Covid-19 Relaunch Strategy

June 1, 2020

Dear Vecova community,

We have seen some incredible acts of kindness, service and selflessness at this time that is truly representative of who we are. This incredible outpouring of encouragement from all of you – our consumers, our partners and supporters and our employees – has been a great comfort.

As Vecova responded proactively to the COVID-19 emergency, we have also proactively been preparing for our business recovery. We have been readying to begin to gradually resume our programs and services, reopen our facilities to our consumers and to provide re-entry to our employees over the next 3-4 months in a well-planned and thought out staged process. This staged process will be in:

  • alignment with the City of Calgary and the Government of Alberta’s relaunch strategy
  • accordance with Alberta Health Services directions in a safe process that includes health guidelines and requirements
  • accordance with Vecova’s risk management and business continuity systems
  • alignment with Vecova’s business plans and strategic direction.

For the latest update for Aquatics, Health and Fitness:

Reopening September 8

CLICK HERE

As we begin to gradually resume our programs and services, reopen our facilities to our consumers and to provide re-entry to our employees over the next 3-4 months in a well-planned and thought out staged process –Vecova will put safety first. There will be strict safety guidelines in place for our consumers and our employees. We will ready our programs, services and facilities for our consumers and our employees and install physical distancing measures, set consumer and employee program, service and facility capacity restrictions, set health and screening protocols and set new enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures.

While we begin to recover, we must stay vigilant and follow all public health measures, practice physical distancing and good hygiene, and continue acting responsibly. Our collective efforts will ensure Vecova’s relaunch strategy will be successful.

If at any time, we feel the health and safety of our consumers and employees cannot be successful managed we will act accordingly.

For the latest update for Recycling Services (Bottle Depot and Bottle Pick-Up):

CLICK HERE

Vecova’s Relaunch Stages

Pandemic Response (Prior to June 1)

During the pandemic response, Vecova followed the strongest public health guidelines from Health Canada and Alberta Health Services, the advisories issued from the Government of Canada and the emergency measures enacted by the Government of Alberta and the City of Calgary to manage COVID-19. This resulted in Vecova:

  • closing and restricting access to its facilities in Calgary and Canmore
  • suspending a number of its programs and services
  • introducing service adjustments for a number of its programs and services
  • implementing a number of measures to help keep its consumers and employees healthy and safe.

Early actions allowed some of Vecova’s programs and services to remain operational. These included:

  • Living Support Services remaining in full operation, providing 24/7 support to persons with disabilities and complex needs.
  • Mental Health Services remaining in full operation providing support online and through telepsychology.
  • Training continuing to provide specialized health training online or virtually.
  • Youth Transition and Work Experience Program continuing to meet the program needs for youth through online support.
  • Airport Contract for Service remaining in operation with modified resources.
  • Bottle Pick-Up Service remaining in operation with modified resources to pick up and process its commercial account with Alberta Health Services.
  • Internal operations including Workforce, Communications, Development, Finance, IT and Research and Strategic Services with modified resources.

Stage 1 – Started May 25th

Stage 1 allowed Vecova to resume some of its programs and services with: service adjustments; physical distancing requirements; health and screening protocols; enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures; and other public health guidelines in place. This included:

  • Vecova resuming its Bottle Pick-Up Service – Residential and Commercial within its Recycling Services on May 25th with reduced service hours and modified resources.

Stage 2 – (TBD) Anticipated to Start June 22nd

Stage 2 will allow Vecova to resume some additional programs and services, reopen some of its Recycling Service facilities to our consumers and to provide re-entry to some of our employees with: service adjustments; program, service and facility capacity restrictions; physical distancing requirements; health and screening protocols; enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures; and other public health guidelines in place. This includes:

  • June 29 (tentative date): Vecova reopening its Bottle Depot within its Recycling Services to the public with reduced service hours and modified resources.
  • Vecova reassigning its employees from its Employment Services and Wayfinder Program who have been working with Living Supports Services to resume some of its Employment Services and Wayfinder Programs with reduced service hours and modified resources and services in our consumer homes and in the community.

Stage 3 – (TBD) Anticipated to Start September 1st – onward

Stage 3 will allow Vecova to resume more of its programs and services, reopen the remainder of its facilities to our consumers and to provide re-entry to our employees in a staged process with: service adjustments; program, service and facility capacity restrictions; physical distancing requirements; health and screening protocols; enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures; and other public health guidelines in place. This includes:

  • Vecova reopening its Main Vecova Centre for:
    • Onsite programs and services for consumers within our Aquatics, Health and Fitness and Employment Services with capacity restrictions, reduced service hours and modified resources. Please note: not all previous offered programs and services can or will be offered and as such a phased process will occur. Further details will be communicated as this stage of our relaunch strategy is activated.
    • Facility rentals with capacity restrictions; physical distancing requirements; health and screening protocols; enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures; and other public health guidelines in place. Please note: not all previous facility rentals can or will reoccur and as such a phased process will occur. Further details will be communicated as this stage of our relaunch strategy is activated.
    • Essential internal operations with capacity restrictions, reduced service hours and modified resources.
  • Vecova reopening its Satellite Office in Canmore for essential internal operations with capacity restrictions, with reduced service hours and modified resources.
  • Vecova resuming its Wayfinder Program with reconfigured programs and services for consumers with capacity restrictions, reduced service hours and modified resources.

Stage 4 – Ongoing

Stage 4 allows Vecova to assess and resume its contracts for service with other organizations/businesses as they begin to resume their operations. These operations will resume in a staged process with: service adjustments; capacity restrictions; physical distancing requirements; health and screening protocols; enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures; and other public health guidelines in place.

Additional Measures and Considerations

  • There will be strict safety guidelines in place for our consumers and our employees. We will ready our programs, services and facilities for our consumers and our employees and install physical distancing measures, set consumer and employee program, service and facility capacity restrictions, set health and screening protocols and set new enhanced cleaning and disinfecting measures.
  • The starting dates for each Stage of Vecova’s Relaunch Strategy may be delayed to ensure Vecova is in:
    • alignment with the City of Calgary and the Government of Alberta’s relaunch strategy
    • accordance with Alberta Health Services directions in a safe process that includes health guidelines and requirements
    • accordance with Vecova’s risk management and business continuity systems
    • alignment with Vecova’s business plans and strategic direction.
  • If at any time, we feel the health and safety of our consumers and employees cannot be successful managed we will act accordingly.

 

As a result, for the most up-to-date information, please continue to check-in here: https://www.vecova.ca/covid19

 

 

All the best,

 

Joan Lee

Chief Executive Officer

Vecova