There are no more QR codes and the capacity limits at smaller venues are gone in Alberta, which is welcome news for a Thunder Bay native living in Edmonton.

The Wild Rose Country implemented Step One to ease public health measures on February 9th, which included eliminating the need to show your proof of COVID-19 vaccination to enter an entertainment venue or dine in a restaurant.

Adam Sergerie teaches at St Edmond International Baccalaureate World School in Edmonton and serves as President of Operations with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).

“There’s always going to be a mindfulness to (COVID-19) with us going through this pandemic as long as we have,” Sergerie noted about the changes. “But I guess the best way to describe it is we can breathe a little bit easier now knowing that we can still proceed with day to day life to some degree.”

In venues that can house less than 500, the capacity limits are gone; in facilities that can hold 1,000 it’s cut in half (500); and 50 per cent will be the cap for bigger venues (capacity of over 1,000).

Sergerie says when it comes to the hockey season, the Alberta league has not been immune to COVID-19 cases but the schedule has been able to go uninterrupted.

“The league has really been on top of making sure that there are a lot of visible (COVID-19) reminders,” said Sergerie. “Making sure that we’re checking in at the front of the rink, showing of proof of vaccination, there’s no cutting corners (when it comes to following the process).”

Step 2 measures in the plan are scheduled to take effect on March 1st, which will include removing remaining provincial school requirements, including cohorting, as well as the mask mandate and screening prior to youth activities.

Premier Jason Kenney has indicated that the timing of Step 3 will be determined by hospitalization rates.