Alberta Blue Cross

👥 These are difficult times for many Albertans. The wildfires continue to impact families and communities across the province, creating stress and uncertainty.

ℹ️ To find the support services near you, call or text INFO to 211 or visit http://ab.211.ca.

Active emergency updates Get updates on major active emergencies and recovery information in Alberta.

We’re here for those who’ve been impacted by the Jasper wildfires.

If you were evacuated and don’t have your Alberta Blue Cross ID card, you can access benefit and account information through our member site and app: https://ow.ly/2pOo50SICpZ. We encourage members to download the app and sign up for online benefit access as part of your emergency kit.

If you have any questions about your plan or coverage, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Though is officially in June, we wanted to throwback to our segment on Global Edmonton and Global News Calgary for companies who may be looking for ways to celebrate and recognize inclusivity beyond June. Maxine Clarke, co-founder of Flip Learning, and Catherine Fendall, director of Human Resources with Alberta Blue Cross, share ways we can all create at work and in our communities every day.

Alberta Blue Cross Wellness Wednesday's on Global Edmonton Interview June 5

Meet Naomi, one of the students from Sherwood School, a 2022 recipient of our Built Together grant program.

Before the grant, Sherwood School’s basketball court needed repair and students were asking for an upgrade. Now, students enjoy playing basketball together without the frustration of shaky backboards and worn-out courts.

Our 2024 Built Together grant program is now open for applications. 5 communities will be awarded up to $50,000 for an active living structure like a basketball court or a skate park!

Apply now: https://ow.ly/FVEg50SCI8A

Updating your life insurance benefits no longer has to be a hassle!

We’ve updated our member site to make it easier than ever. You can now opt in or out of optional coverages; adjust coverage amounts; and add, edit or remove beneficiaries—all online.

Click the link to learn more: https://ow.ly/txyQ50SlR1V

We will be closed today, July 1 for Canada Day. We will be open tomorrow for regular hours.

Last week our segment on Global Edmonton and Global News Calgary featured Mallory Yawnghwe, one of the founders of Indigenous Box is leading social-impact gifting service dedicated to empowering and creating a pathway for economic .

We are grateful for the opportunity to the support the Indigenous Box team, providing them with access to the health services they may need to keep them healthy, supported and engaged.

Alberta Blue Cross Wellness Wednesday's on Global Edmonton Interview June 19

We’re proud to announce that Robina Baker Elementary School finally has a new playground!
Robina Baker Elementary School is a K-4 school in Devon and in 2017, their playground was removed and they went 7 years without one. Thanks to the Built Together grant, they were able to complete their playground which features large climbing structures and inclusive equipment. “Receiving the Built Together Grant from Alberta Blue Cross was the turning point in our fundraising journey. This generosity has transformed our vision of joy and play into a vibrant reality.” -Di Rushfeldt who is a member of the Robina Baker Parent Fundraising Committee.

Our Built Together program is still accepting applications for the 2024 grants. Learn more: https://ow.ly/ZWbt50SqvuM

Volunteers from our employee-led Hearts of Blue team came out to garden and plant flowers at Sorrentino’s Compassion House and Roozen Family Hospice Centre.

Compassion House Foundation helps ease the distress of the cancer journey for women undergoing treatment by providing safe, comfortable and affordable accommodations, as well as necessary programs and services post-treatment.

Roozen Family Hospice Centre offers compassionate care for individuals living with a terminal illness, enhancing dignity and quality of life until the end of life. With a whole-family approach, their programs also support caregivers and those grieving the death of a loved one.

For more information about how you can get involved with either of these organizations, visit the links below:

https://ow.ly/v1Xi50Snz4x
https://ow.ly/cEFh50Snz4v

Living in a remote area has its perks— peace and stunning landscapes. However, it also comes with challenges like limited access to health care. Landscape photographer Taylor values the tranquility of her home but struggled to find medical assistance. Virtual care has been a convenient and easily accessible solution for her. Learn more about her experience: https://ow.ly/qqrg50Sk5Si

Can you believe it’s the Stanley Cup game tonight? 🥅

Our team is so excited to see the Oilers play the Panthers in the final game 7. It’s amazing that we get to watch hockey history being made tonight. Win or lose, we are so proud to be Oilers fans!

Let’s Go Oilers! 👏

Happy Pride Month!

Earlier this year we invited our team members to design a T-shirt that we could wear to celebrate pride. Gabriella from our Community Impact team created an awesome design that is a symbol of inclusivity, allyship and the courage to be yourself.

In recognition of Pride month, we also made a donation to the Fyrefly Institute, which has provided programs and services to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community and its allies for more than 20 years.

Learn more about how you can support this fantastic organization: https://ow.ly/upWM50SlYnZ

Tonight is game 6 of the Edmonton Oilers versus the Florida Panthers

One of the best things about being an Alberta-based company is the love that everyone has for hockey. The excitement around the office has been wild to say the least. We’re so excited that the team was able to drag the Panthers back to Alberta 😉 and watching our team battle for the Stanley Cup has been unforgettable.

From one home team to another, thanks for making us proud Oilers! And here’s to getting to game 7! 🤞

Let's Go Oilers!

Today is National Indigenous People’s Day—a day to recognize and celebrate the history, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada. We’re proud to celebrate Indigenous communities every day of the year. Including through our Built Together grant program where we provide a $50,000 grant annually to an Alberta Indigenous community to promote wellbeing. Since its creation, the program has supported a variety of infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities ranging from walking trails to hockey rinks.

One of these community spaces is Alexander First Nation’s ice rink. Alexander First Nation brings vibrancy to their community by blending cultural traditions and practices with modern amenities and services. In 2023, Alexander First Nation applied for and received a Built Together grant to aid in replacing their old, deteriorating ice rink with an upgraded one.

“The ability to access grants such as the Built Together grant provides our members with the opportunity to lead healthy, active lives and, more importantly, have fun across all ages and seasons,” says Jody Kootenay, director of the Alexander First Nation Education. “We are very grateful for the funding.”

Visit our website to learn more about the Built Together program and how we’re supporting Indigenous communities throughout Alberta: https://ow.ly/oMkO50SmR4c

Want to save time submitting when benefit claims? Submit your claims online instead of through the mail. Our member site gives you 24/7 access to quickly and easily submit and track claims anytime, from anywhere. Plus, sign up for direct deposit and get reimbursed for your claims even faster!

Click the link to learn more: https://ow.ly/xZwx50SlLar

In 2019, Christina Gordon Public School received our Built Together grant. The school has many students with disabilities and provides inclusive programming with a sensory room and a gross motor room to support their learning. Read about how their story and their inclusive playground changed the lives of their staff and students: https://ow.ly/4GX950Sezcg

What’s better than a regular playground? How about a musical one! 🎶 Congratulations to one of our 2022 Built Together recipients, the Town of Barrhead, on the grand opening of their musical playground. Music therapy has been shown to increase attention span, cognitive function, improve verbal skills and much more.

Our 2024 Built Together program is still accepting applications. Do you have the courage to create? Apply now: https://ow.ly/6lxM50SgcwO

Christina Gordon School was one of the recipients of our Built Together grant program in 2019.

“Our school has many children with diverse physical and mental needs," says Karla Power, an educator at Christina Gordon Public School in Fort McMurray. "Now, our playground has become a place where children with extraordinary needs can play together with their friends."

Learn more about this park and how you can apply for an active living space in your community: https://ow.ly/X2c850SbVjV

In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, Jessica Vandenberghe, a mentor to our diversity, equity and inclusion program, shares her TED Talk about being a Sixties Scoop survivor and how to stay balanced, centered and healthy using the 7 Sacred Teachings.

Watch her video here:

Walking in a Good Way Being a Sixties Scoop survivor and female Professional Engineer, Jessica lives at the intersection of intergenerational trauma and being a minority demographic in a male dominated industry all within a country that still has a long journey in terms of correcting oppressive systematic racism. But thr...

Big Blue and our street team had an amazing time at the Airdrie Children's Festival and The International Children’s Festival of the Arts this past month. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported these great events.

With so many festivals going on around Alberta, which festival are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!

Pride Month is here! This is a time for people from across the gender and sexuality spectrum to come together and celebrate love, acceptance and the pursuit of equality. It is also a time to acknowledge the hardships the 2SLGBTQ+ community has endured and the progress that still needs to be made.

While the 2SLGBTQ+ community takes centre stage during this time, it is crucial for people outside the community to recognize their role as allies.

June is National Indigenous History Month, a time for all Canadians to reflect on the unique histories, sacrifices, cultures, contributions and strengths of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples. It’s also a time to celebrate Indigenous history in the spirit of pride and preservation, because only by understanding our past can we hope to create a brighter future.

This month, we encourage you to wear an orange T-shirt, which represents the acknowledgement of the past and the hope for the future. It honours the experiences of Indigenous Peoples, celebrates resilience and affirms that every child matters. The orange T-shirt is also worn on September 30—National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.