'This is good news': Alberta approves $6M for HEPA filters in Edmonton Public Schools
Students and teachers in Edmonton Public Schools will soon have cleaner air to breathe, after Alberta approved the use of $6 million to buy new HEPA air filters.
The board made the request earlier this month, in an effort to slow airborne COVID-19 spread in its 213 schools.
"This is a huge relief for us," board chair Trisha Estabrooks said as she announced the development at a public meeting on Tuesday.
"I can see it on the faces of my colleagues as well as our superintendent. This is good news and I would like to extend my thanks on behalf of the board of trustees and our administration to the minister of education."
"We’re expecting to receive those units within a two-week timeframe," Superintendent Darrel Roberston said.
"We will distribute and install those units across the division as quickly as we can through our maintenance folks."
High-efficiency particulate air filters help clean the air of bacteria and other airborne particles, and Estabrooks previously said that the investment will be beneficial post-pandemic as well for things like wildfire smoke.
In January, the school board promised to increase filter changes, maximize fresh air intake and install MERV-13 or better filters wherever possible.
At the time, some parents and advocates were asking for those systems to be upgraded to HEPA, arguing the filters provide an added layer of protection that will help them feel more comfortable.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Kyra Markov
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.