordinating and directing Family and Community Support Services and local non-government organizations’ support to our response
In addition, the City of Beaumont has agreements with neighbouring communities to share personnel capable of managing and maintaining essential services.
Additional COVID-19 Information
- Resources for Families & Individuals
- Government Resources for Businesses
- Public Health Complaints
- COVID-19 Updates
Resources for Families and Individuals
Beaumont’s Family and Community Support Services team is available to assist families and individuals by phone, email and social media. FCSS continues to connect residents with resources, programs and supports, and provide opportunities for mental wellness and connection. We encourage all Beaumont residents to build a network of friends, family and neighbours to support them during this time and FCSS is here to be part of that network.
We have compiled the following links to programs, resources and supports available from government and other sources for families and individuals. If you need assistance or can’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact FCSS at 780-929-1006 or fcss@beaumont.ab.ca
COVID-19 Financial Assistance
The Government of Canada is providing a range of supports for families and individuals, including those facing unemployment or unable to work due to COVID-19 and people who are sick or required to self-isolate. For more information, visit the Government of Canada’s website.
The Government of Alberta is providing relief for families and individuals in a number of ways, including working with the utility regulator to allow customers to pause payment of utility bills, and implementing a six-month, interest-free moratorium on Alberta student loan payments. For more information, visit the Government of Alberta’s website.
Other Supports
Alberta Works Office: In-person services are temporarily suspended. For Income Support, call the Leduc Office at 780-980-3565 to start the process.
Alberta Supports After Hours Emergency: For emergency financial assistance, or anyone who needs help after the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call 780-644-5135.
Utility Deferral Program:
- Residential customers can defer electricity and natural gas bill payments for the next 90 days to ensure no one will be cut off, regardless of the service provider.
- If you are unable to pay your utility bills please call your utility company to make payment arrangements. At this time no utilities will be cut off during COVID-19.
- The City of Beaumont is allowing residents and businesses to delay payment of their water and wastewater bills until September 30, 2020 without penalty or service cut off. Businesses and homeowners can also delay paying property taxes until September 30, 2020 with no penalty.
Financial Assistance for Utility Arrears: Contact Alberta Supports at 1-877-644-9992. Assistance is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Leduc & District Food Bank: Residents can contact the food bank at 780-986-5333 and book an appointment to pick-up a hamper. Call Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays before 8:30 a.m. to secure a spot for the same day.
Halal Food Hamper: Offered in partnership by the Islamic Family and Social Services Association with the Edmonton Food Bank. Call 780-900-2777.
Seniors Transportation: Drive Happiness provides seniors assisted transportation to grocery stores, prescription pick-ups and other trips. Delivery also available. Call 780-424-5438 to book a ride.
Childrens’ Services: Child Protective Services remains open as an essential service. During regular hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, contact the Leduc office at 780-986-7869. For help after hours and weekends, contact 780-427-3390.
Family Violence:
- The Alberta government offers activities and resources to help prevent family violence and support healthy relationships. The Family Violence Info Line is available 24-7 in more than 170 languages at 310-1818. Albertans can also use the Family Violence Info chat online at alberta.ca/SafetyChat between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily.
- The Riseup Society in Leduc offers individual counselling for adults affected by intimate partner violence. Counselling is available by phone; office and staff are available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Call 780-739-7473.
- The Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters is available 24/7. Phone at 1-866-331-3933 to speak to someone at a shelter near you.
Sexual Assault: The Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton’s support and information line is open between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. at 780-423-4121 and trained volunteers answer texts sent to 1-866-403-8000.
Legal Resources: The Centre for Public Legal Education of Alberta (CPLEA) has compiled frequently asked questions about legal matters related to COVID-19.
Legal Services: Many community and legal clinics are not seeing clients in person, but can provide services by phone.
- The Edmonton Community Legal Centre office is closed, but you can fill out their online intake form. Someone will call you back if your matter is urgent.
- Student Legal Services (University of Alberta) is closed until further notice.
- Legal Aid Alberta is only accepting applications for in-custody criminal matters, urgent out-of-custody criminal matters and urgent family or child protection matters. Intake services at the courthouse are closed. You can apply by telephone at 1-866-845-3425.
- Resolution and Court Administration Services provides information about courts and resolution services in Alberta. Call 1-855-738-4747 or fill out the contact form for more information.
For information on a range of resources, including supports for mental health, addictions, homelessness, residents with disabilities, along with information for students and parents, please contact Beaumont FCSS at 780-929-1006 or fcss@beaumont.ab.ca
Government Resources for Businesses
The City of Beaumont compiled information and resources to help businesses manage the impacts of COVID-19.
Public Health Complaints
Self-isolation and mass gathering
The Government of Alberta implemented public health orders limiting the size of gatherings and legally requiring returning international travellers, close contact of confirmed cases, and people exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms to self-isolate.
If you know someone who is not self-isolating when they are legally required to:
- take proper precautions and distance yourself from the person to limit your risk of exposure if they have symptoms.
- remind the person that not following public health orders is against the law and puts people at risk.
Albertans can submit a complaint to Alberta Health Services if they are concerned about an establishment or individuals not following the public health orders. Please do not contact the RCMP or Municipal Enforcement directly for these complaints. They are actioned through AHS.
Albertans have an obligation to protect themselves, their families, and others by doing what they can – including following self-isolation requirements.