Alberta Funeral Service Association News

President's Message - Scott Green

Thu, 28 May 2026 17:12:22 GMT

President's Message - Scott Green

It is an honour to represent our membership as the 2026–2027 President of the Alberta Funeral Service Association. I would also like to welcome our new Board members, Laurel Foreman, Jennifer Greentree, and Quentin Goetz. We look forward to the experience, insight, and leadership they will bring to the AFSA Board.

Our recent conference in Calgary was a tremendous success, featuring engaging speakers who provided valuable perspectives and new ideas for attendees to consider. New this year was a roundtable discussion that allowed the Board to participate in a meaningful strategic planning session focused on guiding AFSA in a direction that reflects the needs and priorities of our membership. We also enjoyed an excellent turnout for Suppliers’ Night, along with a Hollywood-themed banquet that provided an enjoyable opportunity for members to connect and celebrate together. It is always rewarding to see such strong participation throughout the conference events and social gatherings.

Over the coming year, the Board will be working diligently on matters relating to OCME rural rates and continuing discussions regarding Alberta Funeral Benefits.

The Board and I look forward to connecting with and supporting our membership throughout the year ahead.

Scott Green

President

Alberta Funeral Service Association

President's Message – Kirstie Smolyk

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 23 May 2025 22:31:03 GMT

President's Message - Kirstie Smolyk

I am honored to be the new AFSA Board president for 2025/2026. Another fantastic convention has come and gone with great guest speakers, lots of information sharing, high attendance numbers and a sold out banquet. I hope everyone enjoyed the change with moving the AGM from the Saturday morning to the Friday!

AFSA was a part of my life long before I became a funeral director, as I attended provincial and national conventions as a child with my family when my father served on the AFSA and FSAC boards. I am proud to continue the legacy of both my father and all the funeral professionals before me who have given of their time and energy to be a board member. As a group, we are all fortunate to work alongside other talented individuals who bring passion and dedication to everything they do.

Although we are sad to say goodbye to former Past President Eden Tourangeau, I would again like to acknowledge the 9 dedicated years he spent on the board. Thank you very much, Eden! I would also like to welcome our new board member Quinn Furey. We look forward to the experience and perspective he will bring.

As a board, we look forward to collaborating with our member funeral homes and building on our work with the different government entities, so that we can continue to serve our families well and efficiently. As funeral professionals, we may be direct competitors in certain geographic areas, but the challenges we can overcome push us to innovate and grow stronger and better together. As an example, since the convention three weeks ago, we have already had a follow-up meeting to see what AFSA can do to help push forward the technological advancement on the Funeral Benefits portal. Please keep sharing your experiences, both positive and negative, so that we can share with Funeral Benefits, Public Trustee, OCME, Vital Stats and other relevant areas.

I am excited to connect with you at our upcoming events and look forward to a full year ahead. Thank you for the support you give the board and the work we are doing.

Kirstie Smolyk, President

Alberta Funeral Service Association

AFSA Student Awards - Deadline Extended!

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 22:41:15 GMT

Apply Now for an AFSA Student Award - Deadline Extended!

The AFSA Board is very excited to announce the AFSA Student Award!

Alberta Funeral Services Association (AFSA) will annually grant an amount of $2,500 to both a student from Mount Royal University (MRU) and Canadian College of Funeral Services (CCFS).

To be eligible, the applicant must be a resident of Alberta and employed with an AFSA funeral home.* The applicant must either be:

A full-time or part-time student actively pursuing a degree in funeral service, that is in good standing with MRU or CCFS. Expected date of graduation is expected within 12 months from the date of application. Proof of enrollment will be required.
Graduated from either MRU or CCFS within the last 12 months from the date of application. Proof of diploma / certificate required.

The Deadline for applications has been extended to March 28, 2025

AFSA Awards Gala

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 22:36:54 GMT

Award Submissions Now Open for 2025!

Long Term Funeral Service Distinction Awards

Are you a Member Firm that knows an individual with 25 years or more of service in the funeral profession? Submit a nomination for the Alberta Funeral Service Association Long Term Funeral Service Distinction Award.

Submission deadline is March 28th, 2025

Robert Snodgrass Memorial Award

The Robert Snodgrass award is an annual award, presented at the time of convention for the Annual General Meeting of the Alberta Funeral Service Association. The recipient may be a person working in the funeral profession in Alberta.

The individual may be nominated for:

1. Outstanding Customer Service [and]

2. Outstanding Contribution to AFSA [and]

3. Outstanding Contribution to the Funeral Profession at Large

Submission deadline is March 28th , 2025

The AFSA AGM & Conference Will Take Place May 1st and 2nd, 2025

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 22:27:14 GMT

2025 Conference Registration Now Open!

We are thrilled to announce that registration is now open for the 2025 convention, scheduled to be held at the River Cree Resort & Casino May 1st and 2nd, 2025. The AFSA Board is currently finalizing our fantastic line up of speakers and looks forward to announcing shortly.

January 2025 President's Message

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:16:39 GMT

January 2025 President's Message

Hello everyone and Happy New Year,

I hope that the new year is off to a great start for you all. This is typically the busiest time of year in funeral service, so I know we are all busy keeping up with the work of serving families. As we start 2025, I wanted to share an update of what the Board is actively working on.

First, we are pulling the last few details together for our conference this year. With Easter being so late, it will actually be in May, instead of the last week in April and we are back at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton. We are excited to open up registration for the conference and applications for the awards and scholarships in this newsletter. All the information on the conference is listed below. One request we have heard from members over the last few years at conference is to see if we can change how the AGM fits into the schedule, as it can be hard to get up early following the banquet. So, this year we are excited to try a new schedule and will be holding the AGM on Friday afternoon prior to the banquet. Therefore, there will not be any meetings on the Saturday. We look forward to your feedback on this change to see if it should be the plan for future years. We are also excited to share the sponsorship and media packages for 2025; information on them can also be found below.

Second, we have been meeting with the Executive team of SCSS – Funeral Benefits, where we have discussed a few items. The first of those is a question that has been brought forth to AFSA about the embalming benefit amount and if a portion of it can be applied for if embalming is not taking place, but additional preparation is required. We reviewed this with the Executive team of SCSS and found that when the current benefit was established, the base benefit was intended to cover basic preparation for a viewing when not embalming. The Embalming amount is intended for use only when embalming takes place. If there are additional fees for preparation work when embalming is not authorized by the family, these can be submitted on a case-by-case basis as an exceptional amount and the Funeral Benefit team will review the request and consider if additional funds should be approved or not.

Another conversation we had was regarding the cemeteries and when families are being charged more than the Act and Regulation outline they should be charged. The Executive Team reached out to the director of the Cemeteries Act and they indicated that if a family feels they are being overcharged, they can submit a complaint to the consumer investigation unit. Information on how to file a complaint can be found online at: File a consumer complaint against a business | Alberta.ca .

The last item we discussed is the plan to work with them on creating a best practices document for funeral homes that are applying for the Funeral Benefit at the direction of the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT). We hope to have this together in the next month or two.

Third, the OCME subcommittee for rural transport has been meeting much of last year. The executive was able to hold a meeting with the OCME and discuss the concerns that were brought forward from the subcommittee and to also hear the concerns that their office has had as well. The concerns we shared with their office were about assistance with transfers to/from the OCME, timely payment of invoices, the use of non-PQR funeral homes and the current payment rates. Their OCME indicated they are not able to assist with transfers. The funeral home is responsible to do that work and this is not going to change. Regarding the payment of invoices: they said the best way to speed up payment is to invoice the OCME more often and sooner. This works better for their accounting office as well. So for those submitting invoices for rural transport, please invoice as soon as possible and do it more frequently, in order to help expedite the payment. The OCME said that they were aware of non-PQR funeral homes being called to perform transfers and they have stopped this practice, although they have noted that they are still working to figure out solutions in areas with no PQR funeral home. The OCME is also aware of our concern about the payment rates and would like to support us in beginning discussions about rate increases. We will work with their office this year to start conversations with the government areas that handle the funding of these rates.

One concern they shared with us was in regard to the way that bodies are being transported in or out of their locations and the suitability of equipment that is being used. We also discussed working together on a policies and procedures manual for all funeral homes to follow. This is something we are happy to assist with.

Fourth, we have a meeting with the OPGT in the next few weeks and look forward to continuing the positive and collaborative relationship we have with their office.

Fifth, we continue to work with Alberta Counsel to discuss all the government work mentioned above. We will be sending out a brief 2-pager that summarizes the focused work we are doing with the government. This way, all members will be aware of the messaging so that all communication with your local MLA is unified and consistent.

Last but not least, the Board meets this week and we are excited to continue the work mentioned above. Please register for the conference and/or submit your sponsorship package soon.

Thanks,

David Root

President – Alberta Funeral Service Association

2025 Partnership Package Now Available!

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:00:32 GMT

The 2025 Partnership Package is now available!

The AFSA partnership package was developed with you, our sponsors in mind. Utilizing this package will encompass your sponsorship contributions for the entire year. It is your one-stop-shop for Membership, the annual convention, and the golf tournament. Sponsors of AFSA will receive recognition throughout the course of the year via virtual and/or in-person platforms such as our monthly newsletter, The Standard, brand exposure at AFSA events, social media spotlights, etc.

Should you have any questions, please contact the AFSA office.

AFSA 2024 Student Award applications are now open!

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:55:35 GMT

Applications Now Open!

The AFSA Board is very excited to announce the AFSA Student Award!

Alberta Funeral Services Association (AFSA) will annually grant an amount of $2,500 to both a student from Mount Royal University (MRU) and Canadian College of Funeral Services (CCFS).

To be eligible, the applicant must be a resident of Alberta and employed with an AFSA funeral home.* The applicant must either be:

A full-time or part-time student actively pursuing a degree in funeral service, that is in good standing with MRU or CCFS. Expected date of graduation is expected within 12 months from the date of application. Proof of enrollment will be required.
Graduated from either MRU or CCFS within the last 12 months from the date of application. Proof of diploma / certificate required.

The Deadline for applications is January 31, 2023

The Standard - 09-22-2023

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:24:35 GMT

September 2023 Issue of the Standard

This issue includes:

President's Message
CSS Update
Fall Sessions: Troubleshooting Embalming Challenges with Jack Adams
Golf Recap
Canada Bereavement Registry

The Standard - May 2023

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 19 May 2023 21:41:40 GMT

May 2023 Issue of the Standard

This issue includes:

President’s Message by incoming President David Root
AFSA AGM & Conference Recap, including Video!
AFSA Conference Survey
AFSA Conference Exhibitors
2023/2024 Board of Directors
Thank You from Robert Snodgrass Award Recipient Tyler Weber
2023/2024 Sponsors

The Standard Issue #17

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 00:06:25 GMT

March 2023 Issue of the Standard

This issue includes:

President’s Message
AFSA AGM & Conference Schedule & Registration
AFSA Awards Gala Submissions
In Memoriam
Partnership Package
Membership Renewals

AFSA Partnership Package

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 22:06:31 GMT

Partnership Package

The Alberta Funeral Service Association is excited to announce that we have updated the Partnership Package based on feedback from our sponsors.

This package was developed with you, our sponsors in mind. Utilizing this package will encompass your sponsorship contributions for the entire year. It is your one-stop-shop for Membership, the annual convention, and the golf tournament. Sponsors of AFSA will receive recognition throughout the course of the year via virtual and/or in-person platforms such as our monthly newsletter, The Standard, brand exposure at AFSA events, social media spotlights, etc.

Should you have any questions, please contact the AFSA office.

AFSA Announces Student Awards!

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:18:38 GMT

Applications Now Open!

The AFSA Board is very excited to announce the AFSA Student Award!

Alberta Funeral Services Association (AFSA) will annually grant an amount of $2,500 to both a student from Mount Royal University (MRU) and Canadian College of Funeral Services (CCFS).

To be eligible, the applicant must be a resident of Alberta and employed with an AFSA funeral home.* The applicant must either be:

A full-time or part-time student actively pursuing a degree in funeral service, that is in good standing with MRU or CCFS. Expected date of graduation is expected within 12 months from the date of application. Proof of enrollment will be required.
Graduated from either MRU or CCFS within the last 12 months from the date of application. Proof of diploma / certificate required.

The Deadline for applications is January 31, 2023

The Standard Issue #16

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 22:14:54 GMT

December 2022 Issue

Issue #16 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

President’s Message
AFSA Student Award
Holiday Hours
Upcoming Events
2022/2023 Sponsors

The Standard Issue #15

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 19:03:04 GMT

September 2022 Issue

Issue #15 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

President’s Message
AFSRB Lunch & Learn
Fall Education Sessions with Lacy Robinson Registration Now Open!
AFSA Members in the Community
Upcoming Events
2022/2023 Sponsors

The Standard Issue #14

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 18:59:58 GMT

August 2022 Issue

Issue #14 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

1. President’s Message

2. Golf Registration

3. Upcoming Events

4. 2022/2023 Sponsors

The Standard Issue #13

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 22:33:14 GMT

July 2022 Issue

Issue #12 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

1. President’s Message

2. Golf Registration

5. 2022/2023 Sponsors

The Standard Issue #12

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 22:32:20 GMT

June 2022 Issue

Issue #12 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

1. President’s Message

2. AFSA Conference Survey

3. Upcoming Events

5. 2022/2023 Sponsors

The Standard Issue #11

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Sun, 08 May 2022 14:34:14 GMT

May 2022 Issue

Issue #11 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

1. President’s Message

2. AFSA Conference Recap

3. Awards Gala Video

4. Welcome to the New Board

5. 2022/2023 Sponsors

The Standard Issue #10

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Sun, 08 May 2022 14:32:58 GMT

April 2022 Issue

Issue #10 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

1. President’s Message

2. CSS Information Session Recording

3. Conference Registration Deadline: April 14th

4. Individual Membership Renewal Form

5. Voter Registration/Proxy Forms

6. Director Nominations Deadline: April 14th

The Standard Issue #9

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Sun, 08 May 2022 14:31:32 GMT

March 2022 Issue

Issue #9 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

1. President’s Message

2. Conference Registration

3. Exhibitor Registration

4. Hotel Deadline March 18th

5. Awards Deadline March 15th

6. In Memoriam

7. Director Nominations

8. Partnership Program

9. Government Updates

The Standard Issue #8

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:05:14 GMT

February 2022 Issue

Issue #8 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

Presidents Message
AGM & Conference Registration Now Open!
Conference Schedule
AFSA Awards Gala
Partnership Package
CPP Death Benefit
Covid-19 Restrictions

The Standard Issue #7

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:00:04 GMT

January 2022 Issue

Issue #7 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

Presidents Message
Benefit Process Update for CSS
Membership Renewals
Introduction of Partnership Package
Meet the Board - Tracy McFee
Upcoming Events

The Standard Issue #6

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:53:22 GMT

December Issue

Issue #6 of the Standard is now available!

This issue includes:

Presidents Message
Welcome to New Members
Benefit Administration Changes for CSS
Robert Snodgrass Memorial Award Nominations
Long Term Funeral Service Distinction Award Nominations
Meet the Board - Alexander Van Geest
Upcoming Events
AFSA Office Holiday Hours

2022 Awards Nominations Now Open

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 18:14:14 GMT

ROBERT SNODGRASS MEMORIAL AWARD

The individual may be nominated for:

1. Outstanding Customer Service

2. Outstanding Contribution to AFSA

3. Outstanding Contribution to the Funeral Profession at Large

LONG TERM FUNERAL SERVICE DISTICTION AWARD

Submission deadline is March 15, 2022

The Standard Issue #5

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 18:07:22 GMT

November Issue

Issue 5 of The Standard was released last week.

Contents:

- President's Report

- Award Nominations now Open!

- Meet the Board presents Michael Cron

- Reminder that the Covid Records Verifier App must be used as of today

New Paragraph

The Standard Issue #4

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 17:15:17 GMT

October Issue

Happy Thanksgiving! The October issue of the AFSA Standard is now available.

This months issue includes an update on the upcoming Fall Education Session (hint: there will now be 4 sessions), and an interview with AFSA Treasurer and 3rd generation funeral director, David Root.

We would love your feedback! Let us know what you would like to see more of in this monthly newsletters.

New Paragraph

The Standard Issue #3

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:43:39 GMT

September Issue

Fore! The September issue of the AFSA Standard is now available!

This months issue includes a recap of the #GolfTournament , a letter writing campaign for #CPPDeathBenefits , and an update from AFSA President Chris Jong.

Left to Right: Scott Kuntz, David Niebach, Alex Van Geest and Eric Gunderson

The Standard Issue #2

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 15:02:47 GMT

August Issue

The August issue of the Standard is now out!

In this issue: Meet the Board feature on Eden Tourangeau, Vice President, and an exciting announcement about the Fall Education Sessions.

Don't forget to register for the Golf Tournament, the early bird deadline is Monday, August 9th!

July 2021 President's Message

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 21:48:09 GMT

July 2021 President's Message

Dear Membership,

I would like to start out by thanking the membership for your support and words of encouragement over the last 2 months since I have taken over the presidency of the association. The Board continues to be extremely active since that time. We have made the decision to streamline our committees. On these committees is a group consisting of both Board members, and members at large (including associate members). The committees are as follows:

Governance Committee
Finance Committee
Nominations Committee
Government Relations Committee
Events Committee
Outreach Committee

Each committee has already met at least once, created terms of reference and begun the work that lays before us this year. We are blessed to have such committed board members. Just recently our Outreach Committee launched AFSA’s newest endeavour, and we are now posting on social media. Please take a moment to like and follow our page. It is another effective way for us to get up-to-date information out to you, the membership.

The Events Committee is well on its way to organizing our in-person 2022 Annual Funeral Service Convention that will be held in Calgary this year. It is sure to be one to remember! Being back in person for the first time in a while is very exciting to think about. The speakers that are being lined up are world-class presenters. The Fall Education Forum has also been finalized. It will be a technical embalming seminar that will have the option for hands-on learning as well. Keep looking for those dates and opportunities when announced.

The Government Relations Committee is actively working on concerns that have recently been addressed by some of the membership regarding AISH/CSS. We have a meeting with officials from this government branch and will have some resolution soon. I encourage any members that are having significant problems to reach out to the Board so we can keep an open dialogue with the Alberta Government. It was announced at our last AGM that we have struck a joint committee with the AFSRB to make changes and amendments to the Acts and Regulations pertaining to the Funeral & Cemetery’s Act. This committee has recently met and work is underway. We have also held an initial meeting with the Medical Examiners office to begin discussions regarding an increase in fees for rural transfers. Much is in the works.

The Finance Committee has also held its first meeting in the last week.

A full list of committee members can be found here.

The Governance Committee has recently started to look at bylaw revisions to be brought forward to membership. There are a few small changes that must be made to improve the efficiency within the Board. Some changes we have just adopted recently will be adjusted to complement the workings of the Board. The Governance Committee has also completed work on Terms of Reference for each committee, ensuring that all are working in compliance with the bylaws as well as the functioning of the Board.

As you can see, we are very busy and very excited! I look forward to the rest of the year ahead. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to be in touch with me anytime.

Sincerely,

Chris Jong

AFSA President

AFSA - Golf Tournament

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 17:54:22 GMT

AFSA Golf Tournament - Save the Date!

September 9, 2021 | Sylvan Lake Golf & Country Club

We look forward to golfing with you in 2021. In the meantime, prepare your best golf attire and practice your putting!

Registration and Sponsorship will be opening on July 9th

Compassionate Exemptions for Funeral Attendance

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 21:15:18 GMT

Compassionate Exemptions for Funeral Attendance

The Government of Alberta has released the new exemptions for quarantine for travelers attending funeral servcies from outside of Canada.

The Alberta Funeral Service Association and the Alberta Funeral Service Regulatory Board met with Alberta Health Services last week to develop the Alberta requirements.

Please review the attached documents that explain the process and the implications.

It is important to note that funeral service providers can refuse to sign if they do not want to mitigate the added risks of international attendees.

Thanks,

Alberta Funeral Service Association Pandemic Committee

Navigating Uncharted Territory; Why We Need More Than PPE to Remain Safe and Sane

inquiry@afsa.ca (AFSA Admin) — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 23:54:05 GMT

Navigating Uncharted Territory
AFSA Presents: Pam Moss

Uncharted territory ; just the term is unsettling. Defined as ‘a situation or a circumstance that is foreign, unclear, or unchartered and which may be dangerous or difficult as a result' That pretty much sums up life since Covid-19 hit.

As funeral professionals, we know how to navigate the waters of grief and loss. Even when the terrain is extra challenging, we have tools and resources to use as a guide. But if we are to be honest we are all in uncharted territory . We have never navigated anything like this before. It can leave us feeling overwhelmed, fearful, uncertain, hopeless and just plain exhausted. Navigating this uncharted territory can be soul crushing.

While PPE is being sought to protect physically, we cannot overlook the need to protect ourselves emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Join us for a one hour webinar, where we will unpack some of the real emotional hazards we face due to the uniqueness of our profession and focus on some very practical tools and self care practices needed to keep us both safe and sane during these unprecedented times.

June 30, 2020

12:00 - 1:00 pm

Online - *Pre-registration required to receive online access code

Presenter

Pam Moss is no stranger to the funeral profession in Canada. As a Coach, Celebrant, Part Time Instructor in the Funeral Services Program at Humber College and a Speaker at funeral conventions and events across the Country, her passion, fueled by her education and her own personal story, can be both felt and heard.

Pam with her husband Trevor, and eleven year old daughter Lauren now live in Kelowna, BC, after spending 18 years in the Greater Toronto Area www.pammoss.ca

2020 Conference Canceled

Mon, 04 May 2020 18:36:26 GMT

2020 Conference Canceled

Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding as we’ve navigated this difficult situation.

We have been working tirelessly to gather facts, information, and contingency plans to bring you a Conference experience that would help you navigate one of the most troubling times our generation has seen. In light of recent events, it has become clear that is not possible.

It is with heavy hearts that the AFSA board stands united in our decision to officially cancel the 2020 AFSA Conference.

All registrations for Conference 2020 that were processed have been refunded.

We look forward to seeing you at the River Cree in 2021 where we will hold an epic Conference! The 2020 AGM will be proceeding online for 2020 and we will be forwarding details very soon.

Sincerely,

AFSA Board of Directors

AFSA Update

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 18:23:33 GMT

Alberta Funeral Service Association Update

Please allow me to start this update by acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the entire board of directors and our administration team with ManageWise. I am so proud of this association and how its members band together and find ways to support one another through these dark days. We have heard reports of competitors coming together to make plans to keep death care in their communities viable. There are many of you who have reached out to the association offering to assist in any way possible with planning, committee work or just to give encouragement and advice to the board. We are truly humbled and blessed to have each one of you as part of this team of dedicated funeral professionals.

The association has and continues to act as an advocate for all funeral homes in Alberta through this pandemic. The COVID-19 Pandemic Committee has been engaged with their MLA's and MP's since the beginning of this pandemic and they have taken us under their wings and have proven to be valuable assets for us in establishing contact with the Governments of Alberta and Canada. We have established clear lines of communication with our partners in Alberta Health Services, Justice and Solicitor General, Alberta Funeral Service Regulatory Board, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and Environment Public Health.

Funeral homes are considered essential services in Alberta. This means that staff of the funeral home are exempt from the 15 person gathering. This has also been clearly communicated to AFSA by the Health Ministers Office.

In the past weeks we have secured emergency PPE access through the JSG but advise funeral homes low on PPE to try and find it from our normal suppliers first. The JSG supply is strained already and it is meant for emergencies only. The bulletins that have been released by the OCME for access to PPE can be found on our website www.afsa.ca.

Our COVID-19 Pandemic Committee is actively in discussions with the assistant Deputy Minister of Health to clarify and establish regulations and restrictions. One important point to clarify is the size of a gathering restricted to 15 people and the 2 meter physical distancing is a REGULATION and you can be fined for breaking those REGULATIONS.

Everything else listed on the governments website is a GUIDELINE meant to be used to help keep ourselves and communities safe. This information is directly from the Health Ministers office.

Many funeral homes have adopted policies that they will not embalm COVID-19 cases. Each funeral home is free to determine their own policies as long as they are following the regulations. The AFSRB regulations currently allows for embalming of COVID-19 cases. Please consult with your staff about your levels of confidence and consider the facts about embalming COVID-19 deaths when establishing your policies.

To learn more about the facts and recommended guidelines for safely embalming COVID-19 cases, please refer to the messages the AFSRB has released.

We are currently working to have clearer communication to funeral homes from hospitals about COVID-19 deaths. It has come to our attention that COVID-19 bodies will not be clearly labeled as COVID-19 cases. AHS has said that we are to exercise universal precautions with all cases and we do not need to worry about labels for COVID-19 cases. We do not find this to be acceptable and we are pressuring AHS to change that policy. We understand the challenges COVID-19 cases bring to a funeral home and the association is actively pursuing this issue.

Our COVID-19 Pandemic Committee has and continues to take meetings with AHS Emergency Management Officers, JSG and OCME directors, AHS Ministers staff, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Community Social Services, Alberta Funeral Services Regulatory Board, Funeral Service Association of Canada and a presidents meeting for all funeral associations in Canada. We endeavor to have our collective voice heard by the policy makers throughout this pandemic and in all things advocate for you and your funeral home.

Thank you,

Tyler Weber

President

AFSRB Update on Emergency Preparedness - March 27

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 19:23:32 GMT

Emergency Preparedness

On March 26, 2020 the Alberta Funeral Service Regulatory Board took part in a conference call with the Alberta Funeral Service Association and the Central Zone Emergency Operation Center with Director Robert Swanson. The agenda was to discuss emergency preparedness and morgue capacity. There were a number of action items that came out of this meeting, which the Board wanted to share with you.

These points are:

The AFSRB recommended that AHS encourage doctors to expedite signing the Medical Certificate of Death form in a timely manner to ensure the timely release of decedents from their facilities to ensure there is not an unnecessary overload at morgue sites.
Funeral service providers ensure the prompt transfer of deceased from hospital and nursing home facilities as quickly as possible.
Funeral service providers develop continuity plans to deal with a surge in deaths with a shortage of staff.
The AFSRB/AFSA advocated that each Zone Emergency Operation Center reach out to their municipalities to discuss chains of communications, continuity plans for over capacity situations on the local level, and worse case scenario planning in the event that the funeral service providers are not able to keep up with demand or the municipalities are not able to render services. It is the AFRSB’s position that funeral home owners/managers should reach out to your respective municipalities to have a discussion about how this can be managed appropriately in the event of over capacity.

It remains the position of the AFSRB to continue to follow the directives provided by the Government of Alberta during the COVID-19 pandemic as outlined on the following link: https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx . If the Government provides information for funeral services businesses either in regard to the handling of COVID-19 cases or other directives specific to funeral service, the AFSRB will ensure this information is provided as quickly as possible.

Should you need to speak to someone with any direct concerns, you can reach out to the Executive Director Karen Caruthers at 1(800)563-4652.

AFSA Conference Postponed

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 06:00:00 GMT

Thank you everyone for your patience and understanding as we’ve navigated this difficult situation.

It is with heavy hearts that the AFSA board stands united in our decision to postpone the 2020 AFSA Conference.

We are grateful that you chose to register for the 2020 AGM & Conference and it is important to us that we provide you with options. We hope that you will join us for the new dates once announced so that we can work together in the economy and industry building that is going to be needed.

Option 1 is to transfer your registration, sponsorship, or exhibitor booth to the new dates once announced.

Option 2 is an outright refund.

Please contact Shauna from the AFSA office at inquiry@afsa.ca to let us know which option you would like to exercise. We will reach out over the next week if we do not hear back from you.

The Deerfoot Inn & Casino will automatically cancel your hotel reservations for the Conference. There is no need to call and cancel your hotel reservation as long as they were booked using the conference code.

The conversations we’ve had over the last week have proven how lucky we are to be part of the supportive, tight-knit industry. We thank you for your support of the Alberta Funeral Service Association and look forward to seeing you at future events.

Sincerely,

AFSA Board of Directors

Alberta Funeral Service Association News

President's Message - Scott Green

President's Message - Scott Green

President's Message – Kirstie Smolyk

President's Message - Kirstie Smolyk

AFSA Student Awards - Deadline Extended!

Apply Now for an AFSA Student Award - Deadline Extended!

AFSA Awards Gala

Award Submissions Now Open for 2025!

Long Term Funeral Service Distinction Awards

Robert Snodgrass Memorial Award

The AFSA AGM & Conference Will Take Place May 1st and 2nd, 2025

2025 Conference Registration Now Open!

January 2025 President's Message

January 2025 President's Message

2025 Partnership Package Now Available!

The 2025 Partnership Package is now available!

AFSA 2024 Student Award applications are now open!

Applications Now Open!

The Standard - 09-22-2023

September 2023 Issue of the Standard ﻿

The Standard - May 2023

May 2023 Issue of the Standard

The Standard Issue #17

March 2023 Issue of the Standard

AFSA Partnership Package

Partnership Package

AFSA Announces Student Awards!

Applications Now Open!

The Standard Issue #16

December 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #15

September 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #14

August 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #13

July 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #12

June 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #11

May 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #10

April 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #9

March 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #8

February 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #7

January 2022 Issue

The Standard Issue #6

December Issue

2022 Awards Nominations Now Open

ROBERT SNODGRASS MEMORIAL AWARD

LONG TERM FUNERAL SERVICE DISTICTION AWARD ﻿

The Standard Issue #5

November Issue

The Standard Issue #4

October Issue

The Standard Issue #3

September Issue

The Standard Issue #2

August Issue

July 2021 President's Message

July 2021 President's Message

AFSA - Golf Tournament

AFSA Golf Tournament - Save the Date!

Compassionate Exemptions for Funeral Attendance

Compassionate Exemptions for Funeral Attendance

Navigating Uncharted Territory; Why We Need More Than PPE to Remain Safe and Sane

Navigating Uncharted Territory AFSA Presents: Pam Moss

2020 Conference Canceled

2020 Conference Canceled

AFSA Update

Alberta Funeral Service Association Update

AFSRB Update on Emergency Preparedness - March 27

Emergency Preparedness

AFSA Conference Postponed

September 2023 Issue of the Standard

LONG TERM FUNERAL SERVICE DISTICTION AWARD

Navigating Uncharted Territory
AFSA Presents: Pam Moss