Author of the article: Special to Postmedia Network Publishing date: Feb 05, 2021 • February 5, 2021 • 2 minute read • Sara Edwards adds 54 more paper hearts to a memorial at All Saints' Anglican Cathedral, 10035 103 St., in Edmonton Friday Jan. 29, 2021. Hundreds of paper hearts, one for every Albertan who has died from COVID-19, adorn the front of the church. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia Article content We’ve lost more than 20,000 Canadians from COVID-19 in the past year, leaving behind thousands of grieving loved ones, most of whom will have little time to grieve and take care of practical necessities before returning to work. Canadian employees are entitled to five bereavement days, only three of which are paid, following the death of a close family member. Some Canadians take compassionate care leave, which allows them up to 26 weeks off work to care for a seriously ill loved one with a significant chance of death within that time. The leave is job-protected for federally regulated employees and they can earn a maximum of $573 a week through Employment Insurance (EI). However, this leave ends within days of the loved one’s death.