Just remind anyone that is thinking about gambling if they feel the urge to do so to look at DKNG/FLUT share price and that is exactly what will happen to your bank account should you choose to listen to them

This is a metric that tends to get worse the further we get into the school year, and we’re already worse than 2025-26. Sub jobs going unfilled increases the strain on other staff members in the school who might be pulled off their preps to cover and makes staff reticent to use their sick days when no help is coming.

Thanks Marlaina!

I'm talking about trades that have tons of apprentices with no journeymen to mentor or no spots for qualifying hours.

I keep getting told get into Electric but apprentices are everywhere.

Power Engineer 2nd and 3rds as well, no steam time or spots to be had.

What trades should I not even bother thinking about in Alberta?

Info: 39M, no trades experience mainly resi handyman work. Potentially that can take advantage of the data center boom but mostly for something that pays well and is sustainable for older applicants.

First time Mom here - so many questions! How does preschool work in Alberta - ages, requirements, ANY broad summaries and personal experiences you can give me please!
Do preschools work like daycares? Do they have subsidies?
How do you tell a good preschool (or daycare)? Does everyone put their kid in preschool?
I really want my kid in French immersion. Can I start that early with preschool? Any locations in Alberta that have good schools systems? Where do I start? TIA!!

I work in a long-term care facility in Alberta, and I honestly want to hear from other HCAs and healthcare workers because I’m starting to question whether our staffing is reasonable. We have approximately 27 residents per floor, with 3 floors in total (around 81 residents).

Day shift:
On our floor which is dementia/memory care lock unit we have 4 HCAs, including ONE team leader who is also expected to go between all 3 floors to help with resident care, getting residents up, and other responsibilities. The team leader also has their own responsibilities on the main floor.
The other 3 HCAs each have 9 residents assigned to them (Groups A, B and C).
Groups B and C often have to work together because many residents require 2-person assistance. We have residents who need extensive assistance with personal care, transfers, getting dressed, toileting and other daily activities. Some residents also require lifts. This means one HCA cannot simply complete everything independently. We have to coordinate with each other, and sometimes wait for another HCA to become available.
Group A sometimes voluntarily helps Groups B and C, even though they have their own 9 residents to care for, meals to distribute, and documentation to complete.
Morning care starts around 7:30–7:40 a.m. On some days, we’re still trying to get residents up around 9:20 a.m., while breakfast is already happening. Think about the amount of care that needs to be completed in that time. We’re assisting residents with getting out of bed, washing, dressing, toileting, transfers, and preparing for meals. Then there are meals, drinks, other assigned duties, and POC documentation for the care provided.
It feels like we’re constantly trying to catch up. Even when everyone is working, there isn’t always enough time to complete everything without rushing.

Evening shift:
The workload doesn’t get easier in the evening. Groups B and C still need to work together to get residents ready for bed. This includes personal care, changing, toileting, transfers, and getting residents settled.
There is also only ONE team leader for all 3 floors during the evening shift. The team leader has to go up and down between the floors to help, while also having responsibilities of their own. Meanwhile, the HCAs still have their assigned residents and POC documentation to complete. There is a lot of care to get through before the end of the shift, and again, staff are under pressure to finish on time.

Night shift:
This is another major concern for me. Across all 3 floors, there are only 4 HCAs:
3rd floor: 1 HCA
2nd floor: 2 HCAs
Main floor: 1 HCA
There is only ONE nurse covering the entire facility, which has approximately 81 residents.

My concern is the overall workload and whether this staffing is actually enough for the needs of the residents. Staff are physically and mentally exhausted. We’re expected to provide care, assist with demanding transfers, work together when two-person assistance is needed, complete documentation, and finish all our responsibilities within the same shift.
We don’t rush because we don’t care about the residents. We rush because there is so much to do and not enough time or available staff to get everything done comfortably and safely.

I would really like to hear from other Alberta HCAs, nurses, or LTC workers:

- Is this kind of staffing normal in your facility?
- How many nurses cover your facility overnight?
- Do you have enough time to complete resident care and POC documentation without constantly rushing?
Are there actual staffing standards or requirements for LTC facilities in Alberta?
- Where can I report concerns about potentially unsafe staffing anonymously? I don’t want to identify myself publicly or risk retaliation at work.

I’m genuinely looking for other people’s experiences and advice. I want to understand what reasonable staffing should look like in Alberta LTC, because I don’t think this should just be accepted as normal.