A CPO truck in the M.D. of Taber (Photo courtesy M.D. of Taber Regional Community Peace Officer Program on Facebook)

By Justin Goulet

M.D. of Taber educating the public on social distancing rules amid pandemic

Apr 24, 2020 | 11:15 AM

M.D. OF TABER, AB – Officials in the M.D. of Taber are reminding residents of some of the rules in place regarding COVID-19.

Kirk Hughes, the Director of Community Safety for the M.D. of Taber, said local Community Peace Officers (CPOs) were busy on Thursday, responding to reports that people were not obeying public health orders.

“None of them [were] malicious, most of them were just an educational format,” he said.

“Unfortunately, a lot of our recreational areas are closed or are restricted, and there’s some confusion about what’s open and what’s not open.”

MD Park, Grassy Forks and Enchant Park are currently closed because of the pandemic. Vehicle traffic has been suspended in local recreation areas as well.

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“More of our recreational areas are closed off to vehicle traffic and that’s to prevent people from congregating, having meetings and inadvertently breaking the social distancing rules,” he stated.

“This is always the hardest part, especially with the nice, beautiful weather coming. Everyone wants to get together and hang out with their friends and family, and what better place to do that than our recreational areas that we’ve been promoting for years.”

However, Hughes noted that hiking trails remain open, so there are still ways to enjoy the outdoors.

“We just ask them [residents] that they park respectfully away from the gates and keep the area open for any emergency services, such as fire, ambulance or our police and Peace Officers,” he told LNN.

Hughes said they have received calls from residents seeking information, including a recent case where a couple asked if they could take wedding photos at MD Park.

This was allowed, as long as they promised to maintain social distancing and not gather in a large group.

“Judging from what the email [says], it’s going to be a pretty good photo-shoot, but it’s only going to be the bride, the groom, maybe the parents and the photographer,” he said.

He’s inviting all residents to call the M.D. of Taber with any questions they may have.

He added another component citizens should watch out for are rattlesnakes coming out of their dens.

“The coulee area in the MD Park is also another hot-spot for our slithery friends, so we caution people to be very aware of the rattlesnakes, and to be very careful around them.”

As for the busy Thursday for CPOs, Hughes said the complaints they received mostly revolved around people who were inadvertently breaking social distancing rules.

“They were unaware, for example, that they couldn’t utilize part of our recreational areas.”

He noted that the M.D. strives to educate the community, and one of their CPOs speaks in Low Mennonite German to speak with the Mennonite community.

“[It’s about] passing that educational message on to our residents and people who may be traveling through our communities to ensure that they are following the rules and following Doctor [Deena] Hinshaw’s recommendations in order to flatten the curve.”

Hughes added that there will be increased patrols out this weekend to make sure people are following social distancing rules.