Preparing for the Pope: First Nations, city, police rush to prepare for Edmonton papal visit
CBC
With Pope Francis set to visit the Edmonton region in less than two weeks, preparations are ramping up for the first visit from the Pontiff in nearly 40 years.
The City of Edmonton is covering up to $1 million in expenses related to the Pope's visit, a city spokesperson said.
The city is not in charge of any of the events planned for the July 24-27 papal visit, but spokesperson Carol Hurst said it will provide in-kind support that will cover many of the costs of the mass being held at Commonwealth Stadium, including the cost of the venue rental, security, free transit for attendees and road closures.
The city will cover also cover several other costs:
A total of 65,000 people can attend the mass at the football stadium. Tickets, which are being booked in blocks, have been in hot demand.
The Pope will also be visiting Maskwacis, Alta., and Lac Ste. Anne, Alta., He is expected to make an apology to Indigenous people for harm caused to them by the Roman Catholic Church.
RCMP and Edmonton Police Service will each be responsible for costs related to papal security. Alberta RCMP Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said a breakdown of planned operational information can't be provided for security reasons.
"Once costs are finalized at the end, we'll be able to provide additional information about what those costs were in a more fulsome manner," Savinkoff said. "But the RCMP will be engaged in around-the-clock protection of his holiness during his time in Canada."
An Edmonton police spokesperson said EPS is still working through what the costs will be.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has taken the lead on plans for the visit, but the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations is also helping with co-ordination.
The confederation's Grand Chief George Arcand, Jr. said Tuesday that while discussions and preparations have been happening for a while, it wasn't until just over a week ago that it was confirmed that the Pope would be coming.
Without much time to firm up details and given the limited amount of time the Pope will be on the ground in each community, Arcand said it's been challenging as they've tried to ensure that ceremonies and other elements important to First Nations are incorporated into the events.
Arcand said there has been pushback from all parties involved in the planning, but he said he thinks everyone is keen to resolve the issues.
"I believe that the committees and the co-ordinating groups are in place to try to make the visit. to Alberta as memorable and commemorative as we can, because we think and believe that this is an important time for the Pope to come and visit the survivors that are going to be present," he said.
Drive south from Calgary on Highway 2 and watch as the speed cuts from 110 kilometres an hour down to 70, then 50, then 30 for a temporary school zone.
The new Ontario Line will include protective barriers at all stations to separate platforms from the tracks, something the Toronto Transit Commission has been considering adding to its subway system for years.
This First Person column is the experience of Andrew Stetson, a writer and storyteller in P.E.I. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
After years of seemingly unlimited growth for the craft beer industry, the party is winding down.
Even from a few kilometres away, Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira is able to perform a critical diagnostic procedure, thanks to an internet connection and a remote-controlled robot.
The side of an abandoned fish sauce plant in St. Mary's, N.L. was ripped open after high winds overnight Friday into Saturday.
A police officer shot a man on Quinpool Road after he allegedly threatened them with a knife, Halifax Regional Police said in a news release.
For nearly a month, Montrealers from African countries have been gathering in the city's cafés, restaurants, bars and the comfort of their own homes to support their respective teams in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations — the continent's preeminent soccer tournament.
The union that represents Manitoba nurses says the emergency department at the hospital in Swan River is running with half the nurses required, with some shifts having no nurses at all.
Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl is taking a brief leave of absence to attend to a family illness in Germany.
A fire tore through a school on Blueberry River First Nation north of Fort St. John early Saturday morning, destroying a building that has served the northeastern B.C. community for decades.
UPDATE | In an email Saturday, Air Canada passenger Heather Badenoch told CBC that CBSA officials had reached out, asked if she had anything to declare, and assured her she wouldn't have any future problems travelling.