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Vol. 21, No. 12, Wednesday, December 17, 2025
School Christmas concerts cancelled Respiratory illness outbreak across county ends public school plans parents instructed to keep sick kids at home - Andrew Rural Acadamy okay BY JANA SEMENIUK Schools across the County were forced to cancel Christmas plans this year because of an outbreak of respiratory illness. Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) notified families by email of the decision which affected schools in Lamont, Mundare and Bruderheim. Cancelled activities included Christmas concerts, visits to the local
senior centre, luncheons and field trips. According to reports, at least 10 percent of a school’s staff and student population must be considered sick to be under outbreak status by Alberta Health Authorities. Exact numbers for school absenteeism were not available. The email sent to Bruderheim School families stated they were on outbreak status as of Dec. 10 and
expected to last until Dec. 25. Symptoms of the respiratory illness listed in the notices include cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss or altered sense of taste/smell, runny nose/nasal congestion, fever, and may also include fatigue (significant and unusual), muscle ache/joint pain, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Families were instructed to keep
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their children home if they are sick and not to return to school until they are 24 hours symptom free. In addition to schools in Lamont County, dozens of other schools in Fort Saskatchewan, the Edmonton region and St. Albert have also been affected. So far, the Andrew Rural Academy charter school has not been affected by an outbreak.
Bruderheim German Christmas market charms hundreds BY JANA SEMENIUK An estimated 500 Christmas shoppers poured into Bruderheim’s first ever Glashaus Christmas Market, a German inspired yuletide experience, held inside a large glass greenhouse at Theil’s Greenhouse and Naked Greens. The market began as an idea among local business owners Nadine Stielow of Thiel’s Greenhouse and Naked Greens, and Andrea Hinken of Old Country Sausage. The ladies said the idea was an instant hit among market vendors and exceeded all expectations on market day, Dec. 14. “The day was beyond all of our wildest dreams. I cannot believe the number of people that came,” said Stielow. “I saw people hugging each other and smiling and saying, ‘We haven't seen you in years’, and what a great feeling that was. We're really trying to create a feeling, and I think that's what we did here today.” Lights twinkled along the ceiling while shoppers drifted among the brilliant displays of handmade products from at least 30 different vendors. All the while, live music filled the air courtesy of several different local musicians, each taking a turn at the micro-
A young girl shows her new stuffed toy to Santa. Jana Semeniuk photo. phone and delivering their own take on holiday favourites. A smiling Santa greeted guests near the entrance and graciously posed for several photos and videos throughout the day while the enticing scent of cinnamon buns and homemade soup drew people to a café set up near the
back of the greenhouse, by local Ironwood Catering. Additionally, Bruderheim’s newly elected mayor, Ron Ewasiuk, was on hand to draw for the hourly door prizes and greet guests as they came through the market. “I think today was a complete suc-
cess,” said Ewasiuk. “This is the start of what we are envisioning with the new council. We have underutilized facilities and (we want) to embrace activities like this and expand on events like this, spring, summer and fall. Nadine opened the doors to this type of activity, which kind of allows people to see what Bruderheim has to offer.” Local vendor Rose Mullin, who sells handmade jewelry through her business ‘A Little Bit of Sparkle’, said it was the best market she has been to all year. “I have a lot of work ahead of me to make stock for next year. They did a marvelous job. I felt energized by just everything they have going on here, with the Santa Claus and with the draws, and with the live music and the food, absolutely beautiful,” she said. In terms of next year, Stielow said the Glashaus Market will be bigger and better. “I think for next year we still want to continue with this nice hometown country feel, and a very much European market,” she said. “We want to keep this amazing feeling of community coming together. It was awesome.”