News and Announcements

In the October 19, 2021 Notice to the Profession and Public, the Court of Appeal announced that all proceedings would continue to be heard electronically by videoconference or teleconference until January 1, 2022.

The purpose of this Notice is to advise that:

• Unless otherwise directed, all appeal sittings, applications before three‑judge panels, applications before a single judge and Bar Admissions will continue to be heard electronically until February 25, 2022; and
• Appeal Conferences and Judicial Dispute Resolution matters will continue to be heard electronically until further notice.

The decision to extend the use of electronic hearings has again been guided by several considerations including the current public health status of the province, the evident threat from the COVID-19 Omicron variant, and the continuing need to preserve the health and safety of all Court participants by minimizing traffic to the courthouses.

Access to all courthouses in Alberta continues to be restricted in accordance with the Courts’ Notice dated November 27, 2020. The mask requirements set out in the Courts’ Notice dated July 3, 2020 will continue to apply to individuals attending at courthouses.

To provide a safe location for all individuals who voluntarily come to or who are compelled to attend court, the Courts have implemented vaccination policies for all Court staff and those wishing to access the secure areas of Alberta courthouses. Details are set out in the following notices:

• September 21, 2021 – All Courts’ Vaccination Policy for Access to Restricted Workspaces
• October 1, 2021 – All Courts’ Vaccination Policies for Access to Courtrooms

The current processes and guidelines for electronic hearings in the Court of Appeal set out in the March 23 and July 6, 2020 Notices to the Profession and Public will continue to govern. The links to those Notices are:

• March 23, 2020 – Use of Electronic Proceedings for Appeals, Applications and Motions
• July 6, 2020 – Electronic Hearings: Update for Attendance and Resource Reminders
• July 6, 2020 – New Procedures for Electronic Hearings – Confidentiality or Privacy Concerns

Information on attending an electronic hearing and related resources for counsel and self‑represented litigants is available on the Court of Appeal’s website. Links to these also follow:

• Guide for Connecting and Attending Electronic Hearings for Counsel and Self-Represented Litigants
• Guide for Viewing Electronic Hearings for Public and Media
• Court’s Policy on the Use of Electronic Devices in Courtrooms

Requests to be heard by audio only (teleconference) or in writing only can be made by contacting the appropriate Registry by email.

• Calgary Matters: Calgary.Registry@albertacourts.ca
• Edmonton Matters: Edmonton.Registry@albertacourts.ca

Or by telephone:

• Calgary Matters: 403-297-2206 (Fax: 403-297-5294)
• Edmonton Matters: 780-422-2416 (Fax: 780-422-4127)

Catherine A. Fraser
Chief Justice of Alberta