DAWSON CREEK -- Starting Monday Proof of vaccination is now required at a number of non essential businesses across the peace region and the province.

The requirement applies to all people born in 2009 or earlier (12+) and covers:

  • Indoor ticketed sporting events with more than 50 people
  • Indoor concerts, theatre, dance and symphony events with more than 50 people
  • Licensed restaurants and cafes and restaurants and cafes that offer table service (indoor and patio dining), including liquor tasting rooms in wineries, breweries or distilleries
  • Pubs, bars and lounges (indoor and patio dining)
  • Nightclubs, casinos and movie theatres
  • Gyms, exercise/dance facilities/studios and these activities happening in recreation facilities
  • Businesses offering indoor exercise/fitness
  • Indoor adult group and team sports for people 22 years old or older
  • Indoor organized events with 50 or more people.
    • For example: wedding and funeral receptions (outside of a funeral home), organized parties, conferences, trade fairs and workshops
  • Indoor organized group recreational classes and activities with more than 50 people like pottery, art and choir
  • Post-secondary student housing
  • Spectators at indoor youth sporting events with more than 50 people

Proof of vaccination is not required at the following establishments:

  • Grocery stores, liquor stores and pharmacies
  • Unlicensed restaurants that don't offer table service
    • For example: fast food, coffee shops, food courts, food trucks and takeout
  • Tasting rooms without seating attached to wineries, breweries or distilleries
  • Local public transportation (BC Transit, TransLink, BC Ferries)
  • Salons, hairdressers and barbers
  • Hotels, resorts, cabins and campsites
    • Unless it is a setting or event covered by the PHO order. For example a licensed hotel restaurant, wedding reception or conference
    • Does not include exercise/fitness facilities in hotels that are for guests
  • Swimming pools (unless it’s the location of an event) and skating rinks (unless being used for adult sport)
  • Banks and credit unions
  • Retail and clothing stores
  • Public libraries, museums, art galleries (unless they are the location of an event)
  • Food banks and shelters
  • Escape rooms, laser tag, indoor paint ball, arcades and bowling alleys (if they are unlicensed or don't offer food-related table service)
  • Post-secondary on-campus cafeterias
  • Airport food courts and restaurants
  • Health care services, rehabilitation or exercise therapy programs, and drug and alcohol support group meetings
  • Social services provided to people in need

 

Regulations require proof of at least one COVID-19 shot; proof of full vaccination will start on October 24th.  

The province is allowing businesses to accept paper immunization cards until September 27th, only digital copies along with a piece of government issued ID will be accepted thereafter.

The owner of one Dawson Creek restaurant says she will enforce the public health order but the new regulations are not fair to business owners’. 

“I know darn well all my regulars have had their shots, I’ve had my shots, but I don’t feel they should have to walk in every time and show their sign,” said Dianne Knight owner of Rockwell’s Pub.

Rockwell’s Pub implemented additional protocols to check passes, even purchasing a new iPad to make the process more efficient.

But the Knight hopes these regulations will end soon.

“We’re here to serve people, to put out our food, have good service, have some laughs, we’re not here to be controlling.”

Health Minister Adrian Dix says these passports are the province’s way out of the pandemic.

“No one is happy that we have to provide these protections for people but this is our way as a province of getting back to a more normal state of being able to have in a time in the Delta variant. Sit down meals and restaurants and be able to have people in the stands at hockey games feel to have people taking part in certain indoor fitness activities.”

Residents of Dawson Creek are showing contrary opinion’s to the vaccine pass with many supporting the regulation and others disagreeing. 

Concerns arise for restaurant workers anticipating conflicts they might face in the coming weeks.