Sanctuary Threatened: Fear Behind Hospital Walls 

The news that two of the region’s most vital institutions—The Royal Alexandra Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital—were placed on lockdown earlier today sends a devastating chill through the community. Hospitals are meant to be sanctuaries, places where the vulnerable find care, and families find hope. To have that sanctuary breached, forcing a shelter-in-place order for staff, patients, and visitors, is a trauma that shatters the core sense of security. The fear experienced by every person trapped inside—the staff battling to maintain care, the patients lying helpless, the visitors praying for loved ones—is immense.

Heroes Under Duress: Staff and Patients Trapped

When emergency protocols were activated, it meant nurses, doctors, and support staff had to instantly pivot from healing to security, all while tending to the critically ill. Imagine the terror of a child, a recovering patient, or an elderly relative being told to shelter-in-place while confined to a hospital bed. These professionals, already under immense stress, became protectors and crisis managers under duress. This incident forces us to acknowledge the hidden emotional toll carried by those who work in healthcare, as they face threats that extend far beyond clinical challenges

A Community Holds Its Breath: Demanding Safety

As the city anxiously awaited the all-clear, our collective heart went out to everyone inside the Royal Alexandra Hospital and the University of Alberta Hospital. This incident is a harsh, public reminder of the need to protect the places dedicated to life. We extend our gratitude to the first responders and our deepest sympathy to the staff, patients, and visitors whose trust in safety was shaken today. We must ensure that our commitment to providing safety for our healers is as unwavering as their commitment to healing us.