WHAT ARE WE DOING TO KEEP YOU AND OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE?
The health, safety and overall well being of the families we serve, our guests who visit our funeral homes, and our valued employees remain of paramount importance to our company.
At this time, we will operate normally and welcome the public for services. We want to assure you that the Connelly-McKinley team is taking proactive measures to help prevent the spread of any potential illness.
I know that this is very concerning to you so, I wanted to take a moment to establish what we, at Connelly-McKinley Funeral homes, are doing to address this.
First, and foremost, I want to ensure the public that we are constantly monitoring the situation, following Alberta Health Services recommendations and working with our funeral organizations to ensure that our funeral homes are in-step with best practice in our industry, as we navigate through this uncharted territory.
Provincial Level – Alberta Funeral Service Association
National Level – Funeral Service Association of Canada
International Partners – ICCFA and NFDA,
We are closely monitoring the Federal and Provincial health authorities, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements regarding the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following guidelines from these agencies and the local health departments.
Update October 27, 2020
Please be advised that of this date, the gathering allowances for receptions has been reduced to 15.
Funeral and Celebration of Life ceremonies are 100 with social distancing.
Update Augusrt 5th, 2020
To our valued families and guests to our funeral homes.
Covid-19 has been a difficult time for all of us and coping with all of the almost daily changes has been daunting for the families we are serving..
We are truly aware of how much has changed and the significance it has for you when honouring the death of your loved ones.
We strive to make it as comfortable and as meaningful an experience as possible in these unprecedented times.
We have always had strict policies in effect to protect our staff and families and we will continue to follow all public health guidelines, and municipal bylaws.
As of August 1st it was mandated by the City of Edmonton and August 8th for the City of St. Albert, that people must wear a face covering in all public spaces. This includes all of our public spaces – our arrangement rooms, chapels, visitation rooms, and reception centers.
To protect the families that we serve, our staff will be wearing masks for all services and arrangements.
Our limousines will have a partition dividing the family members from the drivers, who will also wear masks.
All families making final arrangements, and all guests attending a service or visitation at any of our locations will also be required to wear a face covering.
Any family having any services during this time will be fully apprised of any and all restrictions, limitations and procedures that will affect any or all of their services.
June 11, 2020 Update – Services and Receptions
Commencing Monday June 15, 2020. Connelly-McKinley locations will be offering chapel services up to 100 people and reception services* up to 50 people (or to the limit of social distancing allowances.)
All previous protocols and safety measures are still in place.
Our staff will be wearing masks for all services. If you as a guest, would feel more comfortable wearing one yourself, please bring one with you. The funeral home will not be handing out masks, however, sanitizers will be readily available throughout each location and continual cleaning is taking place.
If you are planning a service at this time, your Funeral Director will advise on all safety measures and protocols that must be kept for all gatherings.
Church Services
We will contact your church as many of them are not allowing services at this time. Our Directors will be able to advise as they will have the latest information at all times.
We continue to follow Alberta Health Services recommendations and working with our funeral organizations to ensure that our funeral homes are in-step with best practice in our industry.
May 14, 2020 Update – Gatherings
As of this date we are now permitted 50 people to attend a visitation or service.
This will include, our staff, the clergy or officiant, family and guests. We will be required to monitor the exact number of people coming in so any people over that amount will not be allowed into the building.
As always, we are taking every precaution to ensure our families and guests are safe and that we are completely in compliance with all recommendations and legislation.
We will have hand sanitizers available and all attendees will be requested to use it before entering. Even though you may carry your own, this will ensure that we know everyone entering has sanitized hands.
The funeral home will not be providing masks or gloves for attendees, however, if you would feel more secure and safe, please feel comfortable in wearing one.
All attendees will be seated by our staff to ensure the 6 foot distancing.
Every second row will be left open to give as much space as possible between attendees.
Because these additional measures may take a bit longer than normal, it would be advisable to come a few minutes early.
The spacing does include lining up to come into the service so, if you see a line up at the front door, it may be advisable to wait in your car until the line shortens.
These are incredibly challenging times for all of us, but we are in this together, and together we will stay safe and we will help you honour your loved ones to the very best of our abilities.
April 27th, Update – Live Streaming of Services
To our valued families
During this pandemic we are restricted to 15 people at a service which includes our staff, your family, guests, the officiant and/or musicians.
We are offering live streaming so many others can attend from afar and you will know they are still there supporting you.
We will add an invitation to the obituary and quests click on the link to see the service at the time indicated. If someone cannot be in attendance online at that time, the link will be there for a replay.
This situation is difficult enough for everyone right now so we continually try to be innovative to bring you some peace of heart. Please ask your Director how we can help make this a special day despite the restrictions. We are here to help.
April 2 Update – Visitations/Gatherings
Dear Families
We have been receiving many calls from upset families believing that we are not allowing services and everyone must be cremated. This is not true.
Yes, there are restrictions to allow only 15 people for services and we have restricted family coming to make final arrangements to 2 people.
We can do a good majority of this on the phone or online to reduce the time you will be required to spend here, but you are not restricted from making arrangements in our facilities.
Whatever you are comfortable with, we will provide.
All of our facilities are large enough to provide the required social distancing for services.
Receptions are off the table right now. No commercial or family prepared food will be allowed.
There are restrictions on visitations if a person has passed away from COVID-19, however, you can still have a visitation. There will be the requirement of full preparation (embalming) to ensure the safety of you and your guests, but you can have a visitation. The 15 people restriction applies to visitations as well. You could do this whereby only 8 or 10 come in at a time to say goodbye, they leave and then a few more come in. We can work this out for you.
*****No one will be able to have a personal identification or visitation if full preparation is not done.
For our families that may have more than 15 people who would want to attend any service, this is strictly prohibited.
To accommodate those families, we have live streaming of services and the technology that allows other family members to be a part of arrangement conferences.
Yes, when you call and advise us of a death and request our help, we will ask you a series of questions regarding covid-19 symptoms in accordance with Alberta Health Services – i.e. if there is anyone sick or have traveled – We will make accommodations for that as well. We want to ensure you and our staff are protected and kept safe.
Our facilities are cleaned and sanitized throughout the day and particularly after arrangements and services.
Things to be aware of:
Our downtown location has expanded working business hours to add more convenience to our families. 780-422-2222
Our St. Albert location, being a smaller building, has a more constricted access policy but, if you call ahead, we will make an appointment to help you. 780-458-2222
Our Edmonton South location is open for arrangements and services, please call to schedule an appointment 780-468-2222
At this time cemeteries are allowing burials but, they also have some restrictions. Our Funeral Directors are apprised of every situation and will guide you to ensure you have the most comforting and accommodating service possible.
This is our current status as of March 27, 2020. This could change if we have new recommendations that the government deems necessary to stop the spread.
Please call us if you have any questions or concerns. 780-422-2222
We are still here to serve you as we have for over 100 years and we will continue to do so with the compassion and care you that have come to expect
*****As of March 18, 2020 we have new Alberta Health Services restrictions for funeral services. We are now required to social distance people in our facilities. Churches and other venues are now under these same restrictions. For more information regarding this click here
From this day we are governed to only allow 50 quests for services, which includes family members. Please consider the possibility that access to funeral services may be denied once we have reached the 50 person capacity.
For the foreseeable future, there will be no receptions serving food or beverages.
We thank you for your patience and understanding as we all work through these tumultuous times.
With the ever changing news regarding COVID-19 and these turbulent and uncertain times, we know many people may not have anyone to talk to about being isolated or having feelings of fear or depression
With that in mind, we are opening up our Compassion Helpline to anyone who might need someone to talk to. This is completely free of charge and you can call in anonymously.
Call 1-866-269-0680
Use code CV00123
Please share this with anyone you know who is struggling.
Together we will get through this.
Our commitment to you:
> We use cleaning and disinfecting protocols to clean our facilities after each service with particular attention paid to high touch items.
> We have increased the frequency of cleaning and disinfecting public areas every morning and evening.
> Proper and frequent hand washing is vital to help combat the spread of viruses. Our teams are reminded multiple times a day that cleanliness starts with this simple act.
> Additional hand sanitizer has been placed at entrances and throughout our buildings
> Employees who exhibit cold or flu-like symptoms have been instructed to stay home from work.
> In an effort to minimize direct contact, we ask that you consider avoiding shaking hands or physical contact with the members of the family you are here to visit and each other.
> We request that guests who are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath or have been in contact with or have recently traveled to any of the affected countries refrain from visiting Connelly-McKinley at this time.
> All funeral and/or cremation arrangements can be made online through email and telephone without coming to our facility.
>For larger services, whereby there is an expectation of over the 50 people, we can provide live streaming at all of our locations for those who may not be able to attend
>All of our Directors will work closely with each family to ensure we provide the best service options under these circumstances.
It is our hope that this update gives you reassurance that we, as a company, remain current with what is happening with COVID-19, and that we will work as diligently as possible to ensure that we provide you with the level of expertise you’ve come to expect from us.
We highly recommend you rely on trusted and respected health services for information on the virus.
> WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak
> GOVERNMENT OF CANADA – Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
> CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION – Coronavirus Disease 2019
>ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at 780-422-2222
Sincerely,
Cameron Connelly
Vice President
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Corona Virus Protocol and Policies 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta